2011 Dodge Charger: Car Information, Rumors, and Spy Shots
New! 2012 Dodge Charger Blacktop / 8-Speed Road Test • Charger Redline (below)
The 2011 Dodge Charger was released in October 2010, with more styling from the late-1960s Dodge Charger. [2011 Dodge Charger R/T review / test drive] The base engine is now a 292 horsepower V6, with 8-speed automatic managing 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway — yet zooming from 0 to 60 in a mere 6.6 seconds.
The 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8, with 465 horsepower, has a different look to match its different engine; and the Dodge Charger Fast Five Edition, 2012 Dodge Charger Blacktop, and Mopar ’11 Charger both have different looks and features.
The Dodge Charger Blacktop is new for the 2012 model year. It will be available in SXT or SXT Plus trim, in black, tungsten, or bright silver. The car has sport seats (cloth or leather), 20-inch gloss-black aluminum wheels, a gloss black grille, 506-watt stereo with 9 speakers including subwoofer, paddle shifters, and sport mode (which changes transmission shift points). The eight-speed shifter drops 0-60 times to 6.6 seconds, with 21/31 mpg.
| 2010 V6 | 2011 V6 | 2010 V8 | 2011 V8 | 2010 SRT8 | 2012 SRT8 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 250 | 292 | 370 | 370 | 425 | 465 (est) | ||
| Torque | 250 | 260 | 398 | 395 | 420 | 465 (est) | ||
| Liters | 3.5 | 3.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 6.4 | ||
| EPA MPG | 17/25 | 18/27 | 16/25 | 16/25 | 13/19 | TBD | ||
| Pref. Octane | 87 | 87 | 89 | 89 | 91 | 91 |
Hemi gas mileage has been aided through “interactive deceleration fuel shutoff,” which cuts all fuel to the engine around 5% - 8% of the time the Charger is moving (according to Police Fleet Manager).
The model lineup was, in 2011 (prices include destination; for 2012, SE is replaced by SXT)...
- Dodge Charger SE / SXT, standard 292 horsepower V6, starting at $25,995
- Dodge Charger SE / SXT Rallye and Rallye Plus. Rallye adds 18 inch polished wheels, 8.4 inch stereo/Uconnect, 8-way powered driver's seat, heated front seats, remote start, fog lamps; Plus adds leather, power passenger seat, heated rear seats, and more. Ralley is $28,245; Rallye Plus is $29,995.
- Charger R/T and R/T Road & Track add 5.7 Hemi (372 hp, HID headlights, rear spoiler; Road & Track adds unique grille, 20-inch wheels, spoiler, badging, performance exhaust, and more). R/T is $30,995 RWD. The R/T Plus adds $2,000, AWD adds $2,150, Road and Track adds $3,000, and Max Package adds $5,000.
- Dodge Charger R/T AWD includes all R/T equipment plus 19 inch twin-spoke wheels, lowered suspension vs 2010 AWD model, and active transfer case with front axle disconnect for better gas mileage
- Dodge Charger SRT8 adds, among other things, the 465 horsepower Hemi V8. SRT8 is the basis for the Super Bee model.
- Pursuit is a fleet version with many changes — see our Dodge Charger police pursuit car page
At these prices, Charger competes almost directly against the Ford Taurus, SE to SE, Rallye to SEL V6, R/T Plus to Ltd V6.
The re-engineered 2011 Dodge Charger, an E-segment sedan, has a new “split crosshair” grille, a new, sculpted body, and better aerodynamics as a result of wind tunnel testing; aero changes include a lower hood line, faster windshield, raked headlights, tighter wheel openings, lower sill, and flat underbody.
The aluminum hood has dual “scallops,” while body-side scallops deliver an undulating A-line across the doors. Running front to rear is the iconic horizontal “coke bottle” or “double-diamond” body-side styling that creates a tapering silhouette accented with muscular front and rear fenders, giving the Dodge Charger a distinct profile. Defining the fastback’s wide stance is a new taillamp design that incorporates 164 illuminating LEDs to form its signature “racetrack” graphic and gives the new Charger its unmistakable character from blocks away.
