Muscle cars are about as American as it comes. Since the 1970’s, the Challenger, like its horsepower junkie rivals, has been one of the very few American classics that can still hold its name to heart. While we can forgive the shit show of the 1980’s, the newer generation certainly lives up to its credibility.

Four years into the current generation calls for some revamping and while last year the Hellcat received its Widebody upgrade, it’s now available on the R/T Scat Pack. The Scat Pack is already a menacing machine with its muscular bulges that’ll even make a gay gent blush. Adding the widebody kit with its flair wheel arches gives it that proper muscle car stance that is ready to pounce a desperate housewife looking for a good ride.

If you’re looking for a good ride yourself, then it’s best to skip the rental beating V-6 SXT and GT models. The obvious thrill lingers behind the Hemi V-8’s of the R/T group. But R/T Scat Pack is a bit of a different story as it replaces the R/T’s standard 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with a beefy 6.4-liter 392 HEMI V-8. Being that the Scat Pack may be the last in the Challenger hierarchy before getting in Hellcat territory, its certainly no child’s play.  It produces a panty dropping 485-horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. That is of course unless your neighbor drives a Prius and complains to the HOA about the gurgling gnarls the exhaust makes upon start up at six o’clock in the morning, their panties are tied up behind their chastity belt. Sorry folks, no quiet mode here, they can get over it.

While the Challenger tries to keep things old fashion by offering a six-speed manual as its standard transmission, the 8-speed automatic equipped in ours is incredibly satisfying. It is quick to respond through every input like the devil granting us our deepest desire as we sign our soul away. But it’s more than how well it responds, it’s how it distributes all that power. It delivers it like a drunken Uber driver on bath salts. Calm your tits Frank; we’re just backing out of the driveway. The R/T Scat Pack is a mad man with instant responsive torque being delivered to the rear wheels. Even when left in Eco mode it acts like a toddler coming out of a timeout, “I know you want me to behave, but you’re an idiot if you think I will” and before we know it were setting off from a stop light in second gear sideways trying to decide whether we should laugh it off or put it in the naughty corner.

The R/T Scat Pack breaks loose from the refine world of responsibilities by featuring launch control and line lock for the perfect burnout. Taking an insane four seconds to 60-mph, the Challenger races through the built-in 0-60 timer as quick as it guzzles the fuel that feeds it. Built for drag racing however, we can’t say that it’s much of a civilized around towner. The suspension is firmer than riding a mechanical bull at a country bar. The 20-inch rims with staggered Performance Summer Tires not only grip to the asphalt but to every uneven surface crack. And its fuel tank will only go upwards of 250-miles… depending on how it’s driven of course. It does however manage to control its fuel consumption by deactivating four of its eight cylinders when at cruising speed. On the highway we managed to hit the targeted EPA of 24-mpgs but missed the combined 18-mpg averaged by 2-mpgs.

Inside the Challenger, things are as comfortable as the VIP section of a strip club. Our black over orange interior was a sweet contrast to the stunning Hellraisen purple paint. For as big as the Challenger is, there isn’t much room in the back for passengers – maybe have them saw off a leg before getting in. The front seats however are bolstered nicely for a firm supportive setting and everything on the dash is well within the drivers reach. However, the cheaper quality materials used throughout the cabin are disappointing as our sampled R/T Scat Pack racks in a total price of $56,450. And its not just the materials; the rear backup camera is something out of a PlayStation 2 video game and the ‘C’ pillar spawns poor visibility.

Nobody buy’s muscle cars for the fuel economy or comfortable ride and as for the few negative quarks, all it takes is one startup to shut the brain up and listen to our other head. Because that never gets us in trouble.

VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS

VEHICLE: 2020 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T SCAT PACK WIDEBODY
BASE PRICE: $45,995
AS-TESTED PRICE: $56,450

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE: 6.4-LITER 392 HEMI V-8
HP | TORQUE: 485-HP |470 LB-FT OF TORQUE
TRANSMISSION: 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC
DRIVETRAIN: REAR-WHEEL DRIVE
MPG: 15 | 24 | 18 (CITY | HIGHWAY | COMBINED)
AS TESTED MPG: 15.9-MPG COMBINED | 23.5-MPG HIGHWAY
FUEL RANGE: 230-MILES
0-60 MPH: ±4.0 SECONDS