2015 Dodge Challenger SRT & Supercharged SRT Hellcat

[Lord T]

Lets be honest Dodge is selling this car as a drag racer (muscle car). Chevy is selling their Z/28 as a track car. So you can't really compare them. I would love to see the HellCat vs Chevy 2013 COPO Camaro.

No doubt. Dodge has never advertised the Hellcat as a Z/28 or 302 Boss Laguna Seca competitor. It is a drag strip/highway terror, with more room inside than both the Camaro and Mustang that can sit 4 adults comfortably, and has a big useful trunk.

Dodge happened to be holding their 2015 Challenger press event at Portland International Raceway. PIR is a relatively small, straightforward track, with the "back straight" (aka Turn 6) being the biggest area to gain a good bit of speed.

 

[Lord T]

10 things we learned driving the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
Subtlety is not its strong point.

Big numbers and small numbers. Up to this point, what you know about the Hellcat-packing Challenger is that its big numbers—707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque—produce some small ones: Dodge says it’ll do the quarter-mile in 11.2 seconds at 125 mph with the stock Pirellis. On drag radials, the time drops to 10.8 at 126.

And now we’ve driven it, including some time spent attempting small numbers of our own. So here are 10 things you need to know about the quickest, most powerful stock muscle car ever produced.


1. Few engines are as appropriately named.

At full throttle, the Hellcat sounds so damned pissed-off that you might think there’s another behind you, one on either side, and maybe one above and below, too. This imaginary formation makes perfect sense, as the name is military-derived; Hellcat fighter aircraft and tank destroyers (which were, um, built by Buick) fought on our side in WWII. Dodge’s history of militarized engine monikers—Tigershark, Apache, Viper—is strong, but this one, and the noise the engine makes, wins.

A 2.75-inch exhaust system uses resonators front and rear, with electronically controlled valves that can bypass the ones out back. The amount of flow is dictated by the drive modes—in track mode, it’s gloriously loud, but in the default setup at a highway cruise it avoids annoying drone. It’s a high-tech approach compared to the block-off plates on a Boss 302 Mustang, or even the vacuum-operated valves in Corvettes and Camaros, providing more control and customization, but I’m pretty sure people will find the fuse and pull it. I will the next time I’m in one. Hellfury!

2. A lot had to change to make the first factory-supercharged Hemi.

By part value, the Hellcat engine is 91 percent new compared to the 6.4-liter Apache V8 on which it’s based. New stuff: rocker covers, high-heat heads, high-heat exhaust valves, pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft, block, oil pan, oil pump. And, of course, the supercharger. Most of the carryover was measurements (bore, bore centers, valve locations), fasteners, and hang-on parts like the alternator.

3. It’s the fifth-most-powerful production car today.

What's ahead of it? The LaFerrari, McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spyder, and Ferrari F12. Note that three of the top five are Fiat-Chryslers. Sergio likes him some power. Chrysler had to upgrade its dyno cells just to test the engine.

4. Heat is the enemy of efficiently making an ungodly hellstorm of power.

Not a lot of new ideas went into making 222 more horsepower than the naturally aspirated 6.4-liter. The main concern was keeping everything cool enough to reach those numbers. That means a separate low-temp cooling loop for the intercoolers (a setup originally cooked up for use in high-efficiency small-displacement applications), cooling for the transmission, and a big oil cooler. To feed it, they popped a hole in the left parking lamp to ram-air the airbox. One of the development targets was for the car to endure a 20-minute track session in 100-plus-degree heat without having to start pulling power from the engine.

5. The Hellcat needs a bigger automatic transmission.

As in physically larger. All 2015 Challenger autos are eight-speeds, but the one in the Hellcat uses stronger, wider gears, which makes the transmission case longer. It shifts quickly at full-throttle, too, with a little kick to let you know it’s after speed and not smoothness in track mode. The Hellcat’s standard Tremec six-speed manual was borrowed from the Viper but adds an external oil cooler. It shifts as smoothly and as quickly as you desire.

6. The engine was just part of the upgrade, albeit a big part.

The Hellcat weighs about 210 pounds more than the SRT 392 but, well, it doesn’t feel like it. To deal with added weight but also to fix some of the previous model’s boat-like tendencies, the Hellcat gets much larger sway bars. You notice them immediately on a road course. Instead of seeming like it’s going to tip, the body stays flat enough to inspire a little confidence, letting the 9.5-inch-wide Pirellis out back do their job. And to make sure the thing actually stops, the front brakes have been upgraded from four-piston to six-piston calipers, clamping onto discs with lightweight aluminum hats. A testament to the brake system: I was a lot more concerned with bad things happening when I went for the right pedal than when I went to scrub the speed it wrought.

7. Patience is a virtue, street or strip.

Yes, you can steer the Hellcat Challenger with your right foot. This much should not surprise you. What came as a bit of a shock was how easily this can be done. Comfortably long throttle travel makes it a progressive walk from idling in traffic to roasting the black 20-inch marshmallows. The chassis is surprisingly neutral, which gives you leeway, which you might need, because: 650 freaking lb-ft of torque.

But don’t think it’s tough to get roasting. A pre-drag burnout is a side-step away. Even with minimal brake-torquing (we revved to 1500 rpm before dropping the hammer on a Hellcat auto) it’ll put an angle between the car and the wall very quickly. Recovery from such a stylish leave from the line is again aided by that long right pedal. Then you just line up again and tell everyone you weren’t going for a time.


8. Doesn’t look that different, doesn’t really need to.

A Challenger is instantly recognizable. The changes for the 2015 model evolve the styling from ‘70-aping to ‘71-inspired. It all works, even if the car looks like a 6:5 scale model of the original. But unlike the big-power Camaros and Mustangs, the muscliest Challenger doesn’t have a ton of styling differentiation compared to a base V6 car. Changes are subtle: SRT in the grille, an aluminum hood with heat extractors flanking a scoop, a lowered grille brow, a deeper splitter, and a taller spoiler. Aside from the “SUPERCHARGED” badges, there’s very little ornamentation to suggest nutso power. The thinking seems to be: Once it starts moving, you’ll know.

9. Two keys, because you shouldn’t trust yourself.

Red fob gives access to every last one of the 707 hp. Black fob limits output to 500 hp, or slightly more than a stock SRT 392. Call it rain mode. Since few can be trusted with absolute power, valet mode limits the engine to 4000 rpm, keeps ESC on all the time, and, on automatic models, alters shift points and starts out in second.

10. You can’t put a Hellcat engine in a Viper. You shouldn’t want to.

For those wondering what Chrysler’s most-powerful-ever engine is doing in anything but the Viper: two different animals. The SRT people describe the Viper as a track car you can drive on the street and the Hellcat as a street car that can go to the track. The Hellcat engine and attendant cooling weigh about 180 pounds more than the Viper V10, so you can stop right there. But if you haven’t put down your shoehorn yet, know that the Hellcat V8 is way too tall to fit under the Viper’s carbon-fiber hood. So just don’t.

And anyway, the sensible thing to do is buy a Challenger Hellcat and enjoy the engine where it belongs. Because it only costs $60,990 for the manual model, which is insanely cheap for America’s most insane engine.

 

[Lord T]

First Drive/Reviews are in!


(Automobile)

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Review

The muscle car lives. Not a tamped down, lawyer-codified, low-fat, soy-milk version either. The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is an honest-to-god, batten-down-the-hatches, hide-your-daughters-and-your-livestock muscle car.

