FOLLOWING on from the Challenger Hellcat Redeye, Dodge has now announced yet another drag strip-focused variant of the Challenger. Dubbed the Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 – the 1320 a reference to the number of feet in a quarter-mile, of course – it scores some of the goodies from the 797hp Redeye, though not that legendary 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine.

The 1320 is powered by the 392 Hemi V8, which pumps out 485hp and 475lb-ft of torque. It’s essentially the same 6.4-litre engine you’ll find in Australian versions of the SRT Chrysler 300 sedan and Jeep Grand Cherokee. It’s also been available in the Challenger for the past few years, so there’s nothing special there.

What really gets the Scat Pack 1320 going is the drag-strip tech it has inherited from its Demon and Redeye big brothers. Like those models, it has a TransBrake launch control function for the eight-speed automatic gearbox, adaptive dampers with drag strip mode, a line-lock function, and heavy-duty 41-spline half-shafts. The 1320 also comes with street-legal 275 drag radial tyres as standard, and it does without a passenger seat to save weight – although you can option it back for just $1 if you wish.

All of these additions add up to a claimed quarter-mile time of 11.7@115mph, which is pretty quick for a factory naturally aspirated car, and 0.3 of a second quicker than a standard Challenger Scat Pack.

To put that in perspective that’s almost a full second quicker than the supercharged Ford Falcon XR8 Sprint we tested a couple of years ago, and almost half a second quicker than the best time we got out of a standard LSA-powered HSV GTS. Our mates at MOTOR Magazine recently clocked the new facelifted Mustang with the ten-speed automatic at 12.49-seconds over the quarter-mile.

In America the 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 retails for $42,990 – the 1320 pack adds $3995.