Dodge has a history of making iconic cars, and the SRT division of Dodge makes them go even faster. SRT to Dodge is what AMG is to Mercedes, and RS is to Audi. It essentially is a performance division of the iconic brand. With its 6.2L supercharged V8 Hemi, the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is a ‘titan’ on the streets. First, there is a standard Challenger SRT, above that comes the Challenger Hellcat above that sits the Hellcat Redeye, and lastly comes the Hellcat Redeye Widebody. With every model, the performance numbers keep going higher and higher.
The Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye is an extreme performance variant of the already robust SRT. It packs 807 HP - and that’s a lot of power.
The Aging Exterior Design
Challenger has been around since the 1970s, and it is one of the very few cars which has stuck to the same design language for decades. If the 2022 Challenger was teleported back to the 1970s, hardly anyone would believe that this car is from 50 years’ future. That’s how the design of the Challenger has been. Some call it timeless, while some label it as outdated. The 2022 Challenger Hellcat Redeye is not much different from the 2021 model, apart from a few new color options.
At the front, there remains to be a dual-snorkel hood which has very large air intakes to feed to a massive supercharger underneath. The signature quadpod headlamps remain unchanged, while the middle two circles have a LED DRL: they function mainly as air intakes and no headlamps. There is an SRT logo on the grille, a Hellcat emblem, and a gigantic splitter at the lower half of the bumper. There are 275 mm wheels at the sides that feature 20’’ alloy, and the design is rather minimalistic. There is a Hellcat emblem on both the front fenders with the Redeye.
At 197.5 inches long, the Hellcat is undoubtedly a very long car, and it sits on a 116.2-inch wheelbase. The rear is pretty much identical to the 2021 model, and just like the previous year’s model, it has a 16 cubic feet trunk volume. There are full-LED headlights and a subtle lip spoiler as well.
A Decent Interior Setup
Being a Coupe, the Challenger can seat five people, but the back seats remain very crammed and are best suited for kids. The Challenger was redesigned in 2015, and the interior controls and infotainment system were all inclined towards the driver. The interior is a mix of Alcantara and Leather on the steering wheel, gear knob, and door panels. There are heated and ventilated front seats with electronic adjust and memory function. There is also a Harmon Kardon sound system that enhances the audio experience.
The steering wheel is also electronically adjustable. The gauge clusters are basic analog units with two dials for RPM and MPH speed with a MID in between, which shows much information like current MPG, average speed, and tire pressure monitoring. The central touch screen remains identical and is very functional with a backup camera, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The screen also features drive mode selection and performance pages that show all the vehicle's performance-related data. The cabin also has dual-zone climate control and a lot of charging options. Talking about options, one can get ambient lighting, blind-spot monitoring, and a full electric sunroof as an option.
The Jaw-Dropping Power Statistics And Price
According to Dodge, the standard Hellcat makes ‘only’ around 717 HP, while the Hellcat Redeye makes 797 HP at 6300 RPM and 707 Lb-Ft of torque. All that power is sent to the rear wheels by an 8-speed automatic transmission. The supercharged 6.2L Hemi V8 pushes performance limits, delivering relentless power. The Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye will charge from 0-60 MPH in under 3.5 seconds. That might not sound that fast, but it is impressive for a car that weighs over 4,400 lbs. It can also do the standing quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds. Fuel consumption is a big issue as the Challenger returns 13 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highway. The supercharger whine which the car makes when being revved up is incredible, and one can recognize that it is a Dodge from a distance.
Priced at $74,775 before options, the Hellcat Redeye is a good car, but if one adds in the options, the price can shoot up over $80,000, bringing it right beside the RAM TRX pickup truck. Both are entirely different vehicles, one being a Muscle Coupe while the other is a full-sized off-road-oriented pickup truck.
The competition for the Challenger is steering ahead, and its two main competitors, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, offer a lot more than the Challenger, the biggest of them being that they can corner fast and are fantastic to drive on the track. On the other hand, the Challenger feels like a Sumo wrestler competing in athletics. Dodge can surely do much better than just increasing the Horsepower to crazy numbers. If one wants to relax and take an easy drive while looking the meanest on the road, the Challenger could easily be their ideal car.