Hemi Life: This Bagged Dodge Charger R/T is an Ideal Daily Driver
If you want to see just how good fans of Mopar muscle cars have had it over the last decade, think about the Dodge Charger R/T and the lack of attention it gets.
The Charger R/T is an affordable, roomy four-door sedan with rear-wheel drive. And it's powered by a 5.7L Hemi V8 that makes an impressive 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque.
It will run the quarter mile in the mid-13-second range right off the sales lot, haul a family in comfort, and make great V8 noises while doing so. If you'd gone back to the '80s or '90s and told someone about this car, they would think it's incredible.
Daily Duty
But in a Dodge musclecar lineup that's full of even more radical versions (the Scat Packs, Hellcats and Redeyes), the Charger R/T is an oft-overlooked option.
No, it's not the most powerful Charger you can buy — but in terms of a quick daily driver, it's hard to ask for much more. And thanks to a robust aftermarket, it's also a great platform for modification.
This brings us to Nitto Pit Crew member Mia Rios' 2019 Charger R/T, which she has been driving and upgrading to her liking for over three years now.
Mia was initially drawn to the Charger for its distinct V8 sound — and the bright red color which helped it stand out on the road even more.
And though most would agree a Charger R/T has all the essentials for a daily driver, she wanted to take it further, particularly in terms of stance and exterior styling.
Sinister Stance
A big part of that aggressive stance is now achieved with an Airlift 3P system, with a whole host of supporting alignment and camber components from Eibach.
The other part comes thanks to a set of staggered Vertini RFS2 wheels sized 20"x9 in the front and 20"x10.5 in the rear.
Up front are a set of Nitto 275/40/R20 NT555 G2 ultra high performance tires, while the rear wheels are paired with a set of a matching set of 305/35/R20 Nitto NT555 RII DOT compliant drag radials.
Altogether, the setup gives the Charger all the grip it could ask for while also making for a beefy muscle car look that just hits right.
More to Come
On the outside, you'll find several body add-ons from Sinister Stripes, including the front splitter, side skirts, and rear diffuser. There's also a Spoiler King wing in the rear and a set of KNG Motorsports canards up front.
Finally, the cabin of the Dodge has received a nice glow-up with several carbon fiber trim upgrades from Dyna Performance.
When asked what's next for the project, Mia tells us the engine upgrades are coming next. And given the wide number of options out there for the modern Hemi V8, we are excited to see the next stage of the build.
Sometimes it can be tough being the middle child of a packed lineup, but Mia's Charger shows that in the right hands, the Dodge Charger R/T can have every bit the impact of its more hyped-up siblings.
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