By Benjamin Yong
The Hellcat name is synonymous with one thing, and one thing only: pure, raw, unadulterated speed. And just when you thought the models given this tire-burning designation couldn’t get any crazier, Dodge launches the new Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye.
“The magic of the Dodge Charger is that it delivers all the performance of a true American muscle car while also being able to deliver a family of four or five, day in and day out,” says Tim Kuniskis, North America head of Dodge and SRT, in a press release. “The Charger is a big, comfortable, five-passenger sedan that can run the quarter-mile in the mid-10s, 0-60 in the mid 3s and reach a top speed of 203 mph, and be your daily driver.”
Borrowing the massaged version of the 6.2-litre HEMI V8 from the limited edition Demon variant, the Redeye — labelled the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world — puts out an eye-popping 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque to the rear axle, and is mated to a robust TorqueFlight eight-speed automatic transmission built to withstand abuse. Helping stop the loads of forward momentum are bright red Brembo brakes.
Doing the evaluation over a particularly wet Vancouver week, I found the motor surprisingly easy to rein in, provided you’re capable of modulating foot pressure properly. Overestimate the throttle input just a little bit though, say attempting a quick merge in traffic, and expect a lot of wheel spin and a loose back end. All things considered, ride and handling are pretty good courtesy of a Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping suspension system.
Pressing the SRT button on the centre console brings up a special customization page on the 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system where users may tailor suspension stiffness, steering feel and even the output. There’s an option to dial the horses down to 500, useful for cruising in inclement weather. Annoyingly, this unique function resets each time the vehicle is restarted unless you use the also-included secondary black-coloured rather than the primary red key to start and operate the car — perfect for the kids or valet.
And for the hard core enthusiasts, all sorts of race-ready features are built in like Launch Assist that mitigates wheel hop through momentarily reducing torque; Line Lock allowing the front brakes to hold the Charger steady so the rear wheels are free to burnout and clean the tires; and SRT Performance Pages displaying digital readouts on the touchscreen of various data from a real-time dyno graph to g-force heat map, and more.
V8s, and especially Stellantis’ HEMI, are renowned for the grin-inducing rumble. Amplified by the sport-tuned exhaust system, it’s truly amazing that the sound is almost drowned out when the supercharger, which is the largest of any consumer automobile on the market, gets going and emits an otherworldly whine. Note there is no discreet mode of operation, so be prepared for a lot of looky-loos.
If the engine note doesn’t turn heads, the design will. As if the regular Hellcat wasn’t cool enough with its hood scoop and dark trim, the Redeye boasts a factory widebody adding 89 millimetres of overall width. Underneath the ultra-flared fenders are massive 20×11-inch Carbon Black alloy wheels shod in meaty 305/35ZR20 Pirelli tires. A mail slot intake has been installed below the mesh grill to draw extra air to cool the radiator. A total of 13 colours are offered on the vehicle, such as the beautiful coat of F8 Green Metallic on our media tester.
The 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye retails for $105,515. And for buyers weary of their ability to handle all the power, worry not — owners can take a road trip down to the Dodge-sponsored Radford Racing School in Chandler, Arizona to learn how to drive their new purchase on the track in a controlled environment.
Specifications:
Base price (MSRP): $105,515
Type: 4-door sedan
Layout: front engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine: 6.2L supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 797 hp @ 3,750 rpm
Torque: 707 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm
Brakes: front/rear disc with ABS
Fuel Consumption (L/100km, city/hwy): 19.6/11.2
