2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody leads new lineup

The new Dodge Challenger SRT lineup is headlined by a car that’s ‘possessed by the Demon’.

Called the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody, the new halo Challenger puts to use the Hellcat engine in a similar tune to that of the Demon, with 594kW and 958Nm.

26

Dodge is claiming it has the quickest production muscle car 0-60mph (97km/h) time nailed with the Redeye Widebody, coming in at 3.4 seconds. The Demon, however, had a claimed 2.4sec run to the 100km/h mark.

Over the quarter-mile, Dodge says the Redeye Widebody will only take 10.8 seconds, clocking 210km/h along the way. It’ll top out at 327km/h.

Dodge says it has used the largest factory supercharger for the Redeye at 2.7-litres – the same size as that on the Demon. The boost pressure was also upped to 14.5psi from 11.6, and the redline was lifted to 6500rpm.

Joining the Redeye Widebody will be a ‘standard’ version of the Redeye, as well as a Hellcat and Hellcat Widebody.

The four models are only separated by a few tenths on the strip, with the Hellcat Widebody taking 10.9 seconds, the standard Redeye 11.1 seconds, and the standard Hellcat 11.2 seconds. Top speeds are all upwards of 310km/h.

26

As well as the technical upgrades, the exterior design has been tweaked to include cues from classic Mopar cars of the 1960s and ‘70s like the 1970 Dart Swinger and 1971 Demon.

Head of FCA US passenger car design Mark Trostle says taking classic and historical Dodge design elements has made the 2019 Challenger not only more functional, but also more appealing.

"We designed the SRT Hellcat Challenger’s new dual-snorkel hood to focus on another key historical Mopar design element and pay homage to our past with a modern interpretation that looks even more sinister."

26

The twin bonnet scoops function as cooling and induction intakes, with the left one leading directly into the engine (and supercharger’s) air intake.

Production is set to kick off in Q3 this year, with US deliveries expected to start late in the year.