Every Production Car With A Hellcat Engine – Jalopnik

What do you do when you’ve a 6.2-liter, supercharged V8 at your disposal? Of course, you set it in each kind of car conceivable. Okay, a Chrysler automobile by no means obtained a Hellcat engine, however the supercharged monster wasn’t candidate for a minivan to start with. It did, nevertheless, seem in all the pieces from vans and SUVs to two-door and four-door muscle automobiles.

And frankly? Hell yeah! Yup, it drinks gas like a cargo ship, however it additionally produces gazillions of grins. Horsepower? Supercar-to-hypercar stage. Rear tires: burned. Drag strips: terrorized. Oh, and the sound? A menacing concord of traditional American V8 burble and supercharger whine. The Hellcat could have lived for lower than a decade, however it has left a deep mark in Mopar historical past. So a lot in order that it makes us cringe to study that the brand-new Dodge Charger Sixpack has a twin-turbo inline-6.

Sure, the Hurricane engine is ok, however the Hellcat by no means handled high-quality. The Hellcat was extreme from the get-go. Unnecessary, even. It stood agency in an period the place automakers tried to persuade us that downsizing and electrons are the one answer. Ultimately, that is what made it nice, incomes it legendary standing amongst octane-blooded people. So, let’s rejoice all that by revisiting all the nice automobiles that had been fortunate sufficient to hold a Hellcat beneath the hood!

What higher option to begin this story than with the final word Hellcat automotive — the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. Like some other Hellcat sibling, the Demon 170 has the standard 6.2-liter V8 hiding beneath the hood. However, it additionally has an enormous 3.0-liter supercharger — as huge as Stellantis’ Hurricane inline-6 engine — which produces 21.3 psi of increase. The outcome? 900 horsepower and 810 pound-feet of torque.

Savage, huh? Well, these figures solely apply in case you feed the engine with E10 fuel. Give it E85, and the Challenger SRT Demon 170 produces 1,025 hp and 945 lb-ft of torque — sufficient to fret Ferrari and Lamborghini drivers. Oh, and the acceleration numbers are much more obscene. 0-60: 1.66 seconds. Quarter mile: 8.91 seconds. And sure, the Demon 170 does these with an eight-speed automated that channels the ability solely by way of the rear wheels.

Let’s get actual for a second — the Demon 170 is designed particularly for the drag strip. So, it has a 53% stronger differential housing, Drag Mode adaptive-damping shocks for optimum weight switch on the rear tires, and a staggered widebody design. Heck, the meaty rear tires are Mickey Thompson ET Street R — a barely street-legal mannequin that was particularly designed to be used on drag strips. Dodge additionally achieved these numbers on a prepped floor, with a talented manufacturing unit driver behind the wheel.

None of those upgrades takes away from the sheer absurdity of the Demon 170. Besides, at $100,361 (2023 mannequin 12 months), it was a steal. Yes, the equally prized Model S Plaid was faster in the actual world, however an inside combustion automotive? No. Chance.

The first Hellcat-powered Demon seems regular subsequent to the 170. 840 hp and 770 lb-ft of torque on high-octane fuel. 0-60: 2.3 seconds. Quarter mile: 9.65 seconds. But again in 2017, when Dodge launched this automotive, it had the world’s strongest V8 engine. Heck, it was the world’s first manufacturing automotive to do a wheelie and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest wheelie from a standing begin in a manufacturing automotive.

The Challenger SRT Demon was a hypercar-killing weapon, too. Remember the 950-hp, $1.42 million Ferrari LaFerrari? It did the quarter mile in 9.8 seconds, similar because the 903-hp, $1.15 million McLaren P1. Yeah, yeah, the Challenger SRT Demon is generally a one-trick pony, designed particularly to sort out drag strips. But you would afford it with out promoting a kidney and nonetheless have a good time smoking hypercars.

Dodge’s engineers made certain that occurs each time. The Demon was geared up with particular Nitto drag radial tires, designed for optimum grip off the road. A high-strength driveshaft, 41-spline axle shafts, and eight-ball CV joints guarantee all the pieces stays in a single piece while you ask for all these 840 hp. The eight-speed handbook additionally acquired a transbrake function for faster, 400-millisecond shifts, similar as within the Demon 170.

Oh, Dodge did not simply flip up the increase to achieve 840 hp. The 2.7-liter supercharger (14.5 psi) definitely performed the largest half, however the engineers redesigned 65% of the parts. Demon’s Hellcat acquired stronger crankshaft, connecting rods, and pistons. Redesigned valves had elevated spring charges. Even the block was modified to extend oil capability for higher lubrication and cooling.

