[ekool]

Posted Feb 7, 2005, 8:12 AM ET by Walter J Keegan Jr.
Related entries: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs

Dodge is going totally retro with this Charger. To celebrate Charger’s return to NASCAR Nextel Cup racing at Daytona International Speedway, Dodge introduces two limited production 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T models. The colors are retro in themselves, “Go ManGo!” and “Top Banana” are colors from MOPAR’s past. The Daytona edition will also boost horsepower to 350. Maybe it’s the red-neck in me, but I think these things are cool and it is a good PR move by Dodge to do it. More info and pics at the link.
Note: Some images are clickable to view at a larger size.

The orange color is “Go ManGo!”. Mango. Get it? The 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T model will be distinguishable by an exclusive front fascia with a chin spoiler and black honeycomb grille, unique black “Daytona” and “HEMI” decals, signature heritage R/T badging and a black rear decklid spoiler. The Daytona model also will include large, bright, dual-exhaust tips and 18-inch polished wheels with low-gloss, jet-black painted pockets. The powerful HEMI engine will feature a HEMI-orange engine cover.

The 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T will feature a five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick and a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine that offers an estimated 350 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque — ten more horses than the previous 5.7-liter HEMI.

By using a less restrictive intake system and moving to a straight-through muffler from a three-pass muffler, the newly tuned 5.7-liter HEMI gets a 10-horsepower boost and a throaty tone to match.

The interior of the 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T will feature front seats with suede inserts and embroidered “Daytona” logos on the front headrests. Body-color accent stitching will appear on the front and rear seats and on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Matching body-colored center stack bezel, a “Daytona Limited Edition” display on the electronic cluster and a sequentially numbered limited-edition Daytona badge on the instrument panel will complete the unique Dodge Charger Daytona R/T interior.

Via URL: http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000493030628/

 

[hemidakota]

Link: http://scoop.daimlerchrysler.com/prod06_Charger_Daytona.shtml

 

[toasteroven]

I like the fact this isn't just a stickered up, trim level thing. They've actually tuned to engine and changed the exhaust to differentiate it from the regular R/T.

I actually like the grille blacked out. Looks a lot better than the chrome IMHO.

 

[Killer_Mopar]

I like the badges and the fact they put brighter colors on the charger, but why the hell did they call it go-mango???? That color is far from go-mango of 1970, its more like hemi-orange. I own a go-mango car and know it when I see it. Hell even the Top Banana isnt the same top banana. With that said.....they should make a plum crazy one.

 

[chargershed]

WOW!!! Thank you Dodge for turning up the heat on a brand new car...love the colors. The car looks seriously mean now. I wonder what the srt-8 version will look like? Plum Crazy? I also wonder how much it will cost and how much the dealers will gouge us...

 

[hozay09]

Interesting. Looks like a mix of a Nissan Skyline and Dodge Magnun. I like it.

 

[Stevasaurus]

At first, all I could think was "Domestic Rice." Now that I've looked at it for a little while, it's not too bad. This is more of a genuine nod to the past then just slapping the name on a family sedan (my problem with the "regular" one). I like the hp bump too, if only 10. My feelings about new Charger Daytona and new Ram Daytona are as different as night and day.

I also agree with the comment about not really being Go ManGo or Top Banana. More like EV2 Hemi Orange and EL5 Butterscotch to me. They're still striking colors.

The grill is an definitely an improvement. Glad to see they got the R/T badge right. Chin Spoiler shouts back to '71. I like the seats, too. They can keep the production plaque.

Now if SRT-8 is as much of an evolution from Daytona as this one was from "regular" Charger, I might get on board yet.

 

[Immo]

I love it!

 

[SlickerSRT]

Interesting. Looks like a mix of a Nissan Skyline and Dodge Magnun. I like it.

Don't really see the Skyline looks...

Anywho, I would love to see the Plum Crazy.

Also, where's the 6 speed?

 

[Immo]

I have a 1.1mb jpeg of the yellow one. It's to big to post...

 

[DubleDex]

I'm on board with this. That really makes the car look sharp.

I like the retro nods without anything really "old" looking about it.

6-speed is definitely something they need on this - but, hey, overall it's pretty darn nice. I think this is just a great example of where they can take this car. I also like that it really DOES separate it from the base model. Really creating some differentiation.

Pretty cool.

 

[GLHS837]

For Steve,

No reason it shouldn't be even more above these two. Since it has no reason not to share the SRT-8 6.1 420hp Hemi, it should have it right there. Seats? I would say your looking at them, different embroidery though, and maybe slightly reshaped bolsters. Wheels? Hmmm.... Who knows? The ACR SRT is getting 16 wheels? Could the SRT-8 Charger get 17s?

Anyhow, glad to see these two. No freaking Bumble Bee graphics package stuff here.

 

[chargershed]

For Steve,

No reason it shouldn't be even more above these two. Since it has no reason not to share the SRT-8 6.1 420hp Hemi, it should have it right there. Seats? I would say your looking at them, different embroidery though, and maybe slightly reshaped bolsters. Wheels? Hmmm.... Who knows? The ACR SRT is getting 16 wheels? Could the SRT-8 Charger get 17s?

Anyhow, glad to see these two. No freaking Bumble Bee graphics package stuff here.

the daytona's already have 18 inch wheels...srt-8 300 & Magnum have 20's... rumor has it that the srt-8 charger is going "bang for the buck" route, essentialy this car without the stripes but with the 425 horse 6.1 and a 6-speed.

 

[Immo]

the daytona's already have 18 inch wheels...srt-8 300 & Magnum have 20's... rumor has it that the srt-8 charger is going "bang for the buck" route, essentialy this car without the stripes but with the 425 horse 6.1 and a 6-speed.

So the Charger SRT-8 will not get 20" wheels?!?

 

[SRT-4aKId]

Make it a coupe, fix the upper portion of the front end, give it some scoops, better rims with lower profile tires, and I'll consider it a good car. The R/T and Daytona have come close, but still fall short of being worthy to the Charger name plate. DCx is getting closer. They just need to heed the opinion of their market.

 

[GLHS837]

But those huge wheels are more a nod to market preference, to my mind. Same reason the SRT-4 came with 17s, becuase it's expected, like the dual tipped exhaust. But notice that with the real race version of the SRT-4, the ACR, they went with 16s.

I just want whats best for the car, not what 50 cent expects to see, not on the SRT-8 version, anyway

Make the SRT-8 version for go.

 

[kevin in okinawa]

Make it a coupe, fix the upper portion of the front end, give it some scoops, better rims with lower profile tires, and I'll consider it a good car. The R/T and Daytona have come close, but still fall short of being worthy to the Charger name plate. DCx is getting closer. They just need to heed the opinion of their market.

everything above, short of the coupe, you can do after you buy it. the r/t is gonna be badass, AND the srt8 version will be awesome...