The all-new Chrysler 300 SRT8 with its 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 offers ultimate
combination of world-class luxury and performance in Chrysler's most powerful,
best-handling sedan ever.
As the king of the lineup, the 2012 Chrysler
300 SRT8 adds high-performance hardware to the elegant proportions and head
turning design of the 2011 Chrysler 300C to provide the ultimate combination of
world-class luxury, power and handling. With an estimated 465 horsepower and 465
lb.-ft. of torque, the 300 SRT8 is targeted at customers that seek heart
pounding, adrenaline filled excitement, but don't want to sacrifice comfort and
innovative features to get it.
The Street and Racing Technology (SRT)
performance engineering team builds upon the all-new 2011 Chrysler 300 sedan
already executed for a world-class luxury experience, to deliver Chrysler's most
powerful and best handling model ever.
Projected performance numbers
include 0-60 mph acceleration in the high 4-second range; quarter mile in high
12 second range; 0-100-0 mph in less than 16 seconds, top speed of 175 mph and
stopping power from 60-0 mph in 120 feet.
Owners of any Chrysler Group
SRT vehicle receive one day of professional driving instruction from the Richard
Petty Racing School as part of the SRT Track Experience, designed to maximize
their driving knowledge and skills on the street or track. Sessions are held
throughout the year at selected tracks.
The return of the 300 SRT8 to
the Chrysler lineup in 2012 evokes a strong comparison to the original
high-performance production car of its time - the 1955 Chrysler 300. Known for
simple, strong lines, excellent engineering, high levels of luxury and
outstanding performance with the first modern American V-8 engine to produce 300
horsepower, the first Chrysler 300 (C-300) was styled by Virgil Exner, who
radically redesigned the entire Chrysler line and created what they called "The
Forward Look" in 1955. Without much chrome on the sides, his designs were
simple, but strong. Exner is credited with creating the illusion of fast,
forward movement.
The Chrysler C-300 won on both the road course and the
"flying mile" at Daytona in 1955. In 1956, the Chrysler 300B model won both
events again. In fact, the Chrysler 300s dominated NASCAR competition in 1955
and 1956, taking the overall championship in both years. A legendary and
luxurious performance car was born. The "letter cars" quickly became the most
desirable of the Chrysler lineup and became known as the "Beautiful
Brutes."
Awe-inspiring powertrain Under the hood of
the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8, the new 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 makes its debut in the
Chrysler brand product lineup delivering an estimated 465 horsepower and 465
lb.-ft. of torque, up 40 horsepower and 45 lb.-ft. over the 6.1-liter HEMI V-8
it replaces.
The improved torque output - including an additional 80
lb.-ft. at 2,900 rpm - allows for inspired standing starts and improved
straight-line performance while new, performance-tuned motor mounts improve idle
stability and ride control at any speed. An active intake manifold and high-lift
camshaft with cam phasing provides maximum low-end torque while optimizing
high-end power.
Even with the elevated power numbers, an estimated
25-percent fuel economy increase on the highway is achieved by use of a new for
2012 active valve exhaust system that allows the standard Fuel Saver technology
(four-cylinder mode) to engage over a wider rpm range. The new active exhaust
system also allows for straight-through mid and rear mufflers for a throaty
exhaust note under engine load.
Standard steering wheel-mounted paddle
shifters join the standard Auto Stick on the floor console. Both are mated to
the proven five-speed automatic transmission, allowing a choice of spirited
shifting on the road and the race track.
Both methods give the driver
the ability to manually shift the transmission. The transmission controller
calibration in "Auto" mode prevents situations that might over rev the engine;
while in "Sport" mode, it allows the driver full control of the shifting
schedule. Fully adaptive electronic control of all shifting makes the powertrain
more responsive while minimizing harshness.
Outstanding ride and handling New
for 2012 is an Adaptive Damping Suspension (ADS) system that is tuned
specifically for the Chrysler 300 SRT8 to offer a compliant and comfortable
ride. The ADS system also uses a wide range of on-road and driver inputs - such
as vehicle speed, steering angle, steering speed, brake torque, throttle
position and lateral and vertical accelerations - to automatically tune the
suspension for specific conditions when necessary.
In addition, drivers
can manually choose between "Auto" and "Sport" settings that quickly change the
shock damping and harshness characteristics from everyday commuting to more
spirited driving situations. The performance SRT-tuned, fully-hydraulic
steering system also has been improved with a new, heavy-duty pump and revised
gearing to give drivers more direct feel and on-center response. New
seven-spoke, 20-inch lightweight forged aluminum wheels and available three- or
four-season tires provide great looks with fun-to-drive performance and
handling.
Outstanding braking
SRT vehicles are well known for their world-class stopping power and the
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 features 14.2 inch (front) and 13.8 inch (rear)
vented/slotted rotors with four-piston Brembo calipers painted in silver finish.
