The pony-car war in the Philippines is certainly heating up as CATS Motors, the exclusive distributor of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles in the country, has recently brought in the Dodge Challenger SRT8.

The Challenger itself already delivers what muscle-car enthusiasts want--a powerful and efficient engine lineup, performance suspension designed for maximum grip, and athletic head-turning styling. Infused with Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) formula, the Challenger SRT8 now possesses the five proven hallmarks that SRT (Chrysler's high-performance arm) is known for: awe-inspiring powertrains; outstanding ride and handling; inspired braking; aggressive and functional exteriors; and race-inspired interiors.

The Challenger SRT8 packs a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine that puts out 470hp and 637Nm of torque. Paired to it is either a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic slushbox that comes with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, allowing the car to run from zero to 100kph in the high four-second range before it reaches a top speed of 293kph with the manual gearbox or 282kph with the automatic.

Despite its prodigious amount of power, the Challenger SRT8 still gets a company-claimed 9.778km per liter of fuel on the highway, thanks to the Fuel Saver technology in the automatic transmission-equipped variant. A new addition to the 2012 model, this allows the Hemi V8 engine to run on just four cylinders economically or on all eight cylinders when needed.

The Hemi engine's high torque output allows for inspired standing starts and improved straight-line performance, while new performance-tuned motor mounts and the adjustable track-tuned suspension improve idle stability and ride control at any speed. In addition, the fully-hydraulic steering system has also been improved with a new heavy-duty pump and revised gearing to give drivers more direct feel and on-center response.

Reining in the Challenger SRT8's 470 horses are the 14.2-inch (front) and 13.8-inch (rear) vented and slotted rotors and four-piston Brembo calipers to bring the car to a halt from 100kph to zero in just 36 meters. Enhancing the Challenger SRT8's stopping prowess is its Ready Alert Braking system, which anticipates when the driver will quickly release the accelerator pedal to initiate an emergency brake stop by priming the electronic stability control pump and engaging the brakes to decrease the time required for full brake application.

As for its interior, the race-inspired theme begins with a new leather wrapped, heated, SRT-exclusive steering wheel that features a unique satin chrome rim section with a flattened bottom that showcases the SRT logo. The SRT-exclusive Electronic Vehicle Information Center provides the driver with various trip and multimedia information through the UConnect Media Center system. The system integrates a 6.5-inch touchscreen display with a 30GB hard drive to provide more than 150 hours of music as well as a wide array of connectivity, infotainment and mobile multimedia for the car’s occupants.

The 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is now available at CATS Motors's Chrysler showrooms in Greenhills, Pasong Tamo and Alabang for P3.95 million for both the manual and automatic variants.

Your move, Ford Philippines. If you are indeed bringing the Mustang here this year, the ball is now in your court.