While they don’t know what it means, many car enthusiasts toss around the term R/T because it’s chic to do so. Perhaps you’ve already heard this term but don’t know what it means. What does R/T stand for on Dodge cars?
The term ‘R/T’ is just the shortened form of Road/Track. You will find it on model variations across the Dodge vehicle lineup. These vehicles are ideal for those who are looking for increased performance.
RT or Road and Track is a badge that Chrysler Corporation has stamped on its high-performance vehicles, which can handle street driving and track racing. When you see a Dodge car with an RT badge on its rear, it is undoubtedly something special.
Read on to learn more about the meaning of the term R/T on Dodge cars, its background, and relevant details about this term that you may not know.
What Does R/T Stand for on Dodge Cars?
The “R/T” that you see on Dodge cars is simply the shortened form of Road/Track. It is the badge that Chrysler Corporation stamps on different car models across its Dodge lineup. These types of cars are ideal for those who are looking for increased performance in their vehicles.
Dodge cars with the RT badge on their rears are for both street driving and track racing. When you see RT stamped on a Dodge car, you look at a special vehicle.
Such cars will allow their owners and drivers to extract strong performance waiting to be tapped inside their hoods.
Since its launch in the 1960s, R/T became Chrysler’s performance benchmark in its automobiles. Dodge cars carrying this badge have more powerful engines, high-quality brakes, and upgraded suspension systems.
Several models in the lineup also came with aggressive body kits and monotone paint. Eventually, the R/T was replaced by the SRT Division of Chrysler and took over the high-performance auto group for Dodge cars.
However, the RT trim level is still used on some current models equipped with more powerful engines. These vehicles have distinct cosmetic changes, like bumpers, rims, grills, and the R/T emblem.
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Road and Track Trim (R/T) History
Started in 1967 Upon the Release of the Dodge Cornet R/T Trim
What does RT stand for on Dodge cars? The R/T badge was a symbol that Chrysler started in 1967 when it released the Dodge Cornet R/T trim. After that, Dodge or Chrysler manufactured 29 different R/T cars.
Among them is the iconic 1968 Dodge Challenger. This Dodge vehicle still carries the R/T badge on several trim levels today.
Chrysler Used the R/T Badge from 1971 to 1993
There is just one thing that will describe all Dodge cars with the RT emblem – performance. Chrysler used the RT badge from 1971 to 1993 and attached it to its different models, including the Dodge Gran Fury RT and the Dodge Charger RT.
Road & Track Was a Performance Marker Initially Published by the Hearst Corporation
The letters RT which stands for Road & Track was a performance marker initially published by the Hearst Corporation, which publishes an automotive magazine. This publication is popular for its automotive industry insider news and its performance tests.
Hearst publishes news reports used and referenced by car manufacturers in building high-performance vehicles that will attract car enthusiasts who want to use such cars for their daily drive or even on the race tracks.
RT Emblems on Dodge’s 1971 Coronets and Chargers
Dodge initially attached the RT emblems on its 1971 Coronets and Chargers. These vehicles came with 440 big block engines with around 330 horsepower under their hoods. The RT letters were used to refer to how it is intended to be used.
This approach of Dodge also led to the development of the Dodge Chargers, which their owners fondly called “Four-door racers.” Over time, other Dodge cars carried this emblem. They included the Challenger and the Dart.
RT Badge Became a Trim Level for Dodge Performance Cars
In the late ’70s and the early ’80s, the RT badge became only a trim level for Dodge performance cars such as the Dodge Charger SE. It was a premium variant of its other RT siblings since it came with air conditioning, power windows, a rear defogger, and Electronic Voice Alert.
Today, Dodge is not using the RT emblem anymore. But it still attaches this badge to their special edition cars designed to be driven on the streets and race tracks.
Modern Dodge Cars with RT Badge
The latest Dodge cars with this RT badge include the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. These Dodge cars were stamped with the RT emblem in 2017.
Chrysler did well by making this R/T Dodge badge more affordable to the average driver. But there is now a Dodge car for those who can afford more powerful performance. This is the Dodge car with the SRT badge.
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What Are the Dodge Cars with the RT Emblem?
Over the years, Dodge or Chrysler has built many RT models. Here are the Dodge RT model years and their respective descriptions:
1. Dodge Viper Model Years 2010 to 2012
Chrysler started giving the car market a peak on its Dodge Viper in different RAM brand events in 1990. Finally, they launched the Dodge Viper as a 2-seater coupe powered by a V10 engine.
This engine can deliver a massive 500 horsepower and 525 pound-foot of torque. This made it a candidate for constant emission testing.
As a Dodge RT vehicle, the Viper has power windows, leather seats, and a console shifter with paddle shifters. This is just the car for those who have the budget for race cars and also want to have the experience of driving it.
2. Dodge Challenger RT Model Years 2011 to 2014
The Dodge Challenger RT from 2011 to 2014 boasted of worry-free maintenance during its six years of production. While it is no longer in production, this Dodge RT car is still popular among car enthusiasts.
Like the other Dodge RT cars, you can also drive the Challenger on the race tracks for those unsatisfied with driving it on city streets.
