Hollywood Dream Machines

With the recent announcement from Chrysler that 2012 will see the arrival of a new Dodge Charger SRT8, I started thinking of my all time favourite movie car, the 1968 Dodge Charger which Blade uses to slay blood sucking vampires in the horror trilogy.

This then got me thinking about other cars that have caught my eye in the world of film and television and instantly another American muscle car hit me, the 1978 Chevy Monte Carlo in Training Day. The use of the classic hip hop track Still Dre and the hydraulics make for one of my top movie scenes of all time. Another favourite has to be the Chevy 67 Impala which is used by the Winchester brothers to hunt demons in the popular American TV series Supernatural.

I don't know what it is with these massive lumps of metal from the US of A , it could be the black paint and chrome combination or the roaring gas guzzling engines that do it for me. Maybe it’s time I started looking at buying a used Dodge or Chevy to really fulfill my American dream.

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

The 2012 Charger SRT8 gets a stouter rear axle with a 3.06 ratio to cope with the higher output of the 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine. The rumored eight speed transmission probably won’t appear in the 2012 model, so Allpar advises that the SRT8 will stick with a five-speed automatic transmission for now. The transmission includes a sport mode, although the specifics of programming and operation have yet to be revealed. The suspension gets active damping, with driver-selectable Auto and Sport modes.

On the inside, the driver benefits from a climate control system that includes dual zones, a pollen filter and a humidity sensor. The front and rear seats are heated, as is the steering wheel, and the front seats are also ventilated. Acoustic glass with a solar mitigating film is used all around, ensuring that the cockpit of the SRT8 is a cool, quiet place from which to terrorize other drivers at stoplights. Get tired of converting your rear tires into smoke, and you’re sure to enjoy the car’s 19-speaker, 900 watt audio system.

On the technology front, the 2012 Charger SRT8 gets knockback mitigation, which prepares the brakes for faster deployment based on readings from g-force sensors. Adaptive cruise control is available, and the system’s radar sensors also work to provide forward collision avoidance.

Look for pricing and package details to be released closer to the car’s launch later this year.