2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat

From 1970 to 1974 the Chrysler Corporation fielded the Dodge Challenger as one of its entries in the muscle car sweepstakes, — the other was Plymouth’s Barracuda and the higher performance ‘Cuda, which shared basic styling cues. The performance-focused Challenger R/T was available with a variety of engines including the 383cid, 440cid, and 426 hemi. Whether fitted with Chrysler’s three-speed automatic or standard three-speed manual or optional four-speed manual, any of the powertrain combinations made for one very fast Dodge.

When Chrysler decided to revive the Challenger name in 2008 the Chrysler styling time stayed true to the original, with many of the cues that were the hallmark of the original, but executed in a modern fashion, complete with molded bumpers and the same aggressive stance. The performance model was called the SRT8, and all 7,118 examples received the 370cid Hemi and the five-speed AutoStick automatic.

Replete with facelift, the Challenger SRT was the foundation for the 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, which was targeted directly at the most powerful Camaros and Mustangs that Chevrolet and Ford could throw its way. For starters there was a supercharged and intercooled 6.2 liter Hemi V-8 pumping out 707hp and an almost obscene 650 lb⋅ft of torque. As can be expected, performance is wild, with a 0 to 60 time of 3.6 seconds and a typical quarter-mile time is 11.2 seconds. Top speed is all of 199 mph

Big Pirelli P275/40ZR20 Pirelli P Zero Nero tires sit on 20-inch forged alloy wheels, which leave plenty of room for the big Brembo brakes that ensure that the stop matches the go. Ride control and handling are controlled by three-mode Bilstein shocks.

Visually, there isn’t much to suggest that the Hellcat has 222 more horsepower than the contemporary version of the Challenger SRT unless you know the subtle changes, like larger wheel wheels, an aluminum hood and a few other subtle tweaks.