2015 Dodge Challenger SRT & Supercharged SRT Hellcat

[Lord T]

Why call it “HellCat”?

Some enthusiasts have been wondering why Dodge chose the Hellcat name for the supercharged HEMI engine ever since the first rumors about the new powerplant started to surface on the web.

The HellCat is named after a Grumman World War II fighter plane, used mainly on aircraft carriers; many of its 2,000-hp Pratt & Whitney engines (also used on Corsair and Thunderbolt) were made by Nash, the car company that later joined with Hudson to form AMC, which was purchased by Chrysler in 1987.

Around 12,200 Hellcats were made in a little over two years. They destroyed 5,223 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied naval planes; the Hellcat’s overall kill-to-loss ratio was around 19:1, beating every Japanese aircraft by at least 4:1. Only 270 were downed by aerial combat during the war (most of the planes that were lost, fell to training accidents or transport problems).

In 1943, Admiral D.C. Ramsey sent a letter to workers at Nash, praising the engines, and relayed a pilot’s report: “The Pratt and Whitney engine [many of which were built by Nash] performed admirably with no blower difficulties and few exhaust stack failures.”

It’s not clear whether or not the said trademark lived on under AMC and Chrysler, but the Hellcat fighter plane was of great importance to the U.S. army during World War II, which would explain naming the engine after it.

“HellCat” started as an internal project code. Other names that have been used include Hurricane (four cylinders), Eagle (5.7 Hemi), and Apache (6.4 Hemi).

 

[Lord T]

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Leads Exhaust Concert at Chrysler Museum

Oh yes, Chrysler definitely knows how to make use of each and every feature on the new 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat. Let’s take its active exhaust, for instance. With the car still not even being available for pre-order, an example was recently taken to the CEMA show at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum over the weekend, where it put on a brief but spicy aural spectacle.

The Challenger Hellcat revved its all-new 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 a bit, after which it left the scene in a pretty relaxed manner. First of all, this made all its family tree members present at the CEMA charity car show proud - the newcomer still has it, despite all the efficiency strains.

Moreover, the Hellcat’s little show determined more car to do the same. We could identify at least a pair of Vipers, a second -and a third-generation model, but we can be pretty sure there were more voices singing.

Perhaps this aural connection between the 2015 SRT Hellcat and the Viper didn’t happen by accident. After all, the muscle car will be offered with a Tremec TR6060 six-speed stick shift offered on the Viper.

While the various appearances of the Hellcat are a nice treat, we’d like Chrysler to end the teasing and at least tell us how high over the 600 hp mark that Hemi actually climbs.

 

[Ruff Ryder]

Ford don't ever take the cars to the track like every other performance car makers do. They know that shit has no handling and just all horsepower. On a track a Mustang is garbage.

 

[Ruff Ryder]

Nice ride but as usual Chrysler is late to the dance.

Ford laid down 662 HP last year but its nice to see muscle cars making a comeback.

 

[l9ikjam]

Dont like the hood or the tail lights but everything else is perfect.

 

[l9ikjam]

No 6sp Manuel? Can't co sign it

Looks like Might be seeing that Camaro or used vette zr1 convert

I know dozens of people that said the same thing about not having a manual until they got the autostick that is basically the manual and auto. Every sports car is switching to autostick.

 

[l9ikjam]

They announced the new hellcat has over 700 hp. In my opinion it's the best car under $100,000.

 

[Lord T]

They announced the new hellcat has over 700 hp. In my opinion it's the best car under $100,000.

I still think the new ZO6 is the best under $100,000. But there's no denying 707 hp. This battleship should move!

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Is The Most Powerful Muscle Car Ever -- 707 hp!

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The all-new 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT, with its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat engine, produces an unprecedented 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most powerful Challenger ever, Dodge's most powerful V-8 ever and the most powerful muscle car ever.

