Challenger Hellcat Widebody cranks up the power and fun

Woman at the Wheel,

The Dodge Challenger, a true GT car, is unrivaled in outright horsepower, performance options and packages, interior roominess, and all-weather proficiency.

Challenger’s design legacy, unequaled power, and daily usability combine in a modern muscle car, more popular than ever.

The industry’s most powerful and dynamic muscle car, Challenger is available in nine models, from the 303-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 SXT ($28,095) and GT models ($31,095) to the most-powerful new 807-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 SRT Super Stock Widebody ($81,090).

All models have standard rear-wheel drive, with classexclusive all-wheel drive ($3,000) available on SXT and GT models.

For this review, I drove a gorgeous SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody (base price $58.995) in the new Sinamon Stick (ground cinnamon) exterior color, with wide dual carbon stripes ($995) on the standard dual scoop hood, front bumper, roof, trunk lid, and rear bumper.

The Widebody package ($17,600) added 3.5 inches of overall width, Widebody fender flares, new 20-by-11inch Carbon Black aluminum wheels, sticky all-season Pirelli

The 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody is shown in F8 Green with Dual Carbon Stripes.

performance tires, SRT power chiller, Widebody competition suspension, 220-mph primary speedometer, and Redeye badging.

Those wheels were impressive, with wide 3-D “spider leg” spokes (split five).

New features include four new exterior colors, making 14 in all: Smoke Show (silver gray), Hellraisin (dark grape), Frostbite (deep ocean blue/green), and our car’s Sinamon Stick.

All models with leather now have premium-stitched dash and upper door panels.

Nine new wheels and finishes are offered across the lineup, including the Carbon Black on my SRT Hellcat

Widebody and 20-inch Low Gloss Granite “Warpspeed” (gray/black). The 20-inch Brass Monkey wheels are especially eye-catching.

My Challenger had a Black Laguna Leather interior ($1,795) with Hellcat logo on front seat backrests, and Premium Laguna door trim panels. A Carbon and Suede Interior Package ($1,595) brought a Dynamica suede headliner and real carbon fiber interior accents on the dash and center console bezel.

A Plus Package ($2,095) included heated and ventilated front seats, Premium-stitched dash and door panels, and power tilt/telescopic steering wheel (with standard shift

paddles).

Dodge’s supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi high-output V-8 producing 797 horsepower and 707 foot-pounds of torque made my SRT Hellcat live up to its name. Fortunately, the power wasn’t delivered to the wheels too quickly through the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission.

Launch Control with Launch Assist allows smooth, brisk starts from a standstill (for track driving), avoiding wheel spin and hop, engine failure and clutch/gearbox problems, and maximizing power and traction.

An active exhaust allows the driver to choose the noise level, going from a quiet car

– Virginia

A: You’re right, Virginia. If you’re just considering economics, the best thing you can do is buy a car and then drive it until it’s no longer reliable or no longer serves your needs -- or until your neighbors shame you into replacing it. Or, as my brother would say, “drive it into the ground” (his picture is still in the dictionary next to that phrase).

We’ve done the math. Generally speaking, paying for repairs on an older car is cheaper than making payments on a new car.

However ... I think the key phrase in your letter is “he likes new trucks.” So he probably knows his economic argument is nonsense. The guy just wants a new truck.

And economic policy aside, it might be good marital policy to let him have one. Afterall, a middle-aged man trading in a truck for a younger model is not the worst thing that’s ever happened in a marriage, right?

So, assuming it won’t create a financial hardship, you should consider saying to him: “Frank, your economic argument makes no sense. Just like most of your arguments. But if you really want a new truck, I think you should get one because I love you and I know it’ll make you happy.”

Once he comes to, I think he’ll be pretty delighted. And hopefully, he’ll return the goodwill when you tell him you’ve already signed a contract for an in-home spa with a built-in whirlpool, sauna and personal masseuse.

Good luck, Virginia.

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