Of the star-studded performance offerings Dodge has rolled out this summer during these travel-challenged times, the 2021 Dodge SRT Charger Redeye is the one we know the least about. It’s also the one that has the potential to be the biggest blockbuster of them all. Maybe that’s because a quick scan of the Charger’s standard and optional equipment is so overwhelming, we may simply need more time to absorb all its goodness. That, and the fact that cars aren’t available yet in Dodge’s press fleet.
First, the basics. Dodge plucked the 797-hp Hellcat Redeye Hemi from the Redeye Challenger—itself a slightly downwardly massaged version of the 840-hp Demon Hemi—and placed it between the fenders of the four-door Charger. This happened almost simultaneously with offering the Widebody kit on the Charger, which itself had only become available six months ago. (You’ll remember we took a Widebody Charger Hellcat on a road trip to Tucson for the Ziptie Drags in February here.)
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Related Story: 2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody Road Trip
What’s been left unsaid in all this is that Dodge will no longer offer the narrow-body version of the SRT Charger Hellcat in 2021. Depending on your situation (we’ll get to that in a minute) this may be a good thing. Dodge isn’t making a big deal out of it, but it isn’t duplicating all the trim levels between the Charger and Challenger (for instance, you can get a narrow-body 2021 Challenger with the 797-hp Redeye Hemi but not in the Charger). Pricing on the Charger Redeye is also unknown right now, but Dodge acknowledges it should be at or below $90,000.
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Quite frankly, a near-800-hp anything under $90K that has a five-year warranty is nothing short of amazing. After piloting the Widebody Hellcat Charger on a long road trip back in February, we can imagine what an extra 90 hp would feel like. Of course, the Redeye version of the Widebody Charger comes with the same gigantic 15.7-inch six-piston Brembo brakes, electric power steering, SRT-tuned ADS suspension, and 305/35R20 tires on 20 x 11-inch wheels—just with more sauce under the hood. According to Dodge, this makes the Redeye Charger the world’s fastest mass-produced sedan, with a top speed of 203 mph.
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- It Comes with Line Lock. Seasoned drag racers know that a line lock is designed to clamp the front brakes tight while letting the rear wheels spin freely. In that context, it’s a safety feature that keeps the rear brakes from overheating with the service brake depressed, while also saving wear. Ostensibly for the purpose of heating up actually sticky tires for more grip at the starting line, we guarantee this feature will be used in public to reduce the Redeye’s expensive Pirellis to dust. The only thing SRT forgot to include is a bumper sticker that says, “Hold My Beer. Watch This!”
- You Need the Power Chiller. Will most Charger Redeyes end up at the drag strip? Survey says no, but the intent is pure muscle-head. This diabolical bit of engineering diverts the cooling output of the car’s A/C system to the intercooler, where it increases the charge density for a giant extra dose of power. Helping to handle that power is Torque Reserve, which closes the supercharger’s integral bypass valve (worth an extra 3.9 psi of boost at launch), pre-filling the manifold with cool, pressurized charge in drag mode. Oh, and a new high-capacity torque converter increases torque output at launch by an extra 18 percent.
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- It Looks Bitchin’. Compared to the Challenger, we’ve always felt the standard Charger looked tall and top-heavy. When the widebody kit was added, it transformed the Charger’s overall proportions, adding 3.5 inches of width—all of it through tire track and fender lip extensions. Just that minor change increases the menace factor by a factor of 10. Like the widebody, but don’t care for the Redeye powerplant? Save some bucks and slide over to the run-of-the-mill Hellcat Charger, which now comes standard with the widebody kit. Still slim on dollars? The widebody kit can be ordered on any 392-powered Charger, and it also includes the Redeye’s killer brakes, wheels, tires, and suspension.
- Make Money on Pirelli Stock. Good news! The first set of Pirelli 305/35ZR20 tires is free! The second set, not so much. Use that line-lock on anything but a dragstrip with a serious set of race-compound tires, and you’ll be clicking the Tire Rack shopping cart button for $1,444 (set of four P Zero PZ4 Max Performance summer tires). Factoid: Line lock has been standard equipment on all Hellcat Chargers and Challengers since 2019.
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- Start Trolling eBay Motors. The order banks for 2021 Charger Redeyes open this fall with inventory becoming available by early 2021. When that happens, owners of narrow-body Hellcat Chargers, Challengers, and Scat Packs will be dumping their payments to step up to the latest and greatest. A wise shopper will be on the lookout for astounding values in the used-car ranks. Hellcat Challengers are already trading on eBay in the mid-$40K range (Buy-It-Now price), and the downward pressure on used Hellcats will just increase when the Widebody Redeye hits.
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- Start Trolling Pick-a-Part. As Dodge keeps pouring on the coals and the numbers of Hellcat-powered machines rises, their owners’ driving IQ will unfortunately remain the same, and no one is immune. Hot rodder alert: While the boneyards don’t quite have Hellcats stacked anywhere near as high as BMWs, their powertrains are becoming more prevalent, and much less expensive.
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- Don’t Forget to Breathe. Tromp your boot on the accelerator pedal of a Redeye, and you may forget to inhale. Speaking of which, the Charger Redeye’s three inlet paths (hood scoop, mail-slot scoop in the grille, and secret driver-side fender inlet) admit 1,134 cfm of airflow at peak power output. That’s equal to 89 adults breathing simultaneously.
- Runs the Quarter in 10.6 Seconds. While the Hellcat Redeye is capable of running 10.6/129 mph down the quarter mile, very few folks will be able to accomplish that feat without a lot of practice and using every tool in SRT’s drag-racing toolbox. Just know in your frustration that Dodge did officially accomplish it and that this time was officially observed by the NHRA in totally stock trim.
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- It Comes in Colors Besides White. Think of Dodge’s PR photos of the Hellcat Widebody Charger in White Knuckle as a blank coloring book. You’ll also be able to order one in F8 Green, Frostbite, Go Mango, Granite Crystal, Hellraisin, IndiGo Blue, Octane Red, Pitch Black, Sinamon Stick (our fave!), Smoke Show, TorRed, and Triple Nickel.
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- Head Fake Camaro Drivers. How can you tell the difference between a 2021 Hellcat Charger and a 2021 Redeye Charger with 90 more hp? With the narrow-body Hellcat Charger gone for 2021, it’s difficult, but not impossible, and it may work in your favor. In fact, the only external cue for the Redeye is the pair of Hellcat emblems mounted on the fenders that display a small red eye on an otherwise normal Hellcat emblem. The rub? Emblems on the front and rear fascia are the same as those on standard Hellcat Chargers. All other appearance items like wheels, tires, and brakes are otherwise the same between the two models. Camaro and Mustang owners just won’t have the savvy to pick up on it.
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