This poor guy didn't even have a chance. Even with a three-second
lead, the Cummins' powered Ram manages catch him at the end. Surely skill has
something to do with this beat down, but it's hard to deny the ridiculous speed of that
truck. If anything it's only more evidence that diesel does it. Check out the
clip after the jump for some hot dodge-on-dodge racing action.
I recently had a chance to speak with Ralph Gilles, the CEO and President of the new high performance SRT brand. In discussing the past of the Street and Racing Technology lineup, Gilles stated that there were some vehicles that they would not do again, if given the chance. This included the automatic transmission equipped Dodge Ram SRT10 Quad Cab. However, Gilles was quick to point out that overall, the SRT lineup has maintained a certain level of excellence. While the latest SRT vehicles are as powerful they've ever been, the SRT vehicles of past years helped pave the way for the modern high performance lineup.
Dodge and SRT bringing two new special edition trimlines to LA by Patrick Rall
When the LA Auto Show opens this week, show goers will be the first to feast their eyes upon two new trimlines from the Dodge SRT lineup, including the all-new Challenger SRT8 Yellow Jacket and the return of the Charger SRT Super Bee.
I recently had a chance to speak with Ralph Gilles - CEO and President of the newly formed high performance SRT brand and design head for the Chrysler Group - during the launch of the new SRT High Performance Tour. After Mr. Gilles spoke a bit about the 2012 Charger, Challenger, 300C and Jeep Grand Cherokee in SRT8 form, he opened the floor to questions from the small group of media present. Automotive executives rarely discuss future models due to the level of competition in the industry, but as a Ram owner and lover of high performance trucks, I had to ask Ralph about the possibility of a future SRT-level Ram pickup.
When the Chrysler Group introduced the newly formed SRT brand, they became the first company to offer a cross-brand group focusing strictly on performance, but if some new rumors prove to be true - the Street and Racing Technology brand could become the most powerful brand in the American market.
When the 2012 model year hits the American auto industry, the Chrysler Group's SRT brand will return to prominence with a total of 4 vehicles as the Dodge Charger SRT8, Chrysler 300C SRT8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 join the Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 to establish the first multi-brand, high performance automaker in the US. Former Dodge brand CEO Ralph Gilles has made the move to head up the new SRT brand and today, his crew announced the pricing for the 2012 SRT lineup.
1. The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR holds a variety of track records around the world including the famed Nürburgring in Germany and the Laguna Seca raceway in California. Thanks to a revised aerodynamics package, an adjustable suspension setup, larger brakes and stickier tires, the American Club Racer (ACR) package of the Viper SRT10 Coupe has proven itself time and time again as being one of the fastest cars in the world. Needless to say, being one of the fastest cars in the world makes the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR the greatest SRT vehicle of all time.
2. The Dodge Neon SRT4 helped to reassert the Mopar name in the sport compact world some two decades after the popular "turbo Dodge" models saw their production end. Even though the Neon SRT4 was available only as a compact 4-door sedan, the powerful turbocharged 2.4L 4-cylinder engine produced enough power to allow SRT4 owners to beat the modern muscle cars of the day. Even today, with the Neon and SRT4 package long out of production, the Neon SRT4 continues to demand respect in all sorts of high performance venues.
3. The Dodge Ram SRT10 Regular Cab stormed onto the scene with the help of the Dodge Viper's powerful V10 engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and a rear wheel drive setup. Thanks to the 510 horsepower and 535lb-ft of torque pounding the pavement, a refined aerodynamic design and a race tuned suspension setup, the SRT10 was able to stake the claim as the world's fastest production truck with a recorded speed of 154.587 mph. The only truck to surpass this average speed was the Australian Holden HSV Maloo - which is literally nothing more than an El Camino style conversion of what Americans knew as the modern Pontiac GTO.
4. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 was introduced in 2006 and rather than targeting other sporty SUVs in their marketing campaign, Jeep compared this Hemi powered Grand Cherokee to sports cars, thanks to the 420 horsepower Hemi tucked under the hood. While other companies might have attempted to knock off the GC SRT8, it was the king of the performance SUV market until leaving production.
5. The Chrysler 300C SRT8 reintroduced the world to American high performance luxury with a distinct look on the outside, a high end interior on the inside and a 425 horsepower Hemi tucked under the hood. When coupled with the race tuned suspension and the Brembo brake system, the 300C SRT8 was one of the fastest luxury sedans in the world on the drag strip or the road course.
The 2008 Dodge Challenger is offered in one trim
line, the well-known SRT8 designation. There were 4 choices for the
lucky people who reserved a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 before it was
released. The first dealt with color, either Hemi Orange Pearl Coat,
Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat, or Bright Silver Metallic Pearl
Coat. The second choice was whether to stick with the basic 6-disc
AM/FM/MP3 stereo system or to select the $890 MyGig Multimedia system
complete with GPS navigation. The third option was whether or not you
wanted a sunroof at an additional $950. And the final decision was
simple: stock or performance tires. The base tire of the SRT8 is a set
of four 245/45ZR20 all-season Goodyear radials. For fifty dollars more,
a buyer could select a set of performance Goodyears with the same 245
size tires up front and 255/45ZR20's in the rear.
The Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang are two of a handful of American
performance cars that have secured their place in automotive history
books. They both contributed to building the young performance market
in 50's and 60's America, and then passed the test of time. The Pontiac
Firebird, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Thunderbird, and Dodge Charger can
also be counted amongst the most powerful cars of their day, though
presently the Firebird is no longer produced and the Charger is offered
as a performance sedan. Ford Muscle returned to classic styling with
the release of the S197 2005 Mustang, a mega success. Around the same
time, rumors of another vintage muscle car returning began to grow;
this time for the Dodge Challenger.
Like an indomitable storm, the Formula Drift Series descended upon the streets of downtown Long Beach this past weekend for round 1 of the 2009 season, bringing with it the thunder of Team Mopar's tire-destroying Dodge Viper SRT10 drift car to a crowd of more than 40,000 fans. Also making an appearance was the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 drift car, giving fans a preview of things to come later in the season. Now entering its 5th season, the Formula Drift Series has grown exponentially in just a short period of time and has been a key player in exposing drifting to the U.S.
It seems unlikely that a 268 horsepower electric powered Dodge concept wearing a Lotus body could beat a new Dodge Challenger SRT-8 in a short race from a stop, but during a recent show-off session of the new Dodge EV, that was exactly what happened.
The Rose Bowl parking lot was the site of the showdown between high-performance and high technology, and the result helped to secure the idea that not all electric vehicles are just for low-cost commuting. So many companies have turned to hybrid and electric vehicles as a solution for "responsible efficient transportation", that the enthusiasts' standpoint has been forgotten. The alternative power vehicles are a great alternative for those who only use their car to get from point A to point B, but for many of us, driving is an enjoyable experience, and the Dodge EV plans to prove that electric vehicles can provide the same fun as a combustion engine powered vehicle.
This poor guy didn't even have a chance. Even with a three-second
lead, the Cummins' powered Ram manages catch him at the end. Surely skill has
something to do with this beat down, but it's hard to deny the ridiculous speed of that
truck. If anything it's only more evidence that diesel does it. Check out the
clip after the jump for some hot dodge-on-dodge racing action.
