The standard Dodge Hellcat is by no means a benign looking car, on the contrary. But it wouldn’t really be an authentic muscle car if it didn’t take things too far as it already does in many ways. So, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody gets 3.5 inches of width added to its hips giving it a much meaner stance as is fitting for a muscle car of its caliber. Even more importantly, the new fender flares compliment its retro styling perfectly and even make it look like a more complete car than the standard model. That said, aesthetics aren’t the only thing they improve. With wider rear tires and a wider track, the Widebody not only puts the power down better for improved acceleration, but it also improves cornering speeds and not by a small margin. Improved handling and more grip also makes the Widebody safer to drive which is more than welcome in a rear wheel drive car with over 700 horsepower. On another positive note, the Widebody didn’t cost that much more than the narrow body when it was new, and it doesn’t cost that much more today on the used market. But before we go into more detail about the pricing, styling, and performance, check out the ones that are currently looking for a new owner at Exotic Car Trader.
The original 1970 Dodge Challenger didn’t get a Widebody trim, but it sure as hell made just as much of an impact as the Hellcat. Its most powerful engine made 425 horsepower which is substantially more than what the flagship Ferraris made until 1984. Unfortunately, the original Challenger would be bogged down by the fuel crisis and ever tightening emissions standards just a year later. And while it would make perfect sense for that to have happened to the Hellcat, it never did. The Hellcat just kept getting more and more powerful and also wider as the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody entered production. In a world of EVs, SUVs and hybrids, the Hellcat stood out like a sore thumb as it was the exact opposite of what all three of those stood for. But that’s what made it so appealing and why this 700 horsepower beast sold in over 40,000 examples. It was so popular in fact that demand didn’t even die down in its last year of production before Stellantis pulled the plug on it. And it’s thanks to the Challenger Hellcat that we also got the Trackhawk and the Charger Hellcat, all of which are no less interesting than the one that started it all. Ultimately, Hellcat will go down in history as one of the most interesting production cars of the 21st century.
Inside, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody is just as interesting as the standard model and features a good number of toys to play with. The driver gets over 100 different configurations available for the center gauge cluster screen. Not only are there different driving modes and setups, the driver can also monitor dozens of different drivetrain temperatures and data in real time. As far as setups go, the Widebody gets an electric steering rack which can be adjusted depending on the driving conditions and the driver’s mood, adding even more things to play with. The main infotainment system is still the same touchscreen one from 2015 and measures 8.4 inches. It also gets a good number of driver aids as standard such as a backup camera, braking assist, and pedestrian warning. Furthermore, all Challengers feature more premium materials as of 2015 so the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody gets brushed aluminum inserts on the steering wheel and around the vents, while leather and soft touch materials can be found all around giving it a much more premium feel than before.
The 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody benefits from the changes all Hellcats got for the same model year. That includes a new front grille badge with an integrated Hellcat logo, and the same logo can be found on the wings. The signature headlight intakes were also redesigned and now feature a deeper illuminated cylinder giving it much more presence and drawing more attention to that interesting feature. Inside the headlight is again, the Hellcat logo which is illuminated. As for the Widebody changes, the wider fender flares are the most obvious change. They add about 3.5 inches to the overall width which mainly comes from the rear wheels. The flares are very simple and run the full circle of the wheel wells making them look almost aftermarket, but that’s what most Hellcat customers like. Widebody Challengers also gets new lightweight five spoke wheels that are now 20x11” instead of 20x9” as found on the standard model. The wheels also do a much better job of revealing those giant Brembo brakes giving it an even sportier look besides wider body.
One of the biggest limitations of all Hellcats is the fact they are all rear wheel drive with a massive engine in the front. That makes putting all its power down in the first few gears an impossible challenge. However, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody does come much closer to that goal. That’s thanks to wider 305 rear tires compared to 275 the narrow body gets. The extra grip helps the Widebody sprint to 60 in just 3.4 seconds which is 0.2 seconds faster and not a small achievement by any means. The Widebody also gets a two inches wider track at the rear wheels and 1.5 inches wider up front. Coupled with wider tires that helps the Widebody improve its lateral grip by 0.04 seconds and according to Dodge, it’s two seconds faster on a 1.7 mile road course. That said, the Widebody does gain some extra weight for a total of 4,497 lbs, a 40 pound increase. A wider body also messes with the already poor aerodynamics so the top speed drops from 199 mph to 195 mph. But all of that is a small price to pay for how much safer and more fun to drive at the limit the Widebody is.
With a starting price of $73,390, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody was $6,000 more expensive than the narrow body Hellcat. Today, the price difference is about the same when we look at low mileage examples. In 2024, a Hellcat Widebody with less than 10,000 miles will set you back around $60,000 to $75,000 on average. Those with over 50,000 miles usually go for under $45,000, with sub $40,000 popping up here and there. On a positive note, the Widebody Hellcat has very little optional equipment available so regardless of which example you find, it will be loaded. The main thing that sets one Widebody from another is the exterior color, leather and the caliper colors.
The 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody is one of the best looking models in the entire Challenger lineup from 2008 to 2023. At the same time, the performance improvement it gets, which not many potential buyers expect, puts it behind only the Demon and the Redeye making it that much more special. While it does have some drawbacks like more weight and a lower top speed, neither will be noticeable in the real world. And if you are ready for a new luxury vehicle, classic or a muscle car, consider buying one through Exotic Car Trader. With escrow protection, delivery and first inspection, Exotic Car Trader handles all the sensitive steps of buying an expensive vehicle. The same protection is included when selling a car through Exotic Car Trader, only the process becomes even more convenient.
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