The refreshed 2015 Dodge Challenger was unveiled last month at the 2014 New York Auto Show, but there was something missing.
Absent from the lineup was the high-performance SRT version, which Dodge unveiled today. The most powerful production Challenger ever, this muscle car might even be able to “challenge” a few supercars.
Over the past few months, rumors circulated of a supercharged HEMI V8 codenamed “Hellcat,” with enough power to rival the mighty SRT Viper. That engine is real, and it doesn’t disappoint.
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat boasts “600-plus” horsepower, courtesy of a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that can be mated to a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.
Like a Bugatti Veyron, Ford Mustang Boss 302, or nuclear missile silo, the Hellcat requires two keys to unlock its full potential. The standard black key limits power output, while a red key activates the full complement of ponies.
If muzzling the Hellcat doesn’t make sense to you, Dodge will also offer a standard Challenger SRT with the same naturally-aspirated 6.4-liter “392” HEMI V8 as 2014 models, which produces 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, up from 470 hp and 470 lb-ft in the 2014 model.
Both SRT Challengers feature four driving modes – Custom, Sport, Track, and Default – accessed through the Uconnect infotainment system, which allow drivers to alter different vehicle parameters.
The SRT models are visually distinguished from lesser Challengers by an aluminum hood reminiscent of the one on the original Viper coupe from 1996, with dual air extractors for the Hellcat.
The Hellcat also gets a front splitter and unique graphics, while both models get their own 20-inch alloy wheel designs.
Both models also benefit from the interior upgrades bestowed on other 2015 Challenger models, including an 8.4-inch center-stack screen and TFT gauge cluster. SRT models also get some unique interior trim, plus heavily-bolstered sport seats.
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT and SRT Hellcat should arrive in showrooms this fall, around the same time as the rest of the 2015 Challenger lineup.