The Challenger's new 6.2-liter Supercharged Hellcat engine is also the first factory supercharged HEMI, as well as Dodge and SRT's first application of V-8 supercharger technology. For the first time in Chrysler Group history, the all-new 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT with a Hellcat engine comes standard with two key fobs -- red and black. The red key fob is the only key that can unlock the full 707 horsepower and torque potential of the Challenger SRT Hellcat engine; while the black key fob limits the driver to a reduced engine output of 500 horsepower.

In addition to the awe-inspiring 707 horsepower of the new Hellcat HEMI, the new 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat has been redesigned and totally re-engineered to be the most true-to-form muscle coupe on the market with performance-enhancing technologies inside and out, including the new TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-new interior inspired by the classic 1971 Challenger.

The Dodge and SRT brands now offer the most complete lineup of muscle cars in the market, including the new 2015 Dodge Challenger SXT with its standard powerful and fuel-efficient Pentastar V-6 engine combined with the TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission that delivers 300 horsepower and an estimated 30 miles per gallon; the 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T with the high-torque 5.7-liter HEMI now paired with the TorqueFlite eight-speed or six-speed manual transmission; and the all-new 6.4-liter HEMI Challenger Scat Pack that delivers 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque with the TorqueFlite eight-speed or six-speed manual.

The 2015 Dodge Challenger and Challenger SRTs are built at the Brampton, Ontario, Assembly Plant and will start arriving in Dodge dealerships in the third quarter of 2014.

 

[Lord T]

 

[Lord T]

(Motor Authority)

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Packs 707 Horsepower

It’s official: the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is the most powerful production muscle car ever—and even more powerful than the Viper supercar, with 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque on tap.

The massive power output dwarfs even the previous ludicrous power title-holder, the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, which rates 662 horses.

Generating its power from a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V-8, the Challenger SRT Hellcat won’t always be a complete handful to drive, however, thanks to a dual key fob system. The black fob limits the car’s output to 500 horsepower; opt for the red key fob, and you’ll get the full 707. We hear the potent powerplant may also make its way into the 2015 Charger.

A TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission, uprated suspension and classic 1971 Challenger-inspired interior design are also part of the Hellcat package.

The first examples should reach the market in the third quarter of 2014.

 

[Lord T]

(Motor Trend)

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Makes Astounding 707 HP, 650 lb-ft
Dodge Hellcat Joins the 700 Club

Chrysler Group is done teasing us with its "more than 600 hp" estimate for the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, revealing the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8's official output numbers. What are those numbers, you ask? An astounding 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque.

Chrysler said when it announced the Hellcat that the engine would be the most powerful V-8 the company has produced to date, but still that figure comes as a bit of a surprise. The SRT Hellcat is more powerful than the Viper, which makes 640 hp and 600 lb-ft from an 8.4-liter V-10. Compared to its competitors, the Hellcat makes 45 hp and 19 lb-ft more than the 662-hp Ford Shelby GT500, and 127 hp and 94 lb-ft more than the 580-hp Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. By surpassing the GT500, the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat takes its place as the most powerful mass-produced American car ever.

To unlock the Hellcat's full 707 hp, a special red key fob is needed similar to the Mustang Boss 302's track key. A black key fob puts the car in valet mode, limiting power to 500 hp. Putting that power to the ground is a six-speed manual transmission or Chrysler's new TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic.

Such exciting news deserves to be delivered in style, which is why Chrysler chose to reveal the jaw-dropping 707-hp figure in the video below. Will that Viper-beating output make the Hellcat the musclecar to beat? We should find out shortly.

Source: Chrysler

 

[Lord T]

(Automobile)

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Makes 707 HP

It turns out that Dodge was severely underestimating when it announced that the supercharged 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat would make “600-plus hp.” The actual number is an insane 707 hp, which blows away the 650-hp 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 to become the most powerful American car on the market. It's also the most powerful car on sale in the U.S. available with a manual transmission.

