Dodge just announced their plans to release the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody, the special wide body design variant of their popular Hellcat model. Since there will only be 3,300 units of the new Dodge Demon produced, your chances of procuring one are pretty slim, even if you have $86,090 to spare. So, Dodge came up with a brilliant plan of offering up a new wider body version of the Hellcat as a bit of a consolation prize to anybody that couldn’t get their hands on the Demon.
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Exterior
The new design transforms the Hellcat into a Dodge Demon lookalike, with its sexy wide-body look. The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody feature the same pumped fenders as the ones that are features on the Demon. They add whole 3.5 inches to the width of the regular Hellcat body. Moreover, these new fenders beautifully incorporate the 20×11-inch aluminum wheels and the 305/35R20-size Pirelli P Zero tires. They aren’t exactly the Nitto drag radials featured on the new Demon, but they’ll do do job more than adequately. Unique to the new Hellcat Widebody will be the vented aluminum hood as well as the new logo and Hellcat badge. Dodge also clams that the new Widebody will come with improvements in the lateral grip, acceleration and braking.
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Engine and Powertrain
The new 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody will feature the same old supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine that is capable of producing up to 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. It will also come with new Brembo brakes and a choice between the 6-speed manual or the 8-speed automatic transmission, latter of which comes with paddle shifters. In terms of performance, the new Widebody sees some improvements compared to the regular Hellcat model. The new and improved version has a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and it runs a quarter-mile in just 10.9 seconds. That is a 0.1 and 0.3 second improvement, respectively. Moreover, the lateral skid pad grip was improved by .04 g. According to Dodge, their new Hellcat Widebody managed to complete the 1.7-mile road course 2.0 seconds faster per lap than the regular model, all at a top speed of 195 mph.
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2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
The starting price for the new 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody is set at $72,590. This amount includes the $1,700 gas guzzler tax and the destination charge of $1,095. First orders for the new model can be placed this July and first examples are expected to reach the showroom by the end of September. Dodge is also offering up a pretty decent bonus where buyers will get a one-day session at the Bob Bondurant School of High-performance Driving which is located in Chandler, Arizona.
