What is SRT?

#SRT
[rule_3_plain] #SRT

If you’re into Dodge muscle cars like the Challenger or Charger Hellcat, the Viper, or the Durango SRT, you probably already know SRT is an initialism for “Street & Race Technology,” the Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep high-performance subsidiary, chartered phệ create the highest-performing American cars.
The Dodge brand itself is well over 100 years old. Brothers Horace and John Dodge founded the company as a parts manufacturer but started producing their own Dodge cars in 1914. The brothers both died during the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1920, but the company became a mainstay of the American automobile industry. Today, Dodge is known as a high-performance automaker with some of the most outrageous muscle cars ever phệ be offered for public sale.

MOPAR Roots
“Mopar,” is an acronym for “MOtor PARts Company.”If you want phệ understand Dodge and SRT, you first need phệ understand MOPAR. By 1937, Dodge was part of the Chrysler Corporation, and the corporate leadership wanted a parts and accessories business. The new company was created and named “Mopar,” an acronym for “MOtor PARts Company.” Starting with antifreeze and then expanding into all parts for Chrysler vehicles, Dodge buyers got used phệ seeing the word MOPAR stamped on spares until the parts name became a nickname for Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler cars generally.

In the 1960s, MOPAR began producing aftermarket performance tăng cấp parts for all Chrysler Group vehicles. Another key historical event was the advent of factory-modified high-performance “package cars,” such as the 1962 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Belvedere. The idea was simple: create a stripped-down lightweight base-trim car with the most powerful engine available. These package cars were sold directly phệ racers for drag racing, stock car racing, and even road racing.
MOPAR continued phệ sell package cars until 1968 when the Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracuda Hemi Super Stock cars wowed the racing world.  The MOPAR aftermarket performance parts business continues phệ this day.
HEMI Changes Everything
Richard Petty and his 1964 NASCAR Daytona 500 winning car.Dodge, Chrysler, and Plymouth set a new performance bar on Feb. 23, 1964. That was the day the first stock cars equipped with the powerful 426 Hemi engine took the entire podium at the Daytona 500, setting a new average speed record of 154.33 mph during the race.
An engine is called a “Hemi” when it uses bowl-shaped hemispherical combustion chambers with the spark plug at the center. This design enables excellent flow in and out of the cylinder and more complete combustion. A Hemi engine can flow more air and use larger carburetors, yielding more power. In 1965, a land-speed-record car powered by four Hemi engines set a new record of 409.277 mph at Bonneville. Although Chrysler brands had offered Hemi engines since 1951, Dodge and its sister brands started offering high-output Hemi engines for street performance in 1966, ushering in the first legendary age of muscle cars. The first muscle era ended in 1971 or soon after, when new pollution regulations and fuel economy concerns came into play.
The Viper
This is the 1991 Dodge Viper that served as the Indy 500 pace car.After the first muscle car era, Dodge never wanted phệ relinquish its identity as a performance brand. Through the lackluster performance decades of the 1970s and 1980s, the company worked phệ keep the flame alive.
In 1988, a small team at Chrysler’s Advanced Design Studio began work on a new sports car. Using a V10 engine with design assistance from Lamborghini and a truly outrageous body concept with no door handles and a laughably minimal convertible top, Dodge displayed the prototype Viper at the Detroit Auto Show in 1989. Another prototype Viper paced the Indy 500 in 1991, and the first production Viper examples were sold that fall. Dodge was back in the game.
The Viper had a tremendous effect on public perception of Dodge as a performance brand. Children and adults alike bought scale models of the Viper — if they couldn’t afford the real thing. With a manual transmission as the only driveline and 400 horsepower from the 8.0-liter V10 engine, the Viper could hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, which was impressive for its day. The first Viper was a brute, though, with no traction or stability control and not even equipped with anti-lock brakes. It was easy for an overconfident driver phệ get into trouble with that car, which only enhanced its reputation.
The first Viper was known internally as “SR-1,” and the team that developed it would go on phệ become SRT.
Classic Muscle Creates a Legacy
In 2006, again at the Detroit Auto Show, Dodge unveiled a concept for the new Dodge Challenger.After the first muscle car era, Dodge applied the Challenger and Charger name phệ various cars, but none were really worthy of the names. But by 2004, the Viper development team settled on SRT as its new name and started working on a new lineup of modern muscle cars.
The initial output from SRT included the Viper, the Dodge Neon SRT-4 and Caliber SRT-4, Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6, and even a Dodge Ram SRT-10 pickup truck equipped with the Viper V10 engine.
In 2006, again at the Detroit Auto Show, Dodge unveiled a concept for the new Dodge Challenger. Ford had recently created a retro-looking Mustang and Dodge went the same direction, drawing on the 1970 Challenger design for inspiration. The new Dodge Charger 4-door sedan went on sale for the 2006 model year with an available 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, and the production Challenger followed in 2008. Both the Challenger and Charger were available with an SRT8 trim màn chơi that featured a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 engine. The second golden era of the muscle car had begun, with Dodge SRT taking the lead.
SRT Becomes a Separate Company in 2011
By 2010, SRT was again producing package cars for racing.By 2010, SRT was again producing package cars for racing, creating the Viper and Neon ACR (American Club Racer) models specifically phệ meet SCCA racing rules. Additionally, SRT developed Dodge, Chrysler, and even Jeep vehicles with high-performing engines and suspensions.
That’s why the company officially elevated SRT phệ its own separate company and brand in 2011.
“Being a separate brand will allow our team phệ expand the dedicated engineering and marketing resources for specific performance vehicles,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, SRT Brand and Motorsports.
Under Gilles’ leadership, every SRT vehicle is developed using five specific performance hallmarks: high-output engines paired with tough transmissions; outstanding ride and handling; world-class braking performance; racing-inspired interiors; and a recognizable, aggressive exterior appearance.
The Hellcats
SRT has upgraded the Hellcat engine with the 2018 Challenger Hellcat Demon special racing edition, producing up phệ 840 hp on racing fuel.Today, many SRT-developed vehicles use the 392 cubic inch Hemi engine, but the SRT brand is most associated with the Challenger and Charger Hellcat line. Dodge gave the Charger and Challenger an update in 2015 and released a game-changing engine. Dubbed the “Hellcat,” this 6.2-liter Hemi V8 is supercharged phệ produce 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. With a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds, the Challenger Hellcat was approaching the acceleration abilities of exotic sports cars at a small fraction of the price. When it was released, anyone could buy a Hellcat for about $65,000.
The Hellcat engine was offered in the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. As a bonus, the Hellcat was also available as a crate replacement engine. Enthusiasts were thrilled, and SRT remained enthroned as the performance leader.
In the years since, SRT has upgraded the Hellcat engine with the 2018 Challenger Hellcat Demon special racing edition, producing up phệ 840 hp on racing fuel. The Redeye versions of the Challenger and Charger arrived in 2019 at 797 hp. Again reaching back phệ the MOPAR era for inspiration, Dodge produced the SRT Super Stock Challenger at 807 hp for 2020.
SRT Into the Future