The Hellcat is the real deal.

The red and the black
At the launch of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat last week in Portland, Oregon, a Dodge rep handed me the red Hellcat fob like it was a piece of highly illicit contraband. The other fob, the black one, limits the car to "only" 500 hp. The crimson number gives you all 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque from the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi Hellcat engine.

There were only two Hellcats available for street drives. "Go," the company conspirator mouthed. "Just go." And we did, slipping away from the rest of the journalists and the large collection of very nice, less-than-707-horsepower Challenger models.

Good god, but what do you hope for when you hear of a heritage-oriented car this potent? You fully expect that you'll tear off all the tread on the Pirelli PZero tires, but do you really care how elegantly it takes a corner? Or maybe you would prefer it to be a modern interpretation of muscle, with calibrated electronic aids that make you both quicker and safer?

To hell with that. I want fury. I want a 1970s throwback, when power wasn't safe and you took responsibility for it. But in our recall-crazy world, they don't make cars like that anymore.

Except once in an era when they do. When the corporate world throws you something this batty and unexpected and downright malevolent. All hail Dodge for suddenly breaking into the conversation. The car starts at $59,995, including the $2100 gas guzzler tax. A Ferrari F12 Berlinetta has only 24 hp on the Challenger -- and costs about $258,000 more.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em
It takes 20 minutes in our Billet Silver baddie to get out of Portland, exit the freeway and get to the twisty roads. The moment I see a clear path I squash the accelerator. I've got just a few degrees of steering dialed in. The car surges ahead and then begins twisting off its forward-moving axis.
Yep, we're sideways.
Smoke pours off rear wheels. I'm already laughing -- nervously, manically -- even as I'm sawing the wheel to make the correction. I am in sport mode. I have not turned off the ESC. When's the last time you took a car's sport mode seriously? The Dodge engineers did. (There is a race mode as well. I would not use it on a public road -- ever.)
I was worried that the tremendous power and torque would be denuded, sapped of potential by an electronic stability control program locked down tighter than a Federal Supermax prison. I was wrong. Dead wrong.
The madness is reinforced when I stop in the road. The car has a ball-shifter-topped six-speed manual that came out of the Viper. (It needed additional reinforcing.) I put it in first, pop the clutch and hit the gas.
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat does a full-on burnout, body bucking, hood shuddering. No need to stand on the brake or mess with the stability control. A Challenger R/T that is following behind us eventually appears in my rear view mirror and is just as quickly obscured by the cloud of smoke. Sorry, guys. But not really, actually. That was awesome.

A turn for the better
We quickly deviate from Dodge's planned route, heading up a mountain road instead. This is our first inclination just how well the car actually corners. We barrel along a set of uphill sweepers, and the car follows the arcing line capably, the wide track (63.4 inches) and long wheelbase (116.2 inches) making it feel quite stable. There's plenty of traction from the tires as long as you're judicious with the gas. The car leans heavily as we enter turns, but it's not sloppy. More remarkably, the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat doesn't duck under heavily braking or squat under big power. That lack of front-to-back movement makes a big difference in the overall sense of control.

But yeah, man, it drives like a muscle car. It's heavy and it swings through corners with the leading edge of the bulging hood leaning low. Forget delicate work: That would be like whittling with a pole axe.

The Challenger is massive. The sides alone use more sheet metal than you'd find in the entirety of many economy cars. Few cars so clearly call to Detroit's glory days: It makes you want to grow a 'stache and sideburns and act out classic car chases from the 1970s TV show, The Rockford Files.

This generation has a hood brow that's pulled even further down, with no fog lamps or overt badging of its prowess except for the "supercharged" script on the side fenders. (All the functional hood scoops and extractors on the hood would give some indication to even a blind man.)

What the numbers reveal
Some statistics to put the Hellcat in perspective. According to Dodge, at full throttle it would empty its 18.5-gallon tank in 15 minutes. We saw an average of 8.8 miles-per-gallon in our (highly spirited) street drive. Those Pirelli tires, so fun to torch, are $300 each. Dodge's claimed quarter-mile time of 11.2 seconds seem totally on point (we hit the drag strip ourselves). The eight-speed automatic allows launch control, and we expect that the official 0-to-60 mph times will dip well below four-second mark. Dodge says the top speed is 199 mph and is not electronically limited. All of which leads us to recommend engaging the "valet mode" -- which limits starts to second gear and rpm to 4000 -- whenever you leave the car with somebody else, including your buddies who "just want to run out to the store."

And it's loud. It uses an electronic exhaust system that opens and closes flaps according to the load, which should keep you from getting kicked out of your neighborhood association. But stand on it and the Hellcat makes noises probably not heard since the Cretaceous Period. The noise of the supercharger is only one plane of the thick wall of sound. Oddly, however, there is a lot of sound deadening inside. So roll the windows down.

Dodge had enough confidence in the car's handling ability that they sent us to Portland International Raceway, a flat and not particularly difficult road course. Still, there were a couple of close walls that could have mangled the really nicely painted surfaces of the Challenger, particularly when you flat-footed it through the long straights.

Did the SRT acquit itself? Yes. Or at least, as much as we'd really want it to. The Brembo brakes are hugely capable and the electronic steering is accurate and has at least some feel.

Under the bleachers
But you know what the Hellcat is not? A Camaro Z/28.

If the two were high-school girls, they wouldn't even be in the same clique. The Z/28 would be the girl from the wrong side of the tracks who's pulled herself up by the bootstraps and is taking AP Calculus. The Hellcat would the leggy floozy, shamelessly hanging out under the bleachers and making fun of the Z/28. It only wants to be one thing, and that's an unrepentant muscle car.

You simply won't find a new car with more personality. When it comes to the modern muscle-car wars, the Challenger has long been passed over in the conversation. Suddenly, it is the conversation.

 

[Lord T]

(Motor Authority)

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat First Drive

Muscle cars, like those of the 2015 Dodge Challenger lineup—and yes, that includes the 707-horsepower SRT Hellcat—have long been emblematic of all that’s American. They’ve always been about cramming a V-8—a very large, lusty sounding V-8, preferably—under the hood of a car that typically isn’t all that large. Because we prefer super-sizes; and gas is cheap...or, well, it still is compared to much of the rest of the world.

Acceleration and quarter-mile times are all-important for bragging rights and those Friday night (drag-strip) lights. Top speed counts, but not so much. ‘Cause we can’t drive 55 but have speed traps everywhere, ya hear?

You gotta have enough practicality, too—in a back seat, a trunk, and a ride that’s good enough for the commute to the shop or the Friday night cruise to the drive-in.

Burnouts, check. Plus stellar stopwatch times...and awesome drivability

And the ability to churn out way more wheel torque than the tires can handle? Yeah, that’s a must—glorious smoky burnouts and all. The length of time that you can extend a single burnout in the Hellcat is pretty much as long as your two rear tires will last. When a dragstrip launch demo degenerated into zaniness, we saw a single long run of billowing tire smoke result in tire tread well past the wear marks.

One by one, the 2015 Dodge Challenger lineup delivers on those muscle-car must-haves; and as we found out in a first drive of much of the revised Challenger lineup this past week in Portland, Oregon, it delivers performance that even those who typically like getting their driving kicks in more nuanced ways won’t help but be awestruck by.

