When Pontiac coined the term wide-track to describe their potent performers in the early 1960s, it was innately understood by enthusiasts what that impliedmore grip equals better performance. The actual improvement from this visual sleight of hand was modest, but it was real, and it was popular. Seemingly overnight, manufacturers everywhere took to the low, wide look, cashing in at the dealership. The wide-track look became a de facto symbol of performance, even when it wasnt convincingly in evidence. Dodge and SRT have changed all that with the Widebody Charger. I find this out firsthand as SRT development engineer Jim Wilder clips the apex of turn 1 at Sonoma Raceway with a 2020 Octane Red Charger SRT Hellcat, its tires barely registering any complaint. The official skidpad rating of the new Widebody is 0.96ga staggering 0.05g higher than its narrow-body counterpart, but the cars true potential doesnt fully register until the exit of turn 6, when all of the Hellcats 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque can be brought to bear against the neutron-star-like gravity of the downhills lowest elevation. At that point, the lateral g force registers an improbable 1.51g, the Widebodys 305/30R20 Pirellis massive footprint combining with new undercarriage aero enhancements, spoilers, a 3.5-inch wider track, and good ol centrifugal force to pin your editor hard against the thick leather side bolster. Its a good thing SRT revised the spring rates up another 32 percent, because as we approach the end of the drag strip for one of the slowest turns on the course, the 305 cross-section tires finally provide adhesion close to compatible with the carryover 15.4-inch front disc Brembos. These six-piston units have always overpowered the narrow-bodys 275mm wide tires, and the corner grip we feel as Wilder trail brakes into turn 7 is a welcome feeling. Adding to the ensemble of handling goodies on the SRT Widebody are thicker hollow antiroll bars front and rear, three-way adjustable Bilstein dampers (selectable via Performance Pages), and electronic power steering (EPS), all of which one way or another serve the beastly 6.2L Hemi underhood. That engine is largely the same that has continued since 2015, only now the rest of the vehicles hardware is on the same level. That said, SRT has improved its function by adding the Demons race cool-down feature, which keeps cooling the supercharger and charge cooler after the engine is shut down, and line-lock, a welcome addition for drag racers, who will appreciate the Widebodys new, lower official quarter-mile e.t. of 10.96 (with optional three-season street tires). All this would have been plenty for gearheads, except Dodge mirrored the Hellcats upgrades in the all-new 2020 Scat Pack Widebodyessentially the same car as the Hellcat Widebody sedan, but with the naturally aspirated 485hp, 392ci Hemi underhood. Its spring rates and dampers are tuned slightly different to take full advantage of the lighter frontend mass of Scat Pack, and upgrades over the narrow-body Scat Pack were in evidence from the first stab and steer. WB Scat Pack customers will also get line-lock, and quarter-mile drag times fall further, to 12.40 (from 12.50). Weve been preaching the benefits of a wider track and wider contact patch for decades, and Dodge has stepped up in the grandest A/B comparison of all time, with narrow and wide versions of two outstanding machines. This experimentwhile far from a labproves what weve been saying all this time: more grip is as good as having more power. The cost for that extra Widebody performance is around $6,000 over narrow-body variants; Scat Pack starts at $39,995, with Widebody weighing in at $45,995. Hellcat Charger is available in 2020 as a Widebody only, and has an MSRP of $69,645. Knowing how tenacious FCA is about rear-wheel-drive V8 performance, we can only dream about what may be next. Theres lots more steam left in the boiler with a platform and an engine family that have a few more years remaining on the regulatory clock. Could we see something like a Hellcat-powered Chrysler 300? A Demon-inspired Jeep?! A Holley Hemi Fest event? Wed bet on it. --> 2020 Dodge Charger Complete Press Kit & Specs Powered by the proven supercharged 6.2L HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine with its best-in-class 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, and mated to the standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, the new 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody delivers a top speed of 196 mph, continuing its reign as the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world New aggressive and modern Widebody exterior, standard on Charger SRT Hellcat and available on Charger Scat Pack, features new front and rear fascias with integrated fender flares, adding 3.5 inches of width over the wider wheels and tires Widebody Package adds 2011-inch wheels, wider Pirelli 305/35ZR20 tires, Brembo six-piston front calipers with two-piece front brake rotors and unique suspension tuning with Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping, all combining to deliver improved performance on the street, strip, and road course Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody runs 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, a quarter-mile elapsed time (e.t.) in 10.96 seconds, pulls 0.96 g on the skidpad, which, combined, makes this the quickest and