Chrysler Group's SRT, now a separate brand run by design chief Ralph Gilles, promised top-shelf power when it showed its new ultra-high-performance models for 2012 on this past auto show season: the Chrysler 300 SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 that join the Dodge Challenger SRT8 392. Turned out when SRT rolled out the new models for media at Willow Springs in the California desert, the company had underpromised and overdelivered.
Chrysler's SRT brand announces pricing for 2012 SRT8 models, hereChrysler had said their new 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 would produced 465 hp. and 465 lbs.-ft. of torque. But the 2012 SRT8 Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT8 showed up rated 470 hp. and 470 lbs.-ft. of torque. And the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is rated at 470 hp. and 465 lbs. ft.
Interesting review of Grand Cherokee SRT8 -- a Cayenne-killer -- in Washington Post here
Will Gilles give us a revived Dodge Magnum SRT8 wagon? here
Normally, we expect automakers to overpromise, to say the least, when it comes to the hype at auto shows. Pretty rare when one understates the case. But then again, Chrysler has a lot riding on these image-building muscle cars. No wonder SRT chief Ralph Gilles kissed a fender of one his new babies, above, at an auto show earlier this year.