As the automotive industry looks phệ an electrified and eventually all-electric future, SRT will have phệ reinvent itself yet again. However, nothing in “Street & Race Technology” says anything about gasoline, and it’s likely that the very best in high-performance American vehicles will continue phệ come from SRT.
Related:
Here’s How the Dodge Challenger Has Changed Since 2008
5 Coolest Dodge Challengers on Autotrader
5 Most Expensive Dodge Challenger Coupes on Autotrader

#SRT
[rule_2_plain] #SRT
[rule_2_plain] #SRT
[rule_3_plain]

#SRT

If you’re into Dodge muscle cars like the Challenger or Charger Hellcat, the Viper, or the Durango SRT, you probably already know SRT is an initialism for “Street & Race Technology,” the Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep high-performance subsidiary, chartered phệ create the highest-performing American cars.
The Dodge brand itself is well over 100 years old. Brothers Horace and John Dodge founded the company as a parts manufacturer but started producing their own Dodge cars in 1914. The brothers both died during the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1920, but the company became a mainstay of the American automobile industry. Today, Dodge is known as a high-performance automaker with some of the most outrageous muscle cars ever phệ be offered for public sale.

MOPAR Roots
“Mopar,” is an acronym for “MOtor PARts Company.”If you want phệ understand Dodge and SRT, you first need phệ understand MOPAR. By 1937, Dodge was part of the Chrysler Corporation, and the corporate leadership wanted a parts and accessories business. The new company was created and named “Mopar,” an acronym for “MOtor PARts Company.” Starting with antifreeze and then expanding into all parts for Chrysler vehicles, Dodge buyers got used phệ seeing the word MOPAR stamped on spares until the parts name became a nickname for Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler cars generally.

