| Step back in time some fifty years ago and | | | | |
| you would see that the American automotive | | | | So, what qualifies a vehicle to wear the SRT |
| market was much different than it is today. | | | | designation? Several things including: |
| Three companies dominated the scene: GM, | | | | |
| Ford, and Chrysler with the newly formed | | | | --Potent engines. Only the most powerful |
| American Motors making up the bulk of the | | | | engines are reserved for SRT vehicles. While |
| sales. Volkswagen was new to the U.S. market | | | | some are normally aspirated, many have been |
| with its legendary Beetle while Toyota was | | | | turbocharged or supercharged to beef up |
| still a few years away from marketing its | | | | horsepower. |
| very first cars. Although the term "muscle | | | | |
| car" wasn't used until the 1960s, a series of | | | | --Responsive handling. Relying heavily on its |
| "Hemi powered" vehicles from the Chrysler | | | | Mercedes connection, the SRT team employs |
| Corporation began to hit the streets. These | | | | state of the art steering and suspension |
| particular models influenced this unique | | | | systems in every model. Add in more powerful |
| segment for several years until market | | | | brakes and you have a vehicle that masters |
| changes in the early 1970s effectively | | | | every turn and stops on a dime every time. |
| eliminated that category. Today, muscle cars | | | | |
| are back and the Chrysler Group is leading | | | | --Bold styling. No ordinary vehicle is |
| the way with its expansive line up of SRT | | | | eligible for the SRT treatment as massive |
| vehicles. Although consumer tastes have | | | | aluminum wheels, front and rear spoilers, and |
| changed as has the overall automotive market, | | | | bold air intakes are included to enhance |
| Chrysler's SRT family of vehicles remains a | | | | performance. On the inside, race inspired |
| popular choice for performance enthusiasts | | | | aluminum pedals and sports car derived |
| everywhere. Read on and we'll explore the | | | | seating gives SRT drivers a true performance |
| vehicles that are shaping the new muscle car | | | | feel to match the energy brimming underneath |
| era. | | | | every hood. |
| | | | |
| Several years before Daimler-Benz and the | | | | Currently, the SRT line up includes the |
| Chrysler Corporation merged to form | | | | following models with more vehicles expected |
| DaimlerChrysler, a team of Chrysler employees | | | | to receive that designation: |
| was tasked to invigorate the automaker's line | | | | |
| up with bold and exciting models. The first | | | | Dodge: Ram SRT10 Quad Cab; Ram SRT10 Regular |
| vehicle produced by "Team Viper" was the | | | | Cab; Viper SRT10 Coupe; Viper SRT10 Roadster; |
| Dodge Viper, Mopar's answer to the Chevy | | | | Charger SRT8; and the Magnum SRT8. |
| Corvette; a few years later it was followed | | | | |
| by the Plymouth Prowler, a limited production | | | | Chrysler: 300C SRT8; Crossfire SRT6 Coupe; |
| retro-style roadster produced by a parallel | | | | and Crossfire SRT6 Roadster. |
| group, "Team Prowler". Clearly, Chrysler was | | | | |
| attempting to erase its uninspiring K-car | | | | Jeep: Grand Cherokee SRT8. |
| image with the production of these two models | | | | |
| and although production was very limited, the | | | | Much like the muscle car era of long ago, SRT |
| vehicles managed to positively impact the | | | | enthusiasts are beefing up their already |
| Dodge and Plymouth brands. | | | | potent vehicles with nifty aftermarket parts |
| | | | and supplies including supercharger systems, |
| Team Viper and Team Prowler later merged | | | | exhaust headers, cat-back exhaust systems, |
| operations to become SRT - Street and Racing | | | | cool air intakes, lowering kits, traction |
| Technology - a high performance automotive | | | | bars, and more. Popular aftermarket |
| group that is part of the Chrysler Group at | | | | performance suppliers are matching the |
| DaimlerChrysler. Although the Plymouth brand | | | | introduction of every SRT model with new |
| was eventually dropped, DaimlerChrysler | | | | products of their own. Definitely, the SRT |
| decided to expand the SRT line up to include | | | | crowd is a unique group of automotive |
| certain vehicles sporting Dodge, Jeep and | | | | enthusiasts who simply won't settle for the |
| Chrysler nameplates. | | | | status quo. |