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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 8 Continued from page 26 Unlike the original Charger, the new one rides on a platform derived from the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. For 2011, the sus- pension was re-engineered and then re- tuned towards sharper handling. Because the great torque delivery is imme- diate and coupled with the suspension soak- ing up the road, you can really move on roads like this to the point that I was feeling queasy a few times and I was driving. I didnt get my hands on the AWD but would have liked to try it on the PCH. Dodge uses an active transfer case with a front axle system that disconnects when AWD it is not required. This increases over- all mileage by about five per cent. Later we glided along the top of the bay towards Napa and Sonoma. Passing was so easy. Push down on the gas and the Charger did just that, charge by. Options of note start with the Uconnect Touch infotainment centre with big, and I 2011 Charger leaves lesser cars in its dust mean big, 8.4-inch colour monitor with Garmin-source navi system, heated and cooled cup holders, Adaptive Cruise Control and Rear Cross Path Detection with rear view camera with grid lines. One thing I didnt like, but the industry seems to heading in this direction, is the capless fuel fill door. Personally, I like to feel and hear that click when the cap goes on. With this, you just close filler door and it seals itself. There are orange and red Chargers but with a R/T AWD in grey, youd have the sleeper of all sleepers perfect for showing all those irritating lesser cars a little respect. But no matter how you slice it, there is no substitute for a big V8 and rear drive and the 2011 Dodge Charger R/T more than proves the point. Yep, it has a Hemi with 372 hp and 290 lb/ft of torque (shown) but the 2011 Dodge Charger also offers a variable valve timing 3.6-litre V6 producing 292 hp and 260 lb/ft of torque. Ward's announces 10 Best Engines awards for 2011 Metroland Media Carguide Magazine Ward's 10 Best Engines, North America's only award program honoring excellence in vehicle powertrains, have been announced for 2011. The list suggests the hype surrounding two electric- propulsion systems making headlines across North America is well deserved. Both the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle and Chevrolet Volt extended-range EV earn their way onto the 2011 list, as selected by Ward's editors after evaluating 38 vehicles with new or significantly improved engines for the '11 model year. But fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness are not the most important criteria for eligibility this year, as seen by recognition of the new 5.0L V8 in the Ford Mustang GT, 5.0L V8 in the Hyundai Genesis and the 3.0L supercharged V6 in the Audi S4. This year's winners and the applications tested: 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S4) 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i) 1.6L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mini Cooper S) 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V6 (Dodge Avenger) 5.0L DOHC V8 (Ford Mustang GT) 1.4L DOHC I-4/111kW Drive Motor (Chevrolet Volt) 5.0L Tau DOHC V8 (Hyundai Genesis) 80kW AC Synchronous Electric Motor (Nissan Leaf) 2.0L DOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Volkswagen Jetta TDI) 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (Volvo S60) Now in its 17th year, the Ward's 10 Best Engines compe- tition is designed to recognize powertrains that set new benchmarks in their respective vehicle segments. To be eligi- ble, each engine must be available in a regular-production U.S.-specification model on sale no later than first-quarter 2011, in a vehicle priced no more than (US)$55,000, a price cap indexed to the average cost of a new vehicle.