The quickest, fastest, and most powerful sedan in the world is American.
It was only a matter of time before the mighty 6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 engine found in the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat found its way into its four-door sibling. The most powerful V-8 engine Chrysler has ever made has been stuffed into the new Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, making it the quickest, fastest, and most powerful sedan in the world. Forget the RS- models from Audi, the M-models from BMW, and the Mercedes-Benz AMGs, none can stack up to the 707-horsepower Hellcat.
“For the last eight years, a large part of the Dodge Charger’s successful formula has been its many personalities. It’s a muscle car, a performance sedan, a family capable sedan; its success is that it can be any or all of those things, depending on how the customer chooses to equip their car,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO — Dodge and SRT Brands. “And now, with a NHRA-certified quarter mile time of 11.0 seconds and a 204 mph top speed, the new 2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat redefines itself again, as the quickest, fastest, most powerful sedan in the world!”
The new Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is an outrageously brutal sedan that can chauffeur a family in a cloud of tire smoke and naughty noises. The same engine found in the SRT Challenger Hellcat is used in the Charger SRT Hellcat. The 6.2-liter V-8 boasts beefed up hardware such as a forged steel crankshaft, induction-hardened bearing surfaces, forged alloy pistons, powder-forged connecting rods, diamond-like-carbon-coated piston pins, heat-treated aluminum alloy cylinder heads, and die-cast aluminum rocker covers in HEMI orange. With a screaming supercharger feeding it boost, the 6.2-liter V-8 pumps out 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft. of torque.
All those ponies are sent through a beefed up TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic for the first time in the segment. Gearshifts take just 160 milliseconds and it offers up rec-matching for smooth downshifts. Drivers can take control through the electronic shifter with T-handle as well as the standard steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. At the hands of a good driver, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat can accelerate to 100 mph in less than 13 seconds and blow through the quarter-mile in an NHRA-certified 11.0 seconds on street tires. Top speed is all the way back at 204 mph, making it the fastest production sedan in the world.
Just like its sibling, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat comes with two key fobs – the “restricted” black fob and the unleash-all-kinds-of-hell red fob. A special valet mode restricts all kinds of potential and disables a few performance-oriented functions so things don’t get out of hand. This, however, can be deactivated with a simple four-digit PIN code. New driving modes are also available: Sport, Track, Default, Eco, and the new Custom setting that allows drivers to tailor the car’s settings to their liking.
It’s not easy to control 707 horsepower in the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. Part of that job falls on the new “Slingshot” seven-spoke lightweight forged aluminum wheels available in matte black as standard or an optional Brass Monkey/dark bronze finish. The 9.5 x 20 wheels provide a wide footprint and wears standard Pirelli P Zero tires measuring 275/40 ZR20. For those that want more grip, Pirelli P Zero Nero tires can be fitted as well. Behind those tires sit all-new 390 mm (15.4-inch) Brembo brakes with two-piece, six-piston calipers that are the largest ever offered on a Chrysler vehicle.
Being that it is a muscle car in the truest sense, Dodge and SRT designers injected some classic design cues from the Charger and Viper. Much of the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat was inspired by the second-generation Charger, specifically the 1969 model. The new front fascia looks menacing thanks to new blacked-out upper and lower grille inserts, an integrated front splitter, and powerful LED lights. A power-bulge aluminum hood visually announces the 707-horsepower engine sitting beneath it and features a dedicated “cold-air” intake based on the styling from the 1996 Viper coupe, sitting between dual air extractors. The rear boasts a single-piece trunklid spoiler atop dominating “racetrack” LED taillights. Protruding from the rear are two four-inch round exhaust tips integrated into the new valence.
Inside, the interior of the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat was designed to be driver-oriented. New premium soft-touch materials adorn every inch of the cabin and redesigned seats with added cushioning and contours hold driver and passengers in place. A new seven-inch TFT customizable digital instrument gauge cluster can show specific information for the driver while a 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen media center provides all the entertainment you’ll need alongside the screaming, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. A premium 900-watt, 18-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system is available to drown out the V-8 soundtrack if needed, and comes standard. Facing the driver is a heated, SRT-branded, flat-bottomed steering wheel to help control the muscle car.
The new Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat will begin production in the first quarter of 2015 at the Brampton Ontario Assembly plant. Pricing has not officially been announced, but expect it to fall in line with the Challenger SRT Hellcat’s $60K base price.
httpvh://youtu.be/t6HXPBQH05s
Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Specifications
Engine:
Displacement: 6.2 liters
Number of Cylinders: V-8
Aspiration: Supercharged
Maximum Horsepower: 707
Maximum Torque: 650 lb-ft.
Transmission:
Drive: Rear-wheel
Transmission: TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic
Performance:
Acceleration 0-100 mph: less than 13.0 seconds
Quarter-Mile Acceleration: 11.0 seconds (street tires, NHRA-certified)
Top Speed: 204 mph
Wheels, Tires, and Brakes:
Wheels: “Slingshot” seven-spoke lightweight forged aluminum
Wheel Finish: Matte Black (std.) or Brass Monkey/dark bronze
Wheel Size: 9.5 x 20
Tires: Y-Rated Pirelli P Zero (std.) or Y-Rated Pirelli P Zero Nero
Tire Size: 275/40 ZR20
Brakes: Brembo 390 mm (15.4-inch) discs with two-piece, six-piston calipers
Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Gallery
Source: Dodge
Is the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat the best performance sedan on earth?
