The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday May 24, 2006 - 21 By Bill McLauchlan If you're intent on producing a performance anything, it's always good to start with a sound foundation. That bedrock principle applies just as well to cars as it does with the more familiar genetic techniques utilized in thoroughbred horse racing or any other similar endeavour. In the car business, it's worked out quite well for Chrysler's German kissing cousins at Mercedes-Benz with its muscular AMG products. BMW's M division is another performance clone that quickly comes to mind. But neither AMG nor its Munich rival seems as vigorously involved with injecting new life into its performance arm as Chrysler these days, which is rapidly building up its SRT family into a formidable force with which to be reckoned. The folks from Auburn Hills have been busy sowing their oats to sire an ever-expanding family of SRT vehicles -- yours for the asking at dealerships across Canada. The SRTs might be "limited production," but there are interested customers from coast to coast, even in places as far afield as Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, observed Bernie Clement, DaimlerChrysler Canada's vp of sales and services, during a day's lapping at the scenic road circuit here and some foot-to-the floor straight-line runs down the runway at a nearby airport. SRT, or Street and Racing Technology, is the high-performance tuning arm of the Chrysler Group. Based in Michigan, its small but enthusiastic band of engineers is tasked with injecting more horsepower, handling and hunkiness into Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. The foundations of SRT have led them to build on the success of the original SRT brainchild -- the wild Viper SRT10 -- with standout vehicles that now include performance versions of the Dodge SX 2.0 (SRT4), Magnum (Magnum SRT8), Charger (Charger SRT8) and Ram (Ram SRT10), plus the Chrysler Crossfire (SRT6) and 300C (SRT8) and a soonto-be-seen SRT8 version of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. While all can boast leather-trimmed interiors, top-end audio systems, uprated standard equipment and highContinued on Page 22 Accord Sedan DX-G model CM5616E ACCORD The incomparable Accord driving experience, enhanced with aggressive new styling, performance and refinement. ACCORD SEDAN DX-G (AUTOMATIC) $ hondaontario.com/accord/features PER MONTH FOR 48 MONTHS O.A.C. WITH $4,884 DOWN FREIGHT & PDE INCLUDED. TAXES EXTRA. 298@ 4.9% $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT $26,000 MSRP A Car & Driver 10Best 20 times in 24 years and the last 9 years in a row! LEASE FOR LEASE APR ON ALL 2006 ACCORDS & CR-Vs PURCHASE FINANCING UP TO 36 MONTHS ON ACCORD 60 MONTHS ON CR-V O.A.C. ,000 2.9% 1 $ PLUS HONDA GIFT CERTIFICATE PURCHASE OR LEASE W IT DONG'TTHE A ET INGS NOW GST SAVTHE SELLING PRICE FF WITH 1% O CR-V SE model RD7756EX CR-V Class-leading safety, outstanding fuel efficiency and remarkable added value. This versatile SUV delivers in so many ways. CR-V SE 4WD $ hondaontario.com/crv/fuelefficiency PER MONTH FOR 48 MONTHS O.A.C. WITH $4,968 DOWN FREIGHT & PDE INCLUDED. TAXES EXTRA. 298@ 2.9% $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT $29,300 MSRP LEASE FOR LEASE APR Quadruple 5-Star Safety Rating for Front & Side Impacts 2006 Honda offers one of the Lowest Corporate Average Fuel Consumption ratings. See honda.ca visit and locate your nearest dealer at: w w w. h o n d a o n t a r i o . co m Lease and finance offers are from Honda Canada Finance Inc., on approved credit. Based on a 2006 Accord Sedan DX-G, model CM5616E/2006 CR-V SE, model RD7756EX. Lease for 48 months at $298.00 /$298.00 per month plus applicable taxes with 96,000 km allowance (12¢/km exceeding allowance). $4,884.00/$4,968.00 down payment or equivalent trade acceptable to dealer. Initiation payment of $5,959.30/$6,055.90 includes down payment, first monthly payment, security deposit of $0, freight and P.D.E. and taxes. Total freight and P.D.E. is $1,310.00 on Accord; $1,455.00 on CR-V. Total lease payment is $22,066.20/$22,162.80. Option to purchase at lease end for $11,440.00/$13,771.00 and taxes. Accord lease calculated with interest rate of 4.9%/CR-V 2.9%. $1,000.00 Honda Gift Certificate offer is available on all 2006 Accords and CR-Vs. 2.9% purchase financing is available on all 2006 Accords for up to 36 months and 2006 CR-Vs for up to 60 months. Representative finance example based on a 2006 Accord Sedan, model CM5516E. $24,800.00 at 2.9% per annum equals $720.12 per month based on a 36-month term. C.O.B. is $1,124.32 for a total obligation of $25,924.32. 1% reduction off the selling price on all 2006/2007 Honda vehicles purchased/leased and delivered from May 13th, 2006 through June 30th, 2006. Offers valid from May 1st, 2006 through May 31st, 2006 at participating dealers only. See participating dealer for details. Offers subject to change by manufacturer at any time. May not be combined with any other promotion. MSRP does not include freight and P.D.E. of $1,310.00 on Accord; $1,455.00 on CR-V or taxes. Visit safercar.gov for details. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Chrysler builds on success of the original offspring