Charlotte County Florida Weekly

Dodge Challenger Redeye feels like a factory-direct racecar

BEHIND THE WHEEL



 

 

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye makes 797 horsepower. While that will get any enthusiast’s heart racing, this car can even appeal to your practical side.

Only a decade ago we all marveled at the $1.4 million Bugatti Veyron, and it produced 1001 horsepower. Today, the power gap between this $73,190 Hellcat Redeye and a record-setting supercar is a $25K Honda Civic Si. In fact, the most potent Mopar has more horsepower than the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, and it will likely even out-muscle the upcoming 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.

So, feel free to pretend this is the rational choice. Still, we all know the real appeal is that the Redeye is arguably the wildest child Detroit ever put on the street.

The Challenger has the cool retro look of a 1960s-’70s coupe, and the ultra-hot SRT version gets a dual snorkel hood that directly feeds the air box, just like the ram air variations on classic muscle cars. We even had an aggressive color called White Knuckle.

 

 

Our test car had the optional $6,000 Wide-body package. It added larger fender flares and an upgraded suspension, but the real benefit was wider tires. While 30 millimeters of width might not seem like much, on a mega-power car like this, it’s best to have the maximum amount of rubber on the road.

The interior is similar to the rest of the Challenger line with a driver-oriented dash and center console reminiscent of its 1970 predecessor. Of course, today it’s filled with modern pieces, like dual zone climate control, power driver’s seat and keyless entry/ignition. The standard 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system is also the gateway to a set of Performance Pages that can dialin the steering, suspension and engine response.

There is a rear seat delete as a $1 option. It’s less about the money and more a competition-grade attribute to save as much weight as possible (there’s even a no-cost lightweight package available.) The Redeye is the only Challenger to have seat configuring options besides the race-ready SRT Demon, which is an indicator of what this car really is.

 

 

The Demon was a one-shot deal that was the factory providing a genuine drag racer with just enough adaptation to also be used on the streets. But if a car company invests that kind of time in a motor, then it isn’t just going to throw away the technology developed for the special 3,300-car run. The Redeye is the benefactor.

The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 motor produces 797 horsepower — 80 hp more than the standard Hellcat. With the upgrade, the manual transmission option disappears, and only the eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters is available. For drag racing, the auto gearbox coupled with launch control and line-lock is ideal, but this setup is also likely a reminder that it’s best to keep two hands on the wheel at all times.

There’s so much beastly power fed to the rear wheels that it’s easy to convert the rear tires into smoke on demand. Even in regular driving situations the stickiest of supercar-worthy Pirellis are not able to immediately handle all that the Redeye can deliver. Floor the accelerator at a stoplight, and there’s plenty of tail wagging as the traction control and tires work to get the car moving forward and straight. The experience is exciting for a Redeye driver because we’re already assuming a high level of guts in anyone who has purchased one.

 

 

While it growls like a beast at idle, and Dodge says it tops out at 202 mph, this Hellcat is not feral. In everyday life, the Redeye can be driven at half throttle with ease, deliver fuel economy as good as a premium SUV and the air conditioning keeps it ice-cold inside (something a classic muscle car often had trouble doing). Still, this is not likely to see much commuter duty.

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye might have some notion of practicality, but it’s part of a specialty breed of instant classics. This has the power, speed and all-out brazenness that feels like Dodge snuck a racecar out the back door. ¦

 

 

 

 

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