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Dodge Charger Hellcat Daytona Widebody

You Absolutely Should Not Spend $114k on a Dodge Charger

Normally, the Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody has 707 hp. However, Dodge has also released a limited-edition version with 717 hp, matching the Challenger Hellcat. The fact that Dodge is giving a limited-edition more power contrasts with some of the limited-edition vehicles Ford, GM and Ram have unveiled. And, normally, that would likely make the Dodge …

Normally, the Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody has 707 hp. However, Dodge has also released a limited-edition version with 717 hp, matching the Challenger Hellcat. The fact that Dodge is giving a limited-edition more power contrasts with some of the limited-edition vehicles Ford, GM and Ram have unveiled. And, normally, that would likely make the Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody Daytona worthy of the ‘limited-edition’ title and premium. But not when one dealer’s charging $114,000 for it.

The $114,000 limited-edition Dodge Charger

Normally, Car and Driver reports, the Daytona Package adds $4495 to the $69,645 stock Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody. This adds a white ‘Daytona’ rear fender stripe, a white rear spoiler and Hellcat badges, silver wheels, and the aforementioned 10-hp increase. The Daytona also comes with carbon-fiber interior accents and seats with ‘Daytona’ embroidered on them in blue.

Dodge Charger Hellcat Daytona Widebody rear
Dodge Charger Hellcat Daytona Widebody rear | Suburban Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

However, as of this writing, Suburban Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Troy, Michigan one of these 1-of-501 cars in stock at $114,215. Excluding the added charges of the power sunroof, navigation, and gas-guzzler tax, that’s a dealer markup of $32,930. You could almost buy a whole AWD Dodge Charger SXT for that.

Dodge Charger Hellcat Daytona Widebody interior
Dodge Charger Hellcat Daytona Widebody interior | Suburban Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Unfortunately, drastic dealer markups like this aren’t unusual, especially if the dealer thinks the car being marked up is going to be desirable. It’s happened to the Honda Civic Type R, Toyota Supra, and even the Mercedes G63 AMG. And, as a Dodge spokesperson told Car and Driver, the manufacturer can’t really do anything, because dealerships “are considered to be independent business owners.”

But there is a way to combat this: making your own Dodge Charger Hellcat Daytona Widebody.

Making your own Dodge Charger Daytona Widebody

It’s actually possible to get most of the way to the Daytona edition without going outside Dodge’s catalog.

2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody and SRT
2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody and SRT | Dodge

Starting with the $69,645 Charger Hellcat Widebody, we spec it in Frostbite Blue. Then, we add the $1995 power sunroof, $1295 graphite wheels, $995 navigation & travel package, and $1595 carbon/suede interior package. The Daytona’s rear spoiler is actually a Mopar accessory, which costs $211 and can be requested in any color.

Dodge doesn’t offer white Hellcat badges or that white rear fender ‘Daytona’ stripe. However, MoProAuto does offer a similar rear fender stripe courtesy of 3M’s vinyl wrap products. As of this writing, the stripe costs $119.

Finally, the horsepower boost. Unfortunately, as Muscle Cars and Trucks learned from FCA head of passenger cars Tim Kuniskis, cybersecurity measures mean the Hellcat engines can be rather difficult to tune. But that hasn’t stopped tuning companies from trying.

Motor1 reports German shop Geiger Cars managed to boost the Dodge Charger Hellcat to 782 hp. And if it can pass European emissions, it should be able to pass here in the US. At the moment, though, Geiger Cars isn’t offering it to US customers. And even then, the package costs the equivalent of $8,810.

Luckily, there is one US-based tuning company that can deliver an affordable, modest horsepower boost. Delaware-based High Horse Performance can port the Hellcat engine’s supercharger, increasing airflow and therefore performance. HHP can also add a larger throttle body, further increasing horsepower. HHP claims the $1396 service can add 15-20 hp in base form.

Pricing comparison

Dodge Charger Hellcat Daytona Widebody
Dodge Charger Hellcat Daytona Widebody | Dodge

Adding up all the parts for our DIY Daytona, we end up with a final sticker price of $80,635. That’s actually $90 less than the Dodge Charger Hellcat Daytona Widebody normally stickers at, and about $33,630 less than the dealership’s charging.

Without the upcharge, the Dodge Charger Hellcat Daytona Widebody is actually a limited-edition worth pursuing. But if a dealer’s marking one up by that much, know that you can always make your own.

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