2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee, a Gold Watch Send Off

December 22, 2023 – The Day the Music Died

The last HEMI V8 echoed throughout the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, on December 22, 2023, serving as an eight-piston salute to the Chrysler 300, the Ram 1500 TRX, the Dodge Challenger and the character-driven Charger. I spent the last full week of the year in a 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee Last. A limited edition B5 blue Charger Scat Pack packing heat in the form of a naturally aspirated 6.4L HEMI and branded with a drag racing bumble bee.

Last Call Edition Dodge Charger Super Bee B5 Blue

This Last Call edition model is limited to 1,000 units split between B5 blue and Plum Crazy purple. Underneath this Charger’s B5 blue paint and special edition Super Bee graphics is a 392 Scat Pack. That means 485 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque at your disposal to spin the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Details separating the Super Bee from an off-the-rack Scat Pack include MOPAR branded hood pins, red Brembo brake calipers, 20-inch low-gloss black Knurled wheels wrapped in drag-ready radial tires, and black exhaust tips in addition to a “Last Call” plaque under the hood.

Inside, the Dodge Charger Super Bee comes with the Carbon/Suede interior package, a suede headliner and authentic carbon fiber accents on the dashboard. The seats have a sparkling effect that dances in the light but can easily be mistaken for glitter. A detail I didn’t particularly appreciate because it makes the seats look like I’m a regular at the local gentlemen’s club.

Nevertheless, the thick and plush bucket seats cradle your lumbar and head when the car’s brutal acceleration shoves you back.

The car’s V8 power is its main selling point and the root of its infamous reputation among law enforcement. The Dodge Charger’s 180-mph speedometer is not just for show. This 4-door muscle car can reach 175 mph if given the chance.

A quick search on YouTube shows a pattern in high-speed police pursuit videos showcasing an R/T, Scat Pack and Hellcat variant of a Charger or Challenger racking up felony evasion charges and giving Johnny Law a run for its money.

Born to Run

After driving this, and other HEMI powered Challengers and Chargers, I totally understand why many suspects chose to run. Moreover, I understandThe engine’s performance is all consuming and taunts you to fly too close to the sun.

The 6.4L V8 rumble and its almost direct response to your right foot’s input embodies the weight and balance of wrapping your hand around the grip of a loaded high caliber handgun. You fall prey to the corruptible sense of absolute power as it creeps up your spine and wraps itself around your better judgment.

Apply pressure to the throttle and after a while you hear a devilish and seductive, intrusive thought whisper in your ear, “faster.” Under the spell you shove the loud pedal up against the firewall like a bookie making a collection. The Dodge Charger responses vigorously and motivates through the air like a defensive lineman hell bent on sacking the quarterback. The excitement of fear makes you grip the wheel tighter as the lines on the road blur into a solid white line. Brembo brakes and high-performance suspension keep the car planted as you flirt with disaster.

If you’re lucky, you snap out of the trance before the consequences catch up. Like the Hulk returning to Bruce Banner, the Charger’s bellowing howl mellows to a big cat’s purr as you ease off the gas and return to normal cruising speed. The car’s cylinder deactivation system kicks in and starts averaging 18-20 mpg on the highway.

Needed More Razzle-Dazzle

My only criticism of the Dodge Charger Super Bee is the lack of razzle-dazzle. This is a Last Call—the supposed end of the HEMI V8, an iconic engine dating back to 1951. Dodge and Chrysler could have done more to make these limited edition vehicles a novelty, considering the brand’s extensive catalog of visual aesthetics. Rich Corinthian leather upholstery for the last Chrysler 300C, a redesigned automatic pistol grip shifter, mop top flower pattern vinyl roofs, vibrant colored interiors with Wild E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner across the dashboard and a Lil Red Express package for the TRX. But alas, this is just my Santa’s list of wishful thinking.

These cars will continue to stand out in traffic like M&Ms in a bag of trail mix in the foreseeable future. Built to emphasize fun over political correctness, they will become symbols of an era as time marches on.