The Challenger made its fateful return to Dodge's lineup in 2008 following decades of remaining dormant. For the 2015 model year, the Challenger received a refresh that included a set of taillights that hark back to the 1971 model year. Those fancy taillights are small potatoes when compared to the big news of 2015, the addition of the 700-plus-horsepower Challenger SRT Hellcat.

The wait if finally over, ladies and gentlemen! Dodge->ke28 has unleashed its most powerful Challenger->ke249 ever -- the Hellcat. Rumored since early last year and initially expected to show up at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, the monstrous muscle car->ke507 was raised from the dark pits of Hell with a huge, supercharged, 6.2-liter, V-8 mill under the hood and an appearance that will make the Shelby GT500->ke1359 tremble in fear.

Needless to say, the Challenger Hellcat is the first product of the newly consolidated Dodge and SRT brands, a range-topping model that will sit above the already beefed-up 392 HEMI Scat Pack Shaker that we've seen during the New York Auto Show->ke226 last month.

"The new 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is the ultimate performance muscle car," said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge president and CEO, naming it "a true GT car with an all-new driver-focused interior." The beastly coupe will be built at Chrysler's Brampton Assembly plant in Ontario, Canada, but production won't begin until the third quarter of 2014.

If you're as excited as we are, waiting that long to see and drive the most powerful Challenger ever made will be painful to say the least. However, that gives us more than enough time to go through all the details and find out what the Hellcat is made of. Aside from the supercharged, V-8 HEMI we're already drooling over...

Updated 07/16/2014: Pricing for the 2015 Challenger Hellcat SRT have been officially confirmed by Chrysler: $59,995 (excluding $995 destination and including $2,100 gas-guzzler tax; $1,700 gas-guzzler tax on models with the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic

Updated 09/18/2014: Dodge announced that the 707 HP Challenger SRT Hellcat will deliver a highway fuel-economy rating of 22 mpg when equipped with the segment-exclusive TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission and 21 mpg with the new six-speed manual.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 707
  • Torque: 650
  • Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Update History

Updated 5/24/2014: Chrysler has just released four new videos on the Challenger Hellcat. One takes a detailed look at the interior, one on the exterior, one on the powertrain, and the final one shows off the entire car through CGI. Check them all out by clicking the "Videos" link at the top of the article.

Updated 05/27/2014: Chrysler revealed a new set of images revealing that sexy Hellcat engine. Check them out in the picture gallery.

Update 5/28/2014: Chrysler has unleashed a ton more information on the supercharged Challenger SRT Hellcat. None of it included the exact specs, but there are still some really nice details to digest after the jump.

Updated 07/01/2014: Chrysler officially confirmed today that the new Challenger SRT Hellcat will deliver a whopping 707 horsepower. This make the Challenger Hellcat the most powerful muscle car ever. More details after the jump.

Updated 07/11/2014: Chrysler launched a new video showing the new SRT Hellcat in action. Enjoy!

Why Hellcat?

Some enthusiasts have been wondering why Dodge chose the Hellcat name for the supercharged HEMI engine ever since the first rumors about the new powerplant started to surface on the web. While he company has yet to provide an official explanation, it appears the engine is actually named after a Grumman World War II fighter plane that had its engines build by Nash. The now defunct company later joined Hudson to form AMC (American Motors), which Chrysler acquired in 1987.

It's not clear whether or not the said trademark lived on under AMC and Chrysler, but the Hellcat fighter plane was of great importance to the U.S. army during World War II, which would explain naming the engine after it. With more than 5,000 enemy aircrafts destroyed and a kill-to-loss ratio of around 19:1, the Hellcats were the most efficient fighter planes the Allies used above the Pacific.

Exterior

Just like the facelifted 2015 Challenger we've seen last month, the Hellcat also benefits from a 1971-inspired update. Although the split front grille has been replaced by a cleaner piece, the separate taillights and the pronounced power-bulge hood have been maintained on the SRT-prepped machine. But those aren't the only noticeable differences on the Hellcat. The hood now features dual air extractors for better heat removal and reduced air turbulence in the engine compartment, as well as an exclusive Air Catcher inlet port.

A redesigned bumper with quad projector lamps adds to the Hellcat's menacing looks, while a large splitter pushes the muscle car harder to the ground. `Round back, differences are less obvious, but the Hellcat does come with a taller spoiler that wears an "SRT" logo on the right side.

From the side, the Hellcat stands out, thanks to its "Supercharged" fender badges, a redesigned rear valance and new side sills, which have been carefully tuned in the wind tunnel for improved aerodynamic properties.

