By Beverly & Steve Smirnis
When God tempted Eve, the apple was red. When Dodge tempts muscle car enthusiasts the color and results are similar. Succumbing to the seduction of temptation is purely human nature.
Its drivers sport a wild-eyed smile just knowing that the special red key has the potential to unlock all 707 horsepower, 650 lb.-ft. of torque, and 196 mph top speed of the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody’s supercharged V8 engine. Owners will quickly justify tapping into the “mere” 500hp that the “tamer” black key is capable of.
When they’re innocently minding their own business at a stoplight and a Corvette pulls up and revs its engine, Hellcat restrainers simply can’t be expected to control the urge to discretely slide a finger over to hit the launch button and show off zero-to-60-mph in 3.6 seconds. Anyone observing shakes their head in disbelief but always with a smile as the badass 4,600-pound four-door sedan roars its gnarly exhaust and emits a supercharged whine leaving all others behind, along with a little rubber on the road.
The newest 2020 widebody model at 210 inches long 78.3 inches wide replaces the narrow body SRT Hellcat of 2019. The Dodge-tuned ZF eight-speed automatic transmission make her surprisingly nimble when pouncing while “Devil’s Rim” five-spoke, 20-inch wheels are 11 inches wide and wrapped in 305/35 Pirelli P Zero tires to assure the footing of this ferocious feline on the road.
Flared wheel arches are 3-1/2 inches wider than a normal Charger to hold her wider tires and wheels and the “mail slot” front bumper is specially designed to take in fresh air to feed her radiator. Standards include huge six-piston Brembo brakes, sway bars, three-mode adaptive suspension dampers, auto-dimming driver and rearview mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, and rear parking sensors. The ride is downright comfortable on bolstered, overstuffed bucket seats that are heated and ventilated. Legroom at 41.8 includes in front and 40.1 inches in the back and 38.6 inches of front headroom are best in class.
Call it obnoxious or ridiculous, but this throw-back muscle car is still a hot seller for Dodge with owners willing to pay what it takes to get the stares it deserves. Beyond the long list of standards, our Hellcat’s add-ons including the carbon/suede interior package, a 19-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system, Alcantara / Laguna logoed seats, plus the Power Convenience Group and Nav and Travel Group packages. Add Blue Dual Striping, Gunmetal Gray brake calipers and a “Gas Guzzlers Tax” of $2,100, and its price tag was right at $80K.
Be careful! It’s out there, loose on the streets, driven by show-offs waiting for a reason to fail another lesson in restraint.
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