SRT stands for DaimlerChrysler’s Street and Racing Technology team, an internal skunk works tasked with turning Chryslers, Dodges, and Jeeps into performance machines. It’s the yin to DaimlerChrysler’s Mercedes-Benz AMG unit’s yang. Right now, the cornerstone of most SRT-massaged cars and SUVs is a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 making 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. torque, producing a greater horsepower-per-liter rating than the legendary Street Hemi of the 1960s and 1970s. This engine is based on the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with the fuel-saving Multi-Displacement System that gets installed in everything from the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger to the Dodge Ram and Jeep Commander.

Pop the hood, and the motor beckons with its black valve covers and orange-painted, reinforced cast-iron cylinder block. To achieve substantial gains in power over the 5.7-liter version of this engine, SRT bored out each cylinder by 3.5mm to bump total displacement to 6.1 liters, and bumped the compression ratio from 9.6:1 to 10.3:1. High-flow cylinder heads were added, floating pin pistons cooled by oil jets were installed, and the Charger SRT-8 uses a larger diameter intake manifold with shorter runners for better high-speed engine tuning. Larger diameter valves and reshaped ports also maximize air flow into the engine, and a performance camshaft profile lets more air in and out of the cylinders to allow for greater peak power output at higher revs. Hollow intake and exhaust valve stems are filled with sodium to help dissipate heat, and powdered metal connecting rods offer greater strength and durability. SRT also encased individual tube exhaust headers in stainless steel, and the engine exhales through a 2.75-inch rather than 2.5-inch exhaust system. Other drivetrain modifications include a modified oil pan designed to return oil to the sump at high engine speeds, a forged steel crankshaft, and upgrades for the rear differential, axle, and prop shaft.

After all is said and done, and you’ve got the engine properly broken in, the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8 will rip to 60 mph in about five seconds, cover the quarter-mile in the mid-13s, and can run up to 100 and back to a resting stance in the mid-16s as long as you’ve got the tank filled with premium fuel. But this is more than a straight-line car. Thanks to its red-painted Brembo four-piston calipers which clamp down on vented 360 x 32mm front and 350 x 26mm rear discs, the Charger SRT-8 posts a 60-to-zero distance of 110 feet according to Dodge, thanks in no small part to ABS and brake assist technologies. SRT also tunes the Charger’s suspension with revised dampers, recalibrated spring rates, beefier bushings, and thicker anti-sway bars. The suspension, a short- and long-arm design in front coupled to a five-link arrangement at the rear, rides half an inch lower than a stock Charger, and a set of Nivomat self-leveling rear shocks are also included. The 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8 rides on 20-inch forged and polished aluminum wheels wearing Goodyear Supercar F1 three-season tires measuring 245/45 in front and 255/45 in back (Goodyear Eagle RS-A four-season tires are optional). A rack-and-pinion hydraulically-assisted steering system comes equipped with a 16:1 ratio, taking 2.75 turns from lock-to-lock and producing a 38.9-foot turning circle despite the massive rubber. Dodge also recalibrates the stability control system to allow more slip-‘n-slide during aggressive driving, and if you’re really feeling lucky, Chrysler says it can be completely disabled. . Styling tweaks that make the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8 stand out include a redesigned front fascia with integrated brake cooling ducts, an air dam to reduce aerodynamic lift, and a blacked-out grille with an SRT badge. In back, integrated lower strakes in the rear fascia are designed to better direct airflow, the dual 3.5-inch exhaust outlets get larger cutouts, and there’s a decklid spoiler. These, however, are subtle changes. Not so the blatant hood scoop that brings cool air into engine bay. The Charger SRT-8 is available in three colors: silver, black, and red. Inside, deeply sculpted and significantly bolstered SRT sport bucket seats with leather trim, performance suede inserts; and contrasting red stitching are the most noticeable changes over a standard Charger. Other modifications include a unique carbon-fiber trim on the steering wheel that offers improved grip, special dash trim, a 180-mph speedometer, dark-faced gauges, and a display that can be configured for oil temperature, oil pressure, and tire pressure. Every Charger SRT-8 interior is decorated in a dark gray/light gray two-tone treatment.

Standard equipment for the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8, which starts at $38,095 including the $675 destination charge and $2,100 gas-guzzler charge, includes leather and suede seats, power windows with driver’s one-touch down feature, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, air conditioning, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, power door locks with keyless entry, a CD player, and six Boston Accoustics speakers. Safety features include multi-stage front airbags with occupant classification sensor, ABS with brake assist, and stability control. Our test car came equipped with SRT Option Group 1 ($675 – dual-zone automatic climate control with air filtration, one-touch up/down windows, automatic headlights, heated front seats); SRT Option Group II ($845 – 200-watt Kicker subwoofer, 275-watt Kicker amplifier, 11 Kicker speakers, security alarm); SRT Option Group III ($2,550 – Sirius satellite radio with one-year subscription, DVD navigation system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, UConnect Bluetooth wireless communications, six-disc CD changer); side-curtain airbags ($390); and a power sunroof ($950).

If this isn’t enough excitement for you, there’s a new Super Bee limited-edition coming for 2007. Commemorating the original Super Bee, a 1968 Dodge Coronet and member of Dodge’s “Scat Pack” performance group of cars, the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee is painted Detonator Yellow with a flat-black hood and trunk lid face, Super Bee logos on the front and rear fenders, and contrasting yellow stitching for the seats, steering wheel and shift knob.