best-handling production Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat ever Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody runs 2.1 seconds faster than the vehicle it replaces on a 2.1-mile road course, equal to 13 car lengths after one lap Charger Scat Pack models deliver the most muscle for the dollar with the 392ci HEMI V-8 engines best-in-class naturally aspirated 485 hp mated to TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission Charger Scat Pack Widebody runs 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and a quarter-mile e.t. in 12.4 seconds, pulling 0.98 g on the skidpad, making this the quickest and best-handling production Charger Scat Pack ever offered New Charger Scat Pack Widebody runs 1.3 seconds faster than standard Charger Scat Pack on a 2.1-mile road course, equal to eight car lengths after one lap Dealer orders open in fall 2019 and vehicles will start arriving in Dodge//SRT dealerships in early 2020 Charger on pace to lead the U.S. large car segment for three years running in 2019 People say, no one wants cars anymore.' I would tell you that the 40,000 people who bought a Dodge Charger so far this year would probably agree, because to them, the Charger isnt just a car. The Chargers reach extends beyond body-style practicalities, and it cant be defined by average industry shifts, said Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA North America. Can you buy a vehicle that is dollar for dollar more practical than a Charger Widebody? Absolutely, but there are also more than 1,000 flavors of ice cream, and vanilla is only one of them. If the average' person will own six cars in their lifetime, our cars need to connect so strongly that people can't help but turn around and take a second look before walking away. Dealers will be able to order 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody and Scat Pack Widebody models this fall. The new Charger Widebody models will start arriving in Dodge//SRT dealerships in early 2020. Designed and engineered to push the boundaries of what a four-door family sedan can be, the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody is powered by the proven supercharged 6.2L HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine, which delivers a best-in-class 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, mated to a standard TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission. With a top speed of 196 mph, the Charger SRT Hellcat maintains its claim as the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world. The performance improvements start with a 3.5-inch wider body, which makes room for new 2011-inch Carbon Black forged wheels riding on wider, stickier Pirelli 305/35ZR20 tires. The Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody also features an SRT-tuned Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping competition suspension, new electric power steering (EPS), stiffer springs, larger sway bars, retuned shocks, several race-inspired technologies and Brembo brakes, all designed to deliver performance numbers never before seen on a Charger. For the first time ever, Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody now features standard EPS with selectable steering tuning to better manage increased grip, both improving handling performance and delivering better steering feel and ease of turning efforts at parking lot speeds. With EPS and standard SRT Drive Modes accessed via the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, drivers can tailor their experience by controlling horsepower, transmission shift speeds, steering, paddle shifters, traction and suspension settings SRT Drive Modes offer selectable settings for Street (Auto), Sport and Track, while the Custom setting allows the driver to select individual preferences Additional Upgrades Increased front spring rates32 percent stiffer than previous model Larger sway barsexpanding from 32 mm to 34 mm in front and from 19 mm to 22 mm in the rear Retuned shocks with revised valving to complement stiffer springs Race Cooldown keeps cooling the supercharger/charge air cooler after the engine is shut off by running the intercooler pump and radiator fan Line Lock engages the front brakes to hold the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody stationary, but leaves the rear wheels free for a burnout to heat up and clean the rear tires Launch Control, easily accessed from a switch on the dashboard, manages tire slip while launching the vehicle to allow the driver to achieve consistent straight-line acceleration Launch Assist uses wheel speed sensors to watch for driveline-damaging wheel hop at launch and, in milliseconds, modifies the engine torque to regain full grip Not only does Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody go fast, it also stops shorter than the vehicle it replaces. For outstanding heat management and longevity, the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody features standard 15.4-inch Brembo two-piece front brake rotors with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers. Stopping distance is four feet shorter (107 feet) from 60-0 mph. SRT engineers took this wider, stickier beast to the track to see what it can do. The result: improved performance on the street, strip and road course and the quickest and best-handling production Charger SRT Hellcat ever. The 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody