Many of us grew up dreaming of owning a Dodge Challenger. The 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is a modernized classic that looks and feels exactly as you would expect from a car deemed a “muscle” car.
What are some key 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye specs?
Here are a few of the most impressive:
- Best quarter-mile time: 10.8 seconds
- Goes from 0-60mph in just 3.4 seconds
- 6.2L V8 Supercharged HO engine with 8-speed automatic transmission w/OD
All this is packed into a vehicle that’s just 197.5″ long and 55.7″ tall with a curb weight of 4448 pounds, so yes, it’s a muscle car. Here’s what you need to know about the 2019 Challenger (and the Redeye in particular).
A Look Back at the Dodge Challenger
If you were to go all the way back – the first muscle car would be the Oldsmobile Rocket 88, which came out in the late forties. For the sake of brevity, we’ll focus on the wave of muscle cars that exploded in the 70s, spearheaded by models like the Charger and Challenger.
The first-generation came out in the 1970 model year with I6 and V8 engine options. This is the Challenger that springs to mind when you hear the name.
These are the cars that inspired a whole new genre of chase films. The first-generation sold 165,437 units. The car’s real legacy may be that we would have no drag race culture, Fury Road, or Fast & Furious without it.
This wasn’t just another cool car; it captured the world’s imagination. The third-generation model combines the best features of the first and second. The result is a car that is both modern and classic.
What Makes the Challenger a Muscle Car?
A muscle car is defined as a high-powered American coupe. So, the stats that really matter are horsepower, torque, and acceleration.
And since we’ll want to take long highway adventures, there are some other specs worth noting, too. Fuel mileage, tow capacity, and NHTSA crash test rating.
At 797hp, the Redeye performs better than the next Challengers down. Those are the 707-717hp SRT Hellcats. The Redeye is just shy of the next Challenger up, the limited edition SRT Demon, at 808hp.
These cars are for drag racing, and the Redeye hits zero to sixty in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 203mph. You’ve got 707 lb.-ft. of torque coming out of the 6.2L V8 Supercharged HO engine.
Dodge claims a quarter-mile time of 10.8 seconds, hitting 131mph at the finish line. That’s assuming perfect conditions, so your quarter-mileage may vary.
The Hellcat Redeye boasts a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds. They have NHTSA crash ratings of five stars overall and across the board, with a few exceptions. The driver, front, and overall rollover rating all come in at four stars.
Muscle cars never have the best mpg. They’re built for the quarter-mile, but a combined efficiency of 16mpg isn’t so bad on an 18.5-gallon tank.
As vital as these specs are, the fact is that you’re buying a Challenger for the experience. Here’s what really counts: It looks, feels, and sounds like a Challenger.
The engine rumbles beautifully. The car has a nice weight to it when turning. The 8-speed automatic with Overdrive shifts smoothly. And, when it accelerates, you’ll wonder why in the world they allow these things on the street.
What Else Do You Need to Know about the Challenger Hellcat Redeye?
You’re probably buying this car because of everything discussed in the previous section. But that doesn’t mean that the other features aren’t worth considering.
You neither want nor expect a whole lot of frills with a muscle car. But the Redeye does have the modern conveniences necessary for a comfortable ride.
Inside, you have Google Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and even a built-in voice recorder. There’s a compass, an outside temperature gauge, dual-zone A/C, cruise control with steering wheel controls, and an 8.4″ touchscreen display.
Basically, this car has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Dodge knows that the real draw for the Redeye is in its raw performance. The roomy interior, with seating for two to five and 39.3″ inches of front headroom is just a nice bonus.
Don’t Take Our Word for it, See What Other Hellcat Redeye Owners are Saying
If you really want to know how a car feels, you have to talk to the owners. Here’s what drivers are saying:
Pros:
- In the words of one short, simple, to-the-point reviewer: “This has it all and you can hear it coming!”
- Reviewers give the car high marks for its comfortable interior
- Dependable. Reviewers have pointed out that they’re having no problems in the first year
Cons:
- Lousy radio controls. We found this comment in a five-star review, but this is still a flaw worth noting
- The instruments may be hard to read if you have any vision problems
- Low mpg makes the Redeye a poor choice for an everyday vehicle
