Dodge Has Something Insane up Its Sleeve: the Challenger Hellcat Redeye
Dodge uploaded a teaser video last night that appeared to indicate Fiat Chrysler’s performance division is working on another ludicrously overpowered vehicle. In it, we see a modern Challenger blasting down the salt flats against an auditory backdrop of a raging V8 with loads of supercharger whine.
The Challenger loses focus as it approaches the camera, but we can just barely make out the car’s twin hood scoops before things faded to black. Then the text “LOCK: RED797_19” flashes for a moment, with the reassurance that whatever we’ve just witnessed is coming soon. Dodge makes a habit of issuing cryptic teasers for his highest horsepower models. The prelude to the Hellcat and Demon felt a little like playing Myst, and this latest teaser rekindled that sense of intrigue and frustration.
Fortunately, we already have details on — and photos of — this new Mopar beast.
Based on documents released by FCA at a Michigan track event Thursday morning, we now know this mystery vehicle is the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. It’s basically the widebody Hellcat infused with the Demon’s soul. That translates into 797 horsepower and 707 foot-pounds of torque, which Dodge claims is good enough for a 3.4-second sprint to 60 mph.
At 10.8 seconds, the Redeye won’t outperform the Demon in the quarter mile. But the manufacturer does say the supercharged Hemi can push the muscle car all the way to 203 mph, matching the dragster’s top speed.
While Dodge didn’t explicitly say so, we appear to be looking at a gently detuned version of the 6.2-liter V8 found in the 2018 Demon— which was just a tuned-up version of the Hellcat motor. A cursory examination of the unit by our managing editor seems to confirm this, too.
Here’s some more good news, the standard Hellcat also gets a boost in power for the 2019 model year. Now rated at 717 horsepower and 656 lb-ft, the “base” model can raise its fur a little higher, and probably yours, in the process. This is all in addition to the company launching a bevy of new performance packages for the Charger and Challenger line. Dodge really does seem possessed right now.
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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I grew up in the middle of the muscle car era...I recall GTO's, 442's, Mustangs, Camaro's, Fire birds, Hemi and 440 Road Runner's and Super Bee's, 383 and 340 Darts and Barracuda's, representing each US manufacture of the era. They were all fast performers, but they all had something else in common. Early models had drum brakes, some with small 14" wheels and tires, marshmallow suspension, and a steering ratio akin to a dump truck. Horsepower ratings ranged from 350 to 400 plus. MPG of any of them rarely exceeded 12. Comparing today's super sedans, coupes, and sports cars is an apples and oranges debate. The superior tires, wheels, brakes, suspension, and steering geometry of today's performance oriented cars, and even some basic transportation cars, are far superior to the 60/70 era muscle cars. Heck, radial tires were not even a thing until late 60s, and as I recall Detroit was slow to respond to the new radial design. Most of the cars offered in the 60's still came equipped with fiberglass infused, red line, blue line, polyester, rayon or nylon construction, and were hardly speed rated when compared to those offered today. Brakes, steering and suspension would be a whole 'nother topic...
Sorry, wrong thread