Improved brake cooling and fade performance comes courtesy of new underbody
belly pan with integrated brake ducting. The standard Ready Alert Braking
system anticipates situations when the driver may initiate an emergency brake
stop and engages the electronic stability control pump to set brake pads against
rotors in order to decrease the time required for full brake
application.
Aggressive and functional exterior with available Black
Chrome Package. An exclusive new front fascia has a modern, yet timeless
appearance that is carried through with the all-new grille and new Chrysler wing
badge. The black chrome upper and lower grille surrounds and rear valance strip
are part of the available Black Chrome Package.
The 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 is one-half inch lower when compared to the
base car and features new SRT-exclusive side sill cladding painted in matching
body color for the "planted" look of a true sports sedan. The rear includes a
unique lower fascia with chrome accent bar, new 4-inch round dual exhaust tips
and a modified SRT8 decklid badge with new black accent. Rounding out the Black
Chrome Package are the black chrome accent spear and exclusive black chrome
wheels.
Race inspired and functional
interiorThe all-new interior environment combines world-class luxury
accommodations with performance-oriented technology and appointments. An
all-new leather-wrapped, heated, SRT-exclusive steering wheel features a unique
rim section with a flattened bottom surface showing the SRT logo. Standard
paddle shift controls flank both sides of the new contoured palm rests while all
audio and Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) controls are accessible
from the horizontal spokes on the steering wheel. For the high-performance
look, real carbon fiber interior trim pieces are integrated into the new
instrument panel, door spears and shifter bezel and new racing style brake and
gas pedal pads are standard.
The new full-color graphic EVIC with
exclusive Performance Pages includes timers for 0-60 mph, one-eighth mile and
quarter-mile times, 60-0 braking distance, along with lateral and longitudinal
g-forces within the touchscreen display.
The new instrument panel's
8.4-inch color touchscreen display - the segment's largest standard display -
also has all the same Performance Pages data as the EVIC, and is further
expanded to include steering angle, horsepower, and torque outputs along with
engine gauges. The display is customizable to a driver selectable background.
An available Premium Leather Interior Package offers Poltrona Frau "Foligno"
leather wrapped upper door trim panels, instrument panel, cluster brow and
center console side panels. Nappa leather covers the door bolster, armrest and
center console armrest. The standard heated and ventilated front seats have
active head rests with the SRT logo embroidered in seat backs. Rear seats also
are heated for passenger comfort. Modified door trim panels feature unique
bolster material and accent stitching on arm rests to match the
seats.
Safety and security
The all-new 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 features more than 70 advanced
safety and security features, including standard Keyless Enter-N-Go and
electronic stability control (ESC) with segment-exclusive Ready Alert Braking
and Rain Brake Support safety features to improve overall vehicle handling and
performance.
Chrysler brand's signature SafetyTec Group is available on
the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 and packages many first-time-available features
including adaptive-forward lighting (AFL), high-intensity discharge (HID)
projector high and low-beams with automatic headlamp leveling, Forward Collision
Warning (FCW) with adaptive-cruise control (ACC), Blind-spot monitoring (BSM)
with Rear Cross Path (RCP) detection, ParkSense® front and rear park assist
system, LED-illuminated rear fog lamps, exterior mirrors with supplemental turn
signals and approach lamp.
In addition, standard front-row reactive head
restraints, standard full-length side-curtain air bags, driver's knee bag and
standard front seat-mounted side-thorax air bags offer enhanced occupant
protection to passengers in the event of a collision.
Connectivity and Infotainment New for 2012
is the available SRT performance sound system from Harman Kardon. Producing the
ultimate in sound quality, the 900-watt, 19-speaker system includes:
- Seven 3.5-inch Unity coaxial mid-range speakers with seven integrated
tweeters located in the instrument panel, rear doors and rear deck
- Two 6 x 9-inch subwoofers located in the front doors
- Two 6 x 9-inch subwoofers in the rear deck
- One 10-inch subwoofer in the rear deck
- 12-channel, high-speed amplifier
The state-of-the-art
Uconnect Touch 8.4N system provides all of the next-generation mobile
infotainment and multimedia items to keep passengers connected between any
destinations. With the segment's largest standard touchscreen display
(8.4-inches), the easy-to-use system delivers world-class functionality with an
intuitive user interface that was benchmarked against the best E-segment sedans
from Europe, Asia and North America.
Segment-exclusive Garmin navigation on the premium Uconnect Touch 8.4N model
provides easy-to-use maps, lane guidance and more than 6 million points of
interest. SIRIUS Travel Link on the premium Uconnect Touch 8.4N provides
real-time weather, fuel prices, sports scores and movie theater information to
make any trip more efficient and fun. SIRIUS Traffic provides real-time traffic
reports where available.
Uconnect Voice Command, Uconnect Touch,
steering-wheel controls and familiar center-stack controls all work in synergy
to make the experience intuitive and simple for the driver.