When the Charger was first introduced, the largest engine available was the 5.7 Hemi. The Gen III Hemi featured 340 hp. Engineers changed conventional small-block design by first raising the camshaft’s location within the block. This change allowed them to shorten the pushrods. The use of shorter pushrods reduces valvetrain flex and inertia, and allows the simplification of the rocker arm design. The Hemi has a deck height of 9.25 inches, and it has a cylinder bore of 3.92 inches. (Photo Courtesy Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC)
When the LX Charger was first introduced, it was available in SE, SXT, and R/T models. The top of the performance heap was the R/T, equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission and the 5.7-liter Hemi producing 350 hp. The R/T also received an upgraded suspension and tires. Visual additions included a special front fascia with a chin spoiler and a black rear spoiler. As retro touches, the Daytona R/T featured black “Hemi” decals on the hood and rear fender and high-impact colors. (Photo Courtesy Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC)
Dodge introduced its re-entry into NASCAR in 2005 based on the Charger silhouette, replacing the Intrepid. Unlike the Intrepid, the Charger actually shares rear-wheel drive and a V-8 engine with its NASCAR counterparts. The Dodge Charger race car made its NASCAR Nextel Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20. Four Dodge factory-backed teams competed in the race. (Photo Courtesy Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC)
The 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T model was distinguishable by the addition of special exterior paint colors, an exclusive front fascia with a chin spoiler, a black honeycomb grille, unique black “Daytona” and “HEMI” decals, R/T badging, and a black rear trunk lid spoiler. The Daytona model also included large, bright dual-exhaust tips, and 18-inch polished wheels with low-gloss jet-black painted insets. The powerful Hemi engine featured a color-coordinated engine cover.
The interior of the 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T featured performance front seats with suede inserts and embroidered “Daytona” logos on the front headrests. Body-color accent stitching appeared on the front and rear seats as well as on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. The center stack featured a matching body-colored bezel, and finally, a “Daytona Limited Edition” display with a sequentially numbered limited edition Daytona badge on the instrument panel completed the unique interior. (Photo Courtesy Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC)
The 6.1-liter Hemi was designed to be an SRT-exclusive engine and a big brother to the 5.7-liter Hemi. The 6.1-liter is a heavy breather, with the use of new high-flow cylinder heads, a specially designed intake manifold, and tube-style exhaust manifolds that closely resemble headers. The exhaust manifolds have individual primary tubes that are encased in a stainless steel shell. Also unique to the 2005 6.1-liter Hemi engine are larger-diameter valves and reshaped cylinder ports. These design improvements in the heads allow for maximized airflow. The intake manifold was designed with large-diameter runners for high-RPM tuning capabilities. (Photo Courtesy Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC)
2009
For 2009, styling of the Charger went virtually unchanged. The 5.7-liter Hemi now made 368 hp, but the new, variable valve timing and multi-displacement technology allowed the Hemi to nearly match the fuel economy of the 3.5-liter V-6. The 2009 Charger was again available in SE, SXT, R/T, and SRT8 trim. Although rear-wheel drive was standard, the SXT and R/T were available with all-wheel drive.
The Charger R/T included the SXT’s popular items as standard and added the 368-hp 5.7-liter V-8. The Road & Track performance package included a sport-tuned suspension and steering. The Daytona package is identical to the Road & Track package, but it adds a more performance-oriented exhaust, a unique exterior paint color, and “Daytona” graphics.
The SRT8 was equipped much like the R/T with the Road & Track package, but again added the bigger 425-hp 6.1-liter Hemi V-8, high-performance brakes, hood scoop, limited-slip differential, and different exterior trim. The SRT8 Super Bee package added bright Detonator Yellow or Hemi Orange paint and Super Bee graphics.
2010
The last year of this body design was 2010; not many changes were made. The 2010 Charger was available in base, 3.5, Rallye, R/T, and SRT8 trim. All-wheel drive was optional on all but the base and SRT8 models. The R/T package added to the Rallye package with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine with 368 hp. You could also get the Road & Track package that included a sport-tuned suspension and steering, and a rear spoiler. The Super Track Pak added performance tires, a steeper rear-axle ratio, and upgraded brakes and shock absorbers.
The SRT8 was equipped much like the R/T with the Road & Track package, but again added the bigger 425-hp 6.1-liter Hemi V-8, high-performance brakes, a hood scoop, and a limited-slip rear differential.
In 2011, the Charger saw a major style and platform change. The platform (now designated LD) supported an all-new body design that added styling cues from the late-1960s Charger. These cues included the scalloped doors and hood. The redesign not only looked good, it gave the Charger better aerodynamics with a lower hood line, leaned-back windshield, headlights that were blended into the body line, wheel openings that are closer to the wheels, lower sills, and a smoother underbody. All of these design features were instrumental in helping to increase the fuel mileage rating.
2011
The 2011 Charger was available in SE, SXT, R/T, SRT8, and SRT8 Super Bee (limited) trim packages. The Blacktop package was new for this year and is the same as the R/T, with the exception of painted wheels and a special blacked-out grille.
The R/T received a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 that was now good for 370 hp and 395 ft-lbs of torque. A 5-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive were standard, but all-wheel drive was again optional on all but the SRT version. An all-new 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 making 470 hp and 470 ft-lbs of torque powered the SRT8. A 5-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive were standard.
2012
The 2012 Charger was available in SE, SXT, R/T, SRT8, and SRT8 Super Bee trim. The R/T again received a 370-hp 5.7 Hemi V-8 engine. The Super Track Pak added 20-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, performance steering, upgraded brakes, and an adjustable stability control system.
The 2012 SRT8 featured a bigger 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine with 470 hp, an adaptive high-performance suspension, 20-inch wheels, adjustable stability control, upgraded brakes, a rear spoiler, and special styling. The SRT8 Super Bee was essentially a more affordable version of the SRT8, with some of the luxury bells and whistles eliminated. It also did not have the adaptive suspension. The Super Bee still had its own personality, via the Stinger Yellow or Pitch Black paint, accented with Super Bee emblems and graphics, a unique grille and hood treatments, and special cabin features including striped cloth seats with embroidered Super Bee logos on the front headrests.
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