Published: Feb 11, 2013

SRT Rolls Out Challenger & 300 Core Models

Chrysler ditches some content out of its muscle cars and slashes a good $5k off the sticker price with its new SRT Core range.

American muscle cars are supposed to be all about the bang-for-your-buck factor. And there's little doubt that the likes of Ford, Chevy and Chrysler's SRT division have been bringing the "bang" part back to the table in recent years, but if you feel like the "buck" part has been a little too far out of reach, Chrysler brought its answer to the Chicago Auto Show with the introduction of the new SRT Core range. Applied to the Dodge Challenger and Chrysler 300, the SRT Core trim offers all the muscle of the top-end SRT8 models at significantly reduced prices.

SRT Rolls Out Challenger & 300 Core Models

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The Challenger SRT8 Core features unique decals and trim, 20" alloys and black Brembo brake calipers, all motivated by the same 392-cubic-inch Hemi V8 with 470 hp and an equal measure of torque. Buyers can opt for special shades of orange and purple, along with the usual silver, white, grey, blue, black and red. Inside, cloth upholstery replaces leather, helping bring the sticker down to $38,995 (instead of $44,775), but you get the same sub-five-second 0-60 and mid-12-second quarter-mile time as the fully-loaded model. The 300 SRT8 Core gets a similar treatment, with a cloth interior instead of the leather you'd expect on a Chrysler.

It also packs the same Hemi (signified by special badges on the fenders), and rolls on 20" alloys packing Brembo calipers. Performance is on par to the Challenger, but with four doors, a slightly different color palette and a higher price than its Dodge coupe counterpart: $43,995 for the Core model, instead of $48,995 fully loaded. SRT has also updated the Charger SRT8 Super Bee with new graphics, badges, color choices and available 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system. The same engine delivers similar performance as the Challenger and 300 but in a smaller, more curvaceous package with a retro look.