The Hellcat—the most powerful muscle car ever—will run a quarter mile in 11.2 seconds, at 125 mph. That’s on the Pirelli P Zero Y-rated performance tires, which have loads of grip; or when fitted with full-on drag radials, the Hellcat will do a 10.8-second run at 126 mph. Power gets delivered through a six-speed manual gearbox; although as much as we love manuals, we think the heavy-duty eight-speed automatic might be a more stable companion when you have more than 700 horses in the stable.

Nothing like the Viper

But numbers aside—and name aside—the Hellcat has to be more than hellaciously quick. In today’s market (unlike some muscle cars of the past) it has to be drivable—everyday drivable. And surprisingly, the Hellcat doesn’t feel like it’s a hair trigger away from disaster. You can drive it gently; you can drive it smoothly; you can resist that temptation. The Hellcat just putters along confidently, with shockingly great drivability. It’s absolutely nothing like the relentlessly brutal Viper.

We’d rate the SRT Hellcat’s drivability above either the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. It’s more at ease with itself on the power, near the limits or not, than the GT500, and it’s more comfortable than the ZL1—because while the ZL1 might have it beat for suspension sophistication, the ZL1 feels claustrophobic and crude next to the Hellcat’s superb interior, quiet cabin, and sprawl-out comfort. (Yes, taller folks, you have plenty of room for a helmet in the Hellcat.) Those Pirelli four-season tires that come with the Hellcat—what the automaker left on for the track—felt great in high-performance driving, while remaining surprisingly quiet for cruising. They’re a little stickier when starting out than typical performance tires, and in hot laps of Portland International Raceway (PIR), they became noticeably more progressive with harder driving.

Lots of 'exploration' to do with the Hellcat—at the track of course

Of course, the SRT Hellcat’s boundaries are far and deep. And with Performance Pages readouts on things like lateral Gs, lap timers, and extended gauges—along with Drive Modes that allow Custom, Sport, Track, and Default (Normal) settings, as well as Street, Sport, and Track modes for the transmission—you can seriously dial in as much power (and aggression) as you want for the situation, with the adaptive damping system changing its game for each.

Use the black key fob and you max out at 500 hp (there’s a valet mode, too, by the way); but use the red one, with the settings allowing it, and you tap into all 707 hp.

The Hellcat’s 707 hp beats all but a most exclusive group of Italian exotics. But with the SRT Hellcat weighing nearly 4,450 pounds, you won’t find the sort of eye-blurring thrust that you do on some of those supercars. It’s dramatic, for sure, with the crackling active exhaust and the battle for traction at the rear wheels, but this isn’t so much a car of absolute g-forces as it is—so we think—the most badass muscle car ever.

Looks and sounds exactly as it should, inside and out

In true muscle-car tradition, the 2015 Challenger lineup balances out the conservative, blocky silhouette with some finely drawn front and rear styling details as well as some outrageously bright colors like B5 Blue and SubLime.

And to top off the Hellcat, there’s a cat-back active exhaust that’s *almost* free-flowing. What you get is an engine that starts and idles with about the same (smooth, rumbly) character as the 6.4-liter, only it gains a truly hellacious cackle as you blip it up the rev range, and just a little bit of supercharger whine when you really press it in the low-to-mid revs.

R/T Scat Pack's the one to get

We actually spent the most time driving what we’d consider to be the most beast for the buck: That’s the Challenger R/T Scat Pack, a new package this year that brings a lot of the features of last year's SRT model, with the 6.4-liter 'Apache' Hemi engine now making 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration numbers to 60 mph roll in at the low four-second range; and it starts at $39,490—that’s about $3,000 less than last year’s SRT and more than $20k less than the Hellcat.

Although the supercharging and heavy breathing of the Hellcat, and all of its additional go-fast engineering, are things you can feel when we cracked the throttle wide open, the R/T Scat Pack felt pretty much just as strong in nearly any kind of on-the-road driving, where zaniness needed to be reeled in, in the interest of saving our license and keeping others safe.

As for the V-6, it carries over with the stronger, 305-hp version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 that was introduced last year. For the most part it feels (and is) just as strong as the V-8 versions of these cars were just a few years ago. All along, the Challenger has always been a little more of a touring coupe than the other muscle cars or pony cars—and we feel like the interior changes of the 2015 lineup, collectively, take it further in that direction. In all, the standard 2015 Dodge Challenger SXT, SXT Plus, and R/T models feel almost like luxury coupes—refined, comfortable, and very finely detailed. They’re quiet, too, except for some engine noise when you want to hear it, which is when you’re accelerating hard in the V-6 and on all but gentle low-rev cruising in the V-8.

The entire Challenger lineup—all except the Hellcat—gets electric power steering for 2015. While we’re not as fond of the way it feels on center, and they seem to have tuned all forms of feedback and kickback from the system, it’s weighted nicely and most drivers should find it just fine.

V-6 models have the full look, but fuel-efficient, affordable practicality

Those V-6 and entry V-8 models offer a nice juxtaposition against the fury of the Scat Pack and SRT 392, and the sheer outrageousness of the Hellcat—and we can’t help but wonder why anyone would choose a Honda Accord V-6 Coupe over a Challenger SXT V-6.

As for those upper-performance models, they definitely make some sacrifices in the name of better body control under power, but it amounts to a little more road noise and a somewhat more jittery ride. The engine note is ever-present in those cars as well; but who doesn’t want that?

Of course, a taste of the performance in the Hellcat, and in the rest of the Challenger lineup, is just the start. These are well-balanced mid-size coupes that really do function well as daily drivers (for those not too far into the Snow Belt). With great cabin comfort, looks that are even more focused back on 1971 and '72, and an interior that also takes lots of retro cues but gets far classier and more cockpit-like, with soft-touch materials throughout—as well as updated infotainment and displays—the Charger keeps up on all your modern connectivity and entertainment needs.

But really, with the Hellcat, the driving experience, the sound of the engine, and the accessibility, yet the potential to churn those tires at any instant. Well, that’s entertainment.

 

[Lord T]

(Car And Driver)

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
Beelzebubba: This is the stuff of redneck dreams . . . and everyone else's nightmares.

Make room, Beelzebub, there’s a new demon-prince pony car in town, and it’s from the people who once brought you a real Demon. This Challenger brandishes numbers to shame the mightiest Mustangs and *Camaros. Known in this mortal realm as the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, its 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V-8 conjures up a tire- and soul-melting 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of panty-bunching torque, played to a tune composed entirely of flatted fifth notes.

The pony-car business is by nature a game of one-upmanship, so it was inevitable that someone would eventually top the 662-hp Ford Mustang GT500. We just didn’t expect the 700-hp threshold to be crossed so soon. The Hellcat brings 45 more horsepower than the last Mustang GT500, 127 more than the Camaro ZL1, and, in what could be viewed as an act of internecine warfare, 67 more horsepower than the Viper’s V-10.

To achieve such lofty output, Dodge started at the bottom, mounting a forged steel crankshaft with induction-hardened rod and main journals and a specially tuned damper. Forged connecting rods with upgraded bushings and carbon-coated wrist pins support forged alloy pistons. The aluminum cylinder heads are heat-treated, making them not only more expensive but, according to Dodge, also more difficult to machine. The payoff is better thermal characteristics—a fancy way of saying they won’t melt if you decide to run 15 back-to-back quarter-miles in an hour on a hot summer day. We know this to be true because we tried it.

