5 things to know about the 2019 Dodge Challenger lineup

For 2019, Dodge doesn’t make drastic design changes to its muscle-car Challenger lineup. But it does massage the muscle-car fleet to add more power – and more fun.

Here are some things you should know about the upcoming Challenger lineup.

Redeye has a top speed of 203 mph

Back in June, Dodge revealed this “Demon-possessed” Hellcat, stating that this new high-horsepower version Challenger will contain a retuned 6.2-liter V-8 Hemi Demon engine. But instead of delivering 840 horsepower and 770 pound-feet of torque, the Redeye delivers 797 horsepower and 717 pound-feet of torque.

While the horsepower rating isn’t as high as its Demon brethren, it’s worth noting the top speed of the Redeye is 203 mph, whereas the Demon’s top speed was limited to 168 mph.

Widebody option is $6K

For those who want a little more grippy performance out of their Challenger, Dodge has made its Widebody façade available across more trims. This package adds flared fenders, 20-by-11-inch Devil’s Rim forged aluminum wheels, all-season performance tires and a Widebody competition suspension.

Previously only available on the Hellcat, the Widebody is now a $6,000 option available in the Scat Pack, Hellcat and Redeye models.

Hellcat adds power, drops price

A big design change Dodge made on the 2019 Challenger is the addition of the dual-snorkel hood on the Hellcat and Redeye models. The benefit for the “base” Hellcat is that it gets a horsepower boost and makes the jump from 707 horsepower to 717.

With the addition of the Redeye, Dodge also changed the pricing structure of the Hellcat, dropping the price more than $5K by de-contenting some of the premium features. For example, the previous model year came standard with leather seats; now the base Hellcat has cloth seating surfaces and a price tag of $61,745, including destination fees and gas-guzzler tax.

#AngryBee brings drag-ready capability to lineup

Another inheritor of the Demon legacy is the all-new Scat Pack 1320 “Angry Bee.”

This will be the drag-strip-oriented, street legal vehicle for the grassroots drag racer. It adds features such as Drag Mode, Line Lock, TransBrake, Torque Reserve and available drag radials.

The 1320 package adds $3,995 to the Scat Pack price tag, and so the Scat Pack 1320 will start at $42,990 – which is less than half the price of the Demon.

And, yes, it’s street legal.

Scat Pack gets standard high-performance features

The Challenger R/T Scat Pack comes equipped with the 392-cubic-inch Hemi V-8 engine that delivers 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. In addition to being able to add the Widebody package, the Scat Pack now comes standard with launch control, launch assist, line lock and SRT drive modes.

Weighing almost 200 pounds less than the Redeye, the Scat Pack is a little more nimble in aggressive driving maneuvers, and as Dodge likes to state: It’s the most horsepower you can get for under $40K (excluding destination fees, of course).

Oh, and while the Redeye is only available with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Scat Pack offers a 6-speed manual transmission. Hallelujah.

The Bottom Line

With its 2019 lineup, Dodge has made more performance more accessible to more people. By adding more power to the Hellcat, creating more variations for the lineup, bringing some drag-strip fun at an accessible price point, dropping the price of the Hellcat and adding to the Challenger legend with Redeye mystique, Dodge continues to fan the flames of performance passion.

Thank you.

For more information on the 2019 Dodge Challenger lineup, be sure to read our full first-look review.