This car is capable on normal pavement and race pavements because of its performance parts. Its engine is a V8 that can deliver 375 horsepower and 410 pound-foot of torque.
3. Dodge Charger RT Model Years 2005 to 2013
A V8 engine powers the Dodge Charger RT. It can deliver 340 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. As an RT vehicle, it can be used for daily driving and on race tracks.
Since it is an RT car, the Dodge Charger RT is lighter than the regular Charger models. It also has wider tires and bigger brakes. The interior of this Dodge RT vehicle offers excellent standard features that include leather seats, a console shifter with paddle shifters, and power windows.
Again, what does R/T stand for on Dodge cars? R/T on Dodge cars stands for Road/Track. Dodge models with Road and Track trim, such as Dodge Viper, Challenger, and Charger, offer enhanced performance.
What Are the Pros of a Dodge RT?
Dodge cars offer many advantages over Chrysler’s other standard vehicles with the RT badge. These cars are specially built for a particular segment of the car market – those who want affordable but performance-oriented cars:
1. Not So Pricey and Yet Powerful
Admittedly, Dodge cars with the RT emblem are more expensive than your daily drives. But they are significantly lower in their sticker prices than sports cars.
With powerful engines, bigger brakes, superior suspension components, and so forth, you can safely drive a Dodge RT car on the race tracks.
These cars are designed for city streets and race tracks. Your daily drive will be able to negotiate city streets safely but will fumble on the race tracks. Dodge RT cars can do both. If you are looking for a performance car on a budget, the Dodge RT is it.
2. Improved Handling
With bigger tires, your car will have added grip on the road and improved vehicle protection. Again, Dodge RT cars have tires that are more comprehensive than ordinary tires so that they can provide enhanced handling, especially in the twisties at high speeds.
While they may be slower than other cars in their class, their cornering and braking abilities are comparable to sports cars. These Dodge RT cars are just excellent for racing.
3. Bigger Brakes
A Dodge RT car has bigger brakes, so you can drive it at the race tracks and slow it down or stop it whenever you need to. If it can do that on the race tracks, it can surely give you absolute safety on city streets.
Chrysler made sure that the bigger engines of their Dodge RTs would be coupled with bigger brakes so their driver would have the confidence that they have full control of their cars, whatever the road situation was.
4. Availability of Performance Parts
Car manufacturers have used the Dodge RT vehicles as their reference in building and selling their vehicles. For example, Dodge RT cars were used in designing high-performance models, including the Dodge Challenger Drag Paks.
As such, there are many performance parts available in the market. You will easily find the performance parts needed to enable your vehicle to race against other high-performance vehicles.
5. Lighter Than Other Cars in the Same Class
Since they were built not just for city streets but for race tracks, Dodge RT cars are generally lighter in weight than similar cars in their class. It is their lighter weights that enable them to run faster than standard cars on the race tracks.
For instance, the base model of the Dodge Charger SE has a curb weight of 4,430 pounds. But the Charger RT SE only weighs around 4,249 pounds.
What Are the Cons of a Dodge RT?
While Dodge RTs may have several advantages, they also have some disadvantages. The most notable cons of Dodge RTs are the following:
1. Not for the Average Driver
Dodge RT cars are not just attractive to average drivers because they are more expensive than standard cars. With high-performance parts and features, their prices can’t be lowered to make them more affordable to the man on the street.
The lowest price for Dodge RT vehicles is around $27,000. This price point makes it expensive for the average earner.
2. Limited Availability of Parts
While performance parts are available in the market, their availability is limited. Since Dodge RT cars cater to a tiny segment of the car market, the availability of their parts is not as extensive as the parts of standard cars.
So, if you like to race your Dodge RT car frequently, you should consider the availability of its parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
This subject may have sparked some questions in your mind. If you keep on reading, you may find your answers below:
What Does RT Stand for on Dodge Cars?
The RT on a Dodge car means Road & Track. Chrysler attached this badge to certain models of its Dodge cars to tell consumers that their RT vehicles can be used not only on city streets but also on the race track.
In other words, you can also use these RT vehicles for racing and not just for daily drives.
What Makes Dodge RT Cars Different from Standard Cars?
The most significant difference between Dodge RT cars and ordinary cars is their improved performance. These RT vehicles usually have bigger engines, bigger brakes, and stronger and more efficient suspension systems to enable them to run safely on race tracks.
Of course, with improved performance features, the price points of Dodge RT cars are higher than ordinary cars.
What Dodge Cars Have the RT Badge?
Several cars sport the RT badge on their bodies. They include:
- 2011 to 2014 Dodge Challenger
- 2010 to 2012 Dodge Viper
- 2005 to 2013 Dodge Charger
In Closing: What Does R/T Mean on Dodge Cars?
The ‘R/T’ term you see on Dodge cars is just the shortened form of Road/Track. You will see this badge on different models across the Dodge car lineup. These cars are ideal for people looking for increased performance in their vehicles.
Chrysler Corporation has stamped this RT or Road and Track badge on its high-performance cars. These vehicles can perform well in both street driving and track racing. Seeing a Dodge car with the RT stamped on its rear is undoubtedly special.
