In recent years, Dodge has made a huge splash in the muscle car wars with their outrageously powerful Hellcat models. Packing over 700+ supercharged horsepower, Hellcats like the Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat capture old-school muscle while offering modern levels of performance.
But what exactly makes a Hellcat a Hellcat? Let’s examine What Kind of Car is the Dodge Hellcat, the key features that define Dodge’s sinister Hellcat muscle machines.
Hellcat debuted in 2015 as the latest halo edition of Dodge’s Challenger coupe and Charger sedan. The supercharged Hellcat V8 produced an incredible 707 horsepower, transforming the big bruiser Dodge models into legitimate supercars stalking the streets.
Initially offered in standard Hellcat form, subsequent variations like the widebody Hellcat Redeye pushed power to 797 horsepower. Special edition Hellcats with customized details and appearnce packages followed.
The success of Hellcat forced rivals to respond; Ford Shelby Mustangs, Chevy Camaro ZLs and Cadillac sedans introduced more powerful performance models to try matching Hellcat’s ferocity. Dodge proudly claims king of the modern muscle cars.
Hellcat Powertrain Specs
The Hellcat’s monstrous horsepower comes courtesy of a specialized 6.2L supercharged V8 known as the Hellcrate engine:
Nearly 1400 cc supercharger pumping out 11.6 psi boost
93 octane fuel and high capacity oil system
707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft torque (standard Hellcat)
797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft torque (Hellcat Redeye)
0-60 mph in 3 seconds
Quarter mile in 10.8 seconds
Top speed of 199 mph
This beast easily makes a Hellcat one of the quickest and most powerful production cars ever built. Its capabilities demand respect and restraint behind the wheel.
Functional air intakes and outlets to feed the engine and brakes
Modified hood with twin vents to extract heat
Lower front fascia with enlarged intake
Small trunk lid spoiler on sedans for stability
Quad exhaust tips surrounded by black trim
20-inch alloy wheels in dark Satin Vapor or Brass Monkey
Optional Widebody fender flares on some models
The expected Hellcat badges on the fenders are actually one of the few overt styling tweaks. Stealthy supercar power defines the Hellcat aesthetic.
Interior Treatments
Inside, Hellcat cabins feature unique touches and race-inspired details:
Embossed Hellcat logo on seats and badging
Laguna premium leather seats
Alcantara suede upholstery accents
Carbon fiber and Dark Brushed aluminum trims
Hellcat startup screen animation
8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen
Optional heated and ventilated front seats
Leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel
While focused on comfort and tech, these special touches remind occupants that underneath lies a Hellish beast.
Suspension and Handling
Surprisingly, Hellcats utilize suspension tuning similar to standard Challenger and Charger models. Upgrades include:
Stiffer anti-roll bars to reduce body lean
Retuned shock absorbers for flatter cornering
Lower ride height for improved center of gravity
Larger Brembo brake discs with 6-piston front calipers
Wider 20-inch tires on some packages
Electric power steering calibrated for responsiveness
This helps domesticate the Hellcat’s brutal power while retaining everyday drivability. It remains planted and controlled during street commutes or track days.
Why the Hellcat Stands Out
In an era dominated by high-tech turbocharged engines, the Hellcat stands out for its old-school concept taken to the extreme limit:
Huge pushrod OHV V8 with massive displacement
Belt-driven supercharger creating huge boost – no turbos
Prioritizes big power over finesse and efficiency
Unapologetically loud and aggressive exhaust note
Optimized for straight-line acceleration and speed
The Hellcat formula embraces quintessential American muscle in a thoroughly modern execution. This throwback character combined with otherworldly power has made it a hit.
Future Collectability
As emissions regulations and electrification take hold, the Hellcat’s outrageous V8 seems destined for legend status:
Final incarnation of a massive, high-revving V8 in a street car
Significant horsepower milestones threatening to be eclipsed
Short lifespan as emissions and mpg requirements tighten
Limited production numbers ensuring exclusivity
Striking styling that pays homage to past Dodge greats
Much as the Hemi engine defined ’60s/’70s muscle, Hellcat and its 707+ horsepower V8 will mark the peak for unapologetic modern muscle.
Conclusion
The Hellcat name appropriately conjures up visions of a ferocious beast. By taking its already brawny Challenger coupe and Charger sedan to extreme levels of power, Dodge created instant icons. The Hellcat formula sticks to old-school muscle while pushing the limits of V8 performance.
