Dodge charger makes brash ride for 2012, say hello to the new charger 6.4L SRT8! – Car review

Dodge Charger is a pure American full-sized sedan with a muscular attitude. With a rear-wheel-drive, choice of three engine options, an imposing exterior and stylish interior with advanced tech has made the Charger 2012 immensely popular in Dubai. The power, styling and technology on the Charger make it a dynamic package with plenty of personality.

Dodge Charger 2012 is a special vehicle indeed mainly because only once in a while do car makers listen to what the people actually want. Every bit of complain from the previous generation has been worked upon and improvised on this model. The greatest of them all is the all new mammoth 6.4L SRT8 engine option. This variant of the charger has won millions of hearts in Dubai by only a review of its spec sheet. So now Charger is available in three variants in Dubai, a basic SE 3.6L with 8-speed automatic for an economical ride, a R/T 5.7L HEMI for the power kick and the beasty 6.4L HEMI with SRT8 delivering a true muscle car feeling.

Charger received a visual makeover in the 2011 and Dodge changed the cuts and angels on this beast. The shape remained more or less the same except for sharper lines and bolder angles, basically it’s a much aggressive looking design than its predecessor. Even with its similar and yet not so similar design, exteriors packs a list of highlights. The most appreciated and noticeable is the retro styled wide LED tail bar which covers the entire rear profile. The dual hood scallops, the crosshair Dodge signature on the grille and flamboyant side moulding make for the rest of the highlights. The redesigning of Charger has won high respects as it profoundly displays a mean and aggressive muscular personality.

Amongst all its improvisation, the most impressive and thoughtful is the complete interior redesign. The previous generation faced major criticism due to a bland and dull looking layout which used nasty edges and cheap hard plastic. The new Charger changes it all, soft touch materials on the dashboard, easy to use controls, user friendly and attractive gauges, everything on the interiors make you want to keep looking at it. Elegant craftsmanship covers seats and steering wheel in premium Nappa leather. The seats are 8-way power adjustable (6-way adjustable on basic) can be heated which is a completely non required feature in this region. A small but new add-on is the heated and cooled cup holders.

On the tech list, Charger is not shy. A huge 8.4” (4.3” on base) touch screen lies on the dashboard and includes a DVD/CD/MP3/Aux/USB supported system. It includes the Uconnect system with voice commands and Bluetooth capability. It also includes Gracenotes database system for music album art and track ID. Every feature on the interior can be adjusted through this touch screen Uconnect system and believe me, this is the most user friendly and simple entertainment interface for vehicles available in the market today. It took merely 15 seconds for me to sync my iPod to this system. This system is connected to  6 speakers with a 276 watt amplifier and for the music lovers a premium Alpine music system is available as an option with 9 speakers, an 8” sub-woofer and 506 watts of power. Other appreciated optional features include blind spot indicator, Rear Cross Path detection, approach lamps, ParkView rear back-up camera, Rain Sensing Wipers, SmartBeam headlights and the list is endless.

The design and layout of the interiors is very tastefully done. At the same time it’s comfortable and spacious as well. Leg and head room on both rows is ample. A minor design flaw is the huge tunnel below the middle seat which makes it an uncomfortable space to sit. Except for this glitch, the rest of the interior is extremely well done.

Dodge Charger is available with a choice of three power options as mentioned above. The base SE model is powered by a Pentastar 3.6L engine. This is focused towards fuel efficiency and is mated to a 8-speed automatic transmission. It produces 292HP and 353 NM of torque. The mid range variant is the R/T (road/track) version which is powered by a 5.7L HEMI engine and produces 370HP and 536 NM of torque. This engine is powerful and amazing to drive and is equipped with fuel saver technology. The true beast of them all is the newly launched 6.4L 16-valve V8 HEMI SRT8 (street and racing technology) engine. This mammoth produces 470 HP at 6000RPM. All the engines are based on a rear-wheel drive platform.

The feel of this engine rolling down the street is unexplainable. The power is felt from the moment you ignite the engine and a touch the throttle, it pushes you far back into your seat. On the downside the steering does feel a little rigid when parking and when at higher speeds it strains to handle Charger’s heavy mass. Apart from this the SRT8 is a killer, it displays the rich heritage of high powered “American Muscles”.

For safety, Charger is packed with front, side and side curtain airbags. ABS, traction control and brake assist with electronic stability control system make Charger a safe place to be in. Other safety features include Electronic stability control, Rain brake support/ ready alert braking, hill start assist, hydraulic assist booster, keyless entry system with remote start system. Dodge has taken a bold step in making their vehicles safer and for that all the above features fun standard on all variants.

Dodge Charger 2012 is not for the people who like to glide down the road in sheer luxury and enjoy a quite drive. Charger is made for the people who love muscular power and enjoy the growling sound from the exhausts. Charger 2012 brings loads of options from fuel economy to track performance package and with its mean and aggressive styling it is a very compelling dynamic package.

More Information:
Dubai
Dodge Official website: www.mideast.dodge.com
Dodge Authorized dealers: www.dealer.mideast.dodge.com
Saudi Arabia
Dodge Official website: www.mideast.dodge.com
Dodge Authorized dealers: www.mideast.dodge.com/dealer/saudi

Retail Price*:
SE 3.6L – AED 106,000 – 126,000.
R/T 5.7L – AED 125,000 – 149,000.
SRT8 6.4 – AED 190,000 – 195,000.

*Price may vary as per features and options selected.

Posted by Monesh Konchady on April 1, 2012. Filed under Car Review,Dodge. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry