Forza Horizon 3: Best of American muscle classics

While most Americans spend their independence readying the fireworks and the grill, I do my own way to celebrate American independence by driving out the best of American muscle classics in Forza Horizon 3.



Sure, there are lots of iconic muscle names in automotive history but I've gone for the names that once a muscle, stays as a muscle in modern times in alphabetical order; Camaro, Challenger, Charger, and Mustang.





Once as the underdog when it first emerged in the battle of the muscle cars dominated by the Ford Mustang, the Camaro tries to show what General Motors is capable of in this kind of civil war but whereas the Mustang reigned supreme as well as the Charger and the Challenger, the Camaro failed to do so and I understand that. Despite the Camaro's failure that led to its 2002 demise, the Camaro's coming back fighting as demonstrated by being Bumblebee in the Transformers movies and thanks to its newfound popularity, the Camaro won the hearts of many generations. Fame aside, let's not forget about how the unpopular first-generation Camaro came here which is like an ugly duckling turned into a swan with magnificent results and if it weren't for this, there wouldn't be a Bumblebee in the Transformers films.





The Challenger was once served as an alternative to the Charger and while the Charger was proven to be an icon apart from being General Lee in the Dukes of Hazzard TV show, the Challenger wants to follow its brother's footsteps by getting its shot of fame in Vanishing Point but sadly, it wasn't as popular as its Charger brother. Although today's Charger is a four-door saloon, the Challenger managed to come back as a modern day alternative to Mustangs and Camaros and just as we thought the Challenger is becoming the muscle car that never was in today's times, it managed to find its triumphant return to the road with the most powerful V8 car in the world as well as the first-ever 4WD muscle car ever produced. While the Challenger has a lot of tricks on its sleeves, the original is the car we should be thankful for because if it weren't for its presence, we wouldn't got the most powerful V8 car today.





The original Dodge Charger R/T holds no explanation because as I said before, the Duke boys drove one in the Dukes of Hazzard TV series as the General Lee, named after a Confederate soldier (which explains a lot from the highly controversial Confederate flag on the roof of the car). Although the Confederate flag remains one of the most controversial objects in history because of such background, a General Lee without it is like living like a complete poser. That's why fans want to keep it that way and I understand that. General Lee aside, this iconic Charger has been one of the forefront of The Fast and the Furious films and if I was Vin Diesel, I believe that the classic Charger remains a favorite. Sure, today's four-door Chargers also dominate the F&F films but credit goes to the Charger that is not only approved by the Dukes of Hazzard but also Dom from the Fast & Furious movies.





Lastly, the Mustang, and while Mustangs became one of the most iconic movie cars of all time since Steve McQueen drove one in Bullitt, the best of the first-generation Mustang goes to the Boss 302 because of its motorsport pedigree that traces back to its Trans-Am Racing and by surprise, the Australian Touring Cars. Pedigree aside, the Boss 302 remains one of the most respected Mustangs in the golden age of muscle cars and also of the most collectible Mustangs for the high-rollers with a restored Boss fetched a $530,000 price tag a decade ago.

These American classic muscles, they do more than just fireworks and grilles but also showing proof that America is great when it comes to flexing their big V8 muscles against the world. Sure, the whole world love to spit them up when they see one but when times change, they will see that cars like these are becoming the posters of the world superpower and soon, they will all bow down to their greatness. That all sounds scary but that's America to you, the land of the most powerful V8s in the world, and to celebrate American independence, time to get these muscle car icons the salute they truly deserved and this will be much more fun to see than fireworks and grilles.




Thank you America for the fast cars through the years!

Forza Horizon 3: Love, Poetry, and Coffee

Now, in a certain episode of The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson and James May are having a nice Italian road trip with their grand tourers, the new Aston Martin DB11 and the Rolls Royce Dawn. Trouble is, their Italian road trip got ruined by Richard Hammond and the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. Italy is so like two years ago for me but now that all the cars are here in the Land Down Under, there's no perfect time than settling the scores between love, poetry, and coffee somewhere Down Under.







If you can get to decide which method will you woo a dream lady for Valentines Day, it would be like a choice of love, poetry, and coffee. The DB11 is all about the love that you can do everything for her by any means necessary to win the heart of a woman. The Dawn is all about the poetry that shows how much of a knowledgeable person you really are to please a lady. The Hellcat, meanwhile, is all about the coffee that burns the hearts of lovers sipping a cup of joe in a cafe while having a chat.

Love, poetry, and coffee. These are the choices and by comparison regulations, anything fancy should be kept to a safe place such as their upgrades and their designs. These cars can have them back after this comparison but for now, the fight between opera, art, and donuts will be settled to the Grand Tour Sprint, so specially called because it has the words "Grand Tour" on it as if they're having their Australian stopover for the show or this is what I think it is.

Two grand tourers from Britain and an uninvited guest from America. This will be a very interesting comparison because these three got featured in The Grand Tour and now, I got the chance to compare these three to see which method will I woo a lady for Valentines will be the best. It's either love, poetry, or coffee. It's everyone's game now and now, the battle begins!



After their run at the Grand Tour Sprint, it's time for the results!

2017 Aston Martin DB11 (608HP/516ft-lb/4,134lb/51%/5,204cc/S1 805)- 2:37.057
2015 Rolls Royce Dawn (563HP/575ft-lb/5,644lb/51%/6,593cc/A 715)- 2:45.666
2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (707HP/650ft-lb/4,438lb/57%/6,166cc/A 766)- 2:36.957

By a shocking result, the 707 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a clear winner in this comparison by a second quicker than the DB11!

Which means, if I go for love, I might go for broke to get the girl I want but I could get flunked easily like getting thrown by an Master-level song I'm playing on an certain idol girl app game. If I go for poetry, meanwhile, then my knowledge might bore her for the rest of her life. So, the choice is clear. It's a cup of coffee best served hot for the lovers everywhere. Don't get too much on a cup of joe, okay?

Forza Horizon 3: Hellcat on High Water

The Hellcats from the SRT lineup have total authority over every other sportscar in the world because of its supercharged 6.2L V8 engine producing 707HP of power, making them the most powerful V8-powered production car ever made. They're even more powerful than powerful V12 Italian supercars...well, just about, but you should really trust the SRT folks elsewhere because in the world where power is the deciding factor, the Hellcats will remember to be the king of V8-powered cars, although a select number of cars can outsmart its royal rumble coming out from the Hellcat's exhaust.





Hellcats are pretty much known to be coined as the Republicans' Veyrons because, in real life, there are two specially-made keys offered on these cars; the Challenger Hellcat and the Charger Hellcat. There is a black key that limits the power to 500HP while the red key unleashes all that 707HP power output in its supercharged V8 engine. In the fantasy world of Forza Horizon 3, that holds nonsense because with cars like these, you are free to unleash all that 707 horsepower in either hell or high water, just the way you like.





Debating which Hellcat is the best, some say it's the Challenger Hellcat because nothing beats a two-door muscle car like it but some would go for the Charger Hellcat, even though they're related to each other. One key factor, I discovered, is that even though the four-door Hellcat is heavier than the two-door Hellcat, it's got slightly better weight distribution, meaning the Charger Hellcat can slightly handle better than the Challenger Hellcat. Still, for all that power, both the Charger Hellcat and the Challenger Hellcat can be very harsh to master because of their challenging handling dynamics that require some expert-level skills to survive one corner after another if they want to stay on the lead against the opposition.

Let's find out which Hellcat is the best by pitting them against each other in the streets of Surfers' Paradise and the winner will have its own special treatment I lined up later. As always, the fastest time wins, am I right? Let's roll!



And now, the results...

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (707HP/650ft-lb/4,438lb/57%/6,166cc/A766) - 2:25.979
2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat (707HP/650ft-lb/4,575lb/54%/6,166cc/A773) - 2:24.878

The Charger SRT Hellcat, despite being slightly heavier than the Challenger SRT Hellcat, is the fastest by a second. Sure, they have similar terms but looks like the Charger SRT Hellcat is the Hellcat to rule them all and this means, it's time for the special treatment I lined up for the winner.





Surprise! Our little demon friend will be pleased when she sees this design inspired by Love Live Sunshine's Yoshiko Tsushima. Oh wait...it's Yohane. Not Yoshiko. Sorry. But anyway, let's give this specially-pampered Hellcat some celebratory screen presence it deserved. I got the cameras rolling in!







Oh, don't worry about the Challenger Hellcat because even though it lost the race against the Charger Hellcat relative, I have something else in store for it...except the once-feared Hellcat has been demoted to a mere child's toy. Speaking of child's toy, the Challenger Hellcat's been plastered with the image of Yokai Watch's Tomnyan. How embarrassing to see a uber-powerful muscle car being plastered with an image from a children's cartoon. Welcome to your walk of shame.





It's great to have both of the Hellcats being part of this wondrous experience in the Land Down Under. Whether it is the two-door Challenger or the four-door Charger, they all have one thing in common; to unleash all that seven-oh-seven fury against anyone who stands in their way. It may be their way to have them respect their authoritah but to understand the Hellcats even more than the next driver, it's going to be a challenge because even the hastiest of drivers can get thrown by the Hellcat's rage until the chosen few can unleash its force to be reckoned with. Hellcats are not for everyone but do you got what it takes to unleash them? Do you?

Forza Motorsport 6: Wild Cats

When the ultra-powerful Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat emerged from the shadows, most car enthusiasts went insane over its wide reputation of being the most powerful V8 car in the world and because it's so powerful, they want to take the SRT Hellcat against a wide range of supercars. Whether you bring it a Lambo or a Bimmer or a Merc, or whatever you got, this 707HP beast will always eat it like an eat-all-you-can buffet.

With the Challenger Hellcat in the Forza Motorsport 6 roster, it's the perfect time to find out what makes the Hellcat the Hellcat every driver went nuts about.



In a bold surprise move for Chrysler Group LLC's Dodge brand, they've unveiled the flagship version of the facelifted Challenger muscle car called the Challenger SRT Hellcat.

Since its introduction, this ultimate Challenger is powered by the newly-developed and supercharged Hellcat 6.2L HEMI V8 engine. It's the most powerful engine ever made by the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Dodge claims it can produce over six hundred horsepower but it's been verified to produce 707HP, the most powerful V8 engine ever made in a production car.

The secret of unleashing its highest power output is via a red key fob because the Challenger SRT Hellcat comes with two key fobs. There's a black key fob that restricts the Hellcat's engine power output of just 500HP but with the red key fob engaged, all of the power output from its supercharged V8 engine is released. To survive the monstrous power output, a specially-made 8-speed automatic gearbox is developed to handle the extra power and torque.

Thanks to its powerful engine, the SRT Hellcat is capable of reaching 0-60mph in less than four seconds and onwards to 199mph.



This car is all about straight-line performance unlike any other. When racing in the straight line against any other production car in almost any other class, the Dodge Challenger Hellcat will simply get away from them and because of all that power implied in its supercharged V8 engine, those European sportscars will think twice about how are they going to make a car as powerful as the Hellcats. Truth be told, the Europeans already retreating, even BMW.

What about handling? Well, even with all that power, some drivers might find the Hellcat to be extremely tricky to handle in the same way someone's taking on his favorite idol girl song in an expert difficulty setting. Generally speaking, you need a lot of practice to find the perfect way to handle the Hellcat like a pro but because it's heavier than any other European sports cars, it doesn't feel as sophisticated as its opposition.

The better way to exploit the Hellcat's biggest weakness is to compare it against one of America's powerful machines made for the next generation of drivers and I know what they are...



As you can see, I have been joined by the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the all-new Ford GT and with these powerful American machines on hand, they're here to demonstrate just how 707HP worthy the Hellcat is. And because the SRT Hellcat has been too much for me since car lovers love to push this car to the limit, it's the perfect time for the Hellcat to don the chicken hat I made up...



If by chicken hat, I mean, of course, my handcrafted design inspired by THE IDOLM@STER's Hibiki Ganaha in her 10th live outfit. Although my half-decent creativity looks more appealing to the average producer who attended the 10th live last summer, this could be the ideal chicken hat for the Challenger Hellcat because...I don't know what the outcome is when I send it to Laguna Seca and pit it against the best of Ford and Chevy.



After one lap around Laguna Seca, the results are in. The Ford GT did it in 1:43.265 while the Corvette Z06 did it in 1:45.078. So, care to guess how good the Challenger Hellcat did? Well, you're wrong because it did it in a rather humiliating 1:52.058, meaning I have successfully exploited its main weakness and it involves track capabilities.

Of course, the Challenger Hellcat is one heck of a machine slipping past luxury cars on the straights but when it comes to driving in the tracks where it has so many corners involved, well, the weakness is on it. So, why would Dodge ever make a car that has more power than any other supercar but doesn't handle as well as a supercar? Is this the main reason why the Dodge Viper faced its imminent death in the foreseeable future and want the Hellcat to be the perfect Viper successor on the road and on the track? Well, I'm not much of a Mopar man here but to be honest, there's so much stuff to learn for the Challenger Hellcat.

