Chrysler 300C SRT-8 CAR review

What’s this SRT badge about? I thought the Hemi was the hot one.

SRT, or ‘street and racing technologies’ is Chrysler’s answer to BMW’s M, Merc’s AMG and Audi’s RS monikers. Big power, big wheels and big attitude; that's what it's all about. But you're right, the original 50's and 60's Hemis were the top dogs in their day and it seems a shame that Chrysler has squandered the badge's reverie by plastering on every mid-spec car in its portfolio.

Calm down and tell us what's so special about this 300C

The big news is under the bonnet. The regular Hemi engine is reamed out from 5.7 to 6.1-litres, gets a hike in compression ratio, reworked cylinder heads with bigger valves, a lumpier cam and new inlet and exhaust manifolds. Chrysler has even borrowed from famous Hemis past, painting the block orange and the rocker covers black though neither has much to do with the 425bhp and 420lb ft totals, up from 340bhp and 387lb ft for the regular Hemi. It's rear-wheel drive of course and linked to a five-speed auto box. You can waggle the stick from left to right in Drive to change up and down the ratios but there are no gearshift paddles.