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w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER W e dn es da y, D ec em be r 2 9, 2 01 0 2 6 Dodge Charger 2011 keeps the muscle car spirit alive Story and photos by Jim Robinson Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine SAN FRANCISCO, Ca.: The reason why rear drive feels so good is because it is good. In Formula One, IndyCar, NASCAR et al and the drive is at the rear. And when it comes to prestige cars, just about all the makes like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus are rear drivers. And when you add a big-bore V8 at the front, you have a winning combination. Look at North America. When people talk about the Domestic Threes great cars, its GTOs, Cudas, Boss 302s, Eldorados not the Cavalier, Neon or Tempo. Dodge got it right the first time with a pan- theon of Hemi V8 powered muscle and pony cars that began with the Charger in 1966. When you pulled up beside a Charger, you knew better than to try and out drag it. Sadly, Dodge lost its way in the K-Car era with a subcompact called the Charger that was in production from 1983-1987 before mercifully slinking into obscurity. Even with the turbocharged hand of Carroll Shelby, it could never be a true Charger. Happily, that all changed in 1999 when Chrysler, showed the Charger concept with rear drive. Finally in 2006, the new Charger was announced along with the Challenger both with available Hemi engines and loads of styling cues paying homage to those two great cars of the 1970s. Tested here is the next generation, 2011 Charger and you dont have to look far to see the DNA. The aluminum hood features dual scallops that bring a sculptured look to the front end, while large body-side scallops deliver a striking A-line across the doors. The new version is classified as a full-size sedan but looks can deceive. The body side- lines combine with the pronounced front and rear wheel well flares to make it look like a coupe, although Dodge claims the largest back seat volume in the segment. Yes, it has a Hemi but it also has a potent V6 too. The brand new Pentastar V6 with vari- able valve timing puts out 292 hp and 260 lb/ft of torque. Thats 114 more hp then the V6 used in last years Charger. Fuel consumption is listed as 10.9/7.6L/100 km (26/37 mpg) city/highway. Drive is to the rear through a five-speed automatic trans- mission. The V8 is still called a Hemi but it was total- ly re-engineered a few years ago and now fea- tures variable valve timing and the FuelSaver system that shuts down four of the eight cylinders when the Charger is cruising at a constant speed, which in turn, saves gas. As it sits in the Charger, the new Hemi pro- duces 372 hp and 401 lb/ft of torque. Opt for the V8 and you can also get all-wheel-drive (AWD) as well as the standard rear drive. Either way it comes with the five-speed auto- matic. Fuel consumption on the RWD Hemi is 13.1/7.9L/100 km (22/36 mpg) city/highway. The AWD Hemi comes in at 13.1/8.7L/100 km (22/32 mpg). The 2011 Charger comes with standard safe- ty aids not even dreamed about when the original Charger was being built. There are actually 45 safety and security features including seven air bags (one for the drivers knees), electronic stability control with trac- tion control and even hill start assist. When it comes to pricing, the six models are split into the SE ($29,995), SXT ($31,995) and SXT Plus ($33,995) with the V6. The R/T ($37,995), R/T Road and Track ($38,995) and R/T AWD ($39,995) feature the V8. Tested here is the R/T that came with the optional Rallye Group that adds a big body- color rear spoiler and the chrome-clad 20- inch wheels from the R/T Road and Track model. The road test portion of the press launch began in San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge where the Hemi was really in its element, effortlessly cruising with the tack just a hair over 2000 rpm. But then, Dodge had us drop down to the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) on the way to Point Reyes. More like a laneway then a highway, it snakes and winds up and down through the many hills and valleys that make this area so pic- turesque but a chore to drive. Continued on page 28 Dodge Charger R/T 2011At A Glance: BODY STYLE:Full-size performance sedan.DRIVE METHOD:front-engine, rear- wheel-drive.ENGINE:5.7-litre, VVT V8 (372 hp, 290 lb/ft) FUEL ECONOMY:RWD, 13.1/7.9L/100 km (22/36 mpg) city/highway; AWD 13.1/8.7L/100 km (22/32 mpg) city/high- wayPRICE:3.6-litre SE ($29,995), SXT ($31,995), SXT Plus ($33,995) with the V6; 5.7-litre R/T as tested ($37,995), R/T Road and Track ($38,995) and R/T AWD ($39,995) with the V8WEBSITE:www.dodge.ca The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger (R/T model shown) sticks the winning formula of a Hemi V8 up front and drive to the rear that offers unbridled performance with an eye on reasonable gasoline consump- tion. 345 Speers Rd. (at Dorval), Oakville 905-842-9299 Valid at all GTA locations. Expiry: December 31, 2010 Code: 5669 / Cineplex Entertainment LP or used under license. with oil change FREE CINEPLEX MOVIE TICKET