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Dodge Charger Daytona R/T
By Peter Bleakney
 Never thought I'd say this, but I think I've found my inner Duke. After a week of rumbling around in a 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, I've grown quite fond of this great honkin' Hemi-powered extrovert that can trace its DNA right back to Hazzard County.
Truth is, Dodge is offering this limited run of Daytona edition Chargers to celebrate Dodge's 2005 return to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Racing after a 27-year hiatus. But with my tester wearing the "Go ManGo!" orange paint scheme, people on the street related this car more to Daisy Duke than Buddy Baker.
Either way, the 2006 Charger Daytona R/T could give both Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane and Richard Petty a good run for their money.
The Daytona edition package adds $3000 to the Charger R/T's base price of $37,745. For that money you'd hope it would be more than just a cosmetic upgrade. It is.
 Dodge engineers have liberated an extra 10 horsepower from the 5.7L Hemi V8 via a freer flowing intake and exhaust system, bringing the total to 350 hp. Torque remains the same with 390 ft/lbs available at 4000 rpm.
A happy by-product of this tuning is a more authoritative exhaust note that is fully in keeping with the Daytona's in-your-face presence. It's hardly intrusive, but just right, offering a menacing Motown rumble that escalates to a NASCAR-like howl under hard acceleration. In cruise mode, it diminishes to a distant murmur.
Handling upgrades for the Daytona include performance-tuned steering and suspension with self-leveling rear shock absorbers. It also gets unique 5-spoke 18' alloys with 235/55R18 performance tires.
Inside, the Daytona edition sports aggressively bolstered (but still comfy) sport seats with cool body-colored stitching, suede-like inserts and an orange Daytona logo emblazoned on the headrest. The stitching theme continues on the leather steering wheel and shift knob.
And just to make sure you don't forget you are driving something special, there's a numbered Daytona Edition plaque on the dash (only 200 Go Mango! Daytonas will be sold in Canada), and the centre-stack panel is body-colored. Overall, the mods are tastefully done, adding a dash of spice to an otherwise plain, although nicely executed interior.
 Externally, the Daytona Charger really packs a whallop. Wallflowers and witness-protection plan members need not apply.
First and foremost are the retro flat-black relief graphics that hark back to Mopar's muscle car glory days. They scream HEMI on the hood and Daytona on the rear flanks. And if "Go Mango!" orange isn't loud enough for you, the other Daytona paint option is "Top Banana" yellow.
The front of the car features a new fascia with chin spoiler and blacked out grill, while the small rear deck-lid spoiler is a subtle nod to the gigantic unit on the 1970 Charger Daytona that probably took out a few low-flying pigeons in its day.
The Dodge Charger, to these eyes anyway, is stylistically the least successful of the 300/Magnum/Charger trio. Yeah, I know, Dodge wants us to think it's a coupe that just happens to have four doors, but they're not foolin' anybody. It just seems awkward and unresolved.
But having said that, all these go-fast graphics and blacked out whatnots seem to bring this body shape to life. The Charger does garish real good. To paraphrase Rick Okasic of The Cars, "It's just what it needed."
 The Charger Daytona R/T might look a tad cartoonish, but there's nothing funny about the way it goes down the road. It drives way better than it looks. Could this be the best expression of the V8 powered, rear wheel drive American sedan yet?
The Charger's platform is based on that of the previous generation Mercedes E Class, and as a result the big sedan exhibits a refined, rock-solid and very comfortable comportment. Hardly the antisocial hooligan its outward appearance suggests.
Perhaps what's most impressive is the way the honkin' HEMI and slick five-speed automatic with Autostick manual override work in concert with the taut European platform to create an altogether unique driving experience. It's a muscle car that's been to finishing school.
Not to say this Charger Daytona R/T won't roll up its sleeves and kick some butt if it has to. A firm prod on the go pedal awakens the HEMI beast within and the sedan surges forward on a sea of torque.
Further foolishness can be enticed by pressing the ESP button on the dash, which loosens the reigns on the traction and stability control system. Let's be honest here. No Duke worth his salt would own a Charger that couldn't do burnouts or donuts.
Keeping all this in check are powerful disc brakes that offer a nice linear feel through the pedal. Perhaps the only dynamic downfall is the steering, which is nicely weighted and accurate, but Novocain numb.
Not that you want to throw the Daytona R/T down your favourite country road. For a big, heavy car it's surprisingly agile, but it lends itself best to impressive bursts of speed and long distant cruising.
 The standard 288 watt Boston Acoustic sound system deserves honorable mention here. It is beautifully clear, rich and accurate. My tester had the optional satellite navigation system bundled with a six CD changer ($2895) plus a rear seat DVD system for the kids ($1190). Add in a power sunroof ($1050) and Uconnect Hands-Free Communication ($295) and the bottom line of this tester swelled to $47,475.
A neat feature of the HEMI is the Multi-Displacement System that has the engine running on four cylinders under light throttle loads. Despite this, the Daytona sucked back a sobering 14.1 L/100km of fuel on my watch.
Common sense (and the fact that I wasn't fleeing the law) prevented me from attempting any General Lee-type antics like launching the Charger off strategically placed hay stacks or downed bridges, but I did slide my behind in through the window just like a real Duke. Not recommended.
 Realistically, this limited edition Dodge Charger R/T Daytona is the kind of car you want to load up with your favourite CDs and head out on an extended road trip. One destination that comes to mind is the Smithsonian in Washington DC where apparently one of Daisy Duke's outfits is on display.
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