Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody brings Demon hardware to the line
Dodge introduces the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody, adapting the Demon’s flared arches and wider tyres for improved grip and quicker straight-line performance.
Dodge is updating the Challenger SRT Hellcat for 2018 by adding a factory widebody option, bringing much of the hardware from the limited-run Demon to the regular Hellcat. The new variant is set to reach US showrooms in the third quarter of 2017, with a starting price of $72,590 including gas guzzler tax and destination.
Demon-inspired hardware for regular buyers
The widebody kit, first seen on the Challenger SRT Demon, adds 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) to the car’s width. This allows Dodge to fit 20-inch split-spoke alloys wrapped in 305/35 Pirelli P-Zero tyres. The wider rubber brings a clear performance benefit: Dodge claims the Hellcat Widebody will cover the quarter mile in 10.9 seconds, three tenths quicker than the standard Hellcat, and hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Lateral grip is up to 0.97g. These figures put the Widebody version closer to the Demon’s straight-line capability, though the supercharged V8 output remains unchanged.
Dodge has also introduced electric power steering with configurable SRT Drive Modes, offering Street, Sport, Track, and Custom settings. This marks a shift from the hydraulic system used previously, aiming to sharpen the handling and tailor the car’s behaviour to different conditions.
Pricing, positioning and market context
The Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody enters US dealerships for the 2018 model year with a starting price of $72,590, which includes the $1,700 gas guzzler tax and $1,095 destination charge. That places it above the standard Hellcat, but well below the Demon, which was strictly limited and now out of production. Dodge’s approach gives buyers a chance to access some of the Demon’s hardware and much of its straight-line potential without the full cost or rarity.
- Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody: 707 hp, widebody kit, 305-section tyres, 10.9s quarter-mile.
- Challenger SRT Demon: 840 hp, limited-run, purpose-built for drag racing, 9.65s quarter-mile (on race fuel).
While Ford and Chevrolet have both moved their Mustang and Camaro to new platforms, Dodge continues to update the Challenger’s formula with special editions and hardware upgrades. The widebody Hellcat is another example of this strategy, keeping the Challenger competitive in the US muscle car market despite its ageing underpinnings. For European readers, Dodge has confirmed that neither the Charger nor Challenger SRT Hellcat is officially offered in Europe (see /exclusive-dodge-not-offering-charger-and-challenger-srt-hellcat-in-europe).
