- Dodge has fitted larger Garrett turbochargers, improving acceleration.
- Working alongside the beefed-up engine are new suspension and brakes.
- While prices haven’t been announced, Dodge says production will be limited.
It’s safe to say the current Dodge Charger hasn’t exactly sparked much enthusiasm among gearheads, initially launching as an EV and not even available with a V8. Eager to add some spice back to the Charger lineup, Dodge has just launched the new Charger Super Bee Launch Edition, offering more power and a unique look.
Read: Dodge Is Paying Charger Buyers $10 For Every Horsepower Under The Hood
Rather than being based on the electric Daytona, the new Super Bee uses the Charger’s available 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine. Thanks to larger 56 mm Garrett turbochargers running at 30 psi and a tweaked exhaust, the car is good for 600 hp and 531 lb-ft (720 Nm) of torque. That obviously falls well short of what the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 did more than a decade ago, but it’s better than nothing.
Specs Comparison
Working alongside the new turbos is a modified air intake and new software that sharpens the throttle response and power delivery, and allows the Launch Control system to work more effectively. The sprint to 60 mph (96 km/h) takes just 3.6 seconds, which is actually 0.1 seconds quicker than the 2015 Hellcat. The quarter-mile is where the math turns against it: 11.8 seconds, a full 0.8 second slower than the 707 hp Hellcat, which cleared the same distance in 11.0 flat.
Dodge appears particularly proud of how the new Super Bee handles extended track sessions. It says the cooling capacity in the radiator circuit has been boosted by more than 50 percent, thanks in large part to the new front-end, which dramatically boosts airflow with a new grille and larger air intakes. Positioned behind these intakes are new auxiliary radiators.
Not A One-Trick Pony
Brakes have been improved thanks to 27 percent larger pads housed within six-piston Brembo front and four-piston rear calipers, biting down on 16-inch discs at both the front and rear. Helping to put power to the ground are a set of 20×11-inch wheels with 305/35 Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires at all four corners.
The new Charger Super Bee is far from a one-trick, straight-line pony. It features new continuous damping control dual-valve adaptive dampers as well as 12 percent stiffer front spring rates and 6 percent stiffer rear spring rates to improve handling. It also has a 20 percent stiffer rear stabilizer bar and improved front tension links and front handling-link bushings.
Don’t Worry, It Can Drift Too
Perhaps the best feature of the new Charger Super Bee is one inspired by arguably the best sports sedan currently on sale, the BMW M3. Like that car, the Super Bee includes a dedicated rear-wheel drive mode which instantly disengages the all-wheel drive system. There are also new Track and Drag Modes, Link Lock, Launch Control, and a Torque Reserve function for repeated, hard launches. The Super Bee is also the first Charger Sixpack model to feature the Driver Experience Recorded, capturing drives through the forward-facing 1080p camera and synchronizing it with on-board data.
The initial Launch Edition models are painted in a bright shade of yellow-green known as Sucker Punch, contrasted with gloss-black graphics. Those wanting something a little more subtle will also be able to order the Launch Edition in Diamond Black. Rounding out the upgrades are some interior updates, including embroidered headrests, contrast stitching, a leather performance steering wheel and a distinctive instrument panel display.
Dodge has yet to announce pricing for the new Charger Super Bee Launch Edition, but says this information will be announced later this year. It’ll be a “limited-run” model, so when orders open, enthusiasts had better be quick.
