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2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody Revealed: A Four-Door Steamroller

The Charger Has Been A Full-Size Sedan Sales Leader Since 2014

The normal Dodge Charger Hellcat is no more. Instead, Dodge is giving us an upgrade. Because for the 2020 model year, the Dodge Charger Hellcat is now exclusively in widebody form. In doing so, the world now has a quicker, better handling, more aggressive Charger Hellcat than before. it’s also 3.5 inches wider, totaling 78.5 inches across – nearly as wide as a Ford F-150 pickup truck. The 2020 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Widebody launches in early 2020. Dealer orders will begin in the fall of 2019. Pricing will be announced later this year.

Here’s the skinny on the 2020 Charger Hellcat Widebody: massive Pirelli tires measuring 305/35ZR20 on all four corners, wrapping 20-inch by 11-inch wheels. The added grip also helps the vehicle hold .96 g on the skidpad. Providing stopping power are Brembo six-piston front calipers with two-piece front brake rotors that bring the Charger Hellcat Widebody to a halt from 60-0 in just 107 feet. Meanwhile, a 32 percent stiffer spring rate, larger sway bars, and Bilstein three-mode adaptive dampers help improve handling on both the road course and the drag strip. In fact, Dodge says that the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody runs 2.1 seconds faster than the vehicle it replaces on a 2.1-mile road course, or 13 car lengths after one lap.

At the drag strip, 0-60 mph acceleration of the 2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody improves to 3.6 seconds, with the quarter-mile elapsed time improving to 10.96 seconds. Yes, a four-door family sedan is now a 10-second car.

Also new for the 2020 model year, the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Widebody features a quartet of racing software to stretch out those track days. There’s Race Cooldown, which keeps cooling the supercharger/charge air cooler after the engine is shut off by running the intercooler pump and radiator fan. There’s Line Lock engages the front brakes to hold the Charger Hellcat Widebody stationary, but leaves the rear wheels free for a burnout to heat up and clean the rear tires. Launch Control manages tire slip while launching the vehicle to allow the driver to achieve consistent straight-line acceleration, and is activated via a switch on the dashboard. Finally, Launch Assist uses wheel speed sensors to watch for driveline-damaging wheel hop at launch and modifies the engine torque to regain full grip. Much of this technology was developed for the legendary Dodge Demon, of which there are no plans for it to come back.

Written by Manoli Katakis

Muscle Cars & Trucks was founded by Manoli Katakis - an automotive media veteran that has been covering the latest car news since 2009. His journalism has uncovered dozens of major product changes, updates, plans, and cancellations long before automakers were ready to make things official.

Some highlights over the years of his reporting include the uncovering of the Zora trademark before anybody else reported on the coming of a mid-engine Corvette, as well as the dead-accurate reporting of the coming of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, two years before it hit the market, and even before the debut of the concept vehicle. This type of reporting has immediately continued here, with reports of the original seventh-generation Camaro plans being shelved, as well as what's in store for the Chevrolet Silverado.

Some of his work can be found on massive automotive media outlets, such as Motor1. He also has been a guest on the 910AM Radio Station with Detroit News auto critic Henry Payne, as well as the enthusiast-oriented Camaro Show podcast.

Over the years, Manoli has interviewed various automotive industry titans, leaders, and people that make things happen otherwise. These include figureheads such as GM CEO Mary Barra, GM President Mark Reuss, automotive aftermarket icon Ken Lingenfelter, Dodge firebrand Tim Kuniskis, along with various chief engineers of vehicles such as the Ford F-150 & Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro & Corvette, and many more.

At MC&T, Manoli is taking his journalism expertise, deeply planted sources, driving abilities, and automotive industry knowledge to new levels, covering more vehicles and brands than ever before. This is the place where you will continue to read groundbreaking stories about American performance vehicles, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Here is where you’ll also read insights and quotes from various automotive subject matter experts on the latest relevant products, as well as some of the latest official news from their manufacturers.

Fun facts: he also once beat Corvette Racing driver Tommy Milner in an autocross with a Chevrolet Bolt EV. The biggest vehicle he’s ever driven is a John Deere mining truck. Besides a go-kart, the smallest vehicle he’s driven has been a Hyundai i10. He’s also spent time in the cockpit of various American performance vehicle icons, including the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, Dodge Challenger Demon, and Ford Mustang GT350R. He has reviewed dozens of trucks, SUVs, and performance vehicles over the years.

One of his favorite new vehicles on the market today happens to be the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. He is also a card carrying member of the Sports Car Club of America, and regularly participates in Detroit Region autocross events.

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