Dodge has been teasing us for the past few weeks about the upcoming 2019 Dodge Charger. A day after we broke the news on MoparInsiders.com that the 2019 Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT would be getting a facelift for the new model year, Dodge released teaser shots. Then we broke the news that the 2019 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack would get the same front end treatment as the 2019 SRT HELLCAT. After that we caught prototypes for the 2019 Dodge Charger GT RWD model. Now, Dodge has released all the details about the 2019 Charger performance lineup.
Let’s start from the lower trims and work our way up. First off, the 2019 Dodge Charger SXT will be very similar to the 2018 model. You will be able to equip your SXT model with a Blacktop Package as well as an all-wheel drive (AWD). However, SXT AWD is now the only AWD offering in the Charger lineup for the 2019 model year. The Blacktop option will be available for the SXT AWD model. While the SXT model gets 292 horsepower standard, all SXT AWD models will get the 300 horsepower rating from the GT model.
For the 2019 model year, Dodge will introduce the Charger GT RWD (rear-wheel drive). For the 2018 model year, all Dodge Charger GT models were AWD. The GT adopts new performance looks and features standard, including performance hood, fascia, sculpted side sills, spoiler and seats. Race-bred chassis upgrades, including a standard performance suspension, 3.07 rear axle ratio, enhanced steering with paddle shifters, Dodge Performance Pages with the 8.4-inch Uconnect screen, Houndstooth cloth bolstered performance seats, new Dark Dub Plate instrument panel, and new 20-inch Satin Carbon and Black Noise wheel options. 300 horsepower is standard on all GT models for 2019. However, if you are looking for AWD you will need to go to the SXT AWD model as the GT is exclusively RWD for the 2019 model year.
The Dodge Charger R/T has been standard trim for HEMI power in the Dodge Charger lineup since 2006 and that continues. For 2019, the Charger R/T is still powered by the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V8 but adopts new performance looks and features standard, including the performance hood, fascia, sculpted side sills, spoiler and seats. Race-bred chassis upgrades, including a standard performance suspension, 2.62 rear axle ratio, enhanced steering, steering wheel with paddle shifters, Dodge Performance Pages with the 8.4-inch Uconnect screen, Houndstooth cloth bolstered performance seats, new Dark Dub Plate instrument panel, and new 20-inch Satin Carbon and Black Noise wheel options.
The 2019 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack is the most muscle for the dollar, powered by the naturally aspirated 392 HEMI V-8, it delivers 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, priced less than $40,000.
New for 2019, Launch Assist and Line Lock are now standard features on the R/T Scat Pack for optimum performance at launch from a standstill. A new switch on the dashboard provides quick access to initialize Launch Control, which coordinates the engine, transmission, driveline and suspension for an optimal launch and consistent straight-line acceleration.
R/T Scat Pack features the same new performance grille with dual air inlets as the SRT HELLCAT and adds a new Scat Pack bee badge on the decklid, replacing the R/T badge. New Dark Dub Plate instrument panel and Houndstooth cloth performance seat with an added Scat Pack bee logo are also standard. Dual Carbon stripes, a Satin Black-painted hood and Bilstein three-mode Adaptive Damping Suspension are added to the available options.
The Dodge Charger Daytona returns for the 2019 model year, however it is available as a package and not a trim level like it was in 2018. The Daytona Edition Group is almost identical to the 2018 model, except for the additional equipment added to the R/T Scat Pack for 2019 which a customer will get once they check the box for the Daytona Edition Group on their R/T Scat Pack. The Daytona Edition Group is also still available on the 2019 Dodge Charger R/T as well.
Absent for the 2019 model year is the 2019 Dodge Charger SRT392. With R/T Scat Pack getting the three-mode Adaptive Damping Suspension from the SRT392 and R/T Scat Pack having the Dynamics Package still available which adds the 6-piston brakes from the SRT392 and making the Harman Kardon GreenEdge 900-watt sound system optional in R/T and R/T Scat Pack, Dodge seems to think there is no need for the SRT392 trim anymore.
The 2019 Charger SRT HELLCAT remains the quickest, fastest and most powerful sedan in the world with the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® V-8 that delivers 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to the quick-shifting TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.
New for 2019, the Charger SRT HELLCAT features a new performance grille with dual inlets that feed cooler, outside air into the engine compartment. Bolstering the performance is the addition of four race-inspired technologies that come standard on HELLCAT, including:
- Launch Assist, which uses wheel speed sensors to watch for driveline-damaging wheel hop at launch and, in milliseconds, modifies the engine torque to regain full grip
- Line Lock, which engages the front brakes to hold the Charger SRT HELLCAT stationary, but leaves the rear wheels free for a burnout to heat up and clean the rear tires
- After-Run Chiller, which keeps cooling the supercharger/charge air cooler after the engine is shut off
- Torque Reserve, which closes a bypass valve to prefill the supercharger and manages fuel flow and spark advance to balance engine rpm and torque, generates a reserve of torque that is delivered upon acceleration from a standing stop
New instrument panel badging, a Satin Black painted hood option, available Brass Monkey 20-inch forged wheels and an Alcantara interior package are also new to Charger SRT HELLCAT for the 2019 model year. The only thing we didn’t see which we thought was coming for the 2019 model year on Charger SRT HELLCAT models was adaptive cruise control (ACC) which is not available for the 2019 model year.
Available exterior colors for all 2019 Dodge Charger models include B5 Blue, Destroyer Grey, F8 Green, Go Mango, Granite Crystal, IndiGo Blue, Maximum Steel, Octane Red, Pitch Black, Plum Crazy, TorRed, Triple Nickel and White Knuckle.