When it announced the new Z06’s power figure, Chevrolet bragged that only a select few supercars made more power than the track-focused Corvette. That list is even shorter for the Challenger Hellcat, though, as only four cars in production today have more horsepower than this tire-shredding muscle car. Only the 963-hp Ferrari LaFerrari, the 890-hp McLaren P1, the 887-hp Porsche 918 Spyder, and the 730-hp Ferrari F12 Berlinetta can top the Challenger Hellcat, as the Dodge handily beats all Lamborghini models, all Porsche models, and its SRT brethren, the 640-hp, V-10-powered Viper.

The supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 in the Hellcat also makes a heady 650 lb-ft of torque, all of which is routed to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Even beyond the struggle to put all of this power to the road without incinerating the rear tires, accessing the total horsepower potential of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is more complicated than you might think. Each Hellcat coupe will come standard with two key fobs: a black fob that limits the engine to a more reasonable 500 hp, and a red fob that unleashes the full power of the monstrous supercharged V-8. Only give the latter to your most trusted friends.

We don’t yet know how much the 707-hp 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat will cost, but we would expect a starting price around $55,000. That’s a screaming deal for a car that produces nearly double the horsepower of the Challenger R/T’s already raucous 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.

The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, along with its more mainstream 2015 Dodge Challenger stablemates, will go on sale in the third quarter of 2014. Until then, we’ll all try to wrap our head around the insanity of a 707-hp musclecar.

 

[Lord T]

(Car And Driver)

Hell Hath No Fury Like the 707-Horsepower 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

Muscle cars are all about the numbers, and Dodge has just issued a triple-digit warning to the rest of the ponycar herd. Packing 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 “Hellcat” engine is the very stuff Saturday night legends are made of.

Installed in the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, this wild engine has the loftiest power figure of any V-8 engine in Chrysler history. To put it numerically, the Hellcat brings 45 more horsepower than the last Shelby Mustang GT500, 127 more horsepower than the last Camaro ZL1 we tested, and—in what may be viewed as an act of sacrilege by some—67 more hp than the V-10 in the current Viper.

We’ve previously hinted at the otherworldly power potential of the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi, but let us bring you up to speed on how Dodge conjured up those 700-plus horses without selling its soul: Essentially a de-stroked version of the 6.4-liter Hemi, the supercharged 6.2-liter uses a forged-steel crank with hardened bearing surfaces, forged pistons, and powdered forged rods with beefier bushings and carbon-coated pins. The heat-treated aluminum heads are made of a higher-grade, higher-cost alloy to put up with the hard thermal cycling that owners of a 700-plus-horsepower car are likely to put them through. Boost comes from an IHI screw-type supercharger, the charge kept reasonably cool by dual water-to-air intercoolers. A nearly straight-through exhaust—with electronic valves that open up for more sound—helps the spent exhaust gases exit. Grunt gets channeled through either the Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual or a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic, and it is then routed to the rear wheels via an uprated driveshaft, axles, and a rear differential with additional cooling.

We still don’t have any word on pricing; whatever the cost, make sure to leave some room in the budget for a few extra sets of rear tires.

 

[Lord T]

 

[Ruff Ryder]

I still think the new ZO6 is the best under $100,000. But there's no denying 707 hp.

The Z06 will make mince meat outta the Hellcat (whole different class) but I gotta give Mopar props on throwing a 700 HP beast out there, you know Ford ain't gonna sit on their thumbs, this is a shot across the bow.

Let's see what they price this thing at,pricing is always a weak point for SRT vehicles.

 

[gaklid]

Notice that in the press releases they keep mentioning how much more horsepower the Challenger has, how many more gears, how many more features, how many more this, how many more that.......but they don't mention how many more POUNDS the car weighs?! The Challenger was already a pig at 4200 lbs, with the added weight of a supercharger and all the new interior shit, it'll need 700 hp just to run low 12's in the quarter on those skinny-ass tires....

 

[Ruff Ryder]

it'll need 700 hp just to run low 12's in the quarter on those skinny-ass tires....

That is almost 11 inches of rubber under the Hellcat, not skinny by no means.