Using its world-class structural stiffness, Dodge Charger engineers were able to tune the cabin for sound quality (rather than sound level) by isolating powertrain, road, and wind noise. Charger’s unibody includes dual-pane acoustic windshield and front-door side glass, body-cavity silencing foam, under-flush roll-framed doors with triple seals, and acoustic wheel-well liners to absorb road noise and quiet the cabin. The result is among the best sound quality in the E-size segment.
As the Dodge brand’s flagship, the chassis of the 2011 Charger was engineered and tuned to deliver “a level of quality, capability and refinement that rivals the very best European, Asian and North American E-segment sedans.” The suspension has a new geometry making for a nimble, balanced chassis.
Hemi power starts with the Dodge Charger R/T, which has optional all-wheel-drive (AWD), 19-inch wheels, and, with AWD, an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect system that improve fuel economy by up to 5%. (When all-wheel drive is not required, the system automatically disconnects the front axle to maximize fuel economy. The system uses a clutch, and in cold weather automatically starts out in all wheel drive until it detects the absence of wheel slip.)
The 2011 Dodge Charger’s interior has premium materials throughout, and a new thick-rimmed three-spoke Dodge steering wheel for enhanced performance feel and grip. Four available distinct interior color combinations (one apparently including red seats) feature soft touch surfaces. Electronics include Garmin® navigation, dual-zone climate controls, and the ability to check fuel prices with the integration of available SIRIUS Travel Link.
Law and Order wrote that Chrysler changed the seats dramatically, benchmarking the Lexus LS460:
...most seats start out with a stamped steel seat bottom. To that, different layers, thicknesses and densities of foam are added. That means seat comfort comes only from the foam layers. The most comfortable seats, however, start out as a tube frame with a nylon web seat the bottom. And that is what the new Charger has.
The 2011 Dodge Charger also has better foam layers, with the webbing covered with a layer of firm foam, then a layer of memory foam.
The 2011 Dodge Charger features more than 65 safety and security features, including standard Keyless Enter-N-Go and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with segment-exclusive Ready-alert Braking and Rainy Day Brake Support safety features to improve overall vehicle handling and performance both on and off the track. Safety and security features available for the first time on the Dodge Charger include adaptive-cruise control (ACC) with forward-collision warning (FCW), blind-spot monitoring (BSM) with rear cross path (RCP) detection and ParkView™ rear back-up camera with grid lines, all designed to provide the driver with added confidence while behind the wheel.
While somewhat less powerful than the same engine in the 2011 Dodge Challenger, the Pentastar V6 is far more powerful and quieter than the 250 horsepower 3.5 liter, with better gas mileage; and has better acceleration than most of the “original” Dodge Charger V8 cars could provide.
Built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ont. (Canada), the 2011 Dodge Charger arrives in showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2010. Brampton will also build the 300C, Challenger, and, many believe, the Alfa Romeo Giulia and a Lancia 4-door sedan identical to the 300C except for badging and grille.
2011 Charger/Challenger Tour Launch Photos
Dodge Charger Redline
Delivering performance and an even more aggressive look, the 2012 Dodge Charger Redline is a 426 HEMI®-powered showcase of new Mopar® performance kits that will arrive later this year. The Dodge Charger Redline vehicle with all three Mopar performance stage kits will debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.
Stage I: Aero and trim treatments
Based on the 2012 Dodge Charger R/T, Mopar’s Stage I modifications include a Mopar carbon fiber chin spoiler; and, matching the Redline Tri-coat paint, a grille surround with black signature “crosshair” insert. 20 x 8-inch black Mopar wheels have polished accents. Carbon fiber door scoops include heritage “R/T” badging. A three-piece Mopar carbon fiber rear spoiler adds downforce and provides a more dynamic look, while a vinyl roof graphic in matte black is there just for show.
The Dodge Charger Redline’s interior has a Mopar aluminum shift bezel and aluminum instrument panel bezel with Redline perimeter accent. Mopar pedal covers are made from stainless steel and have a rubberized pattern for improved traction.
Stage II: Mopar Bolt-on Performance Parts Deliver Improved Power, Handling and Braking
Increasing power from the Dodge Charger Redline’s HEMI® V-8 engine, Mopar’s cat-back performance exhaust system delivers a menacing “throaty” sound. Under the hood, a front-tower cross-brace and front tower brace caps provide increased structural stability for improved handling dynamics. For ultimate braking capabilty, high-performance Mopar brake linings resist fade during hard use.
Stage III: Mopar’s 426 HEMI V-8 engine, with 590 Horsepower
Delivering 220 more horsepower than the 2012 Dodge Charger R/T, the Charger Redline features the new high-output version of the powerful and lightweight Gen III 426 HEMI V-8 crate engine (for race/off-road use only).
The Dodge Charger Redline with 426 Hemi delivers 590 horsepower via a lightweight aluminum V-8 engine block that shaves more than 100 lbs. from the traditional cast-iron crate version. The new Gen III High Output 426 HEMI engine includes a stout, balanced lower reciprocating assembly with a forged-steel crankshaft (six-bolt mains are at 2, 3 and 4, and cross-bolted 4-bolt mains are at 1 and 5). H-beam style rods are made from forged steel and coupled to forged 11:1 compression ratio aluminum pistons. Included is a revised windage tray to increase oil dispersion and prevent oil aeration by the crankshaft.
The Gen III High Output 426 HEMI engine’s valvetrain starts with a more aggressive roller camshaft with .639 intake and .628 exhaust lift and cylinder heads that feature the latest designs for exceptional flow characteristics. To help stabilize the valvetrain at high engine rpm, tie bars are available. Mopar cast-aluminum valve covers and billet fuel rails are also included in the Dodge Charger Redline’s Stage III performance kit.
2011 Dodge Charger specifications
| 2010 Dodge Charger | 2011 Dodge Charger | |
|---|---|---|
| 0-60 (V6 / Hemi) | 8.9/6.0 | 8.65 / 6.24 (MSP V6 test) |
| Mileage (3.5/Hemi) | 19/27; 17/25 | |
| Wheelbase | 120" | 120.2" |
| Length | 200.1" | 199.9” |
| Width | 74.5" | 75.0" |
| Height | 58.2" | 58.7 |
| Track | 63" | 63.0 |
| Weight | 3,800 (V6) - 4,031 (V8) | 4.065 V6 / 4,290 5.7 |
| Weight distribution | 53/47 (V6), 54/46 (V8) | |
| Interior volume | 104 cubic feet (120.2 EPA) | 140.8 c.f. (120.2 EPA) |
| Cargo volume | 16.2 cubic feet (460L) | 15.4 c.f. (EPA) |
| Head room | 38.7 (983) | 38.6 |
| Front leg room | 41.8 | 41.8 |
| Front shoulder room | 59.3 | 59.5 |
| Front hip room | 56.2 | 56.2 |
| Seat travel | 10.6 driver, 8.7 passenger | n/a |
| Rear head room | 36.2 | 36.7 |
| Rear leg room | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Rear knee clearance | 4.5 | n/a |
| Rear shoulder room | 57.6 | 57.9 |
| Rear hip room | 55.5 | 56.1 |
Rumors and additions
See our “past Dodge Charger rumors and predictions, and how things actually turned out” page
The Mercedes automatic may be upgraded to seven speeds — after the cars launch (maybe a year or two after). We have also heard the eight-speed previously thought to be “SRT only” will replace the five speed entirely. Europeans will, according to “mrmopar,” get a 3.0 V6 VM Motori diesel instead of the Mercedes V6 diesel, but it will still use the W5A580 transmission.
In June 2010, we were told that the 2011 Dodge Charger will have an electric steering pump; sources say there will be no ignition key (or any place to put one) and no door key, with doors unlocking when a fob is sensed and a pushbutton starter (the keyless ignition may be an option or higher-model “feature”).
Pilots were available for the Michigan State Police tests against the Caprice.
The W5A580 5-speed automatic was, as we said, the only transmission offered when the 2011 Charger is launched. A ZF eight-speed automatic will reportedly join the V6 models in model year 2012; rumor has Chrysler licensing a seven-speed variant of the W5A580 for the V8s, or spreading the ZF eight-speed to all engines midyear or in model year 2013, or soldiering on with the perhaps unfairly criticized automatic.
