After producing an entire Charger generation without an eight-cylinder engine, Dodge is finally backing down on that decision with the Hustle Stuff Drag Pak. The hardcore muscle car packs a supercharged 5.8-liter V8, a carbon-fiber body and a brake chute, but isn’t meant for the streets.
Only 50 examples will be made, each offered starting from U.S. $235,000 before taxes. A twin Whipple supercharger drivers the Hemi V8 to an unspecified level of power output, with the company claiming that the car is good for a sub-8-second quarter-mile run straight out of the factory. Contributing to this result is a Coan Racing XLT three-speed automatic transmission driving a Mark Williams Enterprises rear end.
Thanks to a carbon-fiber front fascia, hood, doors and trunk lid, the Hustle Stuff Drag Pak weighs roughly 45 kilos (99 pounds) less than stock. It also benefits from an all-new suspension setup complete with coilovers and adjustable camber. The steering is strictly mechanical – no power assistance on the list.
The front wheels are downright skinny at 17 inches across and just 4.5 inches wide. The rear ones are smaller at 15 inches of diameter, but much wider at 11 inches. Additions at the back include a wheelie bar and a brake parachute.
As one would expect from a drag-focused car, the cabin is stripped clean to minimize weight. The floor mats, the door panels and the digital dashboard are perhaps the only major bits of the original trim left over. Both seats are bucket-shaped and come equipped with racing harnesses, while the rear row gets ditched in favor of a roll cage. Pro-Comp analog gauges and a quick-release steering wheel round off the list of modifications here.
Buyers can choose from 19 available exterior finishes and three graphics packages. There are also some costly motorsport extras listed, such as ultralight carbon-backed seats and a telemetry array.
For the rest of us, the current Dodge Charger generation offers a choice between a fully electric powertrain (Daytona EV) and a 3.0-liter inline-six engine. The latter can be turbocharged to either 426 PS (420 hp / 313 kW) or 558 PS (550 hp / 410 kW).
