Park a 797-horsepower 2022 Challenger next to a 2008, and the two feel completely different.

the dodge challenger srt super stock refuses to die
DW Burnett

At this point, what is there to say about the Dodge Challenger? The model we know today debuted in 2008 model year. It predated the bank bailout. Its biggest aesthetic update, in 2015, brought a hugely improved interior and redesigned front and rear fascias but not one inch of change to the sheetmetal. If you’ve spent 5 minutes on a corner where people cruise, or in a parking lot ripe for donuts, or in the social media alleys where vehicular hooliganism is documented, you’ve seen—and heard—a million Challengers.

And yet, Dodge keeps managing to create new Challengers to sell. First we had the Hellcat, in 2015, with 707 supercharged horsepower. Then in 2017 came the Demon, an ultra-limited-edition machine built for the drag strip. It made 808 hp on pump gas, rising to 840 with a custom ECU and 104-octane race fuel. The Demon had barely-street-legal drag radials, 315 mm wide, tucked under tack-on fender flares that made the already-huge Challenger somehow huger. That widebody look trickled down to the Hellcat and naturally aspirated Challenger 392 in 2019, a year that also brought the Hellcat Redeye, a 797-hp middle ground between the base Hellcat and the discontinued Demon.

the dodge challenger srt super stock refuses to die
DW Burnett

Now we have this: The 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock. It’s a Hellcat, a Redeye, and most of a Demon, all in one. Out of the thousands of variants Dodge will sell you, this one embodies the spirit of the Challenger better than any other.

The Super Stock starts as a Hellcat Redeye and adds 10 horsepower, bringing the total to 807. (Torque stays the same, at 707 lb-ft.) It comes from the factory on four Nitto NT05R drag radials, 315/40R-18s, identical to the tires that 3000 lucky Demon owners got on their dragsters, with the blistered fenders to match. The Super Stock revs 100 rpm higher than the Redeye (to 6400) and gets the Demon’s adaptive suspension: Track mode softens the rebound on the front dampers to improve rear weight transfer on a launch. You thought “track” meant “turn”? This thing is all about the quarter-mile.

the dodge challenger srt super stock refuses to die
DW Burnett

The Super Stock also gets the Demon’s Power Chiller (also available on Redeye), which reroutes the car’s air conditioning to cool down the engine intake charge, for more launch horsepower. It also benefits from the Demon’s drag-optimized traction control, which combats wheelspin while still keeping the engine at full boost. It does not, however, get the Demon’s tricky transmission brake, which locks the gearbox to hold the car at the starting line. Also, the Super Stock sacrifices one horsepower compared to the Demon on pump gas, and it won’t make any more power if you fill up with 104. Hierarchy must be maintained.

Long story short, it’s another drag-racing Dodge. I took it on the windiest, narrowest, most challenging mountain roads outside San Francisco anyway.

the dodge challenger srt super stock refuses to die
DW Burnett

I drove the Super Stock on my visit to Northern California as part of Road & Track’s Route to Vine, a three-day road rally that saw us climbing out of San Francisco and exploring the secret mountain switchbacks of the region’s finest roads. At first blush, the Super Stock seemed woefully ill-prepared. Those squishy, tall tires are designed to sag on a hard launch. They maximize grip but sponge away any semblance of cornering feedback. The 18-inch wheels they’re mounted to require a brake downgrade, the front rotors 1.2 inches smaller, making do with four-piston front calipers to the Redeye’s six.

Our guests showed up in Ferraris, Porsches, C7 and C8 Corvettes. Muscle wagons, too, a moody gray Audi RS6 and a stately blue Mercedes-AMG E63. My Challenger stuck out like a double-quarter-pounder on a caviar tray. I looked at our route, three days of serpentine switchbacks through vineyards and redwoods, and broke out in a sweat.

the dodge challenger srt super stock refuses to die
DW Burnett

It doesn’t help that a widebody Challenger is, frankly, enormous. It’s styled like a ten-pound salami. Sitting behind the wheel, looking out over that pectoral twin-nostril hood, you feel like you’re driving around in John Cena.

Here’s the bad news: This is not one of those cars that “shrinks around you.” The only way to forget the Super Stock’s sprawl is to park it in the middle of the great American prairie.

But you’ll never want to park it. You never want it to be anything but exactly what it is.

