The familiar five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift function returns, which in manual mode will hold onto gears right up to the rev limiter to give driver's full control of gear changes.
An adaptive damping suspension system highlights the chassis changes with an auto and sport modes. Auto takes into account vehicle speed, steering angle, steering speed, throttle and lateral and vertical accelerations to automatically adjust the suspension in accordance to conditions. In sport, the damping system defaults to a higher damping rate for aggressive or track driving. The car rides on 20-inch wheels wrapped in standard Goodyear Eagle RS-A 2 tires or available Goodyear F1 Supercar rubber. To slow things down, Brembo is once again called on for four-piston calipers in both front and back.
Visually setting the 300 SRT8 apart from the rest of the 300 lineup are a new front fascia with integrated brake cooling ducts, grille with upper and lower black chrome surrounds, half-inch lower ride height, 20-inch, seven-spoke SRT wheels, lower rear fascia and four-inch dual exhaust tips. The interior enjoys the exclusive SRT flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters, real carbon fiber trim and an updated Performance Pages integrated into the center color 8.4-inch touchscreen. In addition to 0-60 mph times, quarter-mile times, 60-0 braking distance and lateral and longitudinal g-forces, the new program adds steering angle, horsepower and torque outputs and numerous engine gauges.
What's it like to drive?
If you take into account the Dodge Challenger SRT8 and Dodge Charger SRT8, the 300 SRT8 sports the softest suspension tuning to cater to customers who put a premium on a luxury ride quality. The result is that around Willow Springs, the 300 exhibited a little more body roll through corners, but for a luxury sedan, it still produces a healthy amount of stick through corners. Push it a little too far and it will understeer slightly. Sport mode also dials in a pleasing amount of allowable slip before reeling you back in, which was fun through the tight right handers around Willow.
We're not entirely sure how many 300 SRT8 owners will participate in an open track day at a local road course, but the car is quite capable with plenty of grunt to shoot out of corners from the Hemi V8, stout brakes that hold up well lap after hot lap, and handling prowess that won't have you sliding off into the weeds.
On road, it's comfortable and quiet. The glowing gauges give the cabin a premium look and cabin build quality and materials are impressive.
Downsides? The five-speed automatic transmission doesn't rev match for downshifts, which is something we thought SRT would have addressed for its performance. Steering weight is also too light with little feedback.
Do I want it?
By the time you add in destination costs and gas guzzler taxes, the base price of the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 will probably creep close to $50,000. Even so, for the amount of performance packed between the fenders, upgraded suspension, plusher interior and overall refinement, this Chrysler is an attractive luxury performance sedan. Its styling remains low key, yet still does give small hints that it's no ordinary 300. Consider it a sleeper that will easily make short work of 90 percent of the sedans that pull up along side of you at a light--or a road course.
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
On Sale: Third quarter 2011
Base Price: $50,000 (est)
Drivetrain: 6.4-liter 470-hp, 470 lb-ft V8; five-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4,365 lb
0-60 mph: 4.8 sec (est)
Fuel Economy (EPA): 16 mpg (est.)