Boost comes from an IHI supercharger residing below an *aluminum intake plenum that bears a slight resemblance to the *legendary aftermarket “Rat Roaster” intakes of the 1970s—sans carburetors, of course. What used to be the driver’s-side inside headlamp is now an air intake, and dual air-to-liquid intercoolers keep down the induction temps. To ensure that the fuel, air, and spark play nicely together under the full boost pressure of 11.6 psi, the compression ratio drops to 9.5:1 from the 10.9:1 squish factor employed in its naturally aspirated, 6.4-liter counterpart. According to Chris Cowland, director of advanced and SRT powertrain engineering, more than 90 percent of the engine content is new for this application.

Two key fobs come with the Hellcat. The black one, the “valet” key, is the archenemy of fun. It restricts output, caps revs at 4000, locks out first gear (from the optional automatic transmission), and puts the ESC in full-on mode. It also disables the paddle shifters, launch control, and drive-mode functions, effectively reducing the ’cat to a hissing tabby.

Firing up with the red fob, however, grants full access to the underworld. Push the dash-mounted start button and the 6.2-liter V-8 barks like Cerberus, its deep exhaust accented by a subtle whine from the supercharger. Combined, they produce a visceral and foreboding effect, the automotive equivalent of dropping the needle on a well-worn vinyl copy of The Stooges’ Fun House. Cowland tells us there was prolonged internal debate over how loud to let the blower wail. The quiet vote lost.

Pulling onto the 4.7-mile oval at Chrysler’s Chelsea proving grounds, the exhaust takes a solo, its pitch rising with engine rpm. The volume, however, is predicated not only on rpm, but also the valves plumbed into each leg of the dual exhaust tubes, nearly three inches in diameter. The electrically actuated valves are tuned to operate in concert with the engine calibration, ultimately arriving at the fully open, fully fortissimo position.

Power rolls on in a linear fashion, pulling hard without exhibiting spooky or twitchy torque reactions. One hundred miles per hour comes up in less than nine seconds, the eight-speed automatic sifting through gears all the way to 150 mph. (A six-speed Tremec ’box with a larger clutch will also be available, but our drive was limited to the automatic.) Pushing just a tad harder reveals plenty of power in reserve and a competent chassis to handle it, so somewhere north of 150 we do the only sensible thing and switch on the A/C and ventilated seat. Four laps later, the temperature gauge hasn’t budged.

A subtle trimming of the wheel wells was necessary to fit the standard 186-mph-plus-rated 275/40 Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season tires on 20-inch forged aluminum rims. Swapping them for the same-size P Zero summer rubber as on our test car is a highly recommended option. The front brakes get updated to 15.4-inch, two-piece rotors and six-piston Brembo calipers.

Launching the Hellcat at the strip is an exercise in restraint; anything more than half-throttle and the rear Pirellis just fling rubber globules like beads from a Mardi Gras float as the car disappears in a veil of smoke. A Dodge engineer, who said he’d taken “hundreds” of passes in the car, reported knocking out a quick 11.2 as meas*ured by the drag strip’s timing equipment. On street tires, mind you. Activating launch control via the dedicated console button reels in the wheelspin but also hurts the ET. Though it’s perfectly calibrated to keep stoplight heroes from embarrassing themselves, even a well-trained feline will bite, as Siegfried & Roy can attest.

Those without a drag strip at their disposal can still get a look at the Hellcat’s otherworldly capability by digging into the Performance Pages feature, which offers the tools to record zero-to-60, zero-to-100, lap times, reaction times, g-forces, and eighth- and quarter-mile runs. It’ll also tell you critical operating parameters, such as real-time horsepower and torque, boost pressure, air-intake and fluid temps, oil temp and pressure, and more.

Early estimates peg the Hellcat’s weight at roughly 4500 pounds, about 188 more than a similarly equipped SRT with the naturally aspirated 6.4-liter Hemi. The Hellcat is the only Challenger to use hydraulic power steering. Like all SRT Challengers, though, the Hellcat comes with a “Drive Modes” control that alters horsepower, transmission, traction, and suspension settings. And you can dive into the custom settings and dial up your own preferences a la carte; the computer will store them for easy access later.

Lacking the sharp reflexes of the Camaro ZL1 and the hair-trigger insanity of the Mustang GT500, the Hellcat shows best on the street, with its gobs of tractable power, a comfortable interior, and its full-size Hot Wheels styling. Just make sure to keep your rosary beads in the glove box.

 

[Lord T]

Hell No: Why SRT Hellcat V-8 Won't Be Giving Viper Extra Bite

The 707-horsepower, 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 in the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat seems a natural to go under the hood of a vehicle that could better handle all that power up to 200 mph and above. And to casual enthusiasts, it would make sense that car might be the Viper.

But as SRT powertrain director Chris Cowland told us this past week, that’s simply not going to happen -- not ever, within the current generation of the Viper.

There are several critical reasons, really, and they all come back to the dimensions of the Hemi.

Because of the HEMI’s tall cylinder heads, there’s simply no way that SRT engineers could package the Apache or its new 6.2-liter supercharged variant under the hood of the Viper, Cowland told us. It would require punching up above the hood, or heavily modifying the hoodline (it’s not just close, it would be several inches) to the point at which it would adversely affect the Viper’s aerodynamics.

Even if engineers were to solve the hoodline dilemma, there’s a width issue; the HEMI won’t actually clear the Viper’s chassis rails; once again, it’s the tall cylinder heads, and the overall width they bring to the engine.
The exhaust manifold and supercharger hardware also add to the dimensional problem, Cowland said, and given that the supercharger runs on a separate cooling loop, that would present separate issues.

“Somebody will do it,” mused Cowland. “It won’t be us.”

The V-10 is actually a relatively low-profile engine, Cowland said, and considering its stout low end, remains the best fit for the Viper, in all ways. Interestingly, the Viper and SRT Hellcat do already share one major powertrain component: their manual transmission. In the Challenger SRT Hellcat it gets an additional external oil cooler, however.

Of course, one engine bay that might fit the Hellcat’s engine is that of the Charger four-door. For now, Cowland deflected a reply on that possibility.

So for now, there will be a Hellcat and there will be a Viper. And with either, there’s definitely no lack of performance burn and bite.

 

[Lord T]

Full Pricing for the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, Orders Begin 8/6

We reported a few weeks back that the Chrysler Group had opened the order bank for the 2015 Dodge Challenger – with the exception of the 707hp SRT Hellcat models – but some new information suggests that the Hellcat Challenger will hit the order banks on August 6th and today we take a closer look at option pricing for the most powerful American production car ever.

The Chrysler Group has done a great job of trickling out information on the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat over the past few months and at this point, there isn’t much that the automaker hasn’t revealed on the 707 horsepower blown beast. The biggest questions at this point focus on the on-sale date and arrival date of the top of the line 2015 Challenger and thanks to the Frederick Scat Pack team – we have an idea as to when customers and dealerships can official order their super muscle car. Also, thanks to Mr. Bob Frederick, we have a list at the option pricing for those who plan to load up their Hellcat Challenger.

August 6th- Hellcat Hits the Order Bank
The Chrysler Group has been pretty quiet as to when the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat will officially go on sale, but Challenger expert Bob Frederick posted on his Frederick Scat Pack Facebook page that the Hellcat will become an option in the dealership order banks beginning on August 6th. Granted, there are dealerships around the country which have been accepting orders – and big cash deposits – for at least the past few weeks. However, with the arrival of the Hellcat option in the order banks, August 6th could be the first day in which dealers can actually place an order with Chrysler…which will lead to the Brampton Assembly Plant in Canada building the car when production formally begins.

