2006 Dodge Charger Review

Specifications

Dodge Squeaks More Power from Awesome HEMI V8

“Go Man Go!” metallic orange paint? “Top Banana” yellow? And whats with the matte black stripes and 70s style R/T badges?

Its quite clear that Dodge wants its motorsport and muscle car heritage brought to the forefront as part of its campaign to sell the new 2006 Charger, as if it will need anything more than the HEMI badge on its flanks and the promise of Chrysler Groups competent Mercedes-Benz derived LX architecture.

Its also easy to see that the folks on the Ram brands product development team are having the time of their lives, conjuring up two hot versions of what is expected to be an upcoming best-seller.

The Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, either dressed in flamboyant yellow or outrageous orange, was part of the Chrysler Group display at last months 2005 Chicago Auto Show.

Being that this is Chrysler Group were talking about, these arent merely mock-up teasers for muscle car fans to drool over, but rather real limited production models that will be available soon after the model goes on sale this summer.

“Go Man Go!” metallic orange and its associated stripe package is similar to a paint scheme used on the 1970 Dodge Charger, while “Top Banana” is another high-impact heritage paint name that will be sure to pull eyeballs.

Of course, exclusive colors and stripe packages arent all that these special edition Chargers offer their prospective owners. Each gets a distinctive front fascia with a chin spoiler, a black honeycomb grille, “signature heritage R/T badging” and a black rear decklid spoiler.

Finishing off the exterior package are large, chrome, dual-exhaust tips as well as 18-inch polished alloy rims with low-gloss, jet-black painted pockets. The Daytona R/T will also get all-season P235/55 R18 performance tires, plus a specially tuned high-performance suspension package including a performance-tuned 9-land steering gear and Nivomat self-leveling rear shock absorbers standard.

Under the hood, the 5.7-liter HEMI engine will feature a HEMI-orange engine cover, another heritage styling theme. It not only looks more intense, but the Daytona R/Ts have been equipped to go quicker too. The uprated HEMI produces an additional 10-horsepower over the current 340-horsepower stock 5.7-liter unit, totaling at 350-horsepower. Torque remains constant at 390 lb-ft - as if more is needed.

Once inside, driver and passengers will enjoy distinctive performance-oriented front seats that feature suede inserts and embroidered “Daytona” logos on the front headrests. Front and rear seats will get body-color accent stitching, mirroring the stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel.

A matching body-colored center stack bezel, plus a “Daytona Limited edition” display on the electronic cluster, join a sequentially numbered limited-edition Daytona badge on the instrument panel to complete the unique Daytona R/T interior.

Production of all 2006 Dodge Charger models, which include the SE, SXT and now the R/T models, starts this spring at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario, with cars becoming available throughout North America by early summer.

An SRT-8 model, featuring the automakers 425-horsepower 6.1-liter HEMI V8, is expected sometime thereafter, but nothing has been officially announced.