Not that it has a snowballs chance but i sent a letter to DC suggesting an RT w/ the 6.1 drivetrain as a "A12 SixPack" type introduction. It would be less $ than the SRT8 yet more grunt than the 5.7L. They could drop the handling and braking aspects, larger wheels, scoop, wing, etc., to keep it under $35,000. May help bring some of the old Dodge faithful back into the showroom and still leave a differentiated reason to go to the SRT8 if you wanted. It would be less performance wise than the SRT8 on the standard R/T wheels, but clearly pay homage to the ole six pack intro. I'd throw in an "R/T 6.1" hockey stick stripe and dash emblem as well. But it keeps it "serious material" for a Charger buyer looking for major preformance.

What do you think, besides a pipe dream...

 

well although thats a cool idea, from what i understand the 6.1L more or less belongs to the SRT group and they have the decision power on what happens to their engine.

 

Yes i think it is a great idea.

 

Thanks.

You're right, never thought of the whole political side of corporate car manufacturing. But then again, the Mustang keeps cleaning their clock in terms of units.

 

I found the R/T without the handling kit to be Not A Good Thing. It may be OK in a straight line but it's much too floaty for going around corners. I can't imagine what it would be like with even more horsepower. The truth is that performance suspension is mainly a difference in spring rates, shock rates and anti-roll bar rates. Ya gotta have all that stuff anyway. Performance suspensions are a matter of tuning. The extra cost is based only on the fact that you are willing to pay for it...

 

I'd like to get a 6.1 and put it in my PT Cruiser and make it a rear wheel drive. That baby should fly.

 

Agree that the handling would be much less. But like the A12 package, was thinking the guy who plops down the dough for the 6.1 is choosing the straight line, tire smoker as opposed to the "whole pkg" of the SRT8 and saving a few bucks...

 

All you need to do to pave the way for the future is simply look to the past. The Roadrunner and Superbee models were known as the "poor mans musclecar". The formula is so incredibly simple that it is well beyond Dumlers narrow closed mind. All you need to do is take an existing model, for this example I'll use the current Charger, and take away all the option packages. You could even call this new model a Superbee since they used the Charger as the basis for the Superbee in '71 even though it previously used the Coronet body. Take a stripped down Charger, put the 5.7L Hemi as the base engine with only some essential suspension upgrades as standard equipment, yet still having all other options, or most of them at least, as available options. The main focus would be affordability and performance. The R/T and the SRT-8 come fairly loaded with options even in their base forms causing their higher prices. The bigger badder SRT-8's 6.1L Hemi would be the optional upgrade engine for this Superbee as would be the SRT-8's suspension and transmission. The Superbee would also have it's own distinctive optional ground effects, hood, wheel and spoiler not to mention a manual transmission option.

So, you could get a bare bones Superbee with the 6.1L Hemi, manual transmission, max performance suspension and a few aero/looks parts for around $25K or go all out and get one fully loaded with power everything as well as all the other bells and whistles for around the same price as the SRT-8. Eliminating all the fluff and unwanted stuff would also lower the weight of the portly Chargers weight, thus making it a far better performer and increase fuel mileage. You could even go a little cheaper by going with the standard 5.7L Hemi instead or any combination you like. Another way to help lower cost would be to offer the Superbee with only the truck Hemi instead of the multi-displacement Hemi that is currently used in the 300 and the Charger. Besides, the Superbee model would be geared towards the true performance enthusiast and a true performance enthusiast wouldn't be interested in saving 1-2 MPG with the more costly multi-displacement Hemi. If they are then they can simply get an R/T instead. One final thing they would almost certainly have to do to get it right and for it to sell and sell well, make it a 2 door coupe.

This Superbee would by far out sell and out perform everything else in it's class as well as out sell the R/T and the SRT-8. This would be a true Superbee by being both affordable and a true musclecar, AKA: the poor mans musclecar.

 

Manufacturing 101; The more you make the cheeper each unit becomes. Put the MDS on all the 6.1L's and put that bad azz engine into everything from Rams, Dakotas, 300s, Chargers and everything else you can think of. Then watch how many cars and trucks DCX can sell! They also need to offer that 6.1L as a crate engine with and with out fuel injection.

 

The 300's, Magnums, Charger, and the new Ram all have MDS optional engines....and no matter what you put that 6.1L in.....very few people will go fork out the cash to buy it. Look, it's the simple truth. You drop the 6.1L in a coupe....then you can talk numbers and sales.....continuing to drop them in big boat sized sedans is not going to get it done.

Btw, I would like to see the 6.1 in the Ram. The Dakota is still trying to get a Hemi, so maybe you bump the 5.7L out of the Ram's lineup and into the Dakota. Then give the 6.1 to the Ram exclusively. That would get your sales numbers up, and would also allow people to get the Hemi Dak's they want.