Prior to the Hellcat arriving in the order banks, paying a dealership a deposit doesn’t actually get your Hellcat powered Dodge Challenger any closer to production – it just helps to guarantee that you will get first shot when that dealership can place an order with the automaker.

Again, the order bank information for the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat isnt official, but considering the source, I am inclined to believe that there is at least a good chance that the Hellcat will arrive in the order banks in 10 days.

A Closer Look at 2015 Challenger Hellcat Pricing
We learned at the media launch of the entire 2015 Dodge Challenger lineup that the SRT Hellcat package would carry a base price of $59,995 plus destination of $995. That would lead to a base MSRP of $60,990, but the official Dodge ordering information states that the out the door base price - with gas guzzler tax and destination – starts at $61,053 with the 6-speed manual transmission. Opting for the new heavy duty TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission increases that base MSRP to $62,636.
This base price for the Hellcat Challenger includes your choice of eight exterior colors – Sublime, Pitch Black, Bright White, TorRed, Jazz Blue, Billet Silver, Granite Crystal and B5 Blue – along with your choice of Black Premium Leather or Red and Black Premium Leather inside.

These prices represent a slight increase from the first pricing figures for the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat – but it is hard to argue with an extra $63 for the most powerful American production car ever. In the long run, even with this slight hike in prices the Hellcat is by far the most affordable member of the 700 horsepower club. -

In terms of options, there aren’t all that many for the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat because the car comes so heavily loaded in standard form. Unlike the Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, which requires you to pay up for the SVT Performance Package to get all of the go-fast goodies, the Challenger Hellcat comes with everything that helps make this car so fast including the monster brakes and the adjustable suspension system.

The features that can be added on to the 707hp Challenger SRT Hellcat include a black satin hood for $995, Pirelli summer performance tires for $395, a power sunroof for $1,195, a Sepia and Black Laguna Leather package for $1,795, navigation for $695, an engine block heater for $95 and red seat belts (not available with the Laguna leather) for $95. Finally, for an extra $500, buyers can pick from Phantom Black Tri Coat Pearl, Ivory White Tri Coat Pearl and Redline Tri Coat Pearl.

 

[Ruff Ryder]

I saw a red one sitting in front of the Vinsetta Garage on Woodward, it did not have a manufacturers plate on it.

 

[Lord T]

I saw a red one sitting in front of the Vinsetta Garage on Woodward, it did not have a manufacturers plate on it.

 

[Lord T]

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat may be limited to 1,200 units

Goes on sale later this year

The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is shaping up to be a highly sought-after muscle car but a new report is indicating production will be relatively limited.

According to Edmunds, the company could limit production to just 1,200 units. Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis declined to confirm the number but told the publication "We are working on allocation formulas right now and scenarios on how we will allocate it." Kuniskis went on to say "Whatever it ends up being ... it will then be opened up to anybody who is a Dodge dealer."

As we have previously reported, the Challenger SRT Hellcat features a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces 707 bhp (527 kW) and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque. It will be priced from $59,995 when it goes on sale this fall.

 

[Lord T]

Dodge to Auction One-Off 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat VIN0001 with Stryker Red Paint

Dodge will auction the first production 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas event in September. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the not-for-profit Opportunity Village organization that serves people with significant intellectual disabilities in the Las Vegas area.

The first production 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat features Viper-exclusive Stryker Red paint, special Hellcat badging, specific VIN0001 documentation build package and additional one-of-a-kind memorabilia. This unique version will be in fact the only Challenger to ever have a Viper-exclusive Stryker Red exterior and will be hand-painted at the Dodge Viper paint facility.

“The 2015 Challenger Hellcat is already guaranteed to be one of the hottest cars that will roll through the Barrett-Jackson auction lanes in decades to come,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO, Dodge and SRT Brands, Chrysler Group LLC.

“The VIN 0001 being auctioned this year is the ultimate one-of-one collectible 2015 Dodge Challenger, as Dodge is ensuring there will never be another one like it,” he added.

The auction package includes a HEMI painted presentation box with a VIN0001 electronic vehicle build book and video documentary, still shots and vehicle footage. It also contains an authentic Challenger SRT Hellcat embossed Laguna Leather iPad sleeve, a signed SRT Hellcat lithograph and unique “birth certificate” for VIN0001.

http://www.carscoops.com/2014/07/dodge-to-auction-one-off-2015.html

 

[Lord T]

 

[Lord T]

 

[knightmelodic]

yo, T, Ford man? Ford?
it's all good my man. these cars are for people who want to look like they know something about cars or just like them, it's cool. performance? no way. anybody who thinks ANY of these are the best s/c under 100k doesn't know anything about cars. one word. Godzilla. 90k. 10k for tune. can't touch it, won't even see it. oh, and it comes with a real stick. not some namby pamby bullshit that can't make up it's mind whether it's AT or MT.

oh yeah, it shredded the Ring. STOCK. all these other cars are modded for it. do you actually think those cars can hold the road flat out into Flugplatz

 

[Lord T]

yo, T, Ford man? Ford?
it's all good my man. these cars are for people who want to look like they know something about cars or just like them, it's cool. performance? no way. anybody who thinks ANY of these are the best s/c under 100k doesn't know anything about cars. one word. Godzilla. 90k. 10k for tune. can't touch it, won't even see it. oh, and it comes with a real stick. not some namby pamby bullshit that can't make up it's mind whether it's AT or MT.

oh yeah, it shredded the Ring. STOCK. all these other cars are modded for it. do you actually think those cars can hold the road flat out into Flugplatz

The Ford comment wasn't for you knight. It was for Picasso, I think has or had a newer 5.0 Mustang if I'm not mistaken.

The Hellcat Challenger is a unique vehicle, whereas it jumps above the Halo vehicle in the lineup. NOWHERE will you see this done again!

The Lamborghini Huracan will not have more power than a Aventador

The Porsche Cayman will not have more than the 911 (and Porsche makes sure that doesn't happen)

The Camaro will not have more power than the Corvette.

The thing is that it actually works for Dodge. Even though the Challenger has more power than the Viper, they are 2 totally different cars. The Viper is still the car for all of the handling and speed needs (has a higher top speed of 206 mph).


The 2010 Dodge Viper ACR has a 'Ring lap of 7:12 and the SRT Viper TA holds the fastest lap time record at Laguna Seca:

1. SRT Viper TA 1:33.62
2. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 1:33.70
3. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 1:33.92
4. SRT Viper GTS 1:34.23
5. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package 1:34.43
6. McLaren MP4-12C 1:34.50
7. SRT Viper 1:34.63
8. Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series 1:35.03
9. Devon GTX 1:35.08
10. Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 1:35.40


The Challenger Hellcat won't be for all out handling. They can be made fun though. Been to a plenty of SCCA and Auto-x events and have seen some Challengers at them. Those dudes are crazy, and it's funny to see them pushing those big bastards! This is for the fans of Challengers that can get the ultimate Challenger from the factory. This is for people who can take trips in it because it has a useful backseat and trunk. 2 adults can fit in the backseat of the Challenger. Ever want to see a useless backseat? Look at the Audi TT, don't know why they even tried.

