Dodge reveals Hellcat Charger

[King T]

Originally Posted by shine2013

Wishful thinking, blasphemous at that, but maybe GM answers with a 4 Door Chevelle? I think Ford isn't going to take this kick in the balls too lightly. I bet the next gen Taurus is a looker and has a real punch to it.

While there has been 4 door Chevelles in the past


I highly doubt (or want) GM to name the SS successor the Chevelle.

Dodge stuck to their guns with the Charger name. At first it caught a lot of flack for being a 4 door, but now 10 years later it's accepted. You'll still hear the occasional "Should be a 2 door" comment, but not as much.

I always thought, especially after the announcement of the Chevy SS, that Ford would have brought the Falcon over from Australia, but with production ending I guess they didn't think it was worth it.


I think Ford should have kept the Panther platform going. Made an all-new Panther platform that is versatile, that could accommodate both mid-size and full size RWD vehicles. Lincoln would have benefitted greatly from it too.

It seems strange that Ford doesn't have a RWD dog in the fight this time around.

[King T]

Originally Posted by hotlapZL1

Agree. Pontiac tried that with the GTO name and look how unpopular that was.

The name SS is confusing so perhaps a move into another direction would be better. Like Pontiac did with G8 or Caddy did with CTS, ATS...

100% agree! No Chevelle name! It would be better off having a new name instead of digging up a classic name with huge shoes to fill. The Commodore name would be fine. It has no history in the U.S.

Even though, as a Alabama fan (Roll Tide), hearing Commodore would have me thinking Vanderbilt, I think a Chevy one would be vastly better!

[King 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.

[King 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.

[King 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.

[King T]

Sounds good!

[mlee]

I'd take the Charger over the Challenger now. Would make a great daily driver.

[DDoug]

I didn't like the look of the new Charger at all in pictures, but in person it looks much better. They had a bright red one, not sure if it's a production color or not but, wow, it looks nice! I want to see it in Graphite, I think it's the best color for a 1LE packaged Camaro. I want to see how the Charger compares in the same color.

Stopped by the Mopar lot at the Woodward Cruise, all their cool stuff was there!

Also, the Challenger HellCat had a "supercharged" badge on the front fenders. Boring and almost tacky. Well, both HellCats here had HellCat cat-head badges - me likey! Much better - and a bit in-yo-face!

Hellcat Challenger. Crazy, saw probably a dozen today. I'm cutting through 11 1/2 mile and get caught by a red light. I finally look over, I notice the Challenger, then I realize it's a HellCat! I gotta laugh, I start grinnin' like a fool - guy cleaning it notices me in the ZL1 and says,"Nice!" and I gave him a thumbs up. I go a little further, F--- It! I turn around and go back, lol! Pull right up in the driveway and ... the car's there but the guy is nowhere to be found! Damn it! I was lookin' for a ride! Manufacture plates, with the ZL1, he just might have taken me for a spin! Black, Sepia leather seats, sunroof, and automatic - O SO SWEET!

Also, it had "Brass Monkey" wheels. They have a magnesium/brassy look to them - I don't care for them - I still prefer black wheels.

Damn, I love this second muscle car war!

392 Shakers, I talked extensively to some journalist who's been driving a 392 shaker for 3 weeks. He pulled in while I was walking in. He doesn't want to give it back! They called him yesterday, "You can buy it, if you don't want to bring it back." He drove it up from somewhere down south today, to turn it in tomorrow - they were expecting it last week, lol!

Custom Jeeps, Raminator monster truck - with a tire up on the hood of some Japanese POS.

And ... the Vipers! The Viper Club was there at least 50 strong. Man, seeing the latest Viper out in the sun, I don't know why it's not selling - absolutely has to be due to the terrible marketing. The Snakeskin Green is really unbelievable in the sunlight, so is the dark blue. Just beautiful!
__________________

[Sapper12b]

Wow ... Just wow!

[joeybsyc]

Originally Posted by URBAN LEGEND

I wonder if Dodge will Hellcat the ZL1?

Haha... that's one way to beat 'em.

[Camaro_Corvette]

Originally Posted by DDoug

I didn't like the look of the new Charger at all in pictures, but in person it looks much better.

I hope so, because the pictures make it look like it was hit in the face with a bag of nickels!

[mlee]

Originally Posted by Camaro_Corvette

I hope so, because the pictures make it look like it was hit in the face with a bag of nickels!

LOL... I think it looks pretty good, for a Dodge

[PYROLYSIS]

I hate to say it. The Robocop front end styling has grown on me already. Looks great in red.

[DDoug]

Originally Posted by Camaro_Corvette

I hope so, because the pictures make it look like it was hit in the face with a bag of nickels!

Well, I'll clarify, I like my Camaro better!

And, The 392 Shaker looks better than the HellCat Challenger, it just needs to lose the odd hood/roof striping.

And the 5.7 L Shaker with "SHAKER" on the shaker - tacky.