They are saying all good issues should come to an finish, although nobody has efficiently elaborated on why the Hellcat Challengers and Chargers are going away. I imply, they’ve *tried* however their causes appears lackluster and out of contact – a combination of bowing to stress from the Greenies, social media humble bragging, and the evil plan of some shadowy cabal of villains who’re uninterested in us having enjoyable and wish us all to drive gradual ‘environmentally accountable” automobiles. Sure, the designs and platforms are getting lengthy within the tooth, however they’re nonetheless promoting like hotcakes and are arguably probably the most enjoyable of all the present muscle automobiles out there right this moment. The all-electric Dodge Daytona that turned up on the Chicago Auto Present earlier this yr was completely attractive and provided promise, however who desires an electrical automotive? Fewer and fewer individuals it appears. So lets hope Dodge was sensible sufficient to go away room beneath the hood to drop a enjoyable engine into it as a result of if that is the top of the road for the Hellcat motor, then I may gown is sacloth and ashes and weep. However going away, the Challenger is. And so Dodge, sentimental sumbitches that they’re, determined to launch a collection of ultimate nostalgic “Final Name” particular editions. That is one. The Black Ghost.

The title sprouts from a Detroit city legend. Apparently again within the early seventies, when midnight road racing on Woodward Ave was the factor to do, a stock-looking black Dodge Challenger with a faux-alligator vinyl roof would often present up and race. Because the rumor goes, he would handily beat them after which disappear into the inky Detroit night time. As his legend grew, he started to be known as the Black Ghost. He haunted Woodward for a number of years till he disappeared for good. It was solely lately that he handed away and his household felt snug figuring out him because the proprietor of the Black Ghost. Why did they wait? Apparently on the time he was collaborating in these unlawful underground road races, he was employed as a policeman with the Detroit Police Dept. How’s that for irony?

Nice story, huh? Dodge thought so too and determined to make a restricted run of particular Black Ghost Challengers as a part of their Final Name collection. Beginning with the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody, they dropped in a particular higher-output version of the Hellcat engine that makes 807 hp (as an alternative of 797) and 707 lb-ft of torque. A very good begin!

The Black Ghost is, as you’d count on, black. The precise title of the paint is “Pitch Black” and it’s becoming. There’s an appliqué on the roof that resembles alligator pores and skin. The gasoline cap is chrome, identical to the unique Black Ghost. Dodge additionally added a white stripe throughout the again deck lid of the automotive like the unique and the place the Hellcat badge sometimes goes on the aspect fenders behind the entrance wheels, there’s as an alternative a script badge that reads “Challenger” identical to the 1970’s ones did. However that’s simply the Black Ghost design particulars. The remaining is trendy Challenger Hellcat muscle automotive cues: the dual ram-air intakes on the hood (practical), the deep splitter alongside the entrance fringe of the automotive, the flip-up spoiler throughout the rear fringe of the trunk, hood pins to maintain the hood on the automotive at 200mph, and a number of the sexiest wheels you’ve ever seen on a Challenger. The automotive appears to be like beautiful and it acquired plenty of consideration even whereas parked.

Below the hood is the HO model of the Hellcat, throwing an additional 10hp into the combination. With 807 hp, you gained’t really feel the extra 10 however 807 is a better quantity to cite than 797 hp. It’s hooked to a stout 8-speed automated transmission with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel in case you need to row your personal. The torque shaft is hooked to a limited-slip differential that balances energy between every of the rear wheels to impact most grip.

That most grip is offered by the fats Pirelli P-Zero’s that wrap across the attractive satin silver 20 x 11” wheels. These tires are so sticky they actually choose up each stone on the highway and throw it towards the underside of the automotive. Throw it right into a nook and the tires simply grip, grip, grip till you select to overpower them with the engine and ship the backend sliding out behind you.

The Ghost corners and handles like no automotive it’s dimension and weight has any proper to. The competitors suspension does a incredible job of serving to the tires grip the highway and hold the physique movement in examine because it tears down winding nation backroads or via the curves of a decent highway course. There are a number of completely different efficiency settings you’ll be able to dial in – regular, sport, and observe. Every has completely different levels of firmness and traction and stability management to take advantage of highly effective common manufacturing automotive an absolute pussycat to drive onerous.

And may a deer or an errant driver pull out blindly in entrance of you, or a ought to a police automotive come from out of nowhere, the Brembo 6-piston brake calipers clamp down on probably the most huge brake disks you’ve ever seen fitted to a manufacturing automotive to supply a number of the most superb braking efficiency you’ve ever skilled. You may actually dangle your self up within the seatbelts because the automotive involves a silent cease.

Dodge threw in a bunch of different efficiency goodies too. The Linelocker choice, which locks the entrance brakes however unlocks the rear ones so you will get the rear tires spinning fairly good and scorching earlier than releasing the brakes; launch management, which helps you to set the rpm stage you need to launch at; and Chiller, which redirects the cool a/c air from the cabin to the supercharger plenum to make the cost extra dense, offering extra oxygen for ignition.

The son of the Black Ghost’s proprietor was lately requested about his reminiscences of the automotive. He stated he remembered his dad would tape a $50 greenback invoice to the sprint and inform him he may have it if he may seize it on the rely of three. Three, in fact, is when he’d nail the throttle and the automotive would launch like a Saturn rocket, pushing them each again firmly into their seats, unable to struggle the momentum of their ahead path. The brand new Black Ghost is far the identical. It’s born to run onerous and quick – an exhilarating carnival experience that your neighbors will actually queue as much as experience in.

We took it round to all of the family and friends, giving rides, profitable hearts and minds. All people wished to really feel the unbelievable acceleration, hear the fury of the Hellcat engine because it raged like some livid jungle cat, ripping the very ambiance round it, making the fats rear tires scream like wounded wildebeests as they laid down units of black parallel traces repeatedly and once more. The sounds it makes could be the one neatest thing in regards to the automotive. I’ve heard plenty of competitors V8 motors in my day however there’s NOTHING that sounds as offended, as highly effective, as ferocious as Dodge’s supercharged 6.2L Hemi V8 engine. It makes the hair in your arms get up, and your mind to register concern and even alarm on the sheer ferocity of the sound. It’s like nothing else on the highway. Mustangs, as nice as the brand new Coyote V8 sounds, can’t maintain a candle to it. Camaro’s and Corvettes don’t come shut. It’s as uniquely American as it’s merely distinctive inside the American muscle automotive scene. It’s, in brief, an ICON of American motoring.

Our Black Ghost stickered at $99,350. Whereas that looks like some huge cash, the efficiency that you simply’re getting for the cash is unbelievable. Plus, it does the every day commute in nice consolation too.

Dodge is being tremendous useful about serving to you safe your personal muscle automotive, your personal Hellcat – even your personal Black Ghost – earlier than they’re all gone. As manufacturing winds down, they’ve arrange a particular web site that will help you discover your splendid Challenger or Charger at a dealership, whether or not it’s in your hometown or throughout the nation. It’s accessible from their essential webpage. My recommendation is to behave now earlier than stock is gone. As a result of as soon as it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

We don’t need to see it go. It’s our hope Dodge has one thing simply nearly as good or higher ready within the wings, but it surely’s onerous to optimistic as of late when each automaker is electrical autos as the subsequent huge factor. All good issues should come to an finish ultimately. Even the issues that perpetually put a smile on our face each time we acquired to drive them. Thanks, Dodge. It’s been a incredible journey and it’s due to your love of enjoyable automobiles that we’ve gotten to get pleasure from it.