2007 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T Road Test

In keeping with the Charger “Hybrid” (it burns gas and rubber!) ad campaign

In terms of visual appearances, cars don't get much louder than this. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

from a few years ago, Dodge has released an even greener version of the car, literally. Not in the environmental sense, of course, and although I am sure that it meets emissions standards in Dubai, it does consume a lot of fuel even though the Daytona's 350-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi offers Dodge's Multi-Displacement System (MDS) for a claimed 20 percent improvement in fuel economy.

Sharp-eyed readers will question this number as the “regular” Charger R/T only puts out 340 horsepower, yet the Daytona has 350. Dodge's engineers utilized a couple of standard hop up tricks – get more air into the engine and more exhaust out – to produce the gain in power. A less restrictive intake system and tuned muffler deliver a throaty muscle car note that turned heads every time I pulled away from a stoplight. The screaming rubber helped, too. While horsepower is increased by ten, the 345 cubic inch V8 keeps the same 390 lb-ft of torque as the 340-horse version. The engine redlines at 5,800 rpm, and sounds as good as it looks thanks to its Daytona-specific Hemi Orange engine cover topping things off.

As for its nod to efficiency, MDS disables 4 out of 8 cylinders in an attempt

Daytona - more than just bright colors (and a place to go sun tanning on spring break), it offers a chance for better handling and more power. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

to save fuel in situations where you don't need all 350 horsepower, like highway driving, for example. It is truly seamless. Economy still wasn't that great, mind you, as I saw a best of 16 mpg in mixed driving. The only way you can tell if the MDS is enabled is if the dash display indicates “Fuel Saver Mode,” which to me sounds kind of wimpy. It should say “MDS Active” or something slightly more macho.

So back to the greenness of the car – the first thing anyone noticed was the paint color. Everyone I know spotted me driving around somewhere in the week I had the car. When it was introduced last year the Charger Daytona R/T celebrated Dodge's return to NASCAR and as a nod to the past was offered in three classic 1960s colors, TorRed, Top Banana and Go Mango! Visual enhancements of the package included Daytona decals on each quarter panel, a black spoiler on the trunk, a black HEMI billboard decal that takes up nearly the whole hood, an aerodynamically functional lower front spoiler, and a blacked-out honeycomb grille.

Black vinyl stickers, spoilers and what not are all a part of the tribute to NASCAR in the days of yore. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

R/T badges front and rear are the finishing touch. The result is the best-looking version of the modern Charger that doesn't have a light bar affixed to the roof or an SRT-8 badge on it.

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