Dodge SRT4: Honey, I shrunk the muscle car

The latest from Chrysler's performance shop makes up in price and power what it lacks in the finer points.

Handling the kick
Dodge Caliber SRT4
Handling the kick
Torque steer is always a problem with front-wheel drive cars, especially ones like this with high output engines. It's the tendency for the engine's power, as it rises, to begin twisting the wheels to one side instead of just spinning them.

As you're accelerating, it feels as if as if someone besides you is pulling at the steering wheel, causing your car to veer off course.

In the SRT4, torque doesn't begin to be a problem until the engine is really screaming. At least it comes on gently and predictably, but when it hits, the pull can be strong.

Among the steps that Chrysler engineers took to limit the problem were various suspension changes and a deliberate blunting of the engine's power output in first and second gears.

All-wheel-drive, available in the SRT4's more expensive Mitsubishi and Subaru competitors, would help lot, too. But the all-wheel-drive system offered on the base Caliber wouldn't be able to handle the power produced in this car, Chrysler says, and developing an all-new AWD system would have been too expensive.


1

2

3

4

5
The L.A. Auto Show: An early peek New versions of some old favorites will be revealed at the first car show of the season. (more)
New Malibu a game changer The redesigned 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is an American mid-sized sedan that can compete at the top. (more)
Ford's new Bullitt Mustang Special edition sports car commemorates famous 1968 movie chase scene. (more)

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.