2020 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Widebody Says Fuck the Hellcat, etc.
All about the Hellcat. These four words have become a slogan for enthusiasts and have served as standard operating procedure for Dodge in recent years.
The Hellcat is certainly the most powerful Dodge on the market today, but not the best.
I want you to hear me out. I love the Hellcat and its 700+ horsepower. It is the definition of excess. Power is great, but only if it gets you to the ground.
The R/T Scat Pack Widebody is actually the best choice in the 2020 Dodge Charger lineup.
I spent a week with the Frostbite Blue model and understood what the 2020 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Widebody is and is not.
Hit: It has usable power
Yes, 707 and 797 horsepower is great, but it means nothing if you can't control that power, and even with the 305mm Pirelli P Zeros on the widebody, the Hellcat wants to spin its tires in each corner. Spinning is not winning," Tim Kuniskis, global head of Dodge and SRT, told Motor Authority at the launch of the 2020 Dodge Challenger Super Stock. Tim is right: with a 6.4-liter V-8 engine producing 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, the Charger R/T Scat Pack widebody has more than enough power and control for daily use or on the track. The 305 is more likely to stick to the pavement and deliver more power than the narrow-bodied 275. In reality, one would not be able to control the Hellcat's wheelspin with one's feet to achieve a 3.6-second 0-60 mph time, and even if one could, one would not feel the difference inside the Vbox from the Scat Pack's 4.3-second 0-60 mph run.
MISTAKE: Be wary of its width
The added 3.5 inches of width on the widebody makes a difference when driving the Charger day in and day out. The added width comes from the wheel flares. On narrow city and suburban streets, the wider body requires special attention in order to stay in your lane. The same is true when entering or exiting a garage. Park next to the curb. Remember, the wheels stick out more than you think (the wheels have not been removed from the curb to bring you this report). Since you can't see the front wheel flares from inside the car, it's a hassle to have to pay attention to the fender flares and the wheels sticking out. However, if you forget to do so, you will hear a gurgling sound.
Hit or miss: you hear it before you see it
"Here comes the car. My wife, Karen, said. With the same 2.75-inch straight-through active exhaust system and 4-inch outlets as the Charger Hellcat, the Charger R/T Scat Pack widebody is as loud as Dodge's underworld kitten. It vibrates the garage during cold starts and can be heard in the house as the active exhaust valves stay open until the engine warms up. My kids love it so much that grown men can't help but chuckle. My wife does not necessarily react favorably.
Buy a Charger Hellcat or R/T Scat Pack and you won't have to sneak out of the house early in the morning for car meetings or early morning flights.
Hit: Heavy-duty steering
In an era of overboosted electric power steering systems, the Charger R/T Scat Pack widebody is a breath of fresh, heavy air. The street, sport, and track steering inputs of this car can be described as heavy, heavy, heaviest. Even on previous runs at Sonoma Raceway, I preferred Street mode. Street mode has more resistance than is found in most sport sedans and is heavy enough to admit that this is a muscle car, not a Corolla. Tough guys and strong men, put the steering wheel in track mode and drive casually every day.
Mistake: Wide tires meet the real world
On a smooth race track or California pavement, the R/T Scat Pack Widebody's wide P-zero at each corner is awesome. But that grip comes at a price. I live in the real world where it rains and the pavement crumbles. Here in Minnesota (or Detroit, Chicago, and the rest of the Midwest), wide tires are a nightmare in the rain and a problem on bumpy roads and highways. These tires seek out and follow highway seams, making it easier to find bumps and ruts and more prone to hydroplaning. At least not as bad as the sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s on the Ford Mustang GT Performance Package Level 2.
Hit: Balanced value
The R/T Scat Pack Widebody costs $47,990 (including destination), but my tester came to $55,955 thanks to optional wheels, navigation, and carbon fiber trim. r/T Scat Pack Widebody is the second most expensive Charger currently available, but is $25,600 less than the Charger Hellcat, which only has a Widebody.
The Charger RT Scat Pack Widebody weighs 214 pounds less than the Charger Hellcat and has a slightly better weight distribution of 55/45 versus 56/44. It is hard to argue why spend the extra money for 312 horsepower and 214 pounds of torque. I would much rather have a Scat Pack and a Honda Accord Sport.
At $98.94 per horsepower, the 2020 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack isn't the most powerful four-door muscle car you can buy, but it's one that should top your shopping list unless drag racing and bragging rights are your top priority. Long live the Hellcat, but let's not make everything a Hellcat. Great powertrain, weighted steering, loud exhaust, value: failings: noisy, wide, tiring.
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