Welcome Back: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Made by people who love cars...

In Top Gear's USA Muscle Car Road Trip episode, Richard Hammond bought a Dodge Challenger SRT8 with a 5-speed AutoStick automatic transmission. The reason why Chrysler didn't provide Hammond a test unit is because of their bad taste for American muscles. Because it has a 5-speed AT, his Challenger is proven worthless but on the Bonneville Salt Flats challenge, he tried hard to beat the 150mph target when the grille is covered in duct tape and the tire pressure's lowered. He learned that from a salt flat expert.

The Dodge Challenger SRT8 is made by people who love cars to people who love cars who can outrun people who don't care about cars. With its 6.1L HEMI V8 engine that churns out 427HP of power and 420lb-ft of torque, this muscle car is all about the noise that brings back the golden days of muscle cars, even the classic Challenger from the past.

It maybe not as powerful as the Mustang and the Camaro but with this car, I felt like that I am a secret American man, just like Richard Hammond because deep down inside, he's a secret American because he's a big fan of muscle cars.

Challenger SRT8 now in the Philippines

2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8

In response to Chevy selling the Camaro modern muscle car to the Philippines, it seems that CATS Motors is joining the muscle car war with the launch of the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8. The Challenger SRT8 is a Dodge Challenger powered by Chrysler Group's Street and Racing Technology (SRT). It comes with a powerful 6.4L HEMI V8 engine that produces 470HP of power and 637Nm of torque. Available transmission types were a 6-speed manual and a 5-speed paddle shift transmission. Also, it promises 9.8km/L of fuel economy thanks to the engine's Fuel Saver technology, available only on the AT variants. Prices start at 3,950,000 Philippine Pesos so better get this American sports car that was built by people who love cars for people who really love cars. WE LOVE CARS!

Scoop: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/cats-motors-brings-in-dodge-challenger-srt8

Yellow Fury

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee and
Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket

Talk about getting yellow in fury! Yellow Fury! Because the Dodge Challenger SRT gets a special edition Yellow Jacket and the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 gets the Super Bee comeback. These two special editions are sure enough to explode with action!

PRESS RELEASE:

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8® Super Bee Designed for Core Performance Enthusiasts

Newest Charger SRT8® offers modern SRT performance in limited-edition, back-to-basics package

Available in Stinger Yellow or Pitch Black with exclusive interior and exterior appointments

Powered by proven 392-cubic inch HEMI® V-8 with 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque

Arrives in U.S. dealer showrooms in first quarter 2012

November 9, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Designed and built for the core performance enthusiast, the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8® Super Bee makes its public debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show on Nov. 16.

There is no mistaking the unreserved performance attitude of the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee. Available in either Stinger Yellow or Pitch Black exterior paint with special Super Bee graphics, the exclusive models reflect a specially designed modern and extroverted interpretation of the legendary Super Bee performance built for the enthusiast who enjoys a vehicle with one mission in mind – to go fast.

"The 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee is a salute to the fun-loving past of Dodge muscle cars powered by the legendary 392 HEMI® V-8 in a back-to-basics performance machine," Ralph Gilles, President and CEO - SRT and Motorsports said.

Exclusive Super Bee Content Inside and Out

The race-inspired interior of the 2012 Charger SRT8 Super Bee features the SRT exclusive three-spoke contoured performance steering wheel, exclusive Z-stripe cloth performance seats with amped yellow and silver striping in both the front and rear as well as silver accent stitching and embroidered Super Bee logos on each of the front seat headrests.

The instrument panel also features the Charger Super Bee logo on a unique dash plaque.

Newly modified software includes the appearance of the Super Bee logo in the center instrument panel's Electronic Vehicle Information Center at vehicle start up.

On the exterior, the Charger Super Bee features a unique SRT badge with a 3-D helmeted bee mascot on the new split crosshair grille finished in Gloss Black.

Satin black hood graphics mirror the black decklid stripes with a solid wide center line flanked by solid dual tracer lines on the Stinger Yellow model, while charcoal gray graphics are used on the hood and decklid of the Pitch Black model. Standard rear decklid spoilers are matte black on the Stinger Yellow model or matching body color on the Pitch Black model.

