Dodge seeks to recapture the nostalgia and glory of its original Charger Dayton with its limited-edition 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition. This special-edition Charger gets an upgraded 6.2-liter HEMI and enough visual upgrades to make it look like it's a Dodge Charger Daytona, but maybe not enough to truly feel like one.
50th Anniversary
Fifty years ago Dodge debuted its infamous Charger Daytona for the NASCAR circuit. As the first stock car in NASCAR history to break the 200 mph threshold, the dubbed "Winged Warrior" was badass enough to get aero cars banned from racing in NASCAR's top cup after its first year. Fast forward to today, Dodge has revived the Daytona namesake for its modern-day 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition (emphasis on name length). Although you won't be seeing it on a NASCAR track, this throwback edition Charger pays tribute to its infamous ancestor as best as it can.
Photos courtesy of Dodge
1969 Talladega
A little history lesson on the Charger Daytona, Dodge sought to build a car specifically to win NASCAR races during the late '60s. Following the less-than-successful Dodge Charger 500 came the Charger Daytona. Engineers added a wonky sloped nose cone and giant rear wing to its beloved Charger for better aerodynamics. The Charger Daytona debuted at the inaugural 1969 Talladega 500 in the midst of a driver boycott led by Richard Petty. Daytona driver Richard Brickhouse won the Talladega 500 by seven seconds after overtaking fellow racer Jim Vandiver.
Photos courtesy of Dodge
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HEMI Power
Power for '69 Charger Daytona was sourced from one of two naturally aspirated V-8's: a 440 (7.2 L) Magnum good for 390 hp and 490 lb-ft torque or an optional 426 (7.0 L) HEMI good for 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque. For 2020, Dodge is equipping its special-edition Hellcat Widebody Daytona with a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V-8. By altering the motors shift points, the Hellcat's standard 707 hp is bumped to 717 hp for the Daytona model.
Photos courtesy of Dodge
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No Wing
You'll quickly notice this Charger Hellcat Widebody Daytona lacks the infamous giant rear stabilizer which gave the original Daytona its iconic designation as a "Winged Warrior". A white contrast decal covering the rear spoiler and trunk seems to pay homage to the former Daytona's glory with "Daytona" clearly labeling both rear quarter panels. If you look at the numbers, the '69 Daytona's wing and nose cone lowered the cars drag coefficient to 0.28. For comparison, today's Charger Hellcat Widebody's coefficient is 0.398.
Photos courtesy of Dodge
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Four Colors and a Hellcat
Hellcat special-edition models rely heavily on visual upgrades and exclusive looks; the Daytona is no exception. This model can be dressed in four colors: White Knuckle, Triple Nickel, Pitch Black, and B5 Blue. You'll find the updated screaming Hellcat emblem on both front fenders accenting the aggressive hood scoop and mail-slot grille.
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Step Inside
Hopping in, the Hellcat's standard race-inspired interior is upgraded with blue accent stitching lines on the armrest, door panels, shifter, and front bucket seats. The Charger Hellcat Widebody Daytona also gets leather/Alcantara seats embroidered with its Daytona namesake and premium floor mats.
Photos courtesy of Dodge
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Limtied Edition
Paying tribute to the original Charger Daytona, Dodge has decided to only produce a limited number of its 2020 Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition's; 501 to be exact, the same number of units Dodge produced of its first-generation Charger Daytona. Buyers will find a blue Daytona badge with the Hellcat logo located above the glove box designating the car's unit number. Orders for the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition (NAME LENGTH) open this fall with deliveries expected for early 2020.
Photos courtesy of Dodge
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