Since the debut of the 797 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye model last year, the original Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat has been thrown into its more powerful sibling’s shadow. While almost identical in everything except for what’s under the hood, many people have forgotten just how good of car the original Challenger SRT Hellcat has become. So we thought we would take a quick look at the 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody, just to see it maintains the hype it once created.
Last year, Dodge//SRT updated the entry-level Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat lineup quite a bit. Starting off with a new dual-snorkel hood and the same cold-air-intake system that could be found on the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, the SRT Hellcat upgraded its power rating to 717 horsepower and 656 lb.-ft. of torque. Dodge//SRT engineers also added more technology to standard Hellcat models from the Demon like After-Run Chiller, Line-Lock, and Launch-Assist as standard equipment as well as a new improved Launch Control feature.
Since last year’s updates were mostly focused on performance updates, the Dodge//SRT team focused on interior updates for the 2020 model year. A new Carbon/Suede Interior Package has been added which adds real carbon fiber bezel accents and a suede headliner and totally changes the looks of the interior. However, it does come with a hefty cost with a $1,595 USD price tag.
They have also added a premium-stitched dash and upper door panels on all Challenger SRT Hellcats equipped with leather. A new black and red SRT Hellcat dash badge has been added for the new model year. While the car’s interior still has the same design since 2015, the interior still is comfortable and doesn’t look outdated five years after its last heavy overhaul. If you want to strip the most weight out of your SRT Hellcat Widebody, you can option your car with the rear seat delete group for only $1.
The exterior of the car remains the same for the new model year, however, the 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody gets some attractive new wheel options. A new set of 20-inch x 11-inch Low Gloss split 5-spoke wheels as standard equipment, while a new 20-inch x 11-inch Low Gloss Granite “Warp Speed” wheel design is optional. There is a set of optional Brass Monkey wheels also available, which are the same pattern as last year’s “Devil’s Rim” design.
As for performance, the standard supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 still has plenty of power to throw you in the back of your seat while launching from a dead stop or even creating one hell of a smoke show when getting on the throttle hard. One thing that we like is the availability of a standard Tremec 6-speed manual transmission, even if the ZF-sourced TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic is a faster option. The choice of transmissions is something that you can’t find on the Hellcat Redeye, as you are stuck with an automatic as your only choice.
The 8-speed automatic-equipped 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody is capable of running a quarter-mile time of 10.9 seconds @ 127 mph and has a top speed of 195 mph. That is .3 of a second quicker than the non-Widebody version while losing 4 mph off the top speed of its non-Widebody sibling.
A 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody starts at U.S. Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price of $66,695, a $6,000 premium over the non-Widebody model and $11,600 cheaper than the Hellcat Redeye Widebody. For those wanting an automatic model, it will add an additional $2,995 to the sticker price. The Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody is still a bargain for the performance when you consider the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat started at $60,990 and we think that the SRT Hellcat models have become the most underrated trim in the Challenger lineup.
So what do you think of the 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody? Is the 717 horsepower still enough with the 797 horsepower Hellcat Redeye is here to stay? Leave your comments below.
