Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye – When fast isn’t fast enough

According to Dodge, if you want the world’s most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan, then you need to look no further than this week’s ride – the 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye. This is the sedan for those that think fast just isn’t fast enough.

This isn’t new to Dodge. Last year, the Charger Hellcat was already the fastest and most powerful production sedan on the market, with its Widebody and 6.2-liter supercharged V8 making 717 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. Top speed was 196 mph and it could hit 60 mph from a standstill in under 4 seconds. To cement the title, for 2021 Dodge has upped the ante for the Charger Hellcat Redeye by adding another 80 horsepower and 57 lb-ft of torque. So now, this 797 hp four-door sedan can reach a new top speed of 203 miles per hour. Getting there, you’ll hit 60mph in 3.6 seconds and the quarter-mile in just 10.6 seconds.

So how do you get a fast car to go faster? Well first, replace the supercharger with a larger one. For the Redeye, the Hellcats 2.4-liter supercharger is swapped out with one that is 2.7 liters. A larger supercharger also means more boost is possible, so Dodge ups the boost from 11.6 psi to 14.5 psi. Some engine internals are changed as well to handle the extra boost and then the redline is increased from 6,200 RPM to 6,500 RPMS.

To get the power to the ground, last year’s optional Widebody upgrade for the Hellcat is standard on the Hellcat Redeye. Adding 3.5 inches of width to the Charger, it includes flared wheel arches, wider wheels and tires, and adaptive suspension dampers.

Spotting a Hellcat Redeye may be a little tricky. Along with the Widebody kit, every Hellcat Redeye will have a newly designed performance hood scoop for better air intake. Finally, if you look closely at the Hellcat emblems on the front fenders, you’ll spot the red eye. Front and rear badges remain the same as the regular Hellcat.

Inside, the only indication that you are in a 200+ mph car is, well, the new 220-mph red speedometer. Upon startup, the splash screen shows the SRT Hellcat Redeye logo reminding you of the beast you are in.

The Hellcat Redeye experience begins the moment you press the dash-mounted Start button. The 6.2 liter supercharged V8 snarls to life, like Godzilla waking up from a bad dream. Put the palm-style shifter into drive and step on the gas and the power simply pours on. Step harder into the pedal and the Charger starts pulling hard – really hard as the whine from the supercharger overtakes the exhaust – and you get pushed further back into your seat. It’s an amazing rush of adrenaline and excitement, to say the least. Like with other SRT cars, the Hellcat Redeye can record lap times, quarter-mile times, reaction times and g-forces.

While the Hellcat Redeye is all about going incredibly fast, it’s still a Charger, which means it makes for a great regular driver with plenty of amenities, including heated and vented front seats and even a heated steering wheel. Five sit comfortably and luggage room is more than adequate. About the only impractical part about the Charger Hellcat Redeye is its fuel economy – a dismal 12 mpg in town if you’re easy on the pedal (yeah, right) and a not-so-bad 21 mpg on the highway. Because of the low fuel-economy numbers, the Hellcat Redeye is slapped with a $2100 gas-guzzler tax. And in case you’re wondering, to get into a Hellcat Redeye, prices start at around $85,500, with the tester carrying a price of $88,065.

As the sportier Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye (and Demon) gets most of the media coverage, it’s the Charger version of the Hellcat Redeye that I think is more deserving. It’s far more practical, carries more people in better comfort and is just as fast. Best of all, it carries bragging rights of being the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world.
— Christopher A. Randazzo

By The Numbers:

2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody

Base Price: $85,475.00
Price as Tested: $88,065.00
Layout: front-engine / rear-wheel drive
Engine: 6.2 liter V8 Supercharged
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Horsepower: 797 hp
Torque: 707 ft-lbs.
EPA Fuel Economy: 12 city / 21 highway mpg

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