Auto review: Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat gets the Widebody treatment for 2020
Dodge expands the high-performance Charger lineup for 2020 by adding aWidebody exterior to America’s only four-door muscle car.
The Charger SRT Hellcat with the best-in-class supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine is now aWidebody, with new integrated fender flares adding 3.5 inches of body width, with room for new 20-inch wheels with wider, stickier tires. The trim is also available for the Scat Pack.
Charger is offered in seven models with a range of engines (3.6-liter V6 to 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8): SXT, $29,895 (AWD adds $3,700); GT, $31,895; R/T, $36,395; Scat Pack, $39,995 (Widebody, $45,995); and SRT HellcatWidebody, $71,745. Prices include $2,100 gas guzzler tax.
For 2020, a wide array of newly designed wheels/wheel finishes, new and updated packages and equipment groups, fresh premium interior materials, three new exterior colors and new badges offer customers more options than ever. This review features the aggressive Hellcat Widebody.
The new Widebody package includes exclusive performance front fascia with “mail slot” grille (most direct route for cool air to the radiator), sculpted performance hood with three heat extractors, SRT Widebody spoiler, six-piston Brembo performance front brakes and four-piston Brembo rear brakes, Widebody competition suspension with Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping, 20-by-11-inch wheels (“Warp Speed” deep dish design with low-gloss granite finish on my Charger SRT) and a flat-bottom steering wheel.
New side sills connect the front and rear fascias to strengthen the integrated design. The new rear spoiler creates aerodynamic balance with the new front-end design. Distinctive new two-piece SRT Hellcat fender badges in Satin Chrome leave no doubt what you are looking at.
My tester had three-season Pirelli performance tires (improve on-track performance) for $895.
With the 6.2-liter Hemi V8 producing up to 707-horsepower and 650 foot-pounds of torque, running up to 196 mph, the Charger SRT Hellcat is the fastest, most-powerful massproduced sedan in the world.
The new SRT-tuned three-mode adaptive damping competition suspension, along with wider tires, provides more grip for improved performance on the street, strip, or road course, making it the best-handling production Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat ever. Hellcat comes with two keys, a black one that limits the horsepower to “only” 500, or a red one, which allows the full 707 horsepower to come alive.
An efficient TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, optimizing fuel economy and enabling maximum performance with ultra-fast shifting and rev-matching.
Two-piece 15.4-inch Brembro brake rotors improve stopping power, heat management and longevity. New electric power steering offers better feel and can be calibrated via SRT Performance Pages for optimum steering effort for various driving conditions.
The Performance Pages app provides tools for the driver to become familiar with the vehicle’s performance, with access to real-time information such as timers, G-force, gauges and engine performance. Data can be loaded onto a USB stick or SD card and shared via Performance Pages Plus onto the web.
Standard SRT DriveModes are pre-configured for Sport, Track and Default, controlling shift speeds, steering, paddle shifter, traction and suspension. SRT HellcatWidebody also has controls aimed more toward the exhilarating drive: Launch Control to manage tire slip on takeoff for consistent straight-line acceleration; Launch Assist to mitigate drivelinedamaging wheel hop at launch by modifying engine torque to regain full grip; and Line Lock to allow for a “burnout” by engaging the front brakes and leaving the rear brakes free.
SRT HellcatWidebody also features Torque Reserve to balance engine rpm and torque and generate a reserve of torque upon acceleration from a standstill and Race Cooldown to keep cooling the supercharger air cooler after the engine is shut off using the intercooler pump and radiator fan.
The HEMI V8 has a standard electronically controlled active exhaust system, delivering the signature Dodge muscle-car sound roar, if you will.
My Hellcat was ToRed, one of nine exterior colors for the SRT with interesting names such as Triple Nickel, Go Mango, White Knuckle and Octane Red (deep). Interiors are offered in four colors; Black, Black/Sepia (with Hellcat logo on the shoulder area, my tester), Black/Demonic Red and Black Alcantara/Laguna. A Carbon and Suede Interior package ($1,595) brought a suede headliner, sun visors and A-pillars, and wide Carbon Fiber trim around the side-by-side instrument panel and infotainment screen, and on the center console. Contraststitching was featured on the dash, console armrest, door panels and armrests, seat bolsters and headrests, and very prominently on the steering wheel.
A Power Convenience Group upgraded the front seats with power adjustments including four-way lumbar and a power tilt-telescopic steering wheel. Red brake calipers ($595) peeked through the stunning black wheels.
For $1,595, a Harmon Kardon audio group added 19 GreenEdge speakers and a GreenEdge amplifier with Surround Sound. A Navigation and Travel Group ($995) upgraded the standard Uconnect 4C Nav 8.8-inch display with SiriusXM Travel Plus and Travel Link (five-year subscriptions). Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
Charger offers more than 80 safety and security features, including Fullspeed Forward CollisionWarningPlus, Adaptive Cruise Control-Plus with Full Stop and Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist.
My Hellcat had a 12-volt outlet in a small bin under the center stack, a movable tray with coin holder slots, a 12-volt outlet, two USBs and an auxiliary port in the medium bin under the front armrest. The rear seats were heated, and passengers had two USBs. The generous trunk had a hidden compartment under the floor.
Hellcat’s ride was sporty, even a little rough, but fun especially when the roar of the engine attracted attention. The seating (four occupants) was firm but comfortable, with sport bolstering in the front.
I didn’t test the racing aspects of my Hellcat, since I live in a rural community with no track available. I managed 16 mpg driving around the community and four-lane state roads. No EPA numbers were available for me at this time.
Options totaling $5,675 and destination charges of $1,495 brought the total delivery price of my very attractive, fun to drive Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody to $76,815.
2020 Dodge Charger SRTHellcat Widebody Base price: $71,745 Price as tested: $76,815 Engine: Supercharged 6.2-liter V8 Horsepower/Torque: 707/650 EPA fuel economy (city/highway):
TBD Cargo capacity: 16.5 cubic feet Curb weight: 4,586 pounds
ABOUT THE WRITER
Emma Jayne Williams’ auto reviews appear in the FortWorth Star-Telegram. She can be reached at emmajayne1948@gmail.com.