Dodge Charger: High Quality Performance

By Motoring Channel Staff - 19/05/2005

Launching in the States in early June is the all-new Dodge Charger, blending past and future design while using state-of-the-art technology to produce one its highest quality vehicles ever built.

Reincarnating the Charger namesake that first entered the world of cars in 1966, the muscle car image has been smoothed out somewhat, and two doors have expanded to four in order to cater for a wide range of buyers.

With similar proportions to a Holden Commodore, measuring 5028mm long and 1891mm wide, and weighing from 1691kg to 1828kg depending on the model and engine type, Chrysler is hoping the new 5-seat Charger will repeat the successes of the 300C, which has been given many Car of the Year awards in America and will coming to Australian Chrysler dealerships late in 2005.

Aside from the 6.1-litre V8-powered Charger SRT8 (more on that a bit later in the article), power for the new Dodge comes by way of V-configured engines.

The first engine is a 24-valve, 3.5-litre single overhead cam 60° V6 engine that makes 186kW (250hp) @ 6400rpm and 340Nm of torque @ 3800rpm.

It has a 6800rpm rev limiter and many comparisons can be drawn with Holden's Alloytec 3.6-litre V6, particularly in terms of power and torque output.

A V8 engine is also offered. Chrysler calls it a Hemi V8, and it displaces 5.7-litres or 354 cubic inches (5654cc) and can shut down half its cylinders to increase fuel economy on the highway or when cruising.

Dodge will offer the torque-laden 8-cylinder engine in two states of tune: the standard is 254kW (340hp) @ 5000rpm, while an R/T version will boost power to 261kW (350hp) @ 5000rpm. Both versions output 525Nm of torque @ 4000rpm, and the engine's output is harnessed by a 5-speed manual transmission, driving the rear wheels.

Unlike the 3.5-litre V6 engine, which has 4-valves per cylinder and SOHC, the Hemi V8 has two pushrod operated overhead valves per cylinder, for a total of 16, but because of its large capacity it has little need for overhead camshafts in order to attain high levels of torque.

Chrysler, which owns Dodge, is pushing the themes of power but also quality, claiming that its new Charger is not just a modern-day muscle car.

"Great design sets a vehicle apart from the competition, but great quality is what takes a vehicle to another level," said Chrysler's Stephen Walukas.

"When creating a Dodge Charger for today's market, the bar is already set extremely high with the challenge of delivering on the promise of the legendary names of 'Dodge' and 'Charger,'" stated Walukas.

According to Chrysler, the Dodge Charger team of more than 700 engineers is dedicated to making it one of the highest quality vehicles to be launched by the company. The 2006 Dodge Charger is among the first Chrysler Group vehicles to meet all 12 steps of the 'Quality Gates' process.

"In the past, manufacturers would move vehicles through a development system, patching and fixing along the way but always moving the program forward to meet launch deadlines to preserve speed to market," Walukas said.

"Those deadlines still exist, but consumer satisfaction is too important at Chrysler Group for a program to continue without proper validation and testing.

"Technology in testing and validation allows us to stop a project if necessary, fix it, and still get it to market with the highest possible quality within the launch timeframe."

Does this mean Dodge's new Charger could be beating down the Mercedes CLS-Class and BMW 6-Series doors in terms of quality? Not quite, but it should be one of better American-built vehicles in that market.

"We couldn't be more proud of the outcome," said Walukas. "Creative muscle that is our trademark, coupled now with the strength in quality and reliability that is making the industry take notice."

Though it's hard to tell with the Charge's slab sides, extensive use of aerodynamic best practices in the design of both the Dodge Charger's exterior and underbody make the car aerodynamically efficient. This contributes to greater fuel efficiency, a quieter interior compartment and a more refined vehicle overall.

Aerodynamic testing on full-scale Dodge Charger clay models equipped with actual underbody parts took place in the DaimlerChrysler Technology Center (DCTC) world- class Aero-acoustic Wind Tunnel. Resulting details that contribute to an aerodynamically efficient Dodge Charger body include:

An exterior rearview mirror shape that was developed to minimise drag, divert airflow away from the driver’s window and channel water around the mirror to keep both surfaces clear and minimise wind noise and buffeting.
Airflow through the functional parts of the windshield wiper blades was managed to facilitate high-speed performance and eliminate wind noise.
A closeout under the front fascia and engine, which include functional brake ducts that funnel air from the front of the car back inside to the wheels, help cool the front brakes and improve brake performance.
A closeout behind each front wheel.
Closeouts forward of each rear wheel.

As well as the standard Dodge Charger, the group will also release a more powerful 6.1-litre V8 version, dubbed the SRT8, which will compete aganst vehicles like Ford's Shelby Cobra GT500 in the modern muscle car era.

Darryl Jackson, the VP of Marketing for Dodge, said: "The all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 builds on the Dodge formula. It starts with a 425 horsepower [312kW] 6.1-litre Hemi engine and continues with a powerful dose of renowned Street and Racing Technology performance for a tremendous performance-per-dollar value story."

During the heyday of the original Dodge Charger, performance was measured mainly in straight-line numbers. Today, SRT adds a complete approach with the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8.

"The SRT approach to performance is multi-dimensional," said Dan Knott, the director of Street and Racing Technology (SRT) at the Chrysler Group. "For example, the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 incorporates Brembo brakes to stop as well as it accelerates. Its handling is world-class across a dynamic range. Its interior is designed specifically for the performance driver. And its performance exterior characteristics don't just look great, they're also functional."

As an all-around performer, the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 is capable of awe-inspiring numbers unheard-of in a muscle sedan: 0-60mph (0-96km/h) in around 5.0 seconds, quarter-mile time in the 13.0 second range and braking distance from 60-0mph in approximately 110 feet. The Dodge Charger SRT8 is also capable of accomplishing SRT's signature performance test of 0-100-0mph in the mid 16.0 second range.

The latest interpretation of the famous Charger muscle car features 18-inch rear wheels on a bold, provocatively styled, fastback 4-door sedan, powered by V6 and V8 engines, and Dodge will be launching its high quality Charger in the United States of America in early June, 2005.