Road Test: 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody

Sometimes, a paint colour’s name just fits with the car wearing it.

In the case of the 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody we tested recently, the Smoke Show grey exterior was spot on because if you really wanted to, this baby could definitely put one on!

Dodge claims that the Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye is the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world.

A look at the numbers sure backs that up, with more than 700 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque giving it a 0-96 km/h time of 3.6 seconds, and a top speed of 326 Km/h (203 mph).

Those stats certainly make the Hellcat moniker a fitting one.

Another big number for this sedan is the price tag, which starts at $87,515 before adding an $18,000 package for the Supercharged V8, 20-inch wheels, Redeye badges and the SRT Power Chiller.

Several other add-ons, like navigation and an upgraded audio system, push the final price to $111,905.

Powertrain: Hiding under a newly designed, functional performance hood on the SRT Hellcat is the monstrous 6.2-litre HEMI V8 that roars to life with the push-button start. The rumble is enough to wake the neighbours, and when seated in the driver’s seat, I could literally feel it in my body.

The exact power output for the V8 is 717 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, all going to the rear wheels of the SRT Hellcat.

The engine is paired with a heavy-duty TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission.

As the saying goes, every action has an opposite and equal reaction, so as fast and powerful as the engine is, Dodge had to make sure the brakes are just as potent.

So, they made standard a set of Brembo high-performance six-piston (front) and four-piston (rear) calipers and vented rotors at all four corners to give the Charger SRT Hellcat maximum stopping power.

Exterior: Not only does the exterior colour of our tester give the SRT Hellcat a stand-out appearance, the additional styling enhancements of this trim also make it a sight to behold that garnered lots of attention.

As the trim name would indicate, the Widebody Hellcat gets some extra exterior bits to give it a distinctive look, including fender flares integrated into the front and rear fascia. They add an extra 3.5 inches of width over the wider 20-inch Carbon Black lightweight aluminum wheels. Side sills connect the extended front and rear facias – via the extended flares – to maintain the exterior design.

The front fascia features a slim grille – Dodge calls it the mail-slot grille – which helps guarantee an efficient flow of air to help keep the engine cool.

And as you would expect, a number of Hellcat Redeye badges adorn the vehicle’s exterior.

Interior: In keeping with the most appropriate names for colours on the Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody is the optional Demonic red seats fitted in our tester.

Embossed with the SRT Hellcat logo, the leather seats were comfortable and supportive, and the seat warmers did a quick job of keeping me toasty on cooler mornings.

With the engine’s throaty rumble, the cabin is far from the quietest place to be, especially on the highway.

Unique features of the SRT Hellcat Redeye cabin include a set of red gauges, a Redeye logo splash screen and the SRT Hellcat Redeye logo on the key fob.

Infotainment: The infotainment system is powered by Uconnect 4C and features an 8.4-inch touchscreen. As with past experiences with the Uconnect system, it is a good system that is responsive and offers clear menus.

If I were to complain about something it is the fact that you need to access menus on the screen to activate the heated/ventilated seats and the heated steering wheel. I know that is where many automakers are headed, but simple switches for functions like this still makes sense to me.

We got to sample the $1,500 harman/Kardon optional audio system, with comes with no fewer than 19 (!) speakers and an amplifier. It had no problem drowning out the sound of the engine.

Drive: It’s hard to comment on driving a 700-plus horsepower vehicle when you never really had a chance to take it where it can truly shine, a racetrack.

I mean, in all honesty, who needs 717 horses to drive around the city or zip from town to town on the highway?

There’s no denying that the SRT Hellcat Redeye is grin-inducing, with the whine of the supercharger being followed by a thrust of acceleration that pushes you back into the seat.

The wider tires do tend to make the car feel a little squirely as it struggles to stay in the grooves beaten into the pavement by other vehicles.

The Hellcat Redeye comes with an SRT-tuned Bilstein three-mode Adaptive Damping Competition suspension to keep things in check and provide plenty of grip.

Conclusion: A rarity on our roads, this vehicle had a lot of people turning their heads and plenty of dads at school drop off stopping to talk to me about it. So, if its attention you seek, this is definitely one (pricey) way to go about it.

2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody
Price as tested: $111,905.00
Freight: $2,695.00
Configuration: Front engine/Rear-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: Supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI Hellcat V8 / 8-speed automatic
Power/torque: 717 horsepower/ 650 lb-ft of torque
Fuel (capacity): Premium (70 L)
Combined fuel economy ratings (L/100 km): 15.6 L/100 km
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km): 17.5 L/100 km
Warranties: 5-years/100,000 km (basic)
Competitors: BMW M5, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Links: Dodge Canada