This carefully engineered package of outrageous power encased in a surprisingly drivable chassis created one of the quirkiest modern performance cars. As Dodge transitions toward electrification, Hellcat represents the pinnacle of its pushrod V8 achievements.
Introduced just a few months after the SRT Hellcat Challenger, the SRT Hellcat Charger with the supercharged 707-hp Hellcat Hemi became one of the world's quickest four-door production sedans at any price. With an initial base MSRP of $66,990, it was certainly the most powerful at its sticker price.
The project includes the hiring of a Chief Donut Maker who will be paid $150,000 for a year to drive a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and be an ambassador for the brand at select events scheduled around their day job.
The reasons had everything to do with price and capability; Hellcat engines offered more power for a lot less than you'd expect. At that time, exotics from brands like Ferrari and McLaren cost much more than vehicles with Hellcat engines but failed to match this powertrain's prodigious output.
The Hellcat engine will cost a whopping $19,530, and the kit will run you another $2,195. Thankfully, Dodge at least offers a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty if you buy the two together. So if your build blows up after a few months, replacing it won't cost you another $21,725.
Lows Plasticky interior materials, more horsepower than its tires can handle, imperceptible steering feel. Verdict The Charger SRT Hellcat is a riotous and rowdy, tire-smoking, laugh-riot of a four-door muscle car that drives even better than it needs to.
The Challenger Demon is slightly faster and more powerful, with a top speed of 211 mph, compared to 202 for the Hellcat. Both the Hellcat and Demon have an iconic design and deliver a thrilling experience behind the wheel.
The Hellcat — which retails for between $90,000 and $150,000 depending on options — is sought after primarily because of its vast power reserves. It produces as much as 717 horsepower in the Hellcat and 797 in the Hellcat Redeye, thanks to a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine. Thanks for signing up!
Now, Dodge has decided to end the Hellcat's journey. They're doing this to bring in new kinds of cars that are better for the future. Dodge is thinking about our planet and how to make cars that are safer for the environment. So, they're working on new ideas, like electric cars, that are cool and good for the Earth.
This is the car known around the country as the most desirable platform for “side shows,” rap concerts, and pulling up at the club, to the point that a lot of people outside the narrow band of dedicated automotive enthusiasm aren't even aware that the Challenger Hellcat exists.
Is a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Expensive to Insure? The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is an expensive car to insure due to its sports car status and relatively high theft rate. Sports cars are more costly to insure because drivers are statistically more likely to partake in risky behavior when driving these models.
Equipped with Chrysler Group's 707-horsepower 6.2-liter HEMI® Hellcat V-8 – today named one of Ward's 10 Best Engines – the new Charger SRT Hellcat has earned a highway fuel-economy rating of 22 miles per gallon (mpg) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Why Dodge Is Discontinuing the Hellcat. Government regulations are becoming increasingly strict, making it difficult for automakers to produce cars like the Hellcat. Dodge is investing heavily in electrification to meet these regulations, which means the Hellcat will have to make way for a battery-powered Challenger.
Any motor today should do 200k easily with proper maintenance, including hellcats. If you run it hard, then maintain it hard (i.e. more frequently, more intensively).
There are plenty of other cars you could swap a Hemi into, but fitment is going to require more research and likely fabrication, especially compared to the ultra-popular LS swap. On the plus side, fitment should be easier than with the super wide heads of Ford's overhead cam modular V8s.
What's Replacing the Hellcat Engine? The reported replacement for the Hellcat engine from an all-electric-powered performance perspective is what's being called the Banshee powertrain, an 800-volt, all-wheel-drive EV system reserved for the most powerful future models.
There's only a slight power difference between Dodge Charger vs. Challenger Hellcat models; Charger Hellcat and Challenger Hellcat trims both use a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V-8 with 717 horsepower, but the Challenger Hellcat makes 656 pound-feet of torque, while the Charger Hellcat makes 650 pound-feet.
More importantly, the Durango SRT Hellcat has the performance to match its personality. With 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque, this SUV will sprint to 60 in 3.5 seconds, according to Dodge.
In 2015, Dodge debuted the Hellcat engine in the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT coupe, and the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 made a huge splash. The American brand called this muscle car "the most powerful muscle car ever” and it was no joke with 707 horsepower that knocked your socks off.
Introduction: My name is Aron Pacocha, I am a happy, tasty, innocent, proud, talented, courageous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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