Both front fenders tout the historically significant V-8 engine with "392 HEMI" badges first seen on the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392. Flanking both rear fenders are the legendary round Super Bee graphics, which now include the wording "Powered by SRT" to commemorate the modern incarnation of this celebrated performance icon.

New 20 x 9-inch, five-spoke cast-aluminum wheels with black painted pockets developed specifically for the Super Bee models provide a unique performance look.

Available Goodyear F1 Supercar three-season, ultra high performance tires give the Super Bee tenacious grip on the road or track. Also available are Goodyear Eagle RS-A 2 all-season tires that make the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee an all-season performance machine.

Braking power for the Super Bee comes courtesy of SRT engineered Brembo brakes with vented and slotted rotors with four-piston Brembo calipers painted anodized black.

A limited number of 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee units will be built for the U.S. market. All Dodge Charger models are built at the Brampton Assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Both Stinger Yellow and Pitch Black Super Bee models will be available for ordering in December at Dodge dealerships nationwide and will be arriving in U.S. dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2012.

SRT's legendary performance

The 2012 Dodge Charger Super Bee is powered by the new 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 that delivers 45 more horsepower and 50 more lb.-ft. of torque than the 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 it replaces – up 11 percent to 470 horsepower (351 kW) and up 12 percent to 470 (637 N•m) lb.-ft. of torque.

The new for 2012, exclusive SRT heated steering wheel features available mounted paddle shifters for hands on the wheel shifting both on road and at the race track

World-class stopping power from 60-0 mph in 120 feet comes through 14.2 inch (front) and 13.8 inch (rear) vented/slotted rotors with four-piston Brembo calipers. Improved brake cooling and fade performance at all four corners comes courtesy of a new underbody belly pan with integrated brake ducting.

Performance numbers include 0-60 mph acceleration in the high 4-second range; quarter mile in the high 12-second range; 0-100-0 mph in less than 16 seconds; top speed of 175 mph and stopping power from 60-0 mph in 120 feet.

Super Bee history

The Dodge Super Bee, first introduced in 1968 as a member of Dodge's Scat Pack performance group, brought a high-performance vehicle to the low price class.

Based on the mid-sized Coronet model, the standard engine for 1968 was the 335 horsepower version of the 383 cubic-inch V-8 while the legendary 426 HEMI V-8 also was available.

The standard transmission was a heavy-duty four-speed manual with a Hurst Competition-Plus floor shifter. The power bulge hood let everyone know this was no ordinary car. The Super Bee could accelerate to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 15 seconds. Not bad for a car that you could buy for a little more than $3,000.

In 1969, the radical 440 Six-Pack was added to the Super Bee's list of engine options. By placing three Holly two-barrel carburetors on top of the 440 Magnum V-8, the Super Bee generated 390 horsepower and 490 lb.-ft.of torque.

The Super Bee was switched to the Charger model for 1971 but continued to offer its impressive engine line-up, as well as its heavy duty suspension. The Hemi-power '71 Super Bee could reach 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and ran the quarter mile in only 13.7 seconds.

In its brief original four year run, the name Super Bee reached legendary status by giving the customer an ultra-high performance vehicle that they could drive to work during the week, yet take to the track on the weekend and outperform the competition.

For the 2007 model year, Dodge and SRT revived the Super Bee nameplate with the limited-edition Dodge Charger SRT8. It featured "Detonator Yellow" exterior color with black hood and deck-lid face, unique "hockey stick" stripes on the rear fenders, Super Bee logos on front and rear fenders, and contrasting yellow stitching on the seats, steering wheel and shift knob. The wheels were fully polished versus the stock SRT8 Charger which featured wheels with silver painted areas.

Powered by the 6.1-liter HEMI® V-8 producing 425 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee was the first special edition Charger from SRT. Only 1,000 units were built for the 2007 model year.

The 2008 Charger SRT8 Super Bee package featured a B5 Blue Pearl Coat exterior reminiscent of the blue used by Chrysler vehicles in the 1960s and 1970s. Instead of fully polished SRT8 Charger wheels, the "pockets" were painted black. Blue accent stitching inside replaced the yellow found on the seats and steering wheel from the previous model year. Only 1,000 units of the Charger SRT8 Super Bee were built in 2008.

