Detroit show: Dodge Charger Redline
Mopar-tweaked 590hp Charger shows of Dodge's wild side
The Redline is actually an amalgamation of a three-stage kit: stage one is aero tweakery and natty 20-inch wheels (which don't seem overly massive on such a large car), stage two is a cat-back exhaust, a suspension brace and upgraded brake hoses, while stage three is where it really gets interesting.
Because stage three is a 590-horsepower 426cu in (7.0 litres in Euro-speak) Hemi V8 crate engine, the 'Elephant Motor'. For the engine spec obsessed among us, this involves (and we quote Dodge's press release so please forgive any Americanisms) "a stout, balanced lower reciprocating assembly that features a forged-steel crankshaft with six-bolt mains at two, three and four, and cross-bolted four-bolt mains at one and five. H-beam style rods are made from forged steel and coupled to forged 11:1 compression ratio aluminum pistons. Included is a revised windage tray to provide excellent oil dispersion and prevent oil aeration by the crankshaft.
"Mopar cast-aluminum valve covers and billet fuel rails are also included in the Dodge Charger Redline's Stage III performance kit."
Sounds brilliant. There's only one problem (well, two) - that super-cool four-poster bonnet (sorry, 'hood') is for demonstration purposes only, and that 590hp engine isn't actually road-legal. Shame.
For those who want something that looks good, they do make the Charger Blacktop (ah, they do have the best names don't they?)
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-dodge-charger-...
Srry for the dim question but how can an engine not be road legal? I can understand the car itself for not meeting MOT regs etc but the engine?
Explanation anybody?
It's 2012 and they're still proposing massive NA V8 engines...
not this crappy 3 cylinder 0.5l diesel hybrid BS that europeans are turning out. the euroboxes are proliferating and thanks to these folk there may still be hope for motorists.
= )
The other issue with alot of modern German cars is that they are deliberately designed to have steering that feels slightly dead around the straight head driving- known in the industry as "low off centre gain"- for reasons of high speed stability.
The Chargers steering is superb (even though it is electrically assisted) as is it's ride/handling compromise
I also think the latest Chargers styling has really come of age -sorting out the messy rear quarters. Bold and American looking rather than the terribly bland rivals (albeit worthy) of Ford Taurus and Chevy Impalas
http://www.supercars.net/Pics?viewCarPic=y&sou...
If they wanted to show their wild side then let the designers make a Charger Daytona that has more in common with 1969 version than the badged up version from the previous generation Charger.
If they wanted to show their wild side then let the designers make a Charger Daytona that has more in common with 1969 version than the badged up version from the previous generation Charger.
It's also going to be a lot faster and handle better thasn an original Charger for which some thick rose-tinted specs might be appropriate for some people.
You might just as well b
h at BMW for losing their entire direction when it comes to heavy M cars and diesels where smooth sixes used to reside. Times change. Luckily for us, the Americans love to raise two fingers as well as vaunt their rich automotive history. I'm more than happy for the Europeans to take things "forward" with low emissions, less cylinders, turbos and blobby styling but thank god there is still a corner of the world that isn't Euro-land.People might be less critical if they'd called it the Dodge Polara. I'd buy one for the right price assuming the UK government didn't want to tear out my wallet for the VEL.
To address a post made after this, the "event" is that it's still a V8 but with more retro styling, not a corporate nose.
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