The Power of Passion: Meet the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye, a Demon-Inspired Supercar, and her Supercharged Sisters
Scotty Reiss
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So here’s the thing about passion: Anything is possible. Dodge is proving that.
If you find it hard to keep up with all the versions of Dodge’s supercars, you’re not alone. Sometimes it seems like there’s a gazillion of them.
That’s because like any good engineering team, they build something and then immediately figure out how they can improve on it. The newest result of this passionate tinkering is the Challenger Hellcat Redeye, a 797 horsepower supercar that promises to fill the void left by the sold-out Dodge Demon which, if you could buy one, would cost $86,000. Only 3,000 were built and they sold out tout de suite.
Customers clearly love this. Dodge sold more than 150,000 muscle cars last year compared to Chevrolet’s 97,000 muscle cars sold, according to Torque News. And, this trend is contrary to other industry trends, which sees declining interest in sedans.
Want to hear what the Hellcat Redeye sounds like? Take a listen:
Meet the Hellcat Redeye, a Cat with a Demon-Inspired Glow
Dodge was inspired to take the best of the Demon and infuse it into the already popular Hellcat supercar. This model is called the Redeye. And while it *might* propel you from Los Angeles to New York overnight, what the Redeye name really means is that the Hellcat now has a demon-like glow in her eye, noted by the red iris in the Hellcat logo. And inside the car, the Hellcat takes some DNA from the Demon, including a nearly-as-powerful engine (797 horsepower vs 840 in the Demon) and launch control, which is the setting needed for racing on a drag strip. The Redeye has a more comfortable starting price of $69,650, versus the Demon’s $86,000.
Further reading: What was it like to take the Demon for a spin? We nearly passed out so you don’t have to!
The 2019 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye steering wheel. Yes, that is suede and yes, we love it. Photo: Scotty Reiss
A Suede Interior Soothes Your Animal Instincts
Inside the Redeye I loved the suede steering wheel and suede seat inserts. This is so you don’t lose your grip on the wheel and your derriere stays firmly planted in the seat. But it’s suede. It’s sublime and luxurious. And gorgeous. And indulging.
Further reading: Meet Challenger Hellcat’s other half, the Charger Hellcat.
The 2019 Hellcat Redeye, with the 2019 Challenger Scat Pack Widebody (right) and the 2019 717 HP Hellcat
Two More Supercars, Just in Case
Dodge also introduced two more models alongside the Redeye: The Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody, which has 485 horsepower and a price tag just under $40,000, and the newest version of the Hellcat.
Challenger Widebody Scat Pack: Now, normally the term ‘widebody’ would be something I wouldn’t want to be tagged with, but in this case, the upgrade offers better performance, handling, and cornering and adds Pirelli Tires (just for that little extra bit of confidence). After driving the Challenger Widebody last year I can see the appeal; the additional 3.5 inch width lets you make tighter, faster turns and handle corners with more precision. So you can take full advantage of every single horse.
Hellcat 2.0: Dodge also introduced a more powerful Hellcat, a 717 horsepower supercar. It has a starting price of $58,650 and includes all the things we love about Hellcat, including dual performance keys and valet mode, so you can be the only one to feel the full force of 717 horsepower.
Further reading: Yes, you can lower your insurance with Progressive’s Snapshot, but in a car like the Hellcat you might have the opposite effect
Use the red key for the most HP. Everyone else should use black. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Dual Keys? Yup. Keep the Full Throttle Experience to Yourself
When the Hellcat was first introduced it came with two keys: A black key that when used to start the car, dials down the horsepower to about 500 HP, and a red key that delivers all 717 HP. This proved to be a popular idea, and all Hellcat models, including the Redeye, have dual keys.
The Hellcat Redeye icon. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Talk about Passion: Demon and Viper Add up to a $1 Million Donation
The Hellcat and Demon find their heritage in the Dodge Viper, a supercar that began production in 1991. The Dodge Viper blends the Dodge muscle car DNA with supercar engineering, taking cues in design and engineering from Lamborghini. The Viper ended its run in 2017, and the next year was the only year of the limited-run 2018 Dodge Demon. Together they make an exclusive pair, so Dodge auctioned them off as a single package at the Barrett-Jackson auction in June. The two went for $1 million, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit United Way.
To build cars like this takes determination. To keep tinkering to the delight of your customers takes passion. To turn them into a million dollar donation is compassion. If this is where Dodge is taking us, we are delighted.
Launch control is a holdover feature from the Demon; it’s designed for drag strip racing. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Disclosure: I was Dodge’s guest to meet the Redeye; travel and accommodations were provided. All opinions are my own.
