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AT HOME ON THE RACE
TRACK OR THE STREET - If “there’s a little bit of Viper in every
Dodge,” the SRT-4 has it in spades: the attitude, the outrageousness
and a lot of the performance. “We’re continuing to develop the Dodge
SRT-4 in ways that resonate with customers,” said Dan Knott,
Director Street and Racing Technology, DaimlerChrysler Corp. |
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“We know from the tuner market and our
grassroots efforts that our buyers want the performance, the sound,
the colors. And we’ll continue to provide these ingredients in the
SRT-4.” Still second only to the Viper in quickness among the Dodge
car lineup (0-60 mph in an estimated 5.8 seconds), SRT-4 continues
to benefit from the engineers at the Chrysler Group’s Street and
Racing Technology (SRT), who bring hard-earned knowledge from
motorsports and their own personal street and racing experiences to
build on the SRT-4 formula. What is the SRT-4 formula?
It starts with a 2.4-liter
turbocharged, intercooled, 16-valve double-overhead-cam
four-cylinder engine, kicking out 230 horsepower at 5,300 rpm and
250 lb.-ft. of torque in the 2,200 to 4,400 rpm range. That
driver-friendly power band is the result of high-flow fuel injectors
and a specially calibrated engine controller that delivers optimum
torque throughout a wider rpm range, cutting down on the need for
shifting under most normal driving conditions.
The formula continues with a T850 five-speed transaxle, putting
power to the pavement through a specially designed torque-sensing
limited-slip differential developed in conjunction with Quaife,
which is well-known in the automotive industry for its driveline
components. This factory-installed unit provides more linear power
delivery and better traction to the Dodge SRT-4’s drive wheels
during straight-line and corner-exit acceleration.
High-performance suspension refined by SRT engineers from their
experiences on the track and street add to the overall formula.
Developed to work with that suspension are BF Goodrich KDW2
three-season tires, which provide optimum grip for accelerating,
braking and cornering, while still delivering civilized ride
characteristics for everyday driving. For 2005, a new body color
"Orange Blast" is available in addition to Flame Red, Black and
Bright Silver Metallic.
For dedicated audiophiles who want a performance sound system with
their performance car, a new-for-2005 optional Kicker/SRT Livin’
Loud audio system that incorporates a six-disc CD changer is also
available. This system kicks out the sounds with two 1-inch
high-performance Neodymium tweeters, two 75-watt, 5.5-inch
full-range speakers, two 90-watt, 6-inch x 9-inch coaxials and a
10-inch, 100-watt SVC amplified subwoofer. The subwoofer design
tucks neatly into the side of the trunk area so package space isn’t
compromised. Plus, the head unit-equalizer is specially tuned to
provide crisp high-frequency response and thumpin’ bass.
“We know that sound systems are important to the Dodge SRT-4 buyer,
so we wanted to give them a system with outstanding
performance—right from the factory,” Knott explained. Side air bags
and power sun roof continue to be available as options on the Dodge
SRT-4, providing more choices for customers who want to customize
their cars right from the factory. The Dodge SRT-4 is built at the
Belvedere Assembly Plant in Belvedere, Ill. |