In 2009, the Super Bee package featured Hemi Orange Pearl Coat paint with decals on the hood and rear quarter fenders; new Super Bee wheels with black anodized pockets with silver Brembo brake calipers. On the inside were orange accented seats and a serialized dash plaque. Only 425 units of the Super Bee were built in 2009.

SRT Track Experience

Owners of any Chrysler Group SRT vehicle receive one day of professional driving instruction from the SRT Track Experience, designed to maximize their driving knowledge and skills on the street or track. Sessions are held throughout the year at selected tracks.

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2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8® 392 Yellow Jacket Creates Buzz at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show

Special limited-edition Dodge Challenger SRT8® model features exclusive Stinger Yellow exterior and interior appointments

Proven 392 cubic-inch (6.4-liter) HEMI® V-8 engine provides pulsating 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque across a wide rpm range while also delivering 23 miles per gallon on the highway

Two-mode adaptive damping suspension system offers selectable suspension tuning and automatically adapts to road and driver inputs for optimal vehicle control

Exclusive SRT® heated steering wheel features mounted paddle shifters for hands on the wheel shifting both on road and at the race track

Available 18-speaker Harman Kardon® audio system, with innovative GreenEdge® technology, offers 900 watts of power

Arrives in U.S. dealer showrooms in first quarter 2012

November 9, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The Chrysler Group's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team today announced an exclusive production run of special-edition 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8® 392 Yellow Jacket models featuring Stinger Yellow exterior paint and interior appointments.

Based on the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392, the Challenger SRT8 Yellow Jacket features a Stinger Yellow body color and black grille surround to match the standard black body-side stripes that highlight the newly developed Yellow Jacket logo on the rear fender. New 20 x 9-inch, five-spoke cast-aluminum wheels with black painted pockets provide a unique performance look.

Inside, the standard leather seats feature an exclusive Stinger Yellow accent band with embroidered Yellow Jacket logo and silver accent stitching. The driver's seat also features a full adjustable lumbar position with seatback tilt, memory and an easy-to-reach release handle, while the front-passenger seat adds tilt and slide with memory, which makes it even easier for passengers to get in and out of the back seat.

"The Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket adds another piece of performance car nostalgia to our rear-drive muscle coupe lineup in 2012," said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – SRT Brand and Motorsports. "The Stinger Yellow paint and interior accents speak directly to the performance enthusiast who appreciates a memorable and collectible color that helps deliver even more excitement and exclusivity."

The original Dodge "Yellow Jacket" show car, which evolved from the 1970 Challenger, was shown at various auto show exhibits beginning in late 1969. Painted pearlescent Honey Gold, the roadster was powered by the 426-cubic inch HEMI V-8 and carried a number of the famous Dodge "Scat Pack" performance features, such as a unique front spoiler, wider tires, heavy-duty suspension and brakes, and manual transmission, along with the Rallye instrument cluster and shaker hood.

A limited number of 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket models will be built for the U.S. market. All Dodge Challenger models are built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

The Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket will be available for ordering in December at Dodge dealerships nationwide and will be arriving in U.S. dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2012.

About the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8® 392

For 2012, the Dodge Challenger SRT8® 392 adds even more high-tech performance features to solidify its place as the brand's ultimate modern American rear-wheel-drive muscle coupe. With 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque from the proven 392 cubic-inch HEMI® V-8, the balanced performance approach of the Challenger SRT8 392 provides outstanding straight-line acceleration, world-class ride and handling, high-performance braking and the most up-to-date technologies that deliver more driver excitement and control.

The standard Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission and a dual-disc high-performance clutch are proven performers that were first offered on the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10®. Both automatic and manual models feature a standard limited-slip differential to maximize performance.

The optional five-speed automatic transmission features new, standard steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters that join the center console mounted Auto Stick, allowing for a choice of spirited shifting on both the road and the race track. Both methods give the driver the ability to manually select specific gears on the transmission.

Standard Fuel Saver Technology (four-cylinder mode) in automatic transmission equipped models allows the engine to operate economically on four cylinders or use the power of all eight cylinders when needed. The EPA fuel economy miles per gallon (mpg) (City/Hwy) ratings for the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 are 14/23 for both manual and automatic transmission models.

The adaptive damping suspension (ADS) system is new for 2012 and tuned specifically for the Dodge Challenger SRT8 392. The ADS system on the Challenger SRT8 392 features the fastest turn-in and most nimble handling characteristics of any SRT product.