In the 1960s, MOPAR began producing aftermarket performance tăng cấp parts for all Chrysler Group vehicles. Another key historical event was the advent of factory-modified high-performance “package cars,” such as the 1962 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Belvedere. The idea was simple: create a stripped-down lightweight base-trim car with the most powerful engine available. These package cars were sold directly phệ racers for drag racing, stock car racing, and even road racing.
MOPAR continued phệ sell package cars until 1968 when the Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracuda Hemi Super Stock cars wowed the racing world.  The MOPAR aftermarket performance parts business continues phệ this day.
HEMI Changes Everything
Richard Petty and his 1964 NASCAR Daytona 500 winning car.Dodge, Chrysler, and Plymouth set a new performance bar on Feb. 23, 1964. That was the day the first stock cars equipped with the powerful 426 Hemi engine took the entire podium at the Daytona 500, setting a new average speed record of 154.33 mph during the race.
An engine is called a “Hemi” when it uses bowl-shaped hemispherical combustion chambers with the spark plug at the center. This design enables excellent flow in and out of the cylinder and more complete combustion. A Hemi engine can flow more air and use larger carburetors, yielding more power. In 1965, a land-speed-record car powered by four Hemi engines set a new record of 409.277 mph at Bonneville. Although Chrysler brands had offered Hemi engines since 1951, Dodge and its sister brands started offering high-output Hemi engines for street performance in 1966, ushering in the first legendary age of muscle cars. The first muscle era ended in 1971 or soon after, when new pollution regulations and fuel economy concerns came into play.
The Viper
This is the 1991 Dodge Viper that served as the Indy 500 pace car.After the first muscle car era, Dodge never wanted phệ relinquish its identity as a performance brand. Through the lackluster performance decades of the 1970s and 1980s, the company worked phệ keep the flame alive.
In 1988, a small team at Chrysler’s Advanced Design Studio began work on a new sports car. Using a V10 engine with design assistance from Lamborghini and a truly outrageous body concept with no door handles and a laughably minimal convertible top, Dodge displayed the prototype Viper at the Detroit Auto Show in 1989. Another prototype Viper paced the Indy 500 in 1991, and the first production Viper examples were sold that fall. Dodge was back in the game.
The Viper had a tremendous effect on public perception of Dodge as a performance brand. Children and adults alike bought scale models of the Viper — if they couldn’t afford the real thing. With a manual transmission as the only driveline and 400 horsepower from the 8.0-liter V10 engine, the Viper could hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, which was impressive for its day. The first Viper was a brute, though, with no traction or stability control and not even equipped with anti-lock brakes. It was easy for an overconfident driver phệ get into trouble with that car, which only enhanced its reputation.
The first Viper was known internally as “SR-1,” and the team that developed it would go on phệ become SRT.
Classic Muscle Creates a Legacy
In 2006, again at the Detroit Auto Show, Dodge unveiled a concept for the new Dodge Challenger.After the first muscle car era, Dodge applied the Challenger and Charger name phệ various cars, but none were really worthy of the names. But by 2004, the Viper development team settled on SRT as its new name and started working on a new lineup of modern muscle cars.
The initial output from SRT included the Viper, the Dodge Neon SRT-4 and Caliber SRT-4, Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6, and even a Dodge Ram SRT-10 pickup truck equipped with the Viper V10 engine.
In 2006, again at the Detroit Auto Show, Dodge unveiled a concept for the new Dodge Challenger. Ford had recently created a retro-looking Mustang and Dodge went the same direction, drawing on the 1970 Challenger design for inspiration. The new Dodge Charger 4-door sedan went on sale for the 2006 model year with an available 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, and the production Challenger followed in 2008. Both the Challenger and Charger were available with an SRT8 trim màn chơi that featured a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 engine. The second golden era of the muscle car had begun, with Dodge SRT taking the lead.
SRT Becomes a Separate Company in 2011
By 2010, SRT was again producing package cars for racing.By 2010, SRT was again producing package cars for racing, creating the Viper and Neon ACR (American Club Racer) models specifically phệ meet SCCA racing rules. Additionally, SRT developed Dodge, Chrysler, and even Jeep vehicles with high-performing engines and suspensions.
That’s why the company officially elevated SRT phệ its own separate company and brand in 2011.
“Being a separate brand will allow our team phệ expand the dedicated engineering and marketing resources for specific performance vehicles,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, SRT Brand and Motorsports.
Under Gilles’ leadership, every SRT vehicle is developed using five specific performance hallmarks: high-output engines paired with tough transmissions; outstanding ride and handling; world-class braking performance; racing-inspired interiors; and a recognizable, aggressive exterior appearance.
The Hellcats
SRT has upgraded the Hellcat engine with the 2018 Challenger Hellcat Demon special racing edition, producing up phệ 840 hp on racing fuel.Today, many SRT-developed vehicles use the 392 cubic inch Hemi engine, but the SRT brand is most associated with the Challenger and Charger Hellcat line. Dodge gave the Charger and Challenger an update in 2015 and released a game-changing engine. Dubbed the “Hellcat,” this 6.2-liter Hemi V8 is supercharged phệ produce 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. With a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds, the Challenger Hellcat was approaching the acceleration abilities of exotic sports cars at a small fraction of the price. When it was released, anyone could buy a Hellcat for about $65,000.
The Hellcat engine was offered in the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. As a bonus, the Hellcat was also available as a crate replacement engine. Enthusiasts were thrilled, and SRT remained enthroned as the performance leader.
In the years since, SRT has upgraded the Hellcat engine with the 2018 Challenger Hellcat Demon special racing edition, producing up phệ 840 hp on racing fuel. The Redeye versions of the Challenger and Charger arrived in 2019 at 797 hp. Again reaching back phệ the MOPAR era for inspiration, Dodge produced the SRT Super Stock Challenger at 807 hp for 2020.
SRT Into the Future

As the automotive industry looks phệ an electrified and eventually all-electric future, SRT will have phệ reinvent itself yet again. However, nothing in “Street & Race Technology” says anything about gasoline, and it’s likely that the very best in high-performance American vehicles will continue phệ come from SRT.
Related:
Here’s How the Dodge Challenger Has Changed Since 2008
5 Coolest Dodge Challengers on Autotrader
5 Most Expensive Dodge Challenger Coupes on Autotrader