When journalists flocked from around the country to the Chrysler proving grounds in Chelsea Michigan this week to test drive the latest FCA lineup, the Dodge Challenger SRT with a Hellcat Hemi V8 engine under the hood was the first choice. So much so, the organizers stationed an employee in each car to make sure the drivers adhered to the proving grounds speed limits and road rules. It was too easy to abuse.
“This baby is hot,” says Bob Benko, WMIC/National Speed Sports News, as he struggled to keep the SRT Challenger, a mid-size rocket, under 70 miles an hour when it wanted to ride full out. “This has the smoothest clutch I’ve ever driven.”
The 707 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, likely the most powerful domestic production engine ever built, goes from zero-to-60 mph in three seconds. With street- legal drag radials there’s 10.8 seconds to the quarter mile. It runs like the proverbial bat out of hell. Brembo brakes, and an active damping suspension add to the hotrod package, on that arguably you can actually drive on the street.
Intro’d in mid-2014, the sales keep growing, according to Challenger brand manager Ben Lyon, but he wouldn’t reveal numbers.
During a test drive, a stability control engineer rode along, warning us not to do a burnout nor to take the car up to 166 mph, which it is capable of doing. “We are changing the rules for the test drive next year,” the engineer said ruefully. “This car goes fast, very fast.”
Available as an SRT upgrade on special Challenger models, the difference in price is $26,995 for the base Challenger and $65,195 for the Hellcat model including a $1,700 gas guzzler tax.
For the $40,000 upgrade, the SRT models have the largest front-brake package offered in FCA’s lineup, 330-mm Brembo two-piece rotors with six-piston calipers, for heat management, thermal capacity and longevity. It needs it.
SRT drive modes allow the driver to control horsepower (what’s the point here?), transmission shift speeds, steering, traction and suspension, by choosing the optimum sport, race track and street modes. Customers can choose a TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual.
The overhead valve engine – archaic in theory – is pushrod operated with16 valves with sodium-filled exhaust valves and hollow stem intake valves. Correspondingly, there are 16 conventional hydraulic lifters all with roller tips. It has sequential, multiport electronic, return-less fuel injectors. The construction of the engine is a deep-skirt cast-iron block, yes archaic again, with cross-bolted main bearing caps, aluminum alloy heads with hemispherical combustion chambers and a compression ratio of 9.5:1. Not surprising, owners must use premium fuel and seven quarts of synthetic oil.
Resonators in the exhaust pipes give the hot rod tone that announce the driver’s arrival long before it gets there. Style wise, the muscle-car exterior has a split grille, pronounced power bulge hood, LED halo headlamps and LED tail lamps. Buyers can choose 11 exterior colors, including limited edition, heritage colors from the 60s and 70s, such as Yellow Jacket, Green Go, White Knuckle, Plum Crazy and Sublime.
Inside the SRT Challenger, buyers will find a leather steering wheel and seats, a red backlit instrument panel and digital speedometer, a token salute to new technology. The car has a high sill center console reminiscent of the early ‘70s and performance seats in hounds-tooth cloth or pearl with black leather.
For 2017, all Challenger models will debut smart phone integration, Apple CarPlay and a UConnect system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen. Lyon said customers asked for more Hellcat logos on upgraded SRT, so name badges will appear on the steering wheel, seats, front deck and rear deck illuminated in red or white.
More than available safety and security features, including Forward Collision Warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross path detention are included.
Does the vehicle have anything to deter police officers from writing tickets? “With its iconic design it is a natural cop magnet,” Lyon said. “I’m proud to say people purchase it for the exterior colors that seem to draw the attention of the police. And many others.”
Editor note: The Hellcat engine and SRT package is also available on the full-size Dodge Charger upgrade for approximately the same price.
