Dodge's Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody Adds Some Much-needed Grip
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat gets a new variant for the 2018 model year, and it just happens to be the widebody model track day enthusiasts have been clamoring for since the car’s initial announcement.
Borrowing the fender flares and front lip from the Dodge Demon, the Hellcat keeps its 707-horsepower supercharged V8 while adding extra room for more rubber. Since the supercharged Challenger is notoriously poor at transferring its power to the pavement, the wider 305/35ZR20 Pirelli P-Zero performance tires allow for superior cornering and straight-line speed.
Dodge claims the widebody shaves 0.3 seconds off the “normal” Hellcat’s 1/4 mile time for a lean ETA of 10.9 seconds. It also says the 305mm rubber helps the beast claw its way from 0.93 lateral g to 0.97 — while not earth-shattering, it’s still a major improvement. FCA has also changed the steering to an electric unit with selectable presets, claiming improved road feel, precision, and usability at lower speeds.
However, it’s the looks that benefit the most from the extra 3.5 inches of width the widebody brings to the table. Even if you never plan on bringing the car to a track, you can still look at it in the garage and feel like you made the correct purchase as you caress the fender flares. The only measurable downside is that the added drag limits the fatter cat to 195 mph.
Dodge’s 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody opens to dealer orders in July and will begin arriving in the third quarter of this year. Tires, wheels, and width does come at a premium, however. Pricing begins at $72,590 — seven grand over the standard Hellcat’s MSRP but still significantly less than Dodge Demon’s.
[Images: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Still slower than a Miata. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSq5Zb5ZNWY
It needs its name changed to Fat Cat and to come eblazoned with a hot rod cat cartoon vinyl (Ed Roth style optional).