Hardly Stealth |
| The Dodge SRT-4 is a product of DaimlerChrysler's Performance Vehicle Operations (PVO for short). (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
To hell with subtlety. Forget stealth, quiet exhausts and simple skirts. In the world of sports compacts, what's hot is attention, and the more you can grab, the better off you are. Power, speed, ear-bleed stereos and style are what matter most here, and if you have it, there's only one thing to do - flaunt it.
And it turns out that the flamboyant, fast-paced world of sport compacts isn't just another thirty-second trend, it's spawned a multi-million dollar industry that's caught the eye of the consumer, as well as manufacturers. But if there's connotation associated with the world of sport compacts, it's that the scene is dominated by imports. JDM, HKS, Bride, VTEC, Veilside, GReddy are all terms and brand names in this world, and not surprisingly they hail from the orient. But since 2003, tuners had something American to add to their vocabulary - SRT-4.
The Dodge SRT-4 is a product of DaimlerChrysler's Performance Vehicle Operations (PVO for short). This particular group is the brains, which provided the guts and brawn for SRT (Street and Racing Technology) branded DaimlerChrysler products. Following the legend of the Viper SRT-10, PVO's duty was to deliver the same kind of excitement out of the SX 2.0 (Neon) without breaking the bank, while retaining everyday usability. For the project, the team created a new identity for the SRT family's smallest member, using different tuning methods to create the same thrilling performance effect. Not only did they do a superb job, proving to the public that American cars can not only keep up, but exceed the Japanese and Europeans on the street and track, they also have created this decade's performance bargain, and a lineup of cars that has some serious street cred.
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| Beauty, of course, may be subjective, but the Blast Orange Pearl paint, this year's "hot" colour, will certainly turn its fair share of heads. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
For the styling of the Viper's little punk brother, Dodge took a page from the same book as the Lancer Evolution and Subaru Impreza WRX, one that coincides with gravel-slinging rally cars. Like a candidate on Extreme Makeover Challenge, the mundane SX has been thoroughly transformed, sporting massively bulging fenders, and a completely reworked nose fitted with enough scoops, vents and intakes to make an industrial air conditioner feel insecure. Many an ear-splitting decibel is expelled through twin canon exhaust tips, which rudely poke through the plain rear bumper. Everything from the gigantic crosshair lower intake, to the hood scoop and the bow-shaped rear spoiler are functional, each serving the purpose of bettering the car's performance. Beauty, of course, may be subjective, but the Blast Orange Pearl paint, this year's "hot" colour will certainly turn its fair share of heads.
