Since the current versions of the Dodge Challenger and Charger were introduced for the 2015 model year, the two have shared a great many features, with the two-door model getting extra power and new packages first. During this generation, the Challenger Hellcat got a bump from 707 to 717 horsepower in 2019 and the Charger Hellcat got that bump a year later, with the Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition package. The Challenger was the first to get the Redeye package with 797 horsepower and the Charger Redeye followed two years later. Most recently, the Challenger Super Stock debuted with 807 horsepower and a year later, the Jailbreak (below) package brought the same 807 horsepower to the Charger.
However, diehard Charger fans and owners have often hoped for a few other packages from the Challenger, most notably the 1320 and the Demon. These two drag strip-focused packages were and continue to be reserved for two-door models, but with the Last Call program, Dodge is working on giving the four-door fans in the Brotherhood what they want.
Earlier this week, Dodge introduced the second of the 2023 Last Call models, this time debuting the latest Charger Super Bee. This Super Bee is the most elaborate of the modern models to wear that name, serving as an obvious drag strip-focused package. In fact, if you look at the features of the 2023 Charger Super Bee, it can be compared to the Challenger 1320.
The most notable features of the 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee are the wheels, tire and suspension tuning. The standard-width Charger Super Bee comes with 20×9.5-inch knurled wheels wrapped in 275mm drag radials, just like the Challenger 1320, and the Bilstein adaptive suspension system includes Drag Mode – like the 1320. The key difference between the Challenger 1320 and the Charger Super Bee is that the sedan doesn’t seem to come with the TransBrake system that is included in the Challenger, but anyone who has used that system knows that not having it certainly isnt the end of the world. Most 1320 (and Demon) owners don’t even use the TransBrake, as they run better times without it.
Where the Charger Super Bee has an advantage over the Challenger 1320 is in the inclusion of the Widebody option, which is not offered with the 1320. Dodge will build 1,000 Super Bees for 2023, 500 in standard width and 500 with the Widebody package, allowing the team to add wider tires on the wider models. The Super Bee Widebody comes with 18×11-inch “drag wheels” wrapped in 315mm drag radials, along with a Drag Mode of its own. While this package is a bit heavier, there is no question that the wider tires have a big impact on hooking up on a hard launch.
The Challenger 1320 has more gadgets, but for Charger lovers who wanted a Scat Pack to take drag racing, the 2023 Super Bee checks all of the most important boxes – showing the Dodge is paying attention to what the enthusiasts want.
The other big “want” from the Charger faithful is a Demon-like model, but I still don’t think that something quite like that is coming. However, the Challenger Super Stock is the closest thing to the Demon that has been offered by Dodge since 2018, coming with similar 18-inch wheels and drag radials, Drag Mode suspension and lightweight Brembo brakes. Those are similar items to what is offered on the Charger Super Bee Widebody, but the Challenger Super Stock has the obvious power advantage.
Hopefully, one of the other Last Call models will be a Charger Redeye with a similar wheel, tire, braking and suspension package, which would essentially be a four-door super stock. That would address the biggest request from the devoted Charger owners over the past few years, further showing that Dodge is working hard to address the requests of as many enthusiasts as possible before the generation ends.
