Dodge Charger Scat Pack Widebody

Everyone is familiar with the Dodge Charger that has been with us since the 2015 model year in its current form. The Charger is a versatile car and can be a fire-breathing monster or a boring taxi cab. From the fastest and most powerful mass-produced sedan in the world to V6 efficiency and AWD capability, a large part of the Dodge Charger’s successful formula has been its many personalities. As it turns out, our favorite is somewhere in the middle and if done right, it can be a bargain and it is called the Scat Pack Widebody.

The Scat Pack has the most powerful normally aspirated engine in the line up with a 6.4 liter (392 cubic inch) V8 that puts out 485 hp. That big engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and is quick enough to run to 60 mph from a stop in 4.3 seconds. If you keep your foot in it, it will do the ¼ mile in 12.4 seconds at 111 mph. Those are great numbers and while you can go faster if you go with the Hellcat engine, it really is not necessary. The Scat Pack engine sounds mean and angry and it has enough juice to really wake you up. There is enough power that you really have to be careful with the throttle and there are not many moments that you think you need more. So save a lot of money and forget about the Hellcat.

The Scat Pack has been around for a while but what makes it even better is the new Widebody package. The Scat Pack includes a ton of features like line lock, launch assist, limited slip differential, Brembo four-piston fixed caliper brakes, active exhaust, heated seats, heated steering wheel, SRT drive modes, and much more. After ordering the Scat Pack, be sure to select option 21V, which will cost you $6,000. For that $6,000, you get an additional 3.5 inches of wider fenders that cover 305/35ZR20 tires front and rear.

Those massive tires are necessary on a car this heavy and this powerful. The Charger Scat Pack weighs almost 4,400 pounds, but with the big sticky Pirelli tires mounted on 20 x 11 forged aluminum wheels, the Scat Pack can pull 0.98 g on the skidpad and stop from 60 mph in 107 feet. Dodge says that the Widebody is 1.3 seconds quicker on a 2.1 mile road course.
Option package 21V is not just about bigger tires. The package also includes 15.4-inch front brake rotors and six-piston fixed-caliper brakes in front and four-piston fixed-caliper brakes in the back. The suspension has been upgraded with different springs, anti-roll bars and dampers. The front springs have been stiffened by 27 percent and the rear anti-roll bar goes from 19 mm to 22 mm. The Bilstein three mode adaptive dampers have also been retuned to match the stiffer springs.

The combination works well and there is a lot of grip in corners. The huge Pirellis inspire confidence on twisty roads, but the ride is never harsh.

Other than the loud exhaust, driving the Scat Pack at 55 mph on the freeway feels so comfortable that you would never guess what is under the skin despite the heavy duty suspension. The downside of the comfortable ride and the heavy weight is feel, and the lack of it. Just as in many muscle cars, it is hard to feel what the car is doing at the limit. A 4,400 pound four-door muscle car is for a different crowd though and if you wanted to feel everything you would buy a Lotus Exige.

The Dodge Charger is perfect for so many people because of its versatility. It is a large car and because of that there is lots of room inside for five adults. Our car had the optional Plus Group which added Nappa leather with Alcantara seating plus a host of luxury features. The package is a steal at only $1,995 and really gives the occupants the feel that this is not just an ordinary Charger. The Charger is great for families because of its trunk as well. It can carry 16.5 cubic feet of stuff which is plenty for any family.
Since the Charger shares its roots with pedestrian versions, there are times that you are reminded that this is a basic car underneath. But the good news is that this much fun cannot be had for less. The Scat Pack is a bargain with a base price of $39,995. That is only a bit more than your average Camry. Add in the Widebody package and some other options and you can have one of the most fun four door cars on the street for under $50,000. That is a deal.

The Charger is about bang for the buck. “Charger Scat Pack models deliver more muscle for the dollar than any car out there. Offering a Widebody Package on Charger Scat Pack gives us the opportunity to build on that momentum,” said Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. You can’t get everything that the Scat Pack offers anywhere else at this price.

And the Widebody kit just looks awesome too.