The best car under $100k will still be the 2015 Corvette ZO6. But there's no denying the appeal and bargain of the Hellcat

The big question is if the ECU is finally unlock able on the Challenger. Dodge/Chrysler has locked ECU's on the Viper and SRT vehicles. Most people have to get a aftermarket stand alone ECU to piggyback onto the main for tuning. If the Hellcat is unlocked, headers, tune, and a pulley swap could have this car putting down over 700hp to the wheels for less than $2,500

 

[Lord T]

 

[Lord T]

2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Spied Testing

After everyone's jaw dropped with bewilderment over the recently unveiled 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, the manufacturer prepares something similarly special for its fans - the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, recently spotted camouflaged on the streets of Detroit Motor City.

From the shots we've been provided by our spy photographers, we got a glimpse at what's there to be expected from the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. From the looks of it, the car spotted seems to be an almost production-spec prototype, meaning that Dodge is a few months away from unveiling it in all its splendor.

Check out the SRT-exclusive "77" 20-inch eight-spoke forged aluminum wheels finished in black running Goodyear F1 Supercar Three-Season Pirelli P-Zero rubber. Now look at the camouflage on the bonnet. Yup, that's a power-bulge aluminum hood featuring an air intake similar to the one we've seen on the SRT Viper.

There's also a deeper front air dam coupled to a sporty chin spoiler and bigger air intakes to let the HEMI tower-of-power under the hood breathe properly. Speaking of which, it's a major mystery what's under the under the bonnet of that four-door sedan. According to the Dodge brand's product plan from 2013 to 2018, the "Charger SRT" is slated to be ready for mass production by January 2015.

Further more, the "Challenger SRT" is also featured in the presentation and slated for August 2014. But as we already know, two Challenger models bear the SRT moniker: the "normal" 6.4-liter HEMI V8 delivering 485 horses and 475 lb-ft and the monstrous Hellcat with its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI mill churning a staggering 707 ponies and 650 lb-ft of tire shredding torque. So it seems like the upcoming 2015 Dodge Charger SRT will be offered with both powerplants, but we have our reservations for the supercharged Hellcat variant.

Namely, a 707 horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat would be a problem for the similarly powered Challenger SRT Hellcat. Thus, we expect the Charger SRT Hellcat to be powered by a slightly less punchy version of the 6.2-liter supercharged powerplant, offering something in the vicinity of 650 horsepower. Moving on to the rest of the spied vehicle, meatier Brembo brakes are also on the menu, along with the Dart-like front fascia and C-shaped LED headlights. Round the back we can see two exhaust exits and a more muscular rear bumper design.

Inside it's a far simpler story compared to the exterior. The redesigned cabin layout, 7-inch TFT screen incorporated in the instrument cluster and the 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system are the highlight elements to greet you the moment you step in. Production of the 2015 Dodge Charger will start in the fourth quarter of 2014 at the manufacturer's Brampton facility, with first deliveries programmed for early 2015. As for the SRT and Hellcat, the first units will hit showrooms in the second quarter of 2015.

 

[Lord T]

Dodge is building the world's most powerful sedan, and we have proof
The 707-hp Hellcat V8 is headed for the Charger.

Based on documentation for the Hellcat engine’s SAE output, we can confirm that the 707-hp supercharged Hemi will also make its way into the Charger SRT sedan next year.

Prepare the drag radials.

The Hellcat-ization of the Charger is spelled out in the engine’s SAE J1349 certification filing. J1349 is a voluntary third-party-witnessed test that manufacturers can take part in, and it’s the only way to get an engine’s horsepower and torque numbers certified by the organization. Since Chrysler chose to list the Charger on the document, it means they’re interested in certifying the power output of that engine for that car.

The bottom line? Expect a 707-hp four-door with a Dodge badge. That will make it the most powerful sedan on sale, you know, ever. (Current not-very-close second? The 30-copy BMW M5 30 Jahre edition, which makes 600 hp.)

The question, then, is whether the Charger will continue as automatic-only—no bad thing given our experience in the eight-speed Hellcat Challenger—or possibly add the six-speed manual to the mix. Odds are the manual continues as a Challenger exclusive, especially since the launch control-equipped auto is what returns those insane quarter-mile runs anyway. Just don’t expect the Charger to beat or even meet those times; the sedan is one or two hundred pounds heavier than its Challenger sibling.

Which brings us to the question of where we might see the supercharged 6.2-liter next. It wouldn’t take much work to recreate the Ram SRT. Since that Viper-engined truck went out of production, the Ram has received a coil-spring rear end with optional air suspension. That plus crazy power and torque? Sounds like the right ingredients for a record-setting showroom-stock drag truck.

A Hellcat SRT Grand Cherokee could happen, too, although a couple of things might make it tougher. SRT has recently been realigned with Dodge, making the future of any hot-rod Chrysler or Jeep products a little murky. It sounds like the 300 SRT is dying soon, although the Jeep is confusingly being kept on because it’s SRT’s best-seller. The other complication (which could apply to the Ram as well) is engine-bay clearance—specifically height. The 6.4-liter Apache V8 already snugs under the SRT Grand Cherokee’s hood, but when you add a supercharger on top it could get tight. The Challenger has a not-so-subtle hood bulge fronted by a gaping intake to make the necessary space. We’d be okay with a tall-hood SRT Jeep—that’s good for pedestrian safety right?

We will leave you with yet another Hellcat Fun Fact: The supercharged 6.2 makes 411 lb-ft of torque from 1200 rpm, barely off idle, which is more torque than a standard 5.7-liter Hemi makes across the entire rev range.

Yeah, your family sedan needs that.

 

[Lord T]

Super Charger: Dodge’s 707-hp Hellcat V-8 is Headed for the Charger Sedan

The whompin’, stompin’, 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V-8 from the Challenger SRT Hellcat appears poised to make its way into another Dodge’s engine bay. Anyone surprised? As reported by Road & Track, the Hellcat’s second application has been given away in papers filed with the Society of Automotive Engineers that describe engine data for a Hellcat-powered Dodge Charger sedan.

For those keen on cold, bizarre-sounding titles to technical papers, the SAE filing in question is called “J1349 Certified Power Engine data for Chrysler as used in 6.2L SC HEMI (Hellcat) 2015MY Dodge Challenger 6.2L SC SRT; 2015MY Dodge Charger 6.2L SC SRT – Level 1.” Allow us to simplify that wordy mess to what we suspect the production car will be called: “2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.”

So it looks like we have a 707-hp super sedan on the way sometime during the 2015 model year, at which point it will become the most horsepower-drunk production four-door in the world. Go ’Murica. Mission accomplished. Bust out fireworks and the stars and stripes.

But wait—what does Dodge have to say? So far, the automaker has been mum on the topic, even dodging the question (pun not intended) when we asked them about the idea of a Charger Hellcat at the recent first-drive program for the 2015 Challenger. But if we were bettin’ folks, we’d say you could expect the car to appear in dealerships by the end of 2014.

Pricing should fall within burnout distance of the Challenger SRT Hellcat’s $60,990 MSRP. Now that Dodge looks to be spreading the Hellcat love, may we suggest tossing the supercharged V-8 into, say, the Chrysler 300? Or maybe the Viper . . . ?

 

[Lord T]

2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat Likely to Debut at Woodward

The Charger is the next Dodge vehicle in line to receive the insane 707-hp Hellcat engine, and it looks like that car will be making its debut at the 2014 Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit.

