Keeping its large sedan fresh
We miss our long-term Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, but it looks like we may find an excuse to get behind the wheel of a 700-plus-hp Charger once again. Dodge is updating the model for the 2019 model year, although it has only confirmed surface-level changes.
In this teaser image, Dodge previews a new grille for higher-performing Chargers. The automaker says the design “extends the sinister-looking front end to accentuate visual width.” More information on the Charger will be available this summer, Dodge says.
As it stands now, the Charger SRT Hellcat packs a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 producing 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. We clocked our long-termer zipping to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. Dodge is also updating the Challenger SRT Hellcat with a dual-snorkel intake hood.
The current-generation Charger debuted for the 2011 model year before undergoing a refresh for 2015. Now, the aging full-size sedan will receive yet another update to help it compete against the likes of the Nissan Maxima and Chevrolet Impala. Expect both exterior and interior updates.
A report from Automotive News last year indicated that the Charger and Challenger will receive a final refresh for 2019 and a complete redesign for 2021. It said the Charger refresh will focus on reducing weight and improving fuel economy, while the new-generation models will sit on the same platform as the Maserati Ghibli. At the time, however, an FCA spokesman called the report “pure speculation,” so we’ll have to wait and see.
Pictured below is the current Charger SRT Hellcat.
Source: FCA