Dodge reveals Hellcat Charger

[DDoug]

Thanx, LostPony, for the review. A lot of people, at least on here, don't seem realize just how large the HellCats are. They're just a couple inche smaller in overall size to an S-class or 7 series, but actually weighs less. They're more near the weight, but larger than, the E-class or 5 series.

I mean, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Ford, and Lincoln don't make a single car with a wheelbase as large as either HellCat. They're about 8 inches shorter, which makes a big difference in rear interior room. They are big cars! Period!

The only point I'd disagree, I've only ever had 1 other car "line up" to street race while in the ZL1 ... I didn't bite ... and it was a pre-production HellCat. LOL I actually had every yahoo do what you're talking about back when I had a Neon R/T. It was annoying how many people wanted to see if the were "faster" than a 150 hp compact.

[MEDISIN]

Originally Posted by DDoug

Thanx, LostPony, for the review. A lot of people, at least on here, don't seem realize just how large the HellCats are. They're just a couple inche smaller in overall size to an S-class or 7 series, but actually weighs less. They're more near the weight, but larger than, the E-class or 5 series.

I mean, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Ford, and Lincoln don't make a single car with a wheelbase as large as either HellCat. They're about 8 inches shorter, which makes a big difference in rear interior room. They are big cars! Period!

The wheelbase is really long but they fail to make good use of it. They offer considerably less interior room than other cars with 120" wheelbase.

The SS sedan has only 114" wheelbase yet has the same interior volume as the Charger/300 while weighing less than 4,000lbs. The XJL in AWD trim has 124" wheelbase and weighs 4100lbs while offering considerably more space than the Charger.

The LX platform is to blame. Everyone else is finding ways to lighten their cars giving them both performance and efficiency gains. Dodge's solution? Put a bigger engine in it. I didn't even see the "D-RWD" platform on Fiat's 5 year plan.

Originally Posted by newmoon

"Because all of the gear ratio is in the transmission, the car can hit a top speed of 204 mph. And they didn't just creep there; the tailwind run was reported to be 214 mph."

If only I had a nickle for everything Dodge "claimed" and "reported". Has anyone seen the Hellcat break 200mph? Not that dyno nonsense, I mean an actual run on open road. I recall the GT500 fell just short when it was tested but that was several years ago.

[sonnydurden]

I don't think GM needs to do anything but keep doing what they are doing. Making great all around performance cars. I keep saying performance is not measured in straight lines. I don't want GM chasing HP just so they can say "I have the most HP"

[SpeedIsLife]

Originally Posted by MEDISIN

If only I had a nickle for everything Dodge "claimed" and "reported". Has anyone seen the Hellcat break 200mph? Not that dyno nonsense, I mean an actual run on open road. I recall the GT500 fell just short when it was tested but that was several years ago.

Yeah I hear ya..I want to thank you for being honest and upfront when the C7 Z06 ran that 10.80 1/4 mile run in the recent magazine testing with the auto too..

Oh wait...

[hotlap]

Originally Posted by sonnydurden

I don't think GM needs to do anything but keep doing what they are doing. Making great all around performance cars. I keep saying performance is not measured in straight lines. I don't want GM chasing HP just so they can say "I have the most HP"

build the best most balanced car. I don't see GM chasing power if it can't responsibly be put to the ground. From a Car and Driver article, answering why GM may actually go forward with the C8 mid-engine....

Because the C7 Corvette, especially the Z06 edition, is tapped out. Adding more power to a front-engine design only accelerates the conversion of rubber into smoke at the rear

GM isn't going to build a 700 HP "Meatship" on 275 tires with a 200 MPH top speed and no aero improvements.

[Alain]

GM has lots to improve on. Interiors on their cars have come a long way but they are still lacking in alot of areas.

[robsbandit]

11.0sec. In the 1/4 on street tires? With a pro driver maybe. My '67 camaro has the same horsepower/lb as the charger and my best on street tires is 12.4 at 117mph. With 3:73 gears and a 6spd manual.

[SEVEN-OH JOE]

Originally Posted by SpeedIsLife

I want to thank you for being honest and upfront when the C7 Z06 ran that 10.80 1/4 mile run in the recent magazine testing with the auto too..

Oh wait...

Wait indeed.

Seems the "official" line was, in fact, an Automatic @ 10.95 and a 7-Speed @ 11.2.

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news...errari-mclaren

Tested so far, CandD ran 11.1 @ 127 in an Automatic, while M/T ran 11.3 @ 126 with a 7-speed.

Closer than the flashing neon numbers NOT run in Hellcats, yet. What's the best 6-speed time posted so far? 12's.

I'll leave you with Randy Pobst's final impression: "The price is bewildering, as you’d need to spend nearly $1 million elsewhere to reach Z06 [overall] performance."

[Alain]

Randy Pobst drove the hellcat already?

Anyone got a link to that?

[ilirg]

Where did you get that he drove a hellcat from?

[Alain]

Somebody in the previous page quoted him saying something comparing it to the z06. Or maybe I miss read it ?

[ilirg]

He said you would need to spend a million to get something of equal performance to the z06.

[Alain]

Yeah that's what I'm talking about. Since he said that I was assuming that he had actually driven a hellcat.

Guess not.

I'm looking forward to seeing that video whenever he does and watching him beat that thing to a pulp lol

[MEDISIN]

Originally Posted by SpeedIsLife

Yeah I hear ya..I want to thank you for being honest and upfront when the C7 Z06 ran that 10.80 1/4 mile run in the recent magazine testing with the auto too..

Oh wait...

Oh wait...you're clueless.

Chevrolet said:
2.95 to 60mph, 11.1 quarter mile @ 127mph

Car&Driver got:
3.0 to 60mph, 11.2 quarter mile @ 127mph

Dodge said:
"low 3-seconds" to 60, 11.2 quarter mile @ 125mph

Actual results:
MotorTrend: 0-60, 3.7sec; 1/4mile 11.7 @ 125.4mph; 4449lbs automatic
Car&Driver: 0-60, 3.6sec; 1/4mile 11.7 @ 126mph; 4488lbs automatic
Edmunds: 0-60, 4.8sec; 1/4mile 12.5 @ 118.8mph; 4454lbs
Road&Track: 0-60, 3.9sec; 1/4mile 12.0 @ 124.8mph; 4458lbs
Cars.com 0-60, 1/4mile 11.4 @ 122mph

Go ahead, tell me how accurate Dodge marketing claims are.