runs 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, has a quarter-mile e.t. in 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 2.1-mile track. That is equal to 13 car lengths per lap. Form Follows Function Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebodys added 3.5 inches of width paired with its wider wheels and tires are unmistakably Dodge//SRT, creating an aggressive, planted stance unlike any of the other vanilla four-door sedans on the market. New, wider wheels on Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody include: Standard 2011-inch forged split-five-spoke with standard Low-gloss Carbon Black finish Optional 2011-inch Warp Speed deep dish, with Low-gloss Granite finish Optional 2011-inch Brass Monkey Pirelli 305/35ZR20 all-season performance tires are standard; three-season tires are available. Beyond its menacing stance, the newly designed front fascia on the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody includes a new mail-slot grille, providing the most direct route for cool air to travel into the radiator, to maintain ideal operating temperature even in the hottest conditions. New side sills connect the front and rear fascias to help amplify the integrated design. A new rear spoiler, unique to the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody, is designed to create aero balance with the new front-end design. New this year are two-piece Satin Chrome SRT Hellcat fender badges. The race-inspired interior of the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody features standard French live-stitch accents throughout the instrument panel and doors. Additional unique interior elements and soft-touch finishes refine the high-performance cabin, including: Available new Carbon & Suede Package adds real carbon-fiber accents to the instrument panel and console bezels and Dinamica suede headliner, sunvisors, and A-pillars New SRT Hellcat instrument panel badge is unique for the 2020 model year with a black and red finish Standard heated and ventilated Laguna leather front seats feature embossed Hellcat logoavailable interior color combinations include Black, Black/Sepia or Black/Demonic Red Heated, leather-wrapped SRT flat-bottom steering wheel with mounted controls and paddle shifters is standard or available in wrapped Alcantara Fully electronic, performance-inspired shifter controls the standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission and gives the driver the look and feel of a traditional linkage shifter Roomy center console storage compartment is designed to keep an abundance of personal items handy and within easy reach Following on the success of offering the Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody for the 2019 model year, Dodge is also making the Widebody Package available on the Charger Scat Pack for 2020. Since we first launched Scat Pack in 2014, the sales mix of our high-performance models has increased from four percent to more than 25 percent, Kuniskis added. Charger Scat Pack models deliver more muscle for the dollar than any car out there. Offering a Widebody Package on Charger Scat Pack gives us the opportunity to build on that momentum. This wider Scat Pack is powered by the 392ci HEMI V-8 engine with the best-in-class naturally aspirated 485 hp mated to the TorqueFlite 8HP70 eight-speed transmission. It features its own upgraded specially tuned suspension with Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping, standard EPS with selectable steering tuning, and wider wheels and tires to reach unprecedented levels of lateral grip, acceleration and braking, delivering its best on-road and on-track performance levels ever. Standard wheels on the Charger Scat Pack Widebody are 2011-inch Devils Rim split-five-spoke with Low-gloss Granite finish. Optional wheels are 2011-inch finished in Carbon Black. Pirelli 305/35ZR20 all-season performance tires are standard; three-season tires are available. The superb stopping power of the Charger Scat Pack Widebody comes from the standard SRT-engineered Brembo braking system with two-piece 15.4-inch front brake rotors with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers. Stopping distance is 107 feet, three feet shorter than the non-Widebody Scat Pack from 60-0 mph. Suspension upgrades for the 2020 Charger Scat Pack Widebody include: Modified springs, sway bars, and shocks Increased front spring rates, which are 27 percent stiffer Larger rear sway bar, expanded from 19 mm to 22 mm Revised damper calibration to match suspension tuning revisions The 2020 Charger Scat Pack Widebody builds on the stellar attributes of the Scat Pack, improving street, strip and road course performance compared with the non-Widebody Charger Scat Pack. It delivers 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds, a quarter-mile e.t. in 12.4 seconds at 111 mph, pulls 0.98 g lateral grip on the skidpad, brakes 60-0 in 107 feet and finishes 1.3 seconds faster on a 2.1-mile road course, which is equal to eight car lengths per lap. SRT Performance Pages bring critical vehicle performance data to the drivers fingertips, including real-time engine data, such as horsepower, torque, oil pressure and dyno graph; various vehicle dynamics measurements, including a g-force heat map, a wide variety of vehicle gauges and performance driving timers. The Uconnect 4C system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody and