Cruising down Woodward Avenue on a balmy Friday night in Detroit, the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost was turning heads even before I goosed the throttle. This wasn’t just any Challenger; it was a subtle beast, a nod to the golden age of muscle cars hiding a monstrous secret under its hood. As I eased off the line at a stoplight, the symphony of the exhaust and the unmistakable whine of a supercharger began to resonate, instantly drawing attention from the roadside spectators. All 807 horsepower strained at the leash, the Pirelli three-season tires fighting for grip on the iconic street.
Just as quickly as the supercharger had spooled up, I backed off, letting the Challenger coast. Woodward Avenue on a Friday night is known for its lively atmosphere and equally vigilant police presence. Staying within the speed limit was the priority, though the temptation was immense. Rolling to a stop at the next red light, I noticed a police cruiser discreetly pulling into a darkened parking lot, its lights extinguished, melting into the shadows. Moments later, a Ford Mustang GT, far from subtle, pulled up beside me. The passenger leaned out, shouting over the rumble of his own engine, “Your Scat Pack sounds pretty good – wanna race?” I simply nodded towards the lurking police car. Understanding dawned on their faces, and with a thumbs-up and grins, we all proceeded with a more sedate pace as the light turned green.
As the evening unfolded, and I continued my Woodward cruise, the question of impromptu races arose several more times. Interestingly, when I’m behind the wheel of my own Challenger Srt Hellcat, such invitations from the typical pony car crowd are less frequent. However, when a second person mistook the Black Ghost for a Scat Pack, despite its thunderous roar, it clicked. The Black Ghost, with its Scat Pack-esque rear stripe and absence of prominent SRT or Hellcat badging (save for a stealthy black SRT Hellcat grille emblem, nearly invisible at night), was intentionally flying under the radar.
Dodge had masterfully executed something audacious: they had created a sleeper SRT Hellcat Redeye. Paying homage to a legendary Detroit street racer and his 1970 Challenger, they imbued the Black Ghost with the heart of a beast and the guise of something far tamer.
Of course, a keen ear will quickly discern that the Black Ghost is more than just a Scat Pack. The supercharger whine is a dead giveaway to any serious car enthusiast that this Challenger packs serious heat. The sound alone hints at forced induction, immediately elevating it beyond naturally aspirated muscle. But for those seeking the raw, untamed power of a supercharged HEMI engine without screaming it to the world through aggressive styling, the Dodge Challenger Black Ghost is a masterclass in automotive subtlety, especially compared to its more overtly styled Mopar brethren.
In essence, it’s an 807-horsepower muscle car disguised as a 485-horsepower one, making it the perfect choice for those who prefer performance that speaks louder than its visual bark. This is a true sleeper, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and arguably the ultimate expression of understated power in the muscle car world.
The Black Ghost Package: A Nod to Automotive History
The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost package is more than just a collection of aesthetic upgrades; it’s a direct tribute to the original 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE, famously driven by Detroit street racing legend and police officer, Godfrey Qualls. Qualls’ Challenger was an enigma, a black beast with a distinctive white tail stripe and a unique black vinyl gator-grain roof. This legacy directly inspires the modern Black Ghost, inheriting the white stripe traditionally associated with Scat Pack models and the striking gator-grain roof treatment.
Further enhancing its classic appeal, the Black Ghost boasts a chrome fuel door, vintage Challenger script logos adorning the grille, fenders, and rear spoiler, and the iconic DODGE chrome lettering proudly displayed on the upper fascia, just ahead of the hood’s leading edge – a design cue reminiscent of the badging on the 1970 models. The exterior package is completed with black Mopar hood pins and “Warp Speed” satin carbon wheels. These wheels, while described as satin carbon, present a brighter silver appearance compared to the often-dark wheels prevalent on contemporary Dodge models, adding to the classic vibe. While modern muscle car aesthetics often lean towards darker wheels and minimal chrome, the Black Ghost package masterfully blends classic chrome accents with a menacing black base, creating a truly stunning and timeless design.
Stepping inside the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost reveals an interior that balances performance and luxury. Carbon fiber trim accents the cabin, complemented by a black suede headliner and premium black Alcantara/Laguna Leather seats. The steering wheel is wrapped in Alcantara for enhanced grip and feel. A unique Black Ghost badge on the passenger side dashboard serves as a subtle reminder of this special edition’s exclusivity. Of course, the interior is anchored by the familiar and user-friendly 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system, providing seamless control over SRT Drive Modes and the SRT Performance Pages, allowing drivers to fine-tune the car’s performance characteristics.
Unleashing SRT Hellcat Redeye Performance on the Street
Beneath its retro-inspired skin, the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost is fundamentally an SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak. This means it’s powered by the monstrous supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI engine, force-fed by a 2.7-liter IHI supercharger. The result is a staggering 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. This immense power is channeled to the rear wheels through a rapid-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission and a performance-oriented 3.09 rear axle ratio (a step up from the standard 2.62), making this Challenger an absolute rocket off the line and throughout the rev range.
Officially, the SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak is quoted as achieving 0-60 mph in a blistering 3.4 seconds under ideal conditions. However, even on less-than-perfect street surfaces with standard tires, the Black Ghost effortlessly clocks 0-60 mph sprints in the 3.6-second range. These figures were consistently achieved on various street surfaces with simple stop-and-launch runs – no tire warming burnouts or surface preparation needed. To put this into perspective, my personal 2017 Challenger SRT Hellcat, running on stock Pirelli tires, is typically 3-4 tenths of a second slower in the 0-60 sprint. However, the true performance gap between the original SRT Hellcat and the Redeye-powered Black Ghost reveals itself in the mid-range acceleration.
While the initial launch from a standstill might only show a few tenths of a second difference due to traction limitations, once the Black Ghost is rolling, the full force of its 807 horsepower comes into play. This is where it truly distances itself from the standard SRT Hellcat. The mid-range pull is simply phenomenal, eclipsing the performance of the vast majority of street-legal cars. Redeye-equipped Challengers truly flex their muscle in this realm. For instance, at highway cruising speeds around 60 mph, burying the accelerator in the Black Ghost unleashes a surge of acceleration that catapults the car into triple-digit speeds with breathtaking rapidity. To find cars that offer significantly stronger mid-range performance, you’d typically need to look towards European exotics costing multiples of the price of any Dodge product.
Adding to its dynamic prowess, the Challenger Black Ghost is equipped with adaptive, adjustable Bilstein dampers and massive six-piston Brembo brakes. This combination elevates its handling far beyond the typical quarter-mile focused muscle car. The suspension offers selectable modes, ranging from the comfortable “Street” setting to the more aggressive “Track” mode for corner carving. The “Sport” setting strikes a balance between handling and ride comfort. For many drivers, including myself, the “Track” setting is surprisingly compliant even for daily driving, even on less-than-perfect road surfaces. For those prioritizing maximum smoothness, the softer settings still provide impressive cornering capabilities with minimal body roll. And when entering a turn with a bit too much enthusiasm, the powerful Brembo brakes are more than capable of bringing the Challenger back under control swiftly and confidently.
With only 300 examples of the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost special edition produced, it’s undoubtedly a rare and highly sought-after package. For those fortunate enough to acquire one, they possess a truly exceptional muscle car – a vehicle that seamlessly blends iconic classic design cues with breathtaking modern SRT Hellcat Redeye performance, creating a unique and collectible machine unlike anything else on the road.
