Mopar Muscle Cars - SRT - The Rebirth of the Musclecar

Now with a stronger nose, creased rockers, and specialized rear fascia, the SRT8 Magnum makes the already sporty-looking RWD wagon look down-right menacing. Factory 20-inch "dubs" engraved with the SRT logo show off the large red calipers and discs. Special ducting next to the bottom fog lamps help to tunnel cool air into the heavy breathing 6.1L.

Easily the most underrated and unexpectedly impressive performers of the SRT line are the Jeep Grand Cherokees. New body panels, exhaust systems, wheels, tires, and drivetrain dynamics, the SRT Jeep clocks eye-popping numbers reminiscent of Mopar's past. With low-13-second quarters in nearly all weather conditions and 0-to-60 times under 5 seconds, you'd think you were racing a '69 Hemi-powered Road Runner.

The Jeep's interior is just as impressive as the rest of the lineup. Leather accents and racy labeling never let you forget you're driving an SRT8.

Possibly the single most anticipated vehicle since the first Viper in 1991, the '08 Challenger shook the automotive world to the core. Strikingly classic while not being a direct retro-redesign like the GT Mustang, the new Challenger concept features the venerable 6.1L Hemi while in R/T trim. Though it is doubtful the base R/T will see anything more than the 5.7L plant, the arrival of the SRT version is unavoidable. DaimlerChrysler announced the R/T Challenger will feature the first manual six-speed available with the Hemi.

Ever seen one of these? Unless it came from a custom body shop or you live in Europe, you wouldn't have. Marked the Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring Edition, the 300C-married-to-a-Dodge-Magnum is an interesting take. Frankly, we don't see why DCX doesn't offer the Chrysler 300C or the SRT8 version in wagon form in the states.

The entrance and registration tent for Daytona Beach's SRT Experience. enthusiast and SRT8 Jeep-owner, Brit White, attended this event.

Instruction was provided at the beginning of the event day to familiarize the attendees with the course, the vehicles at hand, and the power and potential these machines made. Only those brave enough to purchase an SRT at the dealership were cordially invited to the race day. many had never owned a machine with so much available power before.

The day included some cat-and-mouse exercises on the open track with speeds racing up into the triple digits.

Brit White says about the SRT Experience, "One tip I soon found out was to always try to get the SRT that had the big white Mopar decal on the back windows. These vehicles had been tricked out even further than normal SRT vehicles by the factory with cold air kits and bigger exhaust systems. These were the fastest SRTs in the field and worth the sprint to get into a tweaked one first."

The makeshift dragstrip wasn't meant for competition, but rather instruction. At the conclusion of the day, the SRT8 Jeep Grand Cherokee had not only earned its stripes in the eyes of the test drivers, but also proved itself as an all-around performer. SRT Jeep-owner Brit White has even admitted to harassing local Corvette owners with his silver SUV.