Dodge Charger Hellcat. A 707hp family sedan. Nobody ever thought they would be able to say that. Twenty years ago, 260hp was enough to raise eyes and loosen wallets for a fast four-door. It’s insanity at a level nobody saw coming. And I’m damn glad to see it.
I’m not going to bore you with the specs in detail. Sledgehammer of a supercharged Hemi, hooked exclusively to the TorqueFlite-8 automatic for Charger. Lots of air openings, brake ducting, Chrysler-exclusive BBS wheels. Differences? Yeah, one… the Charger is faster: two tenths at the dragstrip, 204 mph top end. No, the AWD system does not come on Hellcat-equipped Chargers. It’s hitting 0-60 in 3.7 seconds right now.
The interior is oddly what caught me the most. One word: COLOR. There is actual color in the interior from a place that isn’t the dash lights! Hallelujah! It’s about time.
When it was announced that Dodge was going to be the performance brand in the Chrysler fold, nobody could have predicted this. Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis is quoted as saying: “This is a car most brands would never bring to market. This is a car that you absolutely cannot build a business case for. But sometimes, you need to stop listening to the focus groups. Sometimes you need to build a car that defines itself.” This, folks, is the guy you always wanted to be in charge of a car company. This guy gets it. And he works with guys that get it, like Ralph Gilles, who has no problem blowing the rubber off of the back end of a Hellcat Challenger at a dragstrip for a crowd. A word of advice: If this is truly the zenith of the party, there’s only one thing that you can do…drink it up. It’s glorious.
these ARE the glory days for factory muscle, even if it has too many doors for my specific taste. Come on lottery tickets!
And the two tenths at the dragstrip results from…?
Speed is from aerodynamics. Not wholly certain, but since the Charger has some weight on the Challenger, maybe weight transition got the rear to stick better.
Can’t wait to see this bad-azz Mopar kicking some expensive Euro-trash’s butt.
It is one really nice ride inside and out, and that exhaust note….. you ain’t getting that from Audi or Benz.
I’m waiting for 1,000 hp off the show room floor. Only 293 Horses to go.
That’s the spirit!
I remember when 1,000 hp was unheard of in top fuel dragsters.
Another Mopar that GuitarSlinger will bitch about!
Hell, he bitches about everything….who cares what he thinks!
Give it some time, he will bitch about it!
I bleed Dearborn Blue. I’ve done Drag Week 2 times in my Crown Vic. ( stop laughing, 4.10’s, J-mod,all the bolt ons, custom tune, Lonnie @BOC rocks! And NX nitrous mid to low 14’s ) but I’m ready to jump ship- 60K over 6 years is still $1000/ month give or take, it would be a huge stretch but I’m 47 so insurance???? Never know…..
Want. Really want. Thank You Dodge.
It would be even better if it came with the 6 spd manual! But I doubt it.
I saw where it has the Viper 6 speed as an option
Sweetness! 🙂
Hood makes it look like a Subaru
I like this a whole lot better than the Challenger. Proportions are better. The Challenger always looks too damn tall and high-sided and fat. This is juuuuuust right.
I’m a Ford guy but these two Hellcat powered cars are through the roof awesome.
now we just need the 300 hellcat and we will have the tri-fecta