For the 2020 model year, The Dodge Charger Hellcat finally got the coveted Widebody treatment, which was previously only offered on the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye. This allows Dodge’s muscle sedan to offer similar handling characteristics as its coupe alternative.
The Widebody option, which is now standard on all Hellcat-powered Dodge Chargers, aims at improving the car’s traction, both during hard acceleration and cornering. It’s a simple and typically American formula that just works. Dodge basically adds fender flares to widen the car’s track. Total width is therefore 84 mm wider than a standard Charger Hellcat. Tires are then replaced by a set of 305 mm section-wide Pirelli P Zero rubber on all fours.Yes, you read that right, the Charger Hellcat widebody has 305s in the front. What a time to be alive.
Aside from the widened look, the Widebody package brings subtle changes to the car’s front fascia to make it look even meaner, Side skirts and a model-exclusive NASCAR-inspired rear spoiler – an irony given Dodge no longer competes in NASCAR -, complete the package.
The Charger Hellcat Widebody’s colossal numbers don’t end there. This is a sport sedan that’ll sprint from 0 to 100 km/h under four seconds. That is if you manage to prevent the rear tires from lighting up in smoke. Once grip is obtained, the Widebody will hit the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds and will continue to a supercar-rivaling top speed of 315 km/h. Obviously, do not test these claims on the public road.
Nothing changes under the hood. Power still comes from the tired and tested 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8, with power rated at a staggering 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. If you’re wondering why the Charger doesn’t have 717 horsepower like the Challenger, it’s because it’s fitted with a slightly different air intake. The difference is however negligible. Everything is then sent directly to the rear wheels via a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission. The manual gearbox is only offered in the Challenger Hellcat.
Dodge equipped the Charger Hellcat Widebody with enormous 15.4-inch discs up front, and 13.8-inch out the rear. The Charger Hellcat also gets a Bilstein adaptive suspension, which changes damper stiffness according to selected drive modes.
Speaking of drive modes, Dodge gives Hellcat owners two keys to start the car.
The black key limits power at 500 horsepower, allowing a less experienced driver to better manage the available power.
The red key is the one that unleashes the 707-horsepower figure and unlocks the car’s most aggressive Track mode
In Comfort mode, the Charger Hellcat is just as docile and comfortable as a V6-powered Charger. That said, do not take this car for granted, because it will quickly show you its fangs. The Charger Hellcat won’t hesitate to scare the bejesus out of you, especially when driven over damp surfaces.
But it’s the supercharger’s hellish wine, combined with the iconic HEMI soundtrack that really create a driving experience that can’t be found in any other sport sedan. Some high-end European sports cars also pump out this much power, but very few of them inject this level of adrenaline through your veins when flirting with the car’s limits.
And rest assured that everywhere you’ll go, people will notice you, especially if your Charger is painted in the Go Mango orange paint like this tester. That said, you can be sure the cops will see you coming as well, so watch out.
Of course, the Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody was first and foremost created for the racetrack. It even allows you to line lock its front axle to preheat its rear tires for optimal grip. But when it’s not competing at the track, it’s still a good old Charger, meaning it’s a formidably spacious, comfortable and easy to live with sedan.
The thick sports leather seats are comfortable for long rides, but also provide plenty of lateral support for spirited driving. There’s also plenty of leg and head room back there, even for taller than average passengers.
We have nothing to say about the transmission either, which performs its best when the car is set to its most aggressive drive modes. It does however show signs of roughness at low speeds, with occasional thumps when shuffling through gears. But given that this box can take in more than 700 horsepower and still be covered by a warranty, it’s easy to forgive such flaws.
RESERVE YOURS
In typical FCA fashion, the Charger inherits from the Uconnect infotainment system, which remains one of the best units in the industry given its age. Thanks to the Performance Pages menu, one can customize the Hellcat’s suspension, engine power, steering resistance, and transmission characteristics at the tap of an icon. The system is filled with witty tech, but it’s also easy to grasp and quick to respond. And yes, it’ll connect to both Andoid Auto and Apple CarPlay.
It remains surprisingly practical. For instance, its trunk is huge, capable of swallowing up to 467 liters of your gear, allowing the Charger to be more practical than all large sedans on sale, notably cars like the Toyota Avalon (455 liters) and the Nissan Maxima (404 liters). However, none of these cars even come close to the Charger Hellcat’s titanic performance figures.
Yes, this is a toy. A big, powerful, yet extremely adorable one at that. And with a starting price of $77,045, which can easily hit $100,000 with options, the Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody isn’t what you would call cheap.
But in a world where everything is becoming electric, cars like these are slowly turning out to be rare and exclusive. Enjoy them while they’re here. .