After a week of roaring around in the Super Stock, I can’t tell you if it’s measurably faster than any of the other Hellcats. Once Dodge eclipsed 700 horses, power was never the limiting factor. Those cheater slicks seem to help, in the sense that when you floor it, you actually get some forward momentum to go with your tire vapor. I’m certain that if you took a Super Stock to a real, prepared drag strip and followed the whole rigamarole—activate the Power Chiller, warm the tires with a line-locked burnout, carefully reverse over your fresh rubber patches, engage launch control to hold the engine at the ideal RPM, don’t mess up—you’d leave any lesser Hellcat hopelessly spinning its tires or gingerly attempting not to.

Here’s what I can tell you: The Super Stock is always ready to party. Red light? Freeway at 70 mph in top gear? In-N-Out? Uproarious noise, riotous wheelspin, and heroic acceleration, in that exact order, are never more than a toe-tap away.

the dodge challenger srt super stock refuses to die
DW Burnett

There are, of course, downsides. Those big, squishy tires love to follow a crease or crack in the road, especially if it’s heading toward the guardrail. There’s a booming exhaust resonance around 2500 rpm, right where the engine sits in 8th gear on every freeway in America. Between the high trunk lid and the bulbous fenders, reversing this thing into a tight parking spot is a dice roll (setting your mirrors like you’re backing up a trailer helps). Somehow, the rear suspension is starved for down-travel, making it easy to pop the inside-rear wheel in the air when navigating a steep driveway or canyon hairpin. It’s embarrassing to have all that grippy rubber spinning uselessly a quarter-inch off the pavement.

These aren’t really even complaints. The Challenger’s single-mindedness is the heart of its charm. Mostly, that comes in the form of horsepower. In 2022, the big Dodge offers V-8s boasting 375, 485, 717, 797, or 807 horsepower, a candy shop of choices. But it’s also about how these hefty coupes present their power. Every V-8 Challenger is loud, all the time. Camaro and Mustang offer switchable mufflers; Dodge can’t hear you. Every Challenger, even the lowliest V-6 rental, has big-body swagger, an unabashedness you can’t help but find striking.

the dodge challenger srt super stock refuses to die
DW Burnett

The Challenger is completely and unapologetically itself. The Mustang and Camaro have tried, almost since the beginning, to distance themselves from the declasse status of the pony car or muscle car. The Challenger relishes it. The Super Stock, with its baloney tires and quarter-mile doodads, is the proudest brawler of the bunch.

As compromised as a 4500-pound coupe on wallowing 40-series rubber should be, the Super Stock makes sense, even when physics don’t. The steepest San Francisco hill? No match for the Super Stock’s grunt. Every boot of the throttle comes with an unrestrained yawp from the supercharger belt, a rising note like Ol’ Scratch warming up his fiddle to face off with Charlie Daniels. Crank it into a corner, and you just have to trust that there’s insane grip at the end of all that body roll and tire squish. That’s what you get, good and bad, from more than a foot of rubber under each wheel, mostly uninterrupted save for two grooves that, the DOT assures us, provide the legal minimum amount of water evacuation. The electrically assisted steering has mushy, faraway feel, but it’s precise, as you’d hope when placing a six-foot-four-inch-wide car (without the mirrors) in a gap between an oncoming car and a 5000-year-old redwood.

the dodge challenger srt super stock refuses to die
DW Burnett

None of this is to be taken as criticism. The Super Stock is an absolute joy to hustle. The transmission, the ubiquitous ZF eight-speed automatic, is geared to take every advantage of the supercharged 6.2-liter’s barrel-chested midrange thrust. Left to itself, it’ll fire off downshifts and keep the engine boiling under heavy braking. It holds a gear impeccably through curves. The response from the paddle shifters is immediate; with all that stuff churning around inside and on top of the big Hemi, there’s a ton of engine braking, great for mid-corner speed adjustments. The brakes, downsized though they may be, never put up a protest, fade-free through a day of steep mountain drops.

The modern Dodge Challenger has evolved like the Fast and the Furious film franchise. It’s always been there, and it’s always felt the same. There’s a unified theme drawn through each new installment and variant. It’s a family. But park a 2022 Challenger next to a 2008, and the two feel completely different, like jumping from Dom Toretto’s DVD player heists directly to F9.

the dodge challenger srt super stock refuses to die
DW Burnett

It’s hard to pull that off—a decade and a half of evolution tucked comfortably beneath a familiar silhouette. One presumes the Challenger and Charger are dying in 2024 in part because Dodge ran out of new lumps, scoops, shakers and spoilers to tack on to these venerable bodies. (There are other, more pragmatic reasons, but let me have this.)

