Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Two Hellcats and a Viper whip up a smoky cocktail in Dodge’s new ‘Predators’ ad

Andrew Hard
By
Official Dodge Extended Cut | Predators
The night is cold and quiet, save for the distant rumbling of a far-off beast. The guttural roar inches closer by the second, causing your eyes to widen and your toes to curl. No need to be wary of hungry carnivores, though, because in the concrete jungle, booming muscle cars are king. And unlike their meat-eating brethren, they crave only gasoline and rubber. That, and the occasional speeding ticket.

This dynamic has never been more apparent than in Dodge’s latest ad, titled “Predators.” In the short, 90-second film, the brand highlights its ferocious muscle car lineup that includes the Challenger Hellcat, Charger Hellcat, and of course, the Viper. The Miami-based clip is definitely a keeper, if not for the atmosphere and tire smoke, then for the amazing soundtrack. Who would have thought Phil Collins and pushrod engines sounded so great together?

1 of 5
Dodge 'Predator' ad
Dodge 'Predator' ad
Dodge 'Predator' ad
Dodge 'Predator' ad
Dodge 'Predator' ad

The American automaker has been killing it with its advertisements lately, further proven by the brand’s “Dodge Brothers” series.

Recommended Videos

The campaign loosely follows the journey of John Francis Dodge and Horace Elgin Dodge, siblings who started making bicycles in the late 1800s before moving to cars in the early 20th century. It’s recommended viewing for history fans and gearheads alike, as the aforementioned Hellcat twins make several memorable, tire-shredding appearances throughout.

The effects of these advertisements have been tangible for Dodge. According to a report by Automotive News, the manufacturer has substantially increased production of the 707-horsepower supercharged V8 that comes with the Hellcat badge, making it the third time that high demand has driven an output increase.

“We’re going to build more [Hellcats] for 2016,” said Tim Kuniskis, president and CEO of Dodge. “We stopped taking all Hellcat orders months ago so that we could catch up to that demand, and then we will launch the 2016s.”

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Andrew Hard
Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Stow that laptop, cop! Dodge’s 2016 Charger Pursuit comes with a 12.1-inch touchscreen
Dodge Charger Pursuit

Outside of the red and blue lights, department insignias, and sturdy bullbars, the most unique characteristic of a police vehicle is its interior. Cop cars are typically fitted with an array of additional electronics inside the cabin, most notably a large laptop and radio unit attached to a bulky tray.

For the 2016 Charger Pursuit vehicle, Dodge took a different, Tesla-style approach. All of the original equipment is still in use, only now it’s stowed in the trunk and the controls are routed to a 12.1-inch Uconnect touchscreen display in the cockpit. Dispatch software, lighting, radio, and camera functions are all accessible through the screen or wireless keyboard, significantly freeing up interior space and diminishing visual distraction for the officer.

Read more
In China, a new Dodge Viper could cost you nearly half a million dollars
2015 Dodge Viper

High-end automakers like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bentley have sold thousands of cars in China over the past few years, yet the Dodge Viper is not officially available there. That doesn't mean there isn't a demand for it, though, and a dealership in Beijing has reportedly started to import gray-market Vipers purchased from a dealership in California.

Driving a rare, powerful American muscle car in China comes at a hefty price. While the Viper carries a base price of $90,000 in the United States, buyers in China have to pony up about $480,000 to get their hands on a brand-new model. Paying Rolls-Royce money for a Viper gets you a bone-stock coupe powered by a hand-built, all-aluminum 8.4-liter V10 engine that makes 645 horsepower at 600 foot-pounds of torque. Bolted to a six-speed manual transmission, the ten-cylinder sends the Viper from zero to 60 mph in a little over three seconds.

Read more
In this new Dodge Hellcat vs. Tesla P85D drag race, revenge is smokey sweet
Tesla Drag Race Dodge Hellcat

So you’ve just purchased a brand new Dodge Challenger Hellcat, and you’ve been flaunting your 707-horsepower supercharged engine and ‘Sublime Green’ paint all around town.

Your car is Interweb royalty, and with a blown HEMI under the hood, you’ll be damned if you’re not the king of the dragstrip too.

Read more