Road test: Dodge Charger SRT8 muscles up

Despite upward fuel-economy pressures from the government and ever-fluctuating gas prices at the pump, there will always be drivers who enjoy the rush of putting pedal to metal, the juvenile thrill of green-light skirmishes, the personal challenge of tearing up curvy roads as if they were race tracks.

Take the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 -- one of four high-performance models Chrysler Group is reintroducing to establish its new stand-alone SRT brand. (Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Challenger are also available as SRTs.) Launching for the 2012 model year, SRT -- short for Street and Racing Technology -- is an evolution of the 10-year-old performance division that hearkens back to the good old days of American muscle-car indulgence.

Yet, along with the guttural exhaust of the SRT's all-new 6.4-liter V-8 comes a whiff of environmental responsibility. Not only does the new engine make the most horsepower and torque of any powertrain Chrysler Group has ever mass- produced, it also achieves better fuel economy than most fire-breathing monsters of its size.

The 2012 SRT8 engine is equipped with a so-called active exhaust and a new cylinder deactivation system that can shut down four of the car's eight cylinders -- both of which help increase fuel economy as much as 25 percent at highway speeds.

Starting at an estimated price of $46,660, the Charger SRT8 boasts a top speed of 175 mph, 470 horsepower, a matching 470 pound-feet of torque and a combined fuel economy estimate of 17 miles per gallon, as measured by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Available only as a five-speed automatic, the transmission is equipped with paddle shifters that give more control to drivers to hold a gear at a higher rpm.

Its dashboard is inlaid with a touch screen that toggles between a sport mode with a new active damping system that stiffens the suspension to the point of discomfort on even moderately rough roads, and a regular mode that's more relaxed and appealing to passengers.

The center console is outfitted with a large LED performance screen equipped with timers and G-force figures, as well as real-time horsepower and torque calculations, among other things.

One look at the cockpit, and it's clear the Charger SRT8 is a driver's car. All the displays -- both in front of the driver and in the center stack -- are lassoed together and curved toward the front left seat. But there is enough space and comfort throughout the car to appeal to those who tag along for the ride.

Although the front seats could be more cupping in hard turns, they are, at least, ventilated -- a great comfort feature during a hot day at the track.

On the highway, the Charger is so smoothly powerful that it feels as if it's traveling much more slowly than it actually is. There was positively no heavy breathing, though there was quite a bit of slurping. My fuel economy averaged 14.8 mpg.

2012 DODGE CHARGER SRT8

Base price: $46,660 (estimated)

Price as tested: $46,660 (estimated)

Powertrain: Fuel injected, DOHC, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, two valves per cylinder with cylinder deactivation, five-speed automatic

Wheelbase: 120.2 inches

Overall length: 200.3 inches

Curb weight: 4,365 pounds

Maximum horsepower: 470 at 6,000 rpm

Maximum torque: 470 pound-feet at 4,300 rpm

0 to 60: In the high 4s

EPA estimated fuel economy: 14 mpg city/23 mpg highway

Bottom Line: Steakhouse on four wheels.