The Sport Wagon Enthusiast

Rebirth of an American Legend: Magnum SRT8 Coming Soon

Ralph Gilles, Chrysler’s SRT Director, recently revealed in an interview with The New York Times that the much-loved Dodge Magnum is far from dead. “With the Magnum, we owned the station wagon segment….A lot of people still like that vehicle- a lot,” Gilles said. Dodge’s Magnum was indeed a very popular choice and dominated the American market for domestic station wagon, and may well do so again. With Cadillac’s CTS Wagon and Buick’s forthcoming Regal Wagon, the market will have much more competition, but wagon enthusiasts only stand to gain from the choices.

The last generation Magnum was best represented by the 425 horsepower 6.1L V8 HEMI-powered SRT-8 model, one of those rare creations that managed to sneak by the corporate bureaucrats and middle managers who usually ensure that only high-volume models are produced. For 2012, the next generation Magnum SRT8 will also please enthusiasts. Sporting the same 6.4L V8 as the SRT Charger and Cherokee, the Magnum will develop 470 horsepower, 470 lb-ft of torque, and send the power to the rear wheels via a 5-speed automatic. Sixty should come in under 5 seconds and this domestic wagon will continue to a top speed of 170. Expect the Magnum SRT8 to go on sale in mid-2012 and be priced around $48,000.