First Test: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

MotorTrend

We run Chryslerâs 6.4-liter V-8-powered 300 SRT8 through our standard instrumented tests then hit the track to see how theory well translates to reality.

Transcript

00:00 The Chrysler 300 SRT8 gets substantially more style added to the standard car's already

00:15 plentiful swagger, despite the absence of significant exterior modifications during

00:20 the SRT8's transformation.

00:22 The 300 simply receives a tastefully appointed dark grille and muted gray chrome wheels.

00:28 Underneath the blend of distinctly American and borrowed Bentley cues lies a surprising

00:34 and immensely gratifying machine.

00:36 The SRT8's single-cam 6.4-liter V8 grunts out 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque

00:44 while propelling the 300 to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds, and then on to the quarter

00:51 mile in 13 seconds flat.

00:54 The Chrysler is inexplicably two-tenths of a second slower in a straight line than the

00:58 identically equipped Charger SRT8.

01:02 The 300 brakes from 60 to 0 in 114 feet and can pull 0.88 average lateral Gs.

01:10 Chrysler's SRT8 goes around our figure-eight course in 25.8 seconds at an average of 0.72

01:17 Gs.

01:19 Mild understeer is the default response, but the gas pedal acts as a yaw input device.

01:24 Careful throttle control can induce easy mid-corner corrections.

01:28 Have a heavy right foot?

01:29 Slam it down and you can drift until the tires disappear.

01:33 But how does it do on the track?

01:35 We go to associate road test editor Carlos Lago to find out.

01:39 "Flat on the throttle, third gear, 100 miles an hour.

01:43 That engine just makes this car sing.

01:45 I love this as it gets closer to red line, into fourth gear at 125, entering turn one.

01:51 Wait for it.

01:52 Heavy on the brakes.

01:54 Those 14-inch rotors make that car stop like you won't believe.

01:57 Little bit of understeer coming out of one, down into two.

02:00 Two is a long, constant radius.

02:02 Here you get to feel the tires work as hard as they can.

02:05 Make this 4,300-pound car just grip as hard as it can.

02:10 You really feel it want to push, but it just doesn't.

02:13 There's a surprising amount of grip in the tires of this thing as we enter wide flat

02:17 on to third again.

02:19 Coming up to turn three, big braking again, down to second.

02:23 Here it sets up the car beautifully for a little bit of drift.

02:26 You can power through it if you like, having fun like that.

02:33 Into second turn in.

02:34 There you get a little bit of light off the drop throttle.

02:36 Oversteer, always fun to do.

02:38 Feel a little bit of oversteer on turn in.

02:41 Into third gear, over the hill, gets a little light as you crest.

02:44 Yeah, there it is.

02:45 Flat again on the back straight.

02:46 The engine is effortless in its acceleration.

02:50 And we're entering turn eight, the hardest at 120.

02:53 Brakes to 100.

02:55 Turn in.

02:56 You can carry more speed through here.

02:57 I just don't trust this car that much yet enough to do that.

03:00 Sailing around.

03:01 This turn is so long, you could get your taxes in here, but you still have to be careful

03:05 because it does decrease at the end, and it will bite you if you mess up the track, not

03:10 the car.

03:11 Hit that last apex, go flat again, third gear on, back onto the straight.

03:20 Inside the 8.4 inch infotainment screen can tell you how many lateral G's the 300 is

03:25 generating.

03:26 The rest of the interior receives the requisite SRT8 treatment.

03:29 Badges, a flat bottom steering wheel with a thick rim, and seats with large bolsters.

03:34 The SRT buckets look the part, but the side bolstering lacks lateral support and has a

03:39 tendency to interfere with your elbow during quick steering inputs.

03:43 Our biggest complaint falls on the five-speed automatic.

03:46 It's in need of a major upgrade, which is reportedly in the offing in a year or two.

03:51 Until then, the 300 SRT8 remains a uniquely American, sports-oriented luxury car.

03:57 A rewarding machine that the Germans should keep a careful eye on.

04:01 [Music]

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