all Scat Pack models, and includes an 8.4-inch touchscreen display that offers multi-touch gestures, vivid imagery, sharp graphics and support for smartphone integrations and features SRT Performance Pages. A 7-inch driver information digital cluster display gives instant information on performance, available navigation and plenty of vehicle stats, and is easily customizable with the steering wheel-mounted controls. From optimized V-6 highway fuel economy to class-exclusive all-wheel-drive (AWD) capability, Dodge Charger is a performance sedan, a family sedan with attitude, a favorite amongst law enforcement, and the only four-door muscle car available. In addition to the SRT Hellcat and Scat Pack models, Charger also offers: Award-winning 3.6L Pentastar V-6 with up to 300 hp and up to 264 lb-ft of torque in Charger SXT, Charger SXT AWD, and Charger GT models Intelligent AWD on the Charger SXT AWD, which features a segment-exclusive active transfer case and front-axle-disconnect system to improve real-world fuel economy. No other major automotive manufacturer offers the combination of these two independent technologies. When AWD is not required, the system automatically disconnects the front axle to maximize fuel economy while still providing the outstanding fun-to-drive performance and handling inherent in rear-wheel-drive (RWD) vehicles Legendary 5.7L HEMI V-8 with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque in Charger R/T New standard 197.5-inch Satin Carbon and optional Black Noise wheels for Charger SXT AWD New standard 208-inch Satin Carbon wheels on Charger GT and Charger R/T Available new Carbon & Suede Package that adds real carbon-fiber accents to the instrument panel and console bezels and Dinamica suede headliner, sunvisors and A-pillars (also available on Charger R/T and Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody models) Available new Caramel interior color (available with Plus Group) New Scat Pack instrument panel badge with 392 and multicolor Scat Pack Bee Updated Plus Packages available on Charger SXT AWD and Charger SXT, adds new 208-inch Satin Carbon wheels to the existing package content, including leather sport seat, rear body-color spoiler, six premium Alpine speakers, 276-watt amp, Uconnect 4C, sport suspension and compact spare tire Available on Charger GT, adds new 208-inch Satin Carbon wheels to the Nappa/Alcantara perforated seating from the existing package Available on Charger R/T, adds new 208-inch Machined Granite wheels to the Nappa/Alcantara perforated seating from the existing package Updated Blacktop Package, available on Charger SXT AWD, Charger GT and Charger R/T, features new 19-inch Black Noise wheels on SXT AWD Updated Performance Handling Group, available on Charger GT and Charger R/T, adds new leather flat-bottom steering wheel and 209-inch forged Black Noise wheels to the existing package content, including Black Brembo fixed caliper four-piston brakes, high-performance suspension and 245/45ZR20 AS performance tires Daytona Edition updates, available on Charger R/T and Charger Scat Pack, include 209-inch wheels with new Lights-Out finish (R/T only) and instrument panel badge. The Daytona Edition includes many more unique features on both models, such as the Mopar cold-air intake under the hood, Daytona logo leather/Alcantara seats, premium floormats, unique wheels, Daytona instrument panel badge and front grille badges Updated Dynamics Package, available on Charger Scat Pack (non-Widebody only), adds a new leather flat-bottom steering wheel to existing package content, including Black Brembo six-piston front brakes and 20-inch by 9.5-inch Low-gloss Black wheels with 275/40ZR20 all-season tires 12 Different & Distinct Colors Dodge Charger customers have a wide array of exterior colors from which they can choose. Twelve different exterior colors and a wide variety of interior trim selections include: F8 Green Frostbite (NEW late availability) Go Mango Granite Crystal Hellraisin (NEW late availability) IndiGo Blue Octane Red Pitch Black Sinamon Stick (NEW late availability) TorRed Triple Nickel White Knuckle Available Interior Colors: Black Black/Caramel Black/Demonic Red Black/Houndstooth Black/Ruby Red Black/Sepia Pricing Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody starts at a U.S. Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $69,645 The 717hp, limited-production Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition, available on the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody, has a starting U.S. MSRP of $74,140 Charger Scat Pack Widebody, the quickest and best-handling production Charger Scat Pack ever offered, runs 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds, a quarter-mile ET in 12.4 second and starts at a U.S. MSRP of $45,995 Charger Scat Pack continues to offer the most horsepower per dollar with a starting U.S. MSRP of $39,995 Charger R/T, the only V-8 in its class, has a starting U.S. MSRP of $36,395 Charger SXT AWD starts at a U.S. MSRP of $33,595 and offers the most technologically advanced all-wheel-drive system in its class with front axle disconnect Charger GT RWD performance model is powered by the award-winning 300hp Pentastar V-6 paired with the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, starts at a U.S. MSRP of $31,895 Charger SXT RWD starts the 2020 Charger lineup with a U.S. MSRP of $29,895 MODEL/PACKAGE U.S. MSRP Charger SXT