I’m sure there will be numerous new Challenger variants between now and then. Decal kits, commemorative editions, a final last-hurrah with some kind of outrageous drivetrain and tire combo we haven’t yet heard of. The details will be irrelevant. The Dodge Challenger is forever.

Keyword: The Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock Refuses to Die

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Woman Dodges Arrest Warrant, Flees To China After Violent Car Crash Kills Passenger

Photo: Bellevue, WA Police Department A woman who had been charged with vehicular manslaughter fled to China after crossing into Canada according to the Bellevue Reporter. Ting Ye was reportedly driving a 2020 Porsche 911 when she crashed, killing passenger Yabao Liu. The crash took place at about 3:45 ...

View more: Woman Dodges Arrest Warrant, Flees To China After Violent Car Crash Kills Passenger

Driving a 300 BHP Dodge Challenger in Vegas: 3-day trip to the Sin City

My wife wanted us to get the open-top BMW 440i as she was not comfortable with the muscle car. BHPian mobike008 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Prelude Who does not like to travel, we are no different. I like it more than my spouse, so I am the ...

View more: Driving a 300 BHP Dodge Challenger in Vegas: 3-day trip to the Sin City

1934 Dodge | Old Car

1934 Dodge. This old car looks good as is, but would also look great if restored.

View more: 1934 Dodge | Old Car

Jeep Wrangler Goes Electric Only In 2028, New Dodge Durango Due In 2025

All kinds of production details are mentioned in the tentative agreement between Stellantis and the UAW.

View more: Jeep Wrangler Goes Electric Only In 2028, New Dodge Durango Due In 2025

Dodge Will Now Sell You the Demon 170's 1,025-HP Crate Engine For Only $27,695

Photo: Dodge Fill a Dodge Challenger Demon 170 with E85, and its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 can make an entirely unnecessary 1,025 hp. That’s enough power to send the rear-wheel-drive coupe through the quarter mile in less than nine seconds. Does anybody actually need a street car that can run ...

View more: Dodge Will Now Sell You the Demon 170's 1,025-HP Crate Engine For Only $27,695

Nice Driver: 1957 Dodge Sierra Station Wagon

For an enthusiast attempting to strike a balance between the needs of an expanding family and the desire to own a historic automobile, practicality might be a critical factor. While some cars might not fit their needs, this 1957 Dodge Sierra Station Wagon might be perfect. It is a ...

View more: Nice Driver: 1957 Dodge Sierra Station Wagon

Max Verstappen dodges ‘unfair’ question about whether he'd prefer Sergio Perez or Daniel Ricciardo as F1 2024 teammate

Max Verstappen says it is “unfair” to ask him who he would prefer to be his Red Bull F1 teammate next season, but insists he will be happy either way. Sergio Perez currently holds that position and also has a contract for 2024, but his underwhelming and inconsistent performances ...

View more: Max Verstappen dodges ‘unfair’ question about whether he'd prefer Sergio Perez or Daniel Ricciardo as F1 2024 teammate

The Electric Dodge Charger Could Have Nearly 900 HP: Report

Dodge already confirmed its range-topping Charger Banshee EV muscle car will have power on par with the present-day Hellcat.

View more: The Electric Dodge Charger Could Have Nearly 900 HP: Report

New 2024 Dodge Charger R/T!

Dodge Charger Hellcat Coupe Pays Tribute To The Dukes Of Hazzard’s General Lee

At $25,000, Is This 1957 Dodge Sierra A Classic Contender?

The New Dodge Challenger Demon 170 Crate Engine Costs As Much As A Miata

At $5,000, Could This 2003 Dodge Durango R/T Make You A Mopar Maniac?

United Flight Attendants Sue Over Racism Allegations On LA Dodger Charter Flights

Turn Your Dodge Challenger Into Awkward-Looking Charger Daytona For $395k

1970 Dodge Charger 500 383 Coupe

It Looks Like The Next Gen Dodge Charger Will Get A Gas Engine After All

The Rotting Dodge Chargers In This Car Graveyard Are Begging To Be Rescued

Watch This Sleeper Dodge Neon With 700 HP Hit 200.9 MPH

Car Thefts Are Up, Led By Dodge Charger Hellcats And These Other Cars

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel