The 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8 is one good looking car. Everywhere I went during my week of test-driving the car, people asked me what it was all about. With its aggressive styling and glossy black wheels, this sedan simply demands attention.
The Chrysler 300 SRT8 sedan is targeted at customers that want excitement, but don’t want to sacrifice comfort and innovative features usually found on a luxury car.With head turning designs inside and out, the 300 SRT8 has an excellent combination of luxury, power and handling
Performance numbers include 0-60 mph acceleration in the high four-second range; quarter mile in high 12-second range; 0-100- 0 mph in less than 16 seconds, top speed of 175 mph and stopping power from 60-0 mph in 120 feet.
Under the hood of the 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8, the 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 delivers 470 hp and 470 pounds-feet of torque. The high torque output delivers incredible standing starts and straight-line performance, while performance-tuned motor mounts improve idle stability and ride control at any speed. An active intake manifold and high-lift camshaft with cam phasing provides maximum lowend torque while optimizing high-end power.
On the highway, up to 23 mpg is achieved by use of an active valve exhaust system that allows the standard Fuel Saver Technology (four-cylinder mode) to engage over a wide rpm range. The active exhaust system also allows for straight-through mid and rear mufflers for a throaty exhaust note under engine load.
The five-speed automatic transmission is controlled through standard steering wheelmounted paddle shifters or the center-console mounted Auto Stick, allowing for a choice of shifting on both the road and the racetrack. Both methods give drivers the ability to manually select specific gears on the transmission.
New for 2013 is an improved adaptive damping suspension (ADS) system that is expanded to three modes and tuned specifically for the Chrysler 300 SRT8 to offer a comfortable ride on the street, yet easily switched to handle on-track conditions. In “Auto” mode, a wide range of on-road and driver inputs – such as vehicle speed, steering angle, steering speed, brake torque, throttle position and longitudinal/lateral/vertical accelerations – automatically tune the suspension for specific conditions.
In “Sport” mode, the damping system rebound and compression is locked to a higher damping rate. Drivers can easily choose between settings with a press of a button on the center stack to quickly change the shock damping characteristics from “Auto” for everyday commuting to “Sport” for more spirited driving situations.
In “Track” mode, the higher damping rates combine with a performance shifting and gear holding feature that allows the driver full shift control when using the steering wheel mounted paddle controls or AutoStick.
Base pricing on the 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8 sedan ranges from $25,795 to $44,995.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or by addressing email to Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com