New spoiler with "SRT" logo

Dodge is offering no less than 11 exterior paint colors for the Challenger Hellcat, including the brand-new, high-impact B5 Blue and Sublime Green hues introduced on the regular models. Unfortunately, there's no twin, full-body stripe option available on the Hellcat, being kept as an exclusive feature for the SRT 392.

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat - Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase

116.17 Inches

Track, Front

64.0 Inches

Track, Rear

63.7 Inches

Overall Length

197.5 Inches

Overall Width

75.7 Inches

Overall Height

55.7 Inches

Ground Clearance

4.5

Frontal Area, sq. ft. (sq. m)

25.9

Drag Coefficient

0.380

Curb Weight, lb. (kg) — Est.

4,439 (2013.5)

Weight Distribution, percent F/R

57/43


Interior

The Hellcat's interior is basically standard Challenger, but there are a few details that set the supercharged version apart from the regular models. The first things that catch the eye are the redesigned, SRT-branded steering wheel with a flat bottom, and the unique gauges and digital graphics that are finished in a Dark Radar Red hue. The Hellcat's exclusivity continues with "Dark Engine Turn" aluminum trims and French-seamed accent stitching for the leather-wrapped surfaces.

Customers that order their Hellcat with the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission will also gain a brand-new electronic shifter with a driver-oriented T-handle. The manual version, on the other hand, will bring a throwback ball shifter.

Just like the rest of the Challenger SRT lineup, the Hellcat benefits from standard heated and ventilated front seats with large side bolsters and SRT-embroidered Nappa leather/Alcantara trimming. A Laguna premium upholstery in either sepia or black will be offered as part of an equipment package.

Unique gauges and digital graphics

Drivetrain

Although Dodge initially announced that the Hellcat engine will generate 600-plus ponies, the final output comes to a staggering 707-horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. This not only makes the Challenger Hellcat the most powerful Challenger ever created, but also the most powerful, factory-built muscle car ever! With more oomph than the Viper at its disposal, the Hellcat will have no trouble in reaching 60 mph from a standing start in under four seconds and expect those quarter-mile times to drop near the low 11s.

The new mill can be had with either the upgraded Tremec six-speed manual or the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic and comes with a forged-steel crankshaft and a unique, specially tuned crank damper. Also, squeezing so much power out of the 6.2-liter HEMI wouldn’t have been possible without the use of high-strength, forged-alloy pistons and heat-treated aluminum-alloy cylinder heads.

Though Chrysler has its 6.4-liter 392 HEMI engine available, the engineers deemed it necessary to destroke the large engine for added strength. The shortened stroke can mostly be attributed to a beefier forged-steel crankshaft held in place by induction-hardened bearing surfaces on the main bearings. Extra strength connecting rods are also present. The engine block retains its cast-iron construction, also for strength reasons, as firing pressures inside the cylinders reach nearly 1,600 psi. All told, roughly 90 percent of the Hellcat’s internals are new when compared to the current 392 HEMI.

As for the supercharger, Chrysler had a few options to consider, but finally settled on a Lysholm-style unit made by Japan’s IHI Corporation. The Lysholm unit is more efficient than the typical Roots-type supercharger by allowing less air leakage and a reduced amount of parasitic power loss. A special coating of PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) on the twin screws and synthetic lubricant helps the 2.38-liter blower make power up to its 14,600-rpm redline. And though the blower features a one-way clutch for added refinement, it doesn’t remove that unmistakable supercharger whine while under throttle.

And speaking of throttle, the supercharger and engine are fed through a massive 92-mm throttle body, a twin-inlet, 8.0-liter air filter box, and the functional hood scoop. The setup is the largest in Chrysler’s history.

What’s more, the Hellcat will be delivered with two standard key fobs; one colored black that limits the vehicle to a reduced engine output and a red one that unleashes all 707 ponies trapped under the hood.

With the black key fob, the car enters a Valet Mode, reducing output to (only?) 500 horsepower, limiting peak revs to 4,000, locking out the TorqueFlite’s low first gear, and short-shifting up-shifts. It also disables launch control and the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and sets the suspension setting to the least-aggressive “Street” mode. This function can be activated and deactivated using a four-digit PIN code. Sure, a valet can still have one hell of a good time in it, but he surely won't be able to go all "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" on your precious Hellcat.

It’s unclear still if these functions will still be present with the available Tremec six-speed manual transmission.

Though Dodge hasn't officially revealed the 0-to-60-mph time, reports allude to a mid-three-second sprint. This is not unlikely after seeing the Hellcat rip off an 11.2-secon quarter-mile run on street tires and 10.8-seconds on drag radials.

