We’re running out of ways to describe the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat that don’t start with the letter “F”. With 707hp and 650 ft/lb of torque, there was no doubt this thing was going to be a riot on the quarter-mile, but even the most jaded did not see this one coming: The Hellcat ran a NHRA-certified 10.80 on drag radials and 11.2 on street tires. Trap speeds are over 120mph.
Below is the video Dodge released. Now, never mind that Dodge got Richard and Dennis from Fast n’ Loud to run a Hellcat and a 1971 R/T Hemi Challenger down the track. Look at what you’re seeing: The best from the Seventies and today. It’s damn hard to make an old-school 426 look slow, and the ’71 meets the expectations for a stock 426 car near dead on the money.
I’m in no way trashing the classic cars at all. But you have to give it up to Dodge: If you, as a manufacturer, want to shut everyone up, this is certainly the way to do it. We’re waiting for the responses from Ford, Chevy and anyone else who wants to try to take the top of this mountain.
Click play below to watch the difference between a Hemi Challenger and a Hellcat Challenger.
(Courtesy of HotRod.com)
This car insanely fast.,. incredible 🙂
Instead of those tv dorks driving, I want the Barton boys to tune and drive that 71, take the sticky tires off the new car, then have a rematch.
Better yet put a blower on the 71 and see how much faster it is 🙂
Even better yet . Have a race that wasn’t bought and paid for by FCA … overseen by the bought and paid for by FAC as well NHRA … with both cars driven by real drivers … not TV talking heads barely able to negotiate a baby carriage .. and then see what the results would be !
e.g. An honest heads up … not a scripted event manufactured from the get go for marketing purposes
That will come soon enough, and the Ford, Chevy guys will whine some other excuse, just like your doing now.
Yeah right ! Like the NHRA when it comes to dealing with manufactures claims is even the slightest bit reliable and unbiased . Never ever even so much as considering manipulating the numbers in order to keep the hand that just fed them [ $$$ ] happy . Hell … you can’t even trust the NHRA’s numbers when it comes to the racing …. never mind a manufacture seeking some Pay to Play marketing propaganda . Gee .. and the producers of this little video travesty bought and paid for by FCA would never alter/CGI/manipulate the results either . What a joke ! The only thing ‘ insane ‘ about the Hellcat being the fools about to be parted with their money . The only ones getting their mouths shut … is the folks behind the scenes that know the real story .. and not the bs hype behind this most recent FCA claim
Here’s a hint . Chevy’s Z/28 ‘ Ring ‘ claims have already been completely debunked . Several times . Any bets before the summers out Dodge’s claims get the same ? Here’s a tip . Bet against it and you’ll lose 😉
Ahhhh … as the TV character ” House ” so often said ;
” Everybody Lies ”
Especially when it come to the manufactures and specifically corporate America .
GuitarSlinger, you are the Bangshift version of that woman on the Safeco ads, always bitching about something.
Lets us see what YOU have that is equivalent to the Hellfire Challenger.
YOU are nothing but a SENILE OLD HIPPIE!
Great times. But to run them legally at an NHRA-sanctioned track in most events (such as Hot Rod Drag week) , the Hellcat will require a huge number of safety upgrades to run that quick and fast.
BTW, as to the claims of corporate fraud . . . if a 707 h.p. car in the weight range of the Challenger WOULDN’T E.T. in the 10s with good tires, something would be VERY WRONG. The Chrondeks don’t lie.
It does not need any safety upgrades per NHRA, the vehicle cannot have any modification. No tire change, wheel change, air cleaner, exhaust…..NOTHING. The car must be 100 percent stock from factory.
Unaltered 2008 OEM model-year and newer production
cars running slower than 9.99 and 135 mph do not have to meet the
requirements and specifications for the Summit Racing Series except
for the following: Convertibles and T-tops must meet Summit Racing
Series roll-bar and roll-cage requirements
I’m saving my penneys. I’m looking forward to dropping a hellcat into my 10 SRT and then going Camaro hunting.
In ’71, the street version of the hemi in the challenger was high 13 second car. The Hellcat is rated 300 hp more. Its no wonder it flat wastex the old hemi.
Super. Unreal. WTF? Really? Crazy………..On and on. Some car
38P no it wont need changes.Heres the rule regarding 2008 and newer cars.
NHRA DRAGS: STREET LEGAL STYLE PRESENTED BY AAA (Page xiv) (5th paragraph) Additionally rRequirements and specifications for Street Legal are the same as those for the Summit Racing Series with the following exception: Unaltered 2008 OEM model year and newer production cars running slower than 9.99 and 135 mph do not have to meet the requirements and specifications for the Summit Racing Series except for the following: Convertibles and T-tops must meet Summit Racing Series Roll Bar and Roll Cage requirements, All drivers must meet the Summit Racing Series Helmet and Protective Clothing requirements.”
I wrote ” in most events” . . . not “all events.”
We extensively discussed this point over a year ago on the Drag Week sub-forum. The NHRA “Street Legal Style” events do not include the regular competition programs at most tracks, such as the Summit Racing Series. Nor does it include many special events that still follow regular NHRA/IHRA safety rules, such as Drag Week.
Street Legal Style events are on-track alternatives to illegal street racing . . . a “gateway” series to get folks used to coming to the track. The Street Legal exception does not mean that a Hellcat owner can just bolt on slicks and show up at any track at any time and get to run 10.80s in any event without a legal roll bar, SFI vibration damper, SFI trans shield or bellhousing, etc.
Dammit Don, stop proliferating that fantasy. That is not a global rule exception. IT ONLY APPLIES TO STREET LEGAL STYLE PRESENTED BY AAA EVENTS at participating tracks.
I am a long time Ford guy but this car has caught my attention.
Thanks for the clarification 38P.I had forgotten about that.Wait til you are my age James.Mustang done? BWAH!
“If you missed the first muscle car era, don’t miss this one”.
With the politicians American’s have voted into power, I doubt the fun will last too much longer. Get it while you can, folks.
Although I’m not doubting the 707hp, personally, I’d like to see a quarter mile pass filmed from the start line. At the end of ‘the race’, they cut to the timing signs, without really showing the cars crossing the stripe. I’m just playing devil’s advocate, but to me, I’d be willing to believe a video filmed at the start line, following the car all the down the track much more than a video that just ‘cuts’ to the timing sign. I’m not saying that Dodge is lying, but to me I’d be a lot less skeptical. Just my 2 cents.
And the most important burning question to the average BangShifter Mentality Reader remains……. HOW QUICK IS IT ON SPRAY?????
Does it have a warranty ?
Personally I would not want to be doing 120nph without a roll bar
This video and NHRA tie-in is an example of a company that does not know how to help themselves…
When you present a new car to NHRA, you try to get them to buy off on the car as being as light as possible (so racers can legally take stuff off to go faster) and as SLOW AS POSSIBLE. I know that sounds crazy, but read on…
Racers are going to make the car go even faster. That is what they do. Starterguy’s comments bring that home. . . Sportsman Racing was all about taking a “stock” vehicle and making it faster than the other guy. ALSO, NHRA categorizes cars based on weight and HP. If you go too fast (blow away the index in your class), they add weight to the combination you are running. That penalizes EVERYBODY who runs that car. Pretty soon, a combination has so much weight added to it that a typical sportsman can’t make it go fast enough. Those cars get parked for good.
Chrysler needed to publicize Hellcat, I get it. But hopefully they will continue the Drag Pak stuff so that the racers have a competitive package which makes the cars have a long life at the strip.