Charger SRT Hellcat

Make
Dodge
Segment
Sedan

A few months ago, Dodge showed off a concept version of the Charger Widebody that looked production-ready. The company then put out a teaser earlier this week, saying that something big was on the way. Well, something big has certainly arrived and it's none other than the 2020 Dodge Charger Widebody. The Charger's Widebody guise is now standard on the four-door Hellcat and optional on the Scat Pack. And just like the wider Challenger, the Charger Widebody gets new front and rear fascias with larger integrated fender flares, increasing the sedan's overall length by 3.5 inches.

The wider fenders allow Dodge to fit wider 20-inch by 11-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli 305/35ZR20 tires. Brembo six-piston front calipers with two-piece front brake rotors are tasked with bringing the car to a stop, and unique Bilstein three-mode adaptive dampers provide a smooth yet dynamic ride.

As it did before, the Hellcat derives power from a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 making 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, which it sends to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic. 0-60 mph takes only 3.6 seconds and a quarter-mile goes by in 10.96 seconds before the kitty from hell hits its 197 mph top speed and snags the title of being the fastest mass-production sedan along the way. Thanks to the wider tires and suspension mods, the car pulls 0.96 G on the skidpad. Dodge says the Widebody will run a 2.1-mile test course in 1.3 fewer seconds than it takes a base Hellcat to pull off the same feat. Those with large pocketbooks and an appetite for dangerous speed will be sad to learn that the 797 horsepower Redeye engine available in the Challenger Hellcat isn't offered on the Charger.

Those with saner heads can option the Widebody package for the less expensive Charger Scat Pack model, which is powered by a 6.4-liter (392-cubic-inch) HEMI V8 producing 485 hp. Taking 4.3 seconds, acceleration from 0-60 mph isn't as brisk (a quarter-mile takes 12.4 seconds), but it is still no slouch. In the handling department, the Scat Pack actually pulls a more impressive 0.98 G on the skidpad.

"People say, 'no one wants cars anymore.' I would tell you that the 40,000 people who bought a Dodge Charger so far this year would probably agree, because to them, the Charger isn't just a car. The Charger's reach extends beyond body-style practicalities and it can't be defined by average industry shifts," said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars - Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA North America. "Can you buy a vehicle that is dollar-for-dollar more practical than a Charger Widebody? Absolutely, but there are also more than 1,000 flavors of ice cream and vanilla is only one of them. If the 'average' person will own six cars in their lifetime, our cars need to connect so strongly that people can't help, but turn around and take a second look before walking away."

Order books for the 2020 Charger Widebody will open in the fall of 2019 with deliveries beginning in 2020. Dodge has some of the best colors in the business and the 2020 Charger will be no exception. 12 color options will be available, including F8 Green, Frostbite, Go Mango, Granite Crystal, Hellraisin, IndiGo Blue, Octane Red, Pitch Black, Sinamon Stick, TorRed, Triple Nickel, and White Knuckle. There will also be a few interior options, including Black Black, Caramel Black, Demonic Red Black, Houndstooth Black, Ruby Red Black, and Sepia.