Chrysler takes the new 300 sedan up a performance peg with the launch of the 2012 300 SRT8.

Over the last couple of years, Chrysler has defied conventional wisdom and seemingly informed opinion by reviving its product line despite scarce resources.

The re-launch of its SRT performance line, marked by the debut of four revamped muscle cars represents the next step in creating an air of excitement around the company’s product line. And our first experience with the Chrysler 300 SRT8 certainly leaves an excellent impression both curbside and out on the highway.   (Click Here for more on the SRT story.)

For starters, Chrysler designers have tweaked the car’s exterior and the changes have enhanced what was already a strong and popular design. The 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 sits a half inch lower than non-SRT models – which only just went through their first complete redesign in seven years.  With such touches as new side sill cladding, the SRT8 edition gets a more aggressive and sporty appearance that’s accented by seven-spoke, 20-inch aluminum wheels.

It's more than just muscle, the big Hemi paired with better brakes and a beefed-up suspension.

The rear of the Chrysler 300 SRT8 is finished with a slim, functional spoiler, unique lower fascia with chrome accent bar, dual exhaust tips and a modified SRT8 badge with black accent, while the front also gets its own distinctive fascia.

On the inside, the 300 SRT8 comes with a leather-wrapped, heated, SRT-exclusive steering wheel with a satin chrome rim section with a racing-style flattened bottom showing the SRT logo. Paddle shift controls flank both sides of the contoured palm rests. All audio and electronic vehicle Information Center controls are accessible on the horizontal spokes on the steering wheel.

Real carbon fiber interior trim pieces are integrated into the instrument panel, door spears and shifter bezel. Racing-style brake and gas pedal pads are also standard.

Some of the biggest changes on the entire 300 line can be found in the interior.

The new full-color vehicle information center offers new “Performance Pages,” which feature timers for 0-60 mph, one-eighth mile and quarter-mile times, 60-0 braking distance, along with lateral and longitudinal g-forces within the touchscreen display.  Do you need it to commute?  Probably not, but it does serve to add to the fun of driving the car.

SRT president Ralph Gilles also said Chrysler has loaded up the 300 SRT with the latest technology, including the state-of-the-art Uconnect Touch 8.4N system, which provides all of the next-generation mobile infotainment and multimedia features, including an exclusive Garmin navigation, which on the Uconnect Touch 8.4N model provides maps, lane guidance and more than 6 million points of interest.

The 6.4-liter Hemi, the 300 SRT8's heart and soul.

The Sirius Travel Link, meanwhile, delivers real-time weather, fuel prices, sports scores and movie theater information.

The 300 SRT8 also comes with 900-watt, 19-speaker surround-sound system from Harman Kardon. The new system uses a “GreenEdge” speaker and amplifier technology to offer superior sound quality and high Sound Pressure Level outputs with minimum energy consumption. GreenEdge amplifiers outperform traditional amplifier efficiency by up to 55 percent.

The SRT, despite its racing personality, also comes with a completely up to date complement of everyday safety equipment from air bags to stability control and anti-lock brakes.

Chrysler is offering a range of 300 variants this year, capped by the SRT8 performance model.

The heart and soul of the SRT8, however, is the 6.4-liter V8 Hemi engine, which delivers a thunderous a 470 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque while matched with the six-speed automatic transmission. The Hemi is also equipped with cylinder-deactivation so it can run on only four-cylinders, while traveling at steady highway speed, improving fuel economy by an impressive 25%.

The “base” 300C’s V8 delivers a seriously solid 363 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque, and dropping 0 to 60 times below 6 seconds.  Our big complaint was the dated and sluggish-shifting 5-speed transmission.  The standard-edition 300 line will eventually get a new 8-speed auto gearbox, but in the meantime, the SRT8’s 6-speed is a definite improvement.

As you’d expect from an SRT model, power comes on instantly, whether you’re blasting off at a stop light, exercising a passing maneuver launching down a freeway ramp. The rated top end speed is 180 miles per hour. A few runs and the Performance Pages will likely show you getting 0 to 60 times in the low 4-second range, with 13-second quarter miles.

Four Chrysler products will wear the SRT badge this coming year, with more expected to follow.

While that’s music to the ears of those who remember the classic days of muscle cars, the newest generation of offerings from SRT are designed to be much more the “compleat” automobile.  So, Chrysler’s engineers have also reworked the 300 SRT8’s suspension and enhanced the car’s brakes, shortening the stopping distance markedly and giving this decidedly big car a surprisingly nimble presence on even the most tight and twisty road.

Overall, the car is well balanced and handles nicely through curves and turns even on demanding roads, making the car easy and fun to drive.

Chrysler expects to price the 2012 300 SRT8 at around $45,000 and even while it oozes power and class it still represents a good value when measured against the luxury performance models blasting in from Germany or Japan.

Even during its darkest days, Chrysler has managed to confound its competitors with its Jeep line. Now it is showing it can also go after the very heart of the market for German luxury cars in a very convincing way.

(Is the reborn SRT brand awesome or an anachronism? Click Here for columnist Tim Healey’s take.)