| The 2007 Dodge Magnum SRT8 is one sinister looking | | | | 245/45 Goodyear F1 summer tires provide excellent |
| wagon and it’s not just about the color. Wagons | | | | gripping performance. |
| may not be the first choice by most when it comes to | | | | The SRT’s special shocks, modified spring rates, |
| a cool conveyance but if utility is high on the priority list | | | | different bushings, plus the big anti-sway bars create a |
| then there are always SUVs, vans and wagons. | | | | huge change to the handling. The vehicles height is also |
| Wagons provide as much cargo room without | | | | lowered by just one-half inch but it feels like it’s |
| sacrificing a car’s typically better ride, handling, | | | | lowered by a lot more. The Electronic Stability |
| braking, and acceleration. The Dodge Magnum SRT8 is | | | | Program (ESP) has also been reprogrammed to |
| like a Charger with a really big trunk which makes this | | | | provide a slightly more antisocial behavior before |
| wagon a match to SUVs and vans when it comes to | | | | cutting in. The riding comfort that one gets from the |
| loading cargoes. | | | | SRT8 will make you wonder why all suspensions are |
| These LX cars have proven quite a success for | | | | not tuned in a similar manner. |
| Chrysler and it’s because of some very good | | | | The Exterior |
| reasons. It’s based on the E-Class Mercedes | | | | The exterior appeal of the Magnum SRT8 is charming |
| platform, offer rear-drive, full-size comfort in a more | | | | and compelling. No other wagon has been as |
| refined package than what most American car buyers | | | | successful as the Magnum SRT8 has been able to stir |
| are used to. The price is also remarkable since it’s | | | | the soul so thoroughly. The Dodge Ram crosshair grille, |
| very affordable. | | | | tapering roofline, and raised beltline exudes power and |
| The Hemi versions in particular offer a lot of features | | | | muscle. The Dodge Magnum SRT8 is available in |
| plus extras for the buck. But with the additional of the | | | | Brilliant Black, Bright Silver or Inferno Red Crystal |
| SRT badge, expect to get things a little more devilish. | | | | Pearlcoat. |
| The Drivetrain | | | | Chrysler’s Eagle |
| When it comes to vehicles it’s always about the | | | | The Dodge Magnum SRT8 is not the first powerful |
| engine. Instead of the 5.7 liter Hemi, the SRT will have | | | | vehicle that Chrysler has developed. The Eagle Talon |
| a smokin’ 6.1 liter version with an additional 80 hp. | | | | which was one of the three model names given to a |
| The Street and Racing technology engineers worked | | | | passenger car manufactured and sold by the then |
| with their black magic and created the classic Hemi | | | | Chrysler Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors of Japan in |
| orange block and black valve cover paint to remind | | | | a joint venture known as the Diamond Star Motor, |
| customers of the powerful heritage of the SRT. | | | | between 1990 and 1998. |
| The hemispherical combustion chambers were viewed | | | | The Talon was then sold under the Eagle brand |
| as the source of dominant power in the past. And that | | | | developed by Chrysler to compete with Japanese |
| is also one of the reasons why the Hemi ‘Cuda | | | | imports in the late 1980s. The other siblings of the |
| convertibles can cost over $2 million at auction today. | | | | Talon were the Eclipse which was sold by Mitsubishi |
| The “Street hemi” of the 60s and 70s produced | | | | and the Laser which was sold by Plymouth another |
| 425 horsepower from its 426 cubic inches of | | | | Chrysler brand. Both Plymouth and Eagle has been |
| displacement. The present Hemi gets a similar output | | | | discontinued but despite this fact the production of |
| from less than 90 percent of that displacement. | | | | Eagle parts like the Eagle exhaust continues. The |
| The SRT team begins with a run-of-the-mill 5.7 then | | | | Eagle exhaust is renowned for performance and |
| bores the cylinders by 3.5 mm, increases the | | | | power. |
| compression ratio from 9.6:1 to 10.3:1, redesigns the | | | | The Eagle Talon together with the Eclipse and the |
| cylinder heads, exhaust and intake systems for | | | | Laser were built on the same platform at the DSM |
| increased flow and hit the redline from 5,000 to 6,000 | | | | manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois. The three vehicles |
| rpm. There was nothing more left with the standard | | | | were mechanically identical including engine, |
| 5.7 once the SRT team gets through with it—valves, | | | | transmission, and drivetrain. In terms of exterior |
| cams, rods, manifolds, rods, crank, oil pan, pistons…you | | | | features the three cars only differ in wheels, tail lights, |
| name it they’ve changed it all….Every single part. | | | | availability of colors, front and rear bumpers, and |
| The block is also given more reinforcement and the | | | | spoilers. |
| result is a seemingly endless grunt whenever you have | | | | And speaking of colors the Eagle Talon has a |
| a need for it. | | | | two-tone body color, which is called the |
| The output is also rated at 425 bhp @ 6000 rpm and | | | | ‘greenhouse’. Starting from its roof, pillars, |
| 420 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm. This power is routed through | | | | door-mounted mirrors the color was always black |
| the A580 five-speed AutoStick that may prove to be | | | | regardless of the body color. |
| a little reluctant to downshift on its own. Upshifts are | | | | The other basic characteristics of the Eagle Talon |
| smooth and may prove to be unremarkable but once | | | | include: |
| under full throttle they seem a bit abrupt. The | | | | • Two doors |
| transmission may not be the smoothest in the world | | | | • Hatchback |
| but it enough for most accomplished drivers. | | | | • 2+2 seating (2 front seats and 2 marginal, fold |
| A tap to the right or left once in drive mode will enable | | | | down rear seats) |
| drivers to hold a gear which will be displayed on the | | | | • 4 option levels (starting from lowest to highest): |
| dash. And the best thing about automatic is that it | | | | DL, ES, TSI, and TSi AWD |
| makes burnouts as simple as pressing both pedals for | | | | • Front-wheel drive (FWD) for all option levels |
| a second or two before letting the brakes out. Never | | | | except for the top option level which had all-wheel |
| forget to disengage the ESP traction control unless | | | | drive (AWD) |
| you want to change tires already. | | | | • 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic |
| The Suspension | | | | transmissions |
| Since the Dodge Magnum SRT8 is a large vehicle | | | | • Two-tone color combination |
| weighing 4,260 lbs it is best to start with the brakes. | | | | • Hood bulge on the left-hand side of the car that |
| The SRT despite its size is capable of decelerating | | | | provides it with adequate clearance for the camshaft |
| from 70 to 0 mph in approximately 170 feet. It can also | | | | sprockets/timing belt cover on the 4G63engine |
| do the quarter-mile in the mid 13s and can also do 0 to | | | | One outstanding thing about the Talon is its success |
| 100 to 0 mph in the mid 16-second range. That’s | | | | compared to the Eagle nameplate which was a huge |
| one serious stopping power courtesy of the 14.2 inch | | | | flop for Chrysler. While the Eagle failed to gain any |
| front and 13.8 inch rear vented Brembos. | | | | market share from Pontiac which was its main rival, |
| These Brembos are strong and easily modulated even | | | | the Talon on the other hand was a stellar success and |
| when it means reducing a triple-digit velocity by half in | | | | the only Eagle model that was profitable. The Talon |
| one emergency maneuver. It just did what it is asked | | | | has received lots of awards and sold over 100,000 |
| to do without any problem. The brakes that reside | | | | units in its lifetime and created a cult of followers. |
| within the large, 20-inch polished 5 spokes, wrapped in | | | | |