Cheer up, America: The 707 HP Dodge SRT Hellcat is more fun than soccer, anyway

By Nick Jaynes July 1, 2014

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2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

If the World Cup has you down, let me cheer you up: Dodge has officially rated the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat at 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. That makes it the most powerful Dodge – and muscle car – ever.

To put that into perspective, it’s more powerful than the V10-powered Viper, the Ford Mustang GT500, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and Corvette Z06 … and the Lamborghini Aventador.

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

What on earth makes so much muscle? None other than the SRT-tuned, supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8, which is mated to either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. What’re the 0 to 60 times? Forget about it. You won’t be able to get to 60; at full throttle, you’ll just burn rubber … and I’m OK with that.

If you’re worried you’d never be able to really use a muscle car with 707 ponies, fear not. The Hellcat will come with two key fobs from the factory: a black one and a red one. The red one, as you might have well guessed, unleashes all 707 thunderous horses. With the black key fob, the driver is privy to just 500 horsepower. You know, for sensible daily driving.

Keen to know what it’s like to drive? So am I. Luckily for us both, DT will be behind the wheel of the Hellcat in two weeks time. So be sure to check back soon for both a first drive video and report.

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There's a new version of the Dodge Challenger Demon muscle car that’s even more extreme than the vaunted Hellcat. The aptly named Challenger SRT Demon is the company’s latest hot rod, and it broke cover at a private event ahead of the New York Auto Show after a teaser campaign that lasted a whopping 13 weeks. That was the first record the Demon collected, but it certainly wasn't the last.
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The first production 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon just rolled off the assembly line this past week, a spokesperson for FCA told MotorAuthority. The color and build are unknown, but we can probably eliminate Indigo Blue, B5 Blue, and classic Plum Crazy, as these paints are listed as "Late Availability" on the Demon's build page.

FCA also said that customer deliveries will take place "following containment at the plant." We're not sure what that means, but that's likely intentional.
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Ahead of the Demon's debut, Dodge ambitiously promised it would raise the bar in terms of power and speed, and we're glad to report it kept its word. Between the front fenders lies an evolution of the Challenger Hellcat’s supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine tuned to generate 840 horsepower and 770 pound-feet of torque when it’s burning 100 octane fuel, figures that make it the most powerful factory-built eight-cylinder engine in the industry. Even big names like Mercedes-AMG can't beat it.

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The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon was built for drag racing, but can it do anything besides run the quarter mile?

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Dodge is delivering that less-subtle look in the form of the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody. It borrows the fender flares from the 840-hp Challenger SRT Demon drag racer for a more muscular look. The makeover should help the Hellcat steal back some of the attention the Demon has been hogging since its New York Auto Show debut in April.