With most non-premium carmakers out there downsizing and predominantly preoccupied with fuel efficiency, not many people were expecting Dodge->ke28 to revolutionize the modern muscle car->ke507 with the monstrous Hellcat engine. Giving a new meaning to "Detroit muscle," the supercharged, 6.2-liter V-8 delivers a staggering 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, and is now powering versions of both the Challenger->ke249 and the Charger.->ke218
Performance figures for the two Hellcat-powered cars are similar, with the Challenger having slightly better acceleration figures thanks to its lower weight, while the Charger brings a higher top speed thanks to better aerodynamics. Pitting them against each other would mainly result in clouds of tire smoke, and that is pretty much what happened in the comparison made by Motor Authority. Unfortunately, not even the so-called "scientific" comparison between the two models resulted in a high level of entertainment in my book.
Then again, not everyone is Chris Harris, and I should probably be satisfied just seeing and hearing the Challenger and Charger Hellcats putting down some rubber. With both cars sharing the same engine and having similar performance figures, the only real differences consist of passenger volume and how easy it is to jump in, as the Motor Authority presenter so eloquently describes at one point in the above footage. In the end, it seems that the Charger Hellcat is the comparison winner, but just by a very subjective hair.