ROAD TEST
SPECIFICATIONSPRICEAS TESTED ...................................... $39,165BASE .................................................. $31,220
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan OPTIONS: Road & Track package, $3000; Driver Confidence Group, $995; sunroof, $950; Adaptive Cruise Control Group, $925; Sound Group, $650; Driver Convenience Group, $575; Navigation/Rear Back-Up Camera Group, $450; Super Track Pak, $400STANDARD: power windows, seats, and locks; remote locking; cruise control; tilting and telescoping steering wheelAUDIO SYSTEM: satellite radio; CD player; DVD entertainment; minijack, USB, media-card, and Bluetooth-audio inputs; 9 speakers
ENGINEV-8, iron block and aluminum headsBORE X STROKE .... 3.92 x 3.58 in, 99.5 x 90.9 mmDISPLACEMENT ................... 345 cu in, 5654 ccCOMPRESSION RATIO .............................. 10.5:1VALVE GEAR: pushrods, 2 valves per cylinder, hydraulic lifters, variable intake-valve timingREDLINE/FUEL CUTOFF ........... 5700/5800 rpm POWER .............................. 370 hp @ 5250 rpmTORQUE .......................... 395 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm
DRIVETRAINTRANSMISSION ............. 5-speed automatic with
manual shifting mode
FINAL-DRIVE RATIO ................................ 3.06:1
GEAR RATIO MPH PER MAX SPEED 1000 RPM IN GEAR (rpm)1 ........ 3.59 ..... 7.5 ............ 43 mph (5700)
2 ........ 2.19 ...... 12.3 .......... 70 mph (5700)3 ........ 1.41 ....... 19.1 ............ 109 mph (5700)4 ........ 1.00 ..... 26.9 .......... 143 mph (5300)5 ........ 0.83 ..... 32.4 .......... 143 mph (4400) CHASSISunit construction with a rubber-isolated rear subframeBODY MATERIAL: steel and aluminum stampings
STEERINGrack-and-pinion with variable electrohydraulic power assistRATIO ..................................................... 14.4:1TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK ................................ 2.6TURNING CIRCLE CURB-TO-CURB ............ 37.7 ft
SUSPENSIONF: ind, control arm and 2 links, coil springs, anti-roll barR: ind, 5 links, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKESF: 13.6 x 1.1-in vented discR: 12.6 x 0.9-in vented discSTABILITY CONTROL: partially defeatable, fully defeatable
WHEELS AND TIRESWHEEL SIZE/CONSTRUCTION ........... 8.0 x 20 in/
cast aluminumTIRES ...................... Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar
245/45ZR-20 99YSPARE ............................ high-pressure compactINFLATION ............................. F: 32 psi R: 32 psi
DODGE CHARGER R/T
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONSWHEELBASE ................................ 120.2 inLENGTH ...................................... 199.9 inWIDTH .......................................... 75.0 inHEIGHT ....................................... 58.4 inFRONT TRACK .............................. 63.4 inREAR TRACK ................................ 63.8 inGROUND CLEARANCE ...................... 5.1 in
INTERIOR DIMENSIONSSAE VOLUME ........... F: 53 cu ft R: 49 cu ftTRUNK .......................................... 15 cu ft
CAR AND DRIVER TEST RESULTSCOMPETITORS
ACURA TL SH-AWD (2012) (3.7-LITER V-6, 305 HP, 6-SP AUTO)DODGE CHARGER R/T (5.7-LITER V-8, 370 HP, 5-SP AUTO)FORD TAURUS SHO (3.5-LITER V-6, 365 HP, 6-SP AUTO)HYUNDAI GENESIS 4.6 (4.6-LITER V-8, 375 HP, 6-SP AUTO)
HANDLINGROADHOLDING, 300-FT-DIA SKIDPAD ............... 0.85 gUNDERSTEER ..................... MODERATECENTER-OF-GRAVITY HEIGHT .... 23.3 in
TEST NOTES: The Super Track Pak option includes fully defeatable stability control. With the car stopped, hit the off button once, then press and hold it again for five seconds. Skidpad handling is still stable; tail-out sideways action requires deliberate throttle and steering inputs.
TEST NOTES: Launches are dead simple. Just flat-foot the gas pedal from idle and watch the speed climb. Wheelspin is mostly absent. Even in manual shifting mode, the Charger will upshift at redline.
ACCELERATIONZERO TO SECONDS
30 MPH ............................................... 2.0 40 MPH ............................................... 2.850 MPH ............................................... 4.060 MPH ......................................... 5.2 70 MPH ............................................... 6.680 MPH .............................................. 8.590 MPH .............................................. 10.5100 MPH ..................................... 12.7110 MPH .............................................. 15.5120 MPH ............................................. 19.3130 MPH .................................... 23.8140 MPH ............................................. 29.1
STREET START, 5–60 MPH .............. 5.4 TOP GEAR, 30–50 MPH ................... 3.0TOP GEAR, 50–70 MPH ................... 3.61/4-MILE ......... 13.8 SEC @ 104 MPHTOP SPEED (GOV LTD) ............... 143 MPH
INTERIOR SOUND LEVELIDLE ............................................. 42 dBAFULL THROTTLE ........................ 77 dBA70-MPH CRUISING ..................... 70 dBA
FUELCAPACITY ................................... 19.1 galRECOMMENDED OCTANE ............... 89 EPA CITY/HWY ..................... 16/25 MPG C/D OBSERVED ...................... 16 MPG
WEIGHTCURB ........................................... 4345 lbPER HORSEPOWER ....................... 11.7 lbDISTRIBUTION .......... F: 53.1% R: 46.9%TOWING CAPACITY ...................... 1000 lbGVWR .......................................... 5300 lb
TEST NOTES: Not many cars that weigh this much can stop this short, and we’re impressed with the fade resistance. Our test car came with performance brake pads that surely contributed to its commendable 163-foot stopping figure.
BRAKING, 70 TO ZERO MPHFIRST STOP .................................... 163 ftSHORTEST STOP ........................ 163 ftLONGEST STOP ............................. 169 ftFADE RATING .............................. SLIGHT
NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTSThe iron-block, pushrod V-8 may look like a dinosaur, but Dodge has incorporated modern technology such as cylinder deactivation and variable camshaft timing to achieve EPA fuel-economy ratings close to those of some V-6 competitors.
tested by MICHAEL AUSTIN in Chelsea, Michigan
CURRENT BASE PRICE* dollars x 1000*Base price includes freight, any performance options, and applicable gas-guzzler tax.
CHARGER R/T TAURUS SHOTL SH-AWDGENESIS 4.6
30 35 40 45
EPA FUEL ECONOMY city & highway, mpg
TL SH-AWDTAURUS SHOGENESIS 4.6CHARGER R/T
16 18 24 26 28
ACCELERATION 0–60 & 1/4-mile, seconds
TAURUS SHOCHARGER R/TGENESIS 4.6TL SH-AWD
4 5 6 13 14 15
ROADHOLDING 300-foot skidpad, g
TL SH-AWDCHARGER R/TTAURUS SHOGENESIS 4.6
0.82 0.84 0.86 0.88
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CD0811_charger_r1.indd 62 6/3/11 4:45 PM
