WATCH YOUR SPEED IN CHARGER SRT HELLCAT REDEYE WIDEBODY!

By NITISH S. RELE – motoringtampabay@gmail.com

Zero to 60 in the 3.6 seconds, ¼-mile in 10.6 seconds and top speed at 203 mph. Impressed? You ought to be. The 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi SRT engine in the Dodge Charger boasts robust acceleration, superb handling and steering feel. Our Hellcat Redeye Widebody test-drive version is all-new for 2021.

Step on the throttle and the V-8 engine blasts off 797 horsepower (yes, you read that right!) at 6300 rpm and 707 pounds-feet of torque at 4500 rpm. Mated to an 8-speed auto transmission, the Charger is equipped with a razor-sharp electric power assist, rack-and-pinion steering. Front suspension is handled competently by an independent SLA with high upper ‘A’ arm while the rear gets a five-link independent system. Both ends have coil springs to improve ride quality and comfort. Bringing the speed demon to a halt are Brembo high-performance 15.7-inch front six-piston caliper and 13.8-inch rear four-piston caliper discs, both vented and slotted. To vary the driving experience, this version of the Charger comes in street, sport and track modes.

Walk around the rear-wheel-drive vehicle and the first element that will grab your attention are center air intake and dual heat extractors atop the bulging aluminum hood. The air-intake hood joins a daunting mail-slot honeycomb grille and Redeye logo, surrounded by quad bi-functional HID projector headlights with LED accents. Fender flares integrated into the front/rear fascia boost the width by 3.5 inches. That this is a race-inspired cabin is evident from the rounded 220 mph speedometer (customer preferred package option) and 7000 tachometer gauges with fuel and temperature readings, and a driver information center. Lending further taste and elegance are aluminum lithographic splashes on the center stack, shifter, dash and door-switch bezels. The cabin is roomy and elegant with dual auto a/c, eight-way driver power and four-way front-passenger seats, power and flat-bottomed tilt/telescopic steering column, heated/cooled front seats with the SRT/Redeye logo, six Alpine speakers, 7.5-inch reconfigurable instrument cluster, 8.4-inch UConnect for audio, phone and navigation controls, spacious 16.5-cubic-foot trunk, distinctly designed T-handle shifter and a 60/40 rear seat.

Dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag for both rows, electronic stability and traction control, four-wheel antilock brakes with brake assist, blind spot monitor and rear-cross path detection, active head restraints, rear backup camera, tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights are standard.

Muscle-car aficionados, crave for that throaty exhaust growl (it’s a Hemi!) as you turn on the ignition? Like to mash the pedals for a speed-demon-like takeoff? Then the Charger Hellcat Redeye will fit the bill. To a T.

CHARGER SRT HELLCAT

Tires: 305/35ZR20

Wheelbase: 120 inches

Length: 201 inches

Weight: 4,610 pounds

Fuel capacity: 18.5 gallons

City: 12 mpg

Highway: 21 mpg

Base price: $69,995

Price as tested: $88,065

Web site: www.dodge.com