RWD $29,895 Charger GT RWD $31,895 Charger SXT AWD $33,595 Charger R/T $36,395 Charger Scat Pack $39,995 Charger Scat Pack Widebody $45,995 Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody $69,645 Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition $74,140 (All prices exclude $1,495 destination charge) Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition The Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition on the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody is powered by the proven supercharged 6.2L HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine with an extra boost of power: 717 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. A revised powertrain calibration, available only on this limited-production model, boosts the rated power output by 10 hp to 717 at 6,100 rpm. Paying tribute to the 1969 Charger Daytona, the Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition will have a limited-production run of 501 units, mirroring the 1969 production total. It features a unique Daytona decklid and rear-quarter decal with matching spoiler and is available in four exterior paint colors: B5 Blue, Pitch Black, Triple Nickel and White Knuckle, with B5 Blue exclusive to the Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition in 2020 model year. Charger Scat Pack (Narrow-Body) The 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack offers the most muscle for the dollar. Powered by the naturally aspirated 392 HEMI V-8, Charger Scat Pack delivers 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, is mated to the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, and has a starting U.S. MSRP less than $40,000. New for 2020, the Updated Dynamics Package available on Charger Scat Pack adds a new leather flat-bottom steering wheel to existing package content, which includes Black Brembo six-piston front brakes and 20-inch by 9.5-inch Low-gloss Black wheels with 275/40ZR20 all-season tires. Interior instrument panel badging, a Carbon & Suede Interior Package, a Caramel color Nappa leather/Alcantara interior and wheel options are new to the Charger Scat Pack for the 2020 model year. Charger R/T The 2020 Dodge Charger R/T, the only V-8 in its class, is powered by the iconic 5.7L HEMI V-8, rated at 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque and mated to the standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. For 2020, the Charger R/T features new standard 20-inch by 8-inch Satin Carbon wheels and new fender badges with a modern interpretation of the iconic HEMI script. The Charger R/T also receives an updated Performance Handling Group for 2020 model year, adding the leather flat-bottom steering wheel and 209-inch forged Black Noise wheels to the existing package content on the Charger R/T, which includes Black Brembo fixed caliper four-piston brakes, high-performance suspension and 245/45ZR20 AS performance tires. Additional new options for the Charger R/T include an updated Blacktop Package with new Black Noise wheels, and a Caramel color Nappa leather/Alcantara interior in the Plus Group. Charger SXT AWD The Charger SXT all-wheel-drive (AWD) model is powered by the award-winning Pentastar V-6 engine, rated at 300 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque and mated to the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering up to 27 mpg on the highway. Its the segments most technologically advanced all-wheel-drive system with an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect system to improve real-world fuel economy. New for 2020, the Charger SXT AWD features new standard 19-inch by 7.5-inch Satin Carbon and optional Blacktop wheels. Charger GT The Dodge Charger GT RWD performance model is powered by the award-winning Pentastar V-6 engine, rated at 300 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque and mated to the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. The Charger GT gets the performance look and features standard, including the performance hood, fascia, sculpted side sills, spoiler and seats. Race-bred chassis upgrades include a standard performance suspension, 3.07 rear axle ratio, enhanced steering with paddle shifters and Dodge Performance Pages displayed on the 8.4-inch Uconnect screen. For 2020, the Charger GT features new standard 208-inch Satin Carbon wheels. An updated Performance Handling Group on the Charger GT adds the new leather flat-bottom steering wheel and 209-inch forged Black Noise wheels to the existing package content, including Black Brembo fixed caliper four-piston brakes, high-performance suspension and 245/45ZR20 AS performance tires. Additional new options for the Charger GT include an updated Blacktop Package with new 19-inch Black Noise wheels, and a Caramel color Nappa leather/Alcantara interior in the Plus Group. Charger SXT The powerful, roomy and solid Charger SXT model is powered by the standard Pentastar 3.6L V-6, rated at 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, working with a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. The Charger SXT delivers up to 30 mpg on the highway. ParkView rear backup camera, ParkSense rear park assist system, Uconnect 4 with 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Keyless Enter n Go with remote start all come standard on the Charger SXT. The post Breaking News: 2020 Widebody Charger Hellcat Is Here! appeared first on Hot Rod Network .