A nice set of drag radials and you have a solid 11 second street car.

 

[a1rimrocka]

I still think the new ZO6 is the best under $100,000. But there's no denying 707 hp. This battleship should move!

It'll need 700hp..without hard #s, it seems that would likely give it nearly the same power-to-weight ratio

I'm assuming 650hp/3700lbs for the Z06 and 700hp/4100lbs for the Hellcat

 

[Coldchi]

that Hellcat is giving the Z06 a run for its money.
the Z06 still looks better tho.....but gotdamn.....that Hellcat is a beast.

 

[Pitchdogg]

Outstanding Post, Lord T!

 

[gaklid]

It'll need 700hp..without hard #s, it seems that would likely give it nearly the same power-to-weight ratio

I'm assuming 650hp/3700lbs for the Z06 and 700hp/4100lbs for the Hellcat

The outgoing Z06 was less than 3200lbs...The new C7 version will probably be right around 3400-3500. Remember, Chevys not making 300C's and Chargers out of the same Corvette platform like Dodge is with the Challenger, so the Vette is WAY lighter. That lower weight and way better aerodynamics will keep it out front...

 

[gaklid]

That is almost 11 inches of rubber under the Hellcat, not skinny by no means.

A nice set of drag radials and you have a solid 11 second street car.

Z06's run 335's in the rear on 12.5 wheels

 

[a1rimrocka]

The outgoing Z06 was less than 3200lbs...The new C7 version will probably be right around 3400-3500. Remember, Chevys not making 300C's and Chargers out of the same Corvette platform like Dodge is with the Challenger, so the Vette is WAY lighter. That lower weight and way better aerodynamics will keep it out front...

You're right, I agree 3400 is more realistic.. 3700 was based on some rumor I read

 

[billybob2]

Looks impressive, but when would a cat be able to test out that kind of power ? I love the interior, and its all touch screen, but I know me personally I would never really get a chance to just drop the hammer in that thing, let alone really want to, that motherfucker looks like if you sneeze on the gas its already and 80

shit I feel ya on that,but hell man,I would hit the expressway and open her up,like a 100 dollar whore! That fucking touch screen is on point, Chrysler is killing all of them with the touch screens!!

 

[gaklid]

Outstanding Post, Lord T!

Hell yeah.....Well done homie!!

 

[Ruff Ryder]

Z06's run 335's in the rear on 12.5 wheels

The Z06 is a true sportscar, the Challenger is a musclecar, two totally different classes.

Check the rear tire sizes on the Mustang and Camaro.

 

[Ruff Ryder]

that Hellcat is giving the Z06 a run for its money.

Nope,it's not even in the same league as the Corvette.

 

[gaklid]

Nope,it's not even in the same league as the Corvette.

I agree....If wasn't me making that comparison, trust me...The problem is, that Hellcat is definitely gonna be in Corvette territory price wise, maybe even Z06 territory. We'll see....

 

[Ruff Ryder]

The problem is, that Hellcat is definitely gonna be in Corvette territory price wise, maybe even Z06 territory. We'll see....

I would be shocked if it is below 65K, just look at that over priced SRT Jeep Cherokee.

 

[Iron Man]

Damn, my mid-life crisis meter just spiked...

 

[Hey Julian!]

The Z06 is a true sportscar, the Challenger is a musclecar, two totally different classes.

Check the rear tire sizes on the Mustang and Camaro.

Those very cars are the reason the Hellcats tires are definitely undersized. In fact you don't even have to look at the competition to see that. The standard SRT Challenger now with 485hp only has 245 tires. To put that into perspective a front wheel drive Buick GS comes with 255 tires and a Ford Focus ST has 235 tires. Chrysler even went smaller on their damn tires since the last generation SRT8. The SRT8 300 and Charger had 255. How do you increase the power and downsize the tires.

