The late summer air was warm on a Friday night as I found myself at a stoplight on Detroit’s iconic Woodward Avenue, settling into the driver’s seat of the new 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost. With a gentle press of the accelerator as the light turned green, the car responded, and soon, I was requesting more power. The symphony of the roaring exhaust and the supercharger’s distinct whine immediately drew the attention of onlookers gathered in the parking lots lining Woodward Avenue. All 807 horsepower were being put to the test, pushing the Pirelli three-season tires to their limits.
As the evening progressed, cruising down Woodward Avenue, I encountered several more individuals eager for a race. While street racing is not uncommon on Woodward, I noticed a pattern: when driving my own Challenger SRT Hellcat, I received fewer inquiries from typical pony cars. However, when a passenger in a naturally aspirated Ford mistook the Black Ghost for a Scat Pack, it sparked a thought. The distinctive stripe on the rear of the Black Ghost has historically been exclusive to the Challenger R/T Scat Pack, and notably, there are no prominent SRT or Hellcat badges on the car’s rear or sides – only the classic Challenger script logo. The only visible SRT Hellcat emblem is a discreet black badge on the grille, making it almost invisible at night with the headlights on.
This perceived subtlety is precisely the genius behind the Black Ghost’s design. The reason so many less powerful pony cars were challenging me on Woodward Avenue was their mistaken belief that it was an R/T Scat Pack Widebody. In a tribute to the Detroit street racers of the 1970s, Dodge achieved something remarkable: they created an SRT Hellcat Redeye sleeper.
While realistically, the distinct whine of the supercharger likely alerted most automotive enthusiasts that this was no ordinary Challenger Scat Pack. Once the Black Ghost truly “clears its throat,” the sound unmistakably reveals a powerplant beyond a naturally aspirated engine. However, for those who desire the exhilarating performance of a supercharged HEMI engine without overtly advertising it, this Dodge Challenger offers a level of subtlety unmatched by its Mopar muscle car siblings.
In essence, it’s an 807-horsepower muscle car that can convincingly be mistaken for a 485-horsepower model, positioning it as the ideal choice for drivers who prefer to operate “below the radar,” so to speak.
The Black Ghost Package: A Nod to Heritage
For those unfamiliar with the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost package, its inspiration stems from the legendary 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE owned by Godfrey Qualls. Qualls, a decorated veteran, Detroit police officer, and accomplished street racer, famously drove a black Challenger with a white tail stripe and a distinctive black vinyl gator-skin-style roof. This heritage is meticulously recreated in the Last Call special edition. The modern Black Ghost features the signature white stripe reminiscent of the Scat Pack models and the iconic gator-skin-style roof treatment.
Furthering its classic aesthetic, the Black Ghost boasts a traditional chrome fuel door, Challenger script logos on the grille, fenders, and rear spoiler, and the classic DODGE chrome lettering across the upper fascia, positioned just ahead of the hood’s leading edge – mirroring the badging of the 1970 originals. The exterior also includes black Mopar hood pins and a set of “Warp Speed” wheels finished in satin carbon. These wheels present a bright silver appearance, a distinct contrast to the darker wheels often found on contemporary Dodge models. While dark wheels and minimal chrome are often favored on modern muscle cars, the Black Ghost package is undeniably striking, exuding a potent classic appeal.
The interior of the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost complements its retro-inspired exterior with modern performance cues. It features carbon fiber trim, a black suede headliner, and a combination of black Alcantara/Laguna Leather seats. The Alcantara steering wheel adds a tactile element, and a dedicated Black Ghost badge graces the passenger side of the dashboard. Naturally, it is equipped with the 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system, which seamlessly integrates controls for the SRT Drive Modes and the SRT Performance Pages application, offering a comprehensive suite of customization options for the driving experience.
Unleashing Big Performance on the Street
Under the hood, the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost is built upon the formidable SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak platform. It is powered by the renowned supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI engine, which is augmented by a 2.7-liter IHI supercharger, delivering an astounding 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. This immense power is efficiently transferred to the rear wheels through a rapid-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission coupled with a set of 3.09 rear gears (a change from the typical 2.62), transforming this car into a beastly performer, especially in low-end acceleration.
Officially, the Redeye Widebody Jailbreak is rated for a 0-60 mph time in the 3.4-second range under optimal conditions. However, even with standard “dirty” tires on average street surfaces, this supercharged Challenger effortlessly achieves 0-60 mph sprints in a mere 3.6 seconds. These times were recorded across multiple street surfaces, simply by coming to a stop and launching – no tire-cleaning burnouts or special surface preparation were involved. For context, on the same streets, my own 2017 Challenger SRT Hellcat, equipped with stock Pirelli tires, is approximately three to four-tenths of a second slower. However, the Redeye models truly distinguish themselves from the original SRT Hellcat in the mid-range acceleration.
Even with an optimal launch, the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost can only effectively utilize a portion of its 807 available horsepower, which explains why it’s only a few tenths quicker compared to a standard SRT Hellcat with a hundred less horsepower. Nevertheless, once the Black Ghost gains momentum, it truly unleashes its power, beginning to significantly pull away from my 2017 SRT Hellcat. This robust mid-range pull surpasses that of most street-legal cars, and it’s where the Redeye-powered vehicles unequivocally demonstrate their dominance. For instance, while cruising on the highway at 60 mph, a forceful application of the accelerator in the Black Ghost will propel the car well into triple digits with a ferocity few vehicles sold in this country can match. Many of the cars capable of delivering more potent mid-range acceleration are European exotics commanding prices several times that of any Dodge product.
Best of all, the Challenger Black Ghost is equipped with adaptive, adjustable Bilstein dampers and massive six-piston Brembo brakes. This combination allows this 807-horsepower muscle car to handle significantly better than the typical quarter-mile specialist. For a smoother ride, drivers can select the “Street” suspension setting. However, for those seeking precise cornering, the “Track” setting is available, while the “Sport” setting offers a balanced blend of handling prowess and ride comfort. For most drivers, myself included, the “Track” setting provides a sufficiently comfortable ride for daily commuting, even on Michigan’s often rough road surfaces. Yet, for those who prefer a less tactile experience, the smoother settings still deliver impressive cornering capabilities with minimal body roll. When entering a turn with excessive speed, the potent Brembo brakes swiftly bring the Challenger down to manageable velocities.
With only 300 examples of the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost special edition produced, they are undoubtedly a rare find. However, for the fortunate few who acquired one, they possess a magnificent muscle car that masterfully blends classic design inspiration with astonishing modern performance, a combination few other vehicles on the market can replicate.