Dodge CEO Timothy Kuniskis revealed on Detroit radio station 101 WRIF that the brand has plans to reveal a new performance vehicle at this year’s Dream Cruise, although he stopped short of saying exactly what it would be. The logical answer is the Charger Hellcat, a car that we know is in the pipeline and is due to be revealed very soon.

Once fit with the Hellcat engine, which is a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that cranks out 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, the Charger will become the most powerful sedan on the market. This car will be fit with many of the extra performance parts that are available on the Challenger Hellcat, including Pirelli P-Zero tires, a hood scoop, slotted brake rotors, Brembo brake calipers, a trunk lid spoiler and larger exhaust tips.

We will be at the Dream Cruise, so check back for live photos and information on Saturday, August 16.

 

[Lord T]

 

[Lord T]

Very close to the as-tested 11.2

 

[Lord T]

Wish they had posted the final hp numbers at the end!

 

[older version]

Great views of the intake function

 

[Lord T]

The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat broke cover yesterday. It is now the most powerful factory sedan in the world!

 

[Lord T]

 

[Lord T]

(Automobile)

2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Revealed in Detroit

ROYAL OAK, Michigan – This ought to finally silence the old-timers who complained that real Dodge Chargers have only two doors. The 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is 0.2 second quicker in the quarter mile than its Challenger brother, despite -- or really, because of -- its extra 100 pounds. The four-door sedan’s body is 12 percent slipperier than the Hellcat two-door coupe’s, an advantage that pushes the Charger SRT Hellcat up by 5 miles per hour, to 204 mph.

“It’s the quickest, fastest, most powerful sedan in the world. No asterisks,” said Dodge brand president and CEO Tim Kuniskis.

“The extra weight helps get it off the line,” Kuniskis said, in explaining the 0.2-second quarter-mile advantage over the Challenger SRT Hellcat. The 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat weighs about 4560 pounds and will be available only with the eight-speed automatic (the Challenger Hellcat will come with either the automatic or a six-speed manual) and rear-wheel drive when it goes on sale in the first quarter of 2015. Dodge did not announce pricing, but expect something very close to the Challenger SRT Hellcat’s $59,995, including the gas guzzler tax and destination charge.

Trap speed on the Charger Hellcat’s National Hot Rod Association-certified quarter-mile time is 122.7 mph. Dodge says it will make the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.7 seconds.

The Hellcat’s 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 is based on the standard Chrysler Hemi engine architecture, though Dodge SRT claims the Hellcat has 92 percent unique parts, including the block, crankshaft, pistons and, of course, the supercharger. The eight-speed transmission has bigger clutch packs and wider gears. A unique fuel pump with a half-inch inner diameter can pump the tank dry in 13 minutes at full power.

Like the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, the four-door Charger version comes with a 707-horsepower, 650-lb-ft rating.

Front brakes are six-piston Brembos with 15.4-inch rotors, and there are four-piston Brembos in the rear.

The 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat also has a separate oil cooler and air-to-water intercooler. Its grille is narrower than on the newly face-lifted Charger, to allow for a larger lower front fascia air-intake. Like the Challenger version, there are NACA ducts on the hood bookending the center hood scoop. It has slingshot wheels with the “brass monkey” finish, sized 9.5 by 20 inches, with choice of three-season or four-season Pirelli P Zeros. The interior comes in black or sepia Nappa leather, with the SRT flat-bottom steering wheel, and optional red seat belts.

Like the Challenger version, the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat comes with two key fobs: black to limit the car to 500 horsepower and red for the full 707. There’s also a valet mode to further limit power.

Kuniskis said rumors of production limits on the Hellcats are unfounded. “It’s not going to be 1200 units, that’s for sure,” he said. There are no plans to add the Hellcat engine to other platforms -- the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and even the Dodge Viper are obvious candidates. “We’re not going to put it into the Dart.”

The Charger SRT Hellcat also comes with a new engine badge on the front fenders, a badge Kuniskis says will be applied to the Challenger SRT Hellcat as well. “Hellcat” is the original internal codename for the 707-hp supercharged Hemi, much as “Charger” was originally an engine codename -- for Chrysler’s 273-cubic-inch small block V-8, before the name was applied to the 1966 Dodge Charger.

 

[Lord T]

(Car And Driver)

2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat: 707 hp, 204 mph, Unlimited Bad-Assitude
The quickest, fastest, most powerful production sedan in the world—no asterisks.

We knew it was coming. First came the filing of papers with the Society of Automotive Engineers. Then the spy shots arrived. Now, at last, Dodge confirms that the insanely powerful Challenger SRT Hellcat has a four-door brother: the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. And not only is it on its way, it packs the same 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque and is poised to become the quickest, fastest, and most powerful production sedan on the planet.

How quick is it? Dodge claims that the zero-to-60-mph sprint happens in 3.7 seconds and that the car can produce an NHRA-certified quarter-mile time of 11 seconds flat on street tires. That drag-strip time is 0.2 second quicker than the one claimed for the 120-pound-lighter Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe. And the Charger Hellcat outmuscles the next-most-powerful sedans in the world by a big margin, too: The next burliest sedans by pony count are the 621-hp Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG and the 616-hp Bentley Flying Spur, although to the S65 AMG’s credit, its 738 lb-ft of torque out-twists the Hellcat by 88 lb-ft. Which one would take the pinks at the drag strip? That’s a good question . . . and one that gives us one hell of a fantastic idea.

While the 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 installed in the 4560-pound Charger uses the exact same state of tune as the Challenger Hellcat’s, the only transmission you can get in the sedan is the paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic transmission. Sorry, no manual. Also standard are Drive Mode controls that allow one to tailor the Hellcat’s shift characteristics, throttle sensitivity, steering effort, damper stiffness, and traction-control settings. There’s also a launch-control program that allows the driver to rev to a chosen, optimal point on the tach as he or she is waiting for the lights to turn green, as well as a valet mode that limits the car’s output, revs, and chassis modes to more benign settings. The Charger Hellcat comes with the same red-key/black-key system as the Challenger Hellcat, with the red one unleashing all 707 horses and the black one limiting power to “just” 500.

As with its two-door counterpart, the Charger Hellcat’s suspension has been buttoned down and the brakes beefed up with Brembo six-piston calipers up front and four-piston calipers in back. They pinch two-piece slotted Brembo rotors up front.

The Hellcat joins the Charger family just as the car receives its midcycle refresh; it brings menacing new front-end styling and a ducktail trunklid. The Hellcat gets an even more intimidating mug that splits the nose into a gaping lower air intake and a pocket-style grille that spans the headlamps. The car is fitted with the same “Slingshot” 20-inch forged wheels found on the Challenger Hellcat, and they’re wrapped in standard Pirelli P Zeros. The Charger Hellcat also adopts the same Viper-inspired hood treatment with a NACA duct that feeds air to the supercharger flanked by two air extractors.

The rear features a new bumper with added aero sculpting, as well as twin four-inch exhaust tips, smoked taillamps, and a one-piece, body-color spoiler. The bases of the C-pillars have been extended to mimic the styling of the 1969 Charger, giving the car’s profile a unique fastback appearance. Interestingly, Dodge claims that the longer, four-door body of the Charger Hellcat endows it with better aerodynamic properties than its Challenger coupe analog and thus allows an even higher top speed: a hellaciously fast and aero-limited 204 mph.

