This beast is the 797bhp Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye

Good news, fans of gratuitously powerful under-tyred muscle cars. Dodge has updated the Challenger Hellcat for 2019, and introduced a new model that borrows bits of engine from the certifiable Demon. This is the Redeye.

No, it doesn't have glaucoma. What it has is the Demon's the 2.7-litre belt-driven supercharger (the largest fitted to any production car), twin dual-stage fuel pumps, strengthened pistons and connecting rods among other things. Thanks to those modifications, the Hellcat Redeye’s 6.2-litre V8 produces 797bhp – 90 more than a regular Hellcat did when it came out in 2014/15. Torque is up by 57lb ft to an entirely appropriate 707lb ft.

Available in standard or ‘Widebody’ (pictured) configurations (wider tyres and arches), the Redeye isn’t a replacement for the standard Hellcat. You can still buy one of those. Nowadays its makes 717bhp, which is still plenty, and will hit 199mph. The Redeye will do 203mph, hit 60mph in 3.4 seconds and trim a tenth from your ¼ mile time (11.1 for the Redeye, to 11.2 for the ‘standard’ car). Widebodys are a bit slower, but look roughly eight-point-three times cooler.

The Redeye is only available with the eight-speed auto ‘box, however, whereas the standard car can be specified with a manual. Is that a deal-breaker?