Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (2015) – the 707bhp muscle car

By James Fallon

First Official Pictures

03 July 2014 16:46

Dodge’s Challenger is to receive a new model in its line-up: the wild 2015 SRT Hellcat. It takes the Hemi V8 and boosts it with a supercharger to produce 707bhp and 650lb ft of torque.

No wonder Chrysler claims the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is the most powerful production muscle car ever.

The 2015 Challenger Hellcat sets a number of company milestones. Not only is it the most powerful Challenger ever, it’s also the most powerful V8 Chrysler has ever made and its first fitted with a supercharger.

The Hellcat comes with two key fobs: a red one which allows access to the full power of the thunderous V8 and a black one which limits the powerplant to a more everyday-friendly 500bhp.

We’re still not sure we’d want to let the babysitter out in the Hellcat, though – even with the black key.

The basis of the Hellcat’s motor is the 6.4 Hemi V8 found in various Chryslers, Dodges and Jeeps. However, the SRT go-faster wing reduces the capacity to 6.2 litres by destroking it, while the engine internals are beefed up to cope with the increase in power and torque provided by the supercharger.

The Hellcat even loses one of its headlights to fit a special cold-air intake to feed the lump with more oxygen.

This new edition of Dodge’s Challenger will be available with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic gearbox and will be the flagship model in the Challenger range.

The gargantuan power levels on tap in the Hellcat ensure that the SRT’s V8 is among the most powerful in the world. It will see the Challenger set the bar for the inevitable hot Corvette and Mustang when it is released later in 2014.

See the 707bhp Hellcat in action in Chrysler's official video in our player below.

Hold on tight!

By James Fallon