Not much about the 2013 Viper
deviates from the formula that made the car famous—it has a monstrous
V-10, rear-wheel drive, and a manual transmission, and it still looks
ready for a 10-on-1 bar fight. Branding it not a Dodge but an SRT,
however, has raised eyebrows. Giving that new brand heft is a second
model: the 2015 SRT Barracuda, the Dodge Challenger’s replacement.
Unlike the Viper, it will be a dramatic departure. Chrysler’s LX platform (Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and Charger)
benefited from front and rear suspension setups derived from the
Mercedes-Benz S- and E-class, respectively, but it’s huge for a pony
car. Since the Challenger’s inception, the LX has evolved into the LY
and gained weight in the process. Now that it’s part of Fiat, Dodge
would like to export Challengers, but their mass and zaftig proportions
limit overseas sales potential. With fuel economy a growing
priority—not to mention four-cylinder versions of both the Mustang and
Camaro on the horizon—Chrysler needed to slim down its offering.
Fortunately, Fiat has been on the prowl for a rear-drive platform for
use by Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and possibly Maserati. These factors
motivated Chrysler to develop a new platform, and the Barracuda will be
its first fruit.
Similar in size to the current Mustang, the
Barracuda is expected to lose more than six inches from the Challenger’s
wheelbase and close to eight in overall length. Rear track and overall
width are forecast to shrink by a bit more than two inches. Weight will
drop by between 250 and 300 pounds. The front suspension may move from
control arms to a strut setup; the rear suspension will remain
multilink, with new geometry.
Mindful of
tightening CAFE requirements, powertrain offerings will expand to
include at least one variant of the new 2.4-liter Tigershark
inline-four, possibly force-fed. While the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 is
expected to get direct injection at about the time the ’Cuda arrives,
CAFE more than market demand will determine whether a V-6 is offered.
Expect the Hemi V-8 to carry on, with direct injection increasing power
and efficiency. We hear it’s unlikely that both the 5.7- and 6.4-liter
versions will be offered but hope Chrysler reverses its thinking there. Two Hemis would go a long way toward cementing the SRT brand’s
authenticity.
Source;
No comments:
Post a Comment