Like all 2015 Challenger and Charger models, the Hellcat benefits from numerous interior upgrades, including a slick new instrument cluster, improved materials, and a T-handle shifter for the automatic that features more natural operation than before. The Hellcat also gets a heated flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel, as well as heated and ventilated front sport seats and heated outboard rear seats, all covered with black or sepia leather or an optional two-tone black-and-red faux-suede treatment.

There's still much we don’t know, such as pricing—our best guess pegs the car at around $63,000—and fuel-economy estimates, but Dodge did say that it will go on sale during the first quarter of 2015 as a 2015 model. Executives also added that, contrary to rumors, it will not place a cap on production for either of the Hellcat models.

Now that this ’Cat is out of the bag, the big question is how far SRT will let the Hellcat powerplant stray. Bragging rights are fun, and the raucous, blown V-8 could turn pretty much anything Chrysler sells into the most powerful vehicle of its type in the world. Says Dodge/SRT brand CEO Tim Kuniskis: “Right now it’s in the Challenger and the Charger, and that’s all we’re going to talk about.” Yeah, but can we have a Durango Hellcat? How about a Dart Hellcat? Okay, that last one won’t happen, but a Grand Cherokee Hellcat or a Chrysler 300 Hellcat seem, er, reasonable to us.

 

[Mt. Yukon]

Gonna be beasts... But can we get a proper manual option??? I know dual clutch is faster... But theres a fun factor about driving a manual that cannot be duplicated.

 

[Lord T]

Sounds good!

 

[Lord T]

Gonna be beasts... But can we get a proper manual option??? I know dual clutch is faster... But theres a fun factor about driving a manual that cannot be duplicated.

The Hellcat Challenger still has a 6 speed manual, as does the rest of the Challenger lineup.

As far as the Charger, it hasn't had an manual option since it returned in
2005 so I'm not surprised it doesn't have a manual. While it would have been a huge surprise, it was expected to be auto only.

Manuals are scarce, performance manual sedans are pretty much non-existant. The 2015 Chevy SS is getting a manual option this fall. The BMW M3 and M5 still have a manual option (for now).

As much as I love (and own and have owned) manuals, seems like the market has spoken Mt. Yukon.

 

[Lord T]

(Motor Trend)

Why the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is So Special
2015 Charger SRT Hellcat Joins the 707-Horsepower Family

Dodge had me at "most powerful sedan ever."

That sums up the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. It's the most powerful sedan ever. And better yet, Dodge introduced this muscle sedan the week of the Woodward Dream Cruise in southeast Michigan, an annual gathering of people from around the world who will cruise their muscle- and ponycars along the first section of American road ever paved in concrete.

Shortly after that piece of Woodward Avenue was covered, someone, undoubtedly, performed the first burnout. No doubt, the 707-hp Charger SRT Hellcat will continue that tradition.

Dodge remained completely unapologetic for creating the sedan version of the Challenger SRT Hellcat that debuted this spring.

"Sometimes you have to stop listening to the focus groups," said Dodge brand president and CEO Tim Kuniskis. No one asked for this car, "but we're doing something that paves the way into new territory."

Indeed, this Hellcat will likely create as much buzz around the Dodge brand as the Challenger Hellcat did.

Its manufacturer-estimated performance numbers are astonishing:
-3.7 seconds 0-60 mph.

-11-second quarter mile.

-707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque from its 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi Hellcat engine.

-204 mph top speed.

Does anyone really need this car? Kuniskis asked rhetorically. "No. But a lot of people will want it."

No kidding. Feeling that kind of power rumble through your body is an aphrodisiac fueled by high-octane gasoline. (Fun fact: The fuel pump is so powerful that, at full throttle, the pump can empty the gas tank in 13 minutes.) Listening to that supercharger whirl will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It's a mechanical masterpiece that combines power, pleasure, and incredible performance. Sure, it's a sledgehammer kind of automotive finesse, but sometimes a sledgehammer is the only tool you need.

It's an attainable halo car that will likely have a starting price tag around $60,000 when it arrives at the beginning of next year. Really, pictures do not display this car gravitas as much as it should. It has presence as well as a comfortable interior package. Open the hood: It's an amazing bit of chrome, rubber, and plastic.

Many of this car's incredibly awesome Hellcat-specific features are the same found on the Challenger Hellcat. The car will arrive with the black and red key fobs -- the black fob is the one you hand to friends if they want to take it for spin as it limits the engine to 500 horsepower. The red fob is meant for the owner to keep in his or her pocket, as it can unleash all 707 horses under the delicately sculpted hood.

The seven-spoke black forged aluminum wheels with 20-inch Pirelli P Zero performance tires and 15.4-inch Brembo two-piece rotors with six-piston calipers suggest this car will never have much problem stopping. (There is an optional Brass Monkey dark bronze finish for the wheels, which might be worth getting just to justify blasting the Beastie Boys while cruising.)

Quite frankly, while I was impressed with the raw power of the Challenger SRT Hellcat, for me, the Charger SRT Hellcat is the piece of hell I'd rather park. I like sedans and I like big sedans. And if a sedan is going to be big, it should also be fast. This car, like few others, provides all of that power and performance without looking like something a driver would use to pick me up at the airport.

The unabashed vigor of everyone at Dodge about this car is also inspiring. I have been to more than my share of automotive intros along Woodward Avenue where Chrysler executives would stand in a parking lot and pull the drop cloth of the PT Cruiser Dream Cruise edition, shrug their shoulders, and say something along the lines of "Um, here it is."

Then there was always that awkward silence as people stood around it and wondered if you could still wear a top hat while driving. That was not inspiring, impressive, or even interesting.

But the Hellcat? It's all about attitude. Dodge engineers, designers, and executives start to talk faster and faster about this car. Their enthusiasm is palatable, their energy level far beyond Red Bull-induced. They are passionate about this car in a way that suggests it is even better than they're saying.

Even the name was derived from a World War II carrier fighter that brandished six .50-caliber machine guns and roamed the Pacific looking for any takers. This Hellcat will do the same at stoplights, blowing the doors off any sedan silly enough to match revs and attempt to launch next to it.

For Dodge, this Hellcat is something more. It's not an all-in bet, but rather a moment when its designers and engineers can tap into the potential they bring the auto industry. Though this car is a magnificent piece of art and form and power, Dodge will likely sell more regular Challengers and Chargers than actual SRT versions bearing that fantastic logo on its front quarter panels. The Hellcats are a clowder of felines that only a few will buy, but many will want.

There's nothing wrong with creating a car kids will plaster their walls with, and Dodge has done just that. I wish more automakers would do the same. The Hellcats continue the dream of big powerful cars roaming the American landscape. Their numbers will continue to dwindle but that will only make these future classics that much more special.

 

[Mt. Yukon]

The Hellcat Challenger still has a 6 speed manual, as does the rest of the Challenger lineup.

As far as the Charger, it hasn't had an manual option since it returned in
2005 so I'm not surprised it doesn't have a manual. While it would have been a huge surprise, it was expected to be auto only.

Manuals are scarce, performance manual sedans are pretty much non-existant. The 2015 Chevy SS is getting a manual option this fall. The BMW M3 and M5 still have a manual option (for now).

As much as I love (and own and have owned) manuals, seems like the market has spoken Mt. Yukon.

Ill go kicking and screaming!!!

 

[Soufboy]

Gorgeous car right there.

 

[Lord T]

Ill go kicking and screaming!!!

Same here! But that super-fast shifting 8-speed auto that is going to be in the 2015 ZO6 has me thinking...