The Camaro SS has 275 rear tires with just 426hp. We all know the GT500 aint putting down those 662hp. Many reviews have proof this. It sill get beat by the ZL1 around a track even though it's lighter and up almost 100hp. The Hellcat is a good 350lbs heavier than the GT500 and has about 50hp more. With the same tire width, I don't have hopes of this car doing anything outside of a straightline. 707hp is certainly impressive from production car down in this pricepoint, but I'm afraid, it's more less bragging rights and a pissing contest. I'd still put my money on a ZL1 around a track.

The thing I don't get is, all Ralph Gilles had to do was extend the rear fenders to accommodate 305 tires. If not for the sake of performance then just for look of the car. I think for me knowing subconsciously how heavy this car is, I just can't take it seriously performance-wise with those tires.

 

[l9ikjam]

Those very cars are the reason the Hellcats tires are definitely undersized. In fact you don't even have to look at the competition to see that. The standard SRT Challenger now with 485hp only has 245 tires. To put that into perspective a front wheel drive Buick GS comes with 255 tires and a Ford Focus ST has 235 tires. Chrysler even went smaller on their damn tires since the last generation SRT8. The SRT8 300 and Charger had 255. How do you increase the power and downsize the tires.

The Camaro SS has 275 rear tires with just 426hp. We all know the GT500 aint putting down those 662hp. Many reviews have proof this. It sill get beat by the ZL1 around a track even though it's lighter and up almost 100hp. The Hellcat is a good 350lbs heavier than the GT500 and has about 50hp more. With the same tire width, I don't have hopes of this car doing anything outside of a straightline. 707hp is certainly impressive from production car down in this pricepoint, but I'm afraid, it's more less bragging rights and a pissing contest. I'd still put my money on a ZL1 around a track.

The thing I don't get is, all Ralph Gilles had to do was extend the rear fenders to accommodate 305 tires. If not for the sake of performance then just for look of the car. I think for me knowing subconsciously how heavy this car is, I just can't take it seriously performance-wise with those tires.

You can always buy wider tires. I went from 245 to 265 and will be going up to 275 in the middle of July. I have seen a couple of people go up to 295.

 

[Osca Lee]

Those very cars are the reason the Hellcats tires are definitely undersized. In fact you don't even have to look at the competition to see that. The standard SRT Challenger now with 485hp only has 245 tires. To put that into perspective a front wheel drive Buick GS comes with 255 tires and a Ford Focus ST has 235 tires. Chrysler even went smaller on their damn tires since the last generation SRT8. The SRT8 300 and Charger had 255. How do you increase the power and downsize the tires.

The Camaro SS has 275 rear tires with just 426hp. We all know the GT500 aint putting down those 662hp. Many reviews have proof this. It sill get beat by the ZL1 around a track even though it's lighter and up almost 100hp. The Hellcat is a good 350lbs heavier than the GT500 and has about 50hp more. With the same tire width, I don't have hopes of this car doing anything outside of a straightline. 707hp is certainly impressive from production car down in this pricepoint, but I'm afraid, it's more less bragging rights and a pissing contest. I'd still put my money on a ZL1 around a track.

The thing I don't get is, all Ralph Gilles had to do was extend the rear fenders to accommodate 305 tires. If not for the sake of performance then just for look of the car. I think for me knowing subconsciously how heavy this car is, I just can't take it seriously performance-wise with those tires.

Buy wider tires and get the rear widens out to accommodate them


From Da Juke Joint

 

[Lord T]

Outstanding Post, Lord T!

Even though this prop is coming from a Ford guy, thanks!

Give props to l9ikjam too, he was up on the hp news before I found out, thanks fam

 

[Lord T]

The Z06 will make mince meat outta the Hellcat (whole different class) but I gotta give Mopar props on throwing a 700 HP beast out there, you know Ford ain't gonna sit on their thumbs, this is a shot across the bow.

Let's see what they price this thing at,pricing is always a weak point for SRT vehicles.

Ford is sitting the next one out. They've already "Been there, Done that" with the high hp supercharged V8, and their next GT350 or 500 will address handling first than sheer hp like the 2013-2014 GT500.