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat - Drivetrain/Specifications

Type and Description

Supercharged 6.2L HEMI® V-8, 90-degree V-type, liquid-cooled

Displacement

370 cu. in. (6,166 cu.cm)

Bore x Stroke

4.09 x 3.58 (103.9 x 90.9)

Valve System

Pushrod-operated overhead valves, 16 valves with hollow-stem, sodiumfilled exhaust valves, 16 conventional hydraulic lifters, all with roller tips

Fuel Injection

Sequential, multiport, electronic, returnless

Construction

Deep-skirt cast-iron block with cross-bolted main bearing caps, unique aluminum alloy heads with hemispherical combustion chambers

Compression Ratio

9.5:1

Power

707 HP

Torque

650 LB-FT

Max. Engine Speed

TBD

Fuel Requirement

Premium 91 octane (R+M)/2 — recommended

Oil Capacity

7.5 qu. (7.1-liters)

Factory Oil Fill

0W-40 Pennzoil Ultra™ synthetic

Coolant Capacity

14 qt. (13.25 liter)

Intercooler System

Separate low-temp cooling system with dual water-to-air intercoolers and a high-flow variable-speed electric water pump

Exhaust Type

Dual 2.75-in straight-though exhaust system with twin Electronic Exhaust Valves (EEV) with rectangular Black Vapor-chromed tips

Transmission

Six-speed manual Tremec TR-6060 with ZF-SACHS 258 MM Twin-disc Clutch or TorqueFlight Eight-speed auto


Suspension and Brakes

Naturally, the sport-tuned suspension comes standard on the Hellcat, along with a set of SRT-exclusive, “Slingshot” split-seven spoke 20-inch wheels crafted from lightweight, forged aluminum. The rollers are finished in matte black and wrapped in new Pirelli P Zero Nero tires that provide all-season traction. The wheels can be had in a dark-bronze color with an extra check on the options list.

Moving over to the brakes, the Challenger Hellcat is fitted brand-new, 15.4-inch Brembo two-piece rotors with six-piston calipers at all four corners, making it the largest front-brake package ever mounted on an SRT-badged vehicle. The new brakes work together with a new anti-lock braking system, ESC and traction control systems that are uniquely tuned for the Hellcat.

Prices

The 707-horsepower missile will retail from $59,995 excluding $995 destination and including $2,100 gas-guzzler tax; $1,700 gas-guzzler tax on models with the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic. The sticker makes the Hellcat more expensive than both the supercharged Shelby GT500 and Camaro ZL1, but places it below track-ready Camaro Z/28. Nonetheless, the Hellcat is cheaper than initially anticipated and quite the bargain given its enormous output and the lightning-fast, sub-12-second quarter-mile time it can return.

Officially the most powerful, factory-built muscle car ever to roll out of Detroit, the Challenger SRT Hellcat sits at the top of the Challenger lineup, superseding the $46,000 SRT 392.

Competitors

Shelby GT500

Like the Challenger Hellcat, the Shelby GT500 is the most powerful and the fastest Mustang ever built. Only if we ignore the much rarer Super Snake and Shelby 1000, that is. Crafted with help from the performance company founded by Carroll Shelby himself, the GT500 is motivated by a 5.8-liter, V-8 engine and a 2.3-liter TVS supercharger that generate a total of 662 horsepower and 631 pound-feet of torque. The combo is mated exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission, with no automatic box on the options list.

The Dearborn-built muscle car needs just 3.5 seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 mph and reaches a top speed of 202 mph. The Ford->ke31-badged coupe is awfully fast on the drag strip as well, needing just 11.8 seconds to complete the quarter mile. Interestingly enough, the GT500 returns 15 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, something the Challenger Hellcat will find very hard to beat.

The 2014 Shelby GT500 retails from $55,110 and will likely be discontinued as the 2015 Mustang starts coming off the assembly line this fall.

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The 2014 Camaro ZL1 is the least powerful of the pack, with "only" 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque shaking the hood. The oomph is generated by a supercharged, 6.2-liter, V-8 engine based on the LS9 unit from the Corvette ZR1 and goes to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission. The Camaro ZL1 screams to 60 mph from a standing start in about four seconds and reaches its top speed at 184 mph.

Unlike the Shelby GT500 and the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, the ZL1 can also be had in a Convertible version. The GM->ke1024-built muscle car benefits from state-of-the-art Magnetic Ride Control technology and a Performance Traction Management system that increases stability on track. Pricing for the 2014 Chevrolet->ke199 Camaro ZL1 begins at $55,355.

Conclusion

With 707 horsepower under its hood, the Dodge Challenger Hellcat needs no resume to knock at the gates of muscle car stardom. With the 662-horsepower Shelby GT500 out of the way, the Challenger Hellcat has no true competitor until either Ford or Chevrolet come up with something more extreme. Will the new supercharged Challenger help the nameplate beat its rivals in terms of sales? Not likely, but it will make a hell of a road-and-track toy for those who can afford it.