Ever since the owner of the green Challenger Hellcat saw Tesla taillights at a dragstrip, the comparisons have been flying between Elon Musk’s four-door electrolux sedan with it’s twin motors and “Insane Mode” launch, and FCA’s twin 707hp middle fingers to society. It’s actually one of the more interesting rivalries out there, because it’s the first time (at least in my lifetime) that two cars so different from each other in nearly every way can compete head to head and be so close. It’s damn hard to argue with an all-wheel-drive P85D packing 691 hp that brings every last ounce of torque on-line instantaneously, but with a weight penalty and a soundtrack last heard in an EZ-GO golf cart, something is missing for the traditional gearhead. On the other hand, the Hellcat twins have a soundtrack that would’ve made guys in 1970 stop what they were doing, can haul four adults comfortably (at least in Charger form) and with drag radials or better, are jaw-droppingly fast. They also drink fuel like a high-school kid at a college party and to some of the more self-aware, are too over-the-top visually.
We’re pretty sure you’ve seen this Charger before, but the last time you saw it, it was covered in dirt at a motocross track with three giggling hosts in the car. Jonny Lieberman got to see the car pre-Roadkill, and his mission for this episode is to figure out which one of these cars is the ultimate “badass”. Cue the eye-rolling for that goal, but any video that starts with a serious burnout and ends with a drag race is good, regardless. And I have to say, that Liberman’s final take on both cars has to be the best one I’ve heard yet. Long live the rivalry!
I know gearheads aren’t supposed to like electric cars – but I do like that electric car…..you have to admit it’d make an insane family car….and a Hellcat for hooning about on the weekends!
Oh, and we all know CK will be on here shortly bagging the pair of them, he’s done it in a pretty rabid fashion before now, but mate, you are just plain wrong. Crap on about your people mover merc, or your Kombi or whatever else till the cows come home – if you don’t have a car as quick as this pair, and with this level of comfort and features, nobody gives a rats what you think.
This is a really interesting rivalry.
I just wish Tesla owners weren’t so… Supergeek.
I think I saw a Tesla on the road the other day and pulled over because I thought I was going to go full on flashback. They shipped one? No freaking way. I have nothing against electrics, I love them. FAST ones are even more amusing… I do have a problem with the Tesla take money, ask for more, and not deliver in the same model year business model.
I feel a little more aggressive than normal this morning so I’ll just come out and say it instead of hiding my feelings like I normally would. I feel gayer for having watched this. 200,000 worth of cars. I can’t say the other words that I feel should go with that… I’m waiting for the fallout when one of these out of control big brother auto-update can’t change a lane without a blinker cars gets hacked and insano-modes into a bridge abutment.
But, 11’s, 60-0 in 104 feet with 5000 pound family cars and .9x skidpad? Yeah, these really are the good old days. Unfortunately, just like the bad old days, I won’t be stretching the budget for either of them. More’s the pity.
I’ve seen at least one around Chicago, and a friend in Norway just bought one. They do ship them occasionally I guess.
What’s up with M/T and Roadkill’s obsession with burnouts? Are they just following the dumbing down of the population in general? It’s being literally run into the ground…
Seriously? You really just asked what’s with the obsession with burnouts?
I would like see the Hellcat in an AWD version, then it would be a real race!
Who doesn’t love burnouts! keezling obviously.
Fun video. Interesting that the Tesla still wins the quarter mile. Personally, I like them both!
This guy looks like he missed the turnoff for a Comic Con event, cars looked good though.