Sweet Design Makes for Eye Candy Backed by Performance
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Contact: Sweet Design Makes for Eye Candy Backed by Performance While all racing enthusiasts want their car to perform well, they also want it to look great, too, inside and out. Both the interior and exterior design of the new 2003 Dodge SRT-4 include cues that convey the customized look that enthusiasts strive for. "Dodge SRT-4's design cues suggest more of a customized look right off the lot, but are not so overwhelming that they squelch the creativity of enthusiasts looking to personalize their car in the aftermarket," said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President—Design. "There was a 'sweet spot' we wanted to hit by using a design theme that includes unique front and rear fascias, sill-mounted ground effects and a Mopar signature deck-mounted spoiler." On the outside, performance cues start up front where a new front fascia and a unique steel hood with an integral air intake that perches, ready to cool the powerful 2.4-liter turbo engine lurking beneath. The Dodge crosshair grille design gives Dodge SRT-4 a bolder face. Just behind the lower grille sits a cast aluminum intercooler. "We deliberated about whether or not to hide the intercooler with grille textures or even paint it black," said Lance Wagner, Director—Exterior/Interior Design. "But tuners like to show off the components they've added, so we left the intercooler in its raw state to give the front end a more authentic, straight-from-the-street feel." Dodge SRT-4 features special 17-inch aluminum wheels, which were shown on the original 2000 Neon SRT concept car. The expressive wheels were purposefully designed to look like aftermarket wheels, with tape-on weights and fuller width rim sections. The unique spoke pattern allows for better airflow to the brakes. Viewed from the side, Dodge SRT-4's clean design mimics the sleek look popular on the street. A special side sill and door cladding give SRT-4 the low, stealthy appearance of a car made for racing. "We're really pleased with the way the sills sit and the way the bigger tires fill the wheel well openings, both of which enhance Dodge SRT-4's lower stance," said Wagner. A new rear fascia and deck spoiler continue the performance look of Dodge SRT-4. "The boldness of the spoiler adds to the outrageous quality of the vehicle. It's like the exclamation point on the whole theme of the car," said Wagner. The taller, basket-handle type spoiler also improves vehicle handling by generating downforce. The rear fascia complements the side sill and enhances the appearance of the car. The fascia also accommodates new polished stainless dual exhaust tips. Overall, the scale of the fascia and the spoiler adds to the rear stance, yet without bulk. Instead, the overall gesture is more muscular than massive, according to Wagner. Minimal satin silver badging completes the exterior performance theme and maintains the uncluttered appearance preferred by many enthusiasts. Like the Dodge Viper SRT-10, the number four in SRT-4 denotes the number of cylinders in the engine. The Dodge SRT-4 is available in four exterior colors, including Solar Yellow, Black, Flame Red and Bright Silver Metallic. The first thing drivers will notice when they strap into the newest pocket rocket on the street are the special performance seats. Taking cues from the seats in Dodge Viper SRT-10, Dodge SRT-4 front seats have enhanced lumbar and lateral sections for better support during racing-type maneuvers. The new Agate-colored cloth on the body of the seats is textured for better grip through the corners. The side bolsters of the front seats are trimmed in vinyl and curve to stabilize occupants, further enhancing the performance racing feel of the vehicle. And passengers traveling in the back of SRT-4 aren't left out of the racing experience, since the car's rear seats also feature the textured fabric. A new carbon-fiber-look leather wraps the top of the Dodge SRT-4 steering wheel for greater control. The wheel's unique three-spoke design also provides a better view of the instrument cluster gauges, an important feature for performance-minded drivers, especially SRT-4 owners who want to know when they've hit the "sweet six"- - accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. Unique gauge designs in Dodge SRT-4 feature special silver faces with satin silver ring accents. Gauge pointer hubs also have a metal finish, giving them the feel of finely tuned precision instruments dedicated to performance. The same satin metal trim also is featured on the instrument panel center stack, around heater, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) knobs and on door handles. "It's not just an eyewash of wannabe's," said John Ozark, Senior Product Designer—Dodge SRT-4 Program. "It's a car that wants to get up and go, and the precise interior design reflects the performance under the hood." Along those lines, a special Dodge SRT-4 turbo boost/vacuum gauge finds a convenient spot underneath the brow just to the right of the instrument cluster. Unlike aftermarket gauges, the SRT-4 turbo gauge has been thoughtfully incorporated as a design element of the brow. The performance-enhanced design continues down on the floor where a new satin silver cue ball shift knob tops a short-throw shifter that is surrounded by a boot made of the same textured carbon-fiber-look leather as the steering wheel. As drivers turn the key and rev the engine, special Dodge SRT-4 pedals announce they're about to unleash a car meant for racing. The vehicle's unique cast aluminum accelerator, clutch and brake pedals feature a cast dimple surface texture to assure good traction when drivers put the pedal to the metal. Against the monochromatic Agate- colored fabric and side bolsters, the bright trim pieces create a complete performance and professional appearance. -###- Additional information and news from Stellantis are available at: https://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com .