The updated 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody may have just been announced, but it is ready to go racing at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
A race-prepped concept version of the latest Mopar muscle car will compete in the Exhibition class at the 97th running of the famed motorsport event.
Despite the gruelling demands of the 14,115-foot climb to the top of the mountain, this SRT Charger is still largely based on the new road car.
Wider bodywork means wider rubber
Key to the introduction of the Widebody version of the Hellcat Charger is the extra girth applied to the fenders and bumpers.
Stretching the Charger body out further by 3.5 inches compared to regular version means room to safely add a set of 11-inch wide wheels. Fitted to these rims are a set of fatter and stickier 305/35ZR20 Pirellis, although the race car uses Toyo slicks.
It means the new Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody accelerates from 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds, and can run to a top speed of 196mph.
The Pikes Peak race car also gains an enhanced version of the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 engine. Dodge has not specified outputs, but starting with 707 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque means the numbers will always be impressive.
Just like the road car, the Pikes Peak concept machine uses an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic gearbox for quick shifting.
Upgraded Brembo brakes make an appearance on the new Widebody Charger Hellcat, and will no doubt be put to good use on the twists and turns of the Pikes Peak course. Bilstein suspension also gets a specific tune for the wider Charger.
The sky really is the limit
Covering the widened bodywork of the Charger is a bespoke racing livery custom-designed by the FCA US Product Design Office. It certainly makes the Widebody Hellcat standout, even amongst a field of racing machinery.
Inside is a full FIA-spec roll cage to keep legendary driver Randy Pobst safe, along with a racing fuel cell and upgraded bucket seat.
Talking about his latest ride for the ‘Race to the Clouds’, Pobst said: “This specially prepared Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody concept has the three ‘must haves’ for this hill climb: lots of horsepower and torque to hit 120 mph plus on the sweepers; great handling with the wider wheels and tires, because there is absolutely no room for mistakes on a mountain road; and the superb brakes to haul that puppy down for 20-mph hairpin turns.”
Turning the new Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody into a Pikes Peak contender has clearly been a passion project for those at Dodge.
Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars FCA – North America, said the team took a Charger and “threw big horsepower, big rubber and big brakes at it. It’s just that easy to make a Dodge race ready. And the best part, most of what we did is available off the showroom floor in the new 2020 Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody.”
A race-prepped version of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat will also be competing in the Time Attack 1 class at Pikes Peak. Mopar fans will only have to wait until Sunday to see just how good the new Charger really is against the clock.