The Dodge Charger and Challenger are some of the gnarliest muscle cars around. Between widebody kits and SRT editions, these cars’ top trim levels may seem a little confusing. But each Dodge trim level designates a different engine: A 6.4-liter HEMI V8 powers the Charger and Challenger Scat Packs while a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 powers Hellcat, Redeye, and Superstock models.
How much does a Hellcat cost?
The 2022 Dodge Challenger Hellcat’s MSRP is $63,530 the Charger version will cost you $74,900. Considering that these cars both feature a supercharged V8 that makes a supercar-rattling 700+ horsepower, they are a bargain. But that’s still a lot of money for a muscle car.
2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody | Stellantis
The Hellcat engine is a project cooked up by the glorious mad scientists at Dodge’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team. By 2015 the Dodge Charger and Challenger needed a refresh, so Dodge SRT stepped in and engineered the first factory supercharger for a HEMI engine. “Hellcat” was the team’s internal term for the project, but marketing loved the phrase so much it became the car’s official name.
The Hellcat engine debuted n the 2015 SRT edition of the Challenger and Charger. It originally made 707 horsepower. It has since spawned several new models including the 808 horsepower Demon. Today, you can buy a regular Hellcat, a 797 horsepower Hellcat Redeye, and an 807 horsepower Super Stock.
Is the Dodge Scat Pack a good deal?
The 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack’s MSRP is $44,155 while the Charger version goes for $46,225. That’s $20k less than a Hellcat. With the largest V8 Stellantis makes, and available SRT suspension, and available widebody kit, the Scat Pack is a steal.
2022 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody | Stellantis
The defining attribute of the Scat Pack trim level is its engine: a 6.4-liter (392 cubic inch) HEMI V8 shared with heavy-duty Ram trucks, the Grand Wagoneer, the Dodge Durango 392, and the Jeep Wrangler 392. In both the Challenger and Charger Scat Pack, this V8 makes a healthy 385 horsepower. In the Jeep Wrangler, it is tuned for 470 horsepower.
There are many ways to upgrade a Scat Pack Charger or Challenger to make it even faster. You can order a Scat Pack car with the SRT-tuned Bilstein suspension that’s standard on the Hellcat. You can also upgrade any Scat Pack with a factory widebody kit and wide tires. The extra rubber improves acceleration, braking, and performance.
The Hellcat vs the Scat Pack
The Hellcat and the Scat Pack trims of the Charger/Challenger are different tools for different jobs. The Hellcat excels at highway pulls from 60 mph up to well over 100 mph. But you can build a Scat Pack that is as good as the Hellcat at most everything else.
2022 Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat | Stellantis
And while the Hellcat makes an excellent halo car for the Challenger and Charger lineups, the American muscle car originated as an affordable sports car, not a supercar competitor. A muscle car that pushes six figures when fully loaded misses the entire point.
A Dodge Challenger Scat Pack with SRT-tuned suspension and a widebody kit may just be the ultimate naturally-aspirated American muscle car. And manual transmission fans will be happy to hear you can even get it with a stickshift.
Keyword: Is The Dodge Hellcat Actually Better Than The Scat Pack?