Dodge Forum Drives the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody
We get hands-on with the improved handling of the Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody on Angeles Crest Highway.
If you thought the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat couldn’t get any better, think again.
For the 2018 model year, the extensive Challenger lineup sees the addition of a Widebody version that enhances both the visual appeal and road-holding capability of the highly-acclaimed Challenger SRT Hellcat.
On the day prior to the 13th annual Spring Festival of LX, Dodge Forum was invited to experience firsthand the enhanced performance of the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody during a day-long tour of Southern California’s legendary Angeles National Forest.
New Visual & Performance Features for 2018
In addition to the aggressive fender flares, which add 3.5 inches of width, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody boasts a number of updates, many of which came directly from customer feedback.
Starting at the front, a new heritage-inspired grille and illuminated Air-Catcher headlamps deliver a menacing look, while larger Hellcat fender badges remove any doubt about what’s under the hood.
New 20 by 11-inch, split-five spoke aluminum “Devil’s Rim” wheels wrapped in wide 305/35Z20 Pirelli performance tires deliver more traction, helping to decrease the Challenger’s quarter-mile elapsed time by 0.3 seconds (10.9 ET on SRT Hellcat Widebody), and raise the lateral skid pad grip to 0.97 grams. Neatly tucked behind the lightweight wheels are Brembo brake calipers, now available in black, orange, and gunmetal.
It only took a few corners to realize just how much more traction was available thanks to the sport-tuned suspension & larger contact patch of the wide Pirelli tires. I approached each turn with growing confidence.
Rounding out the list of performance improvements is the inclusion of electronic power steering (EPS) with three selectable modes—Street, Sport, and Track—which further expands the Challenger SRT Hellcat’s accessibility by offering comfort for your daily commute as well as precise control for the drag strip. For comparison, I drove a Charger Hellcat (hydraulic power steering) on this same trip, and found the benefits of EPS to be significant—driver inputs felt more direct, and steering weight could be adjusted on the fly.
Thanks to Dodge’s never-ending quest to stand out from the crowd, a new Demonic Red Laguna leather interior is available on Challenger SRT Hellcat, while F8 Green and IndiGo Blue join the extensive palette of available exterior colors. Popular hues B5 Blue and Plum Crazy are also slated to make a return later this year.
