The Dodge Charger has been given an update for the 2020 model year, which includes a new widebody package for “America’s only four-door muscle car.” Available as an option on the Charger Scat Pack and coming as standard on the Charger SRT Hellcat, the new looks are also complemented by some performance revisions.
With the widebody package, the Charger gains new front and rear fascias that feature integrated fender flares. This adds 89 mm to the width of the car, which help to provide room for the 20x11J wheels that are offered in three designs, and wrapped with Pirelli 305/35 profile tyres.
On the Hellcat, there’s also a new mail-slot grille for more optimum cooling, side sills to better link both ends, a dedicated spoiler, and two-piece SRT Hellcat fender badges finished in satin chrome.
There are also handling upgrades too, including 32% stiffer front springs, larger sway bars (34 mm from 32 mm in front, and 22 mm from 19 mm at rear) and Bilstein three-mode adaptive dampers.
The brakes have also been replaced with Brembo items, with two-piece front brake discs measuring 391 mm that are accompanied by six-piston front calipers, with four-piston units at the rear. From 96 km/h (60 mph) to a dead stop now takes 1.21 metres less than the equivalent model it replaces.
There’s also a new electric power steering fitted, with different SRT Drive Modes – Street, Sport,Track and Custom – available through the Uconnect infotainment systems.
Some new tech features are present too like Race Cooldown, which keeps the intercooler pump and radiator fan running after the engine is turned off to continue cooling the supercharger. Meanwhile, Line Lock makes burnouts easier by braking the front wheels when engages, while Launch Control and Launch Assist minimises or eliminates tyre slip and wheel hop when launching the vehicle.
No changes under the bonnet with the HEMI 6.2 litre supercharged V8 putting out 707 hp and 881 Nm of torque through an TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission.
According to Dodge, the Hellcat Widebody will accelerate from 0-96 km/h in 3.6 seconds, hit 315 km/h, has a quarter-mile sprint time of 10.96 seconds, and pulls 0.96 g on the skidpad. It also delivers a road course lap time 2.1 seconds faster than the vehicle it replaces after one lap of a 3.38-km track, which the company says is equal to 13 car lengths per lap.
For something milder, there’s the Charger Scat Pack with a 6.4 litre NA V8 making 485 hp and 644 Nm, also with an eight-speed auto in tow. It too comes with the same handling and performance improvements as the Hellcat, but with different results.
The 0-96 km/h time here is 4.3 seconds, a quarter-mile sprint takes 12.4 seconds, it pulls 0.98 g lateral grip on the skidpad, brakes from 96-0 km/h a full 0.91 metres less compared to a non-Widebody Scat Pack, and finishes 1.3 seconds faster on a 3.38-km road course, which is equal to eight car lengths per lap.
For those who can make do with less, Dodge offers the Charger R/T with a 5.7 litre HEMI V8 (370 hp and 535 Nm) and the Charger SXT, the latter packing a 3.6 litre Pentastar V6 (300 hp and 358 Nm) with optional all-wheel drive.
2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody
2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Widebody
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