In the "Sport" setting, the system provides the highest damping rates allowing the driver to push the handling envelope like never before. In "Auto" mode, a wide range of on-road and driver inputs – such as vehicle speed, steering angle, steering speed, brake torque, throttle position and lateral/vertical accelerations – automatically tune the suspension for specific conditions.

Drivers can easily choose between settings to quickly change the shock damping and harshness characteristics from "Auto" for everyday commuting to "Sport" for more spirited driving situations.

The handling result is .90g capability on the skid pad – the most of any production Challenger and on par with some of the world's best-handling performance coupes.

The standard SRT performance brake package produces world-class stopping power of 60 to 0 mph in just 117 feet from 14.2 inch (front) and 13.8 inch (rear) vented/slotted rotors with four-piston Brembo fixed calipers painted red. The three-mode electronic stability control system with knockback mitigation also includes four-wheel ABS, all-speed traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, Brake Assist and Hill-start Assist (HSA).

The 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 accelerates from 0-60 mph in the high 4-second range; runs the quarter mile in mid-12-second range with the automatic transmission (high 12-second range with the manual); goes from 0-100-0 mph in the low 15s, reaches a top speed of 182 mph with the manual transmission (175 mph with the automatic).

The large front splitter and integrated front fender spats and body-color rear decklid spoiler provide stable high-speed aerodynamic balance while the front fascia chin spoiler also improves aerodynamic drag and is accented in black for a more aggressive look.

Unique "392 HEMI" badges flank both fenders touting the historically significant V-8 engine that remains true to its high-performance roots and powers the highest rated Challenger in terms of horsepower and torque ratings. From the rear, the 4-inch rectangular exhaust tips deliver the 392's performance exhaust note while adding the styling cue of a serious muscle car.

The race inspired and high-performance interior begins with the new, exclusive SRT® heated steering wheel that features mounted paddle shifters for hands on the wheel shifting both on road and at the race track. All audio and Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) controls are accessible from the horizontal spokes on the steering wheel.

The trapezoidal instrument panel features a four-bomb gauge cluster with chromed accent rings and unique SRT graphics. Inside the cluster, the SRT-exclusive Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) with performance pages gives the driver trip information, multimedia information from the Media Center radio, along with instant feedback on 0-60 mph acceleration, 60-0 mph braking, G-forces, one-eighth mile and quarter-mile times.

The 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 features more than 35 advanced safety and security features, including standard Keyless Enter-N-Go and three-mode electronic stability control (ESC) with segment-exclusive Ready Alert Braking and Rain Brake Support safety features to improve overall vehicle handling and performance.

For maximum convenience and to keep passengers connected, a wide array of connectivity, infotainment and mobile multimedia options are available on the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8.

New for 2012, the Dodge Challenger SRT8 features an available 900-watt, 18-speaker premium SRT performance audio surround-sound system from Harman Kardon. The system offers world premier innovation, featuring a 32-volt TPS (Tracking Power Supply) 12-channel Class D amplifier that delivers outstanding acoustics and brings multi-dimensional, quality sound for all interior occupants.

The new system uses GreenEdge® speaker and amplifier technology to offer superior sound quality and high Sound Pressure Level outputs with minimum energy consumption. GreenEdge amplifiers alone outperform traditional amplifier efficiency by up to 55 percent, representing a net efficiency of more than 90 percent in some cases. The speakers are tuned for maximum efficiency and perfectly matched to the amplifier output.

The innovative Uconnect® Media Center 430, 430N and 730N radios integrate a 6.5-inch touchscreen display with a hard drive where more than 150 hours of music and photos can be stored. Uconnect Media Center radios also offer two navigation options, including segment-leading Garmin® Navigation guidance and mapping (Uconnect Media Center 430N), or premium GPS Navigation with SIRIUS Traffic (Uconnect Media Center 730N). Both navigation solutions feature SIRIUS Travel Link, providing real-time weather, fuel prices and more while on the go.

SRT Track Experience

Owners of any Chrysler Group SRT vehicle receive one day of professional driving instruction as part of the SRT Track Experience, designed to maximize their driving knowledge and skills on the street or track. Sessions are held throughout the year at selected tracks.

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/09/dodge-challenger-srt-yellow-jacket-and-charger-srt8-super-bee-de/

Verdict: We think these two special editions were hot in yellow.