Let’s spin the odometer again to 2015. The Camaro ZL1 massaged the LS crowd with a 580-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V8. The Mustang Shelby GT500 dominated headlines with a 662-hp, 5.8-liter supercharged V8. Mopar’s reply? A brand-new 6.2-liter supercharged V8 straight from hell, producing 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The Hellcat Hemi utterly shifted the dynamic within the hotly contested muscle-car class, giving the Challenger a brand new lease on life. But it was solely the start; Dodge upgraded the SRT Hellcat to 717 hp in 2019 and launched much more nuclear variations down the road.

Today, we glance in another way at 700-ish horsepower, however a decade in the past, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat put the worry of God into colleague Patrick George. Sure, the damp roads performed an enormous position, however regardless, he was principally driving it within the 500-hp valet mode. Not that it surprises us. Let’s remind you — the SRT Hellcat is rear-wheel drive. In different phrases, it likes to burn these rear tires, which, on this case, weren’t drag radials, however Pirelli P Zeros.

On dry, scorching asphalt, with launch management engaged (eight-speed automated), the Challenger SRT Hellcat may hit 60 in 3.5 seconds. Quarter mile: 11.2 seconds. But you do not need the automated. The Challenger SRT Hellcat is at its finest with the six-speed handbook. Yes, it means much more burnt rubber, however is not that the place all of the enjoyable lies? The actual kicker? Dodge requested solely $59,000 for a Challenger SRT Hellcat in 2015. Anyone with a time machine — elevate your fingers within the feedback beneath.

By 2019, Dodge deemed the Challenger SRT Hellcat not potent sufficient. There isn’t any different clarification for the Redeye mannequin, launched for the 2019 mannequin 12 months, which now produced 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque. 0-60: 3.4 seconds. Quarter mile: 10.8 seconds. Top pace: 203 mph. That made it sooner than a 2019 Lamborghini Huracán Evo (202 mph) and 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT R Coupe (198 mph). Mic. Dropped.

But actual fanatics may wish to choose up the mic — the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye was solely obtainable with the eight-speed automated. Bummer. Hey, at the very least you bought to take a look at a 220-mph purple speedometer and an SRT Hellcat Redeye brand splash display! Or you would’ve saved some cash and chosen the common Hellcat paired with a Tremec six-speed handbook.

The Redeye is a big improve over the common mannequin, although. It packs a bigger 2.7-liter supercharger, in comparison with the two.4-liter one discovered within the SRT Hellcat, resulting in a better 14.5-psi increase. To feed the supercharger, the Redeye is provided with a dual-snorkel hood, driver-side Air Catcher headlamp, and an extra inlet close to the wheel liner.

Redeye’s rev restrict was additionally raised from 6,200 to six,500 rpm, and Torque Reserve was added to extend engine torque at launch. Speaking of which, Dodge supplied two ultimate drive ratios on the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye — 2.62:1 for extra snug real-world driving and three.09:1 for drag strip catapulting. Finally, to effectively cool the more and more stronger Hellcat engine, Dodge additionally geared up the Redeye with SRT Power Chiller and After-Run Chiller.

For the 2021 mannequin 12 months, Dodge added one other nameplate to the Hellcat household — the Challenger SRT Super Stock. Built for drag strips, it succeeded the Demon however with barely extra down-to-Earth specs: 807 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque. Okay, okay, the Super Stock remains to be a rubber eater that makes supercars look tame by comparability. It sprints to 60 in 3.25 seconds. Quarter mile: 10.5 seconds. Top pace: 168 mph. Why? Dodge needed to set a tough restrict as a result of that is how a lot the Nitto NT05R drag radials had been rated for.

Should you care? Well, Elizabeth Blackstock says the Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock helped her embrace the divine female. So, no. You’ll nonetheless smile from ear to ear — by primarily driving it in a straight line. The Super Stock will flip, however it’s the stoplights the place it shines. Or the drag strip. On that be aware, the Super Stock has a Line Lock function that engages the entrance brakes, letting you do a burnout to warmth and clear the rear tires. To assist you make an ideal launch each time, there may be additionally Launch Control on board. Another neat function is Launch Assist, which detects wheel hop and reduces torque momentarily to guard the driveline from harm. The normal eight-speed automated additionally has an acceleration-optimized calibration.

Your eyes do not deceive you — the Super Stock is a good-looking piece of package. As normal, Dodge geared up it with the widebody trim, which has added 3.5 inches to the general width. The outcome — a extra menacing, purposeful look, though it is there to make room for the drag radials.

Ever because it first appeared in 2014, the Charger SRT Hellcat has been essentially the most insane household automotive you should purchase. Yes, it has 4 doorways and ample house for passengers and cargo. But this factor can be certifiably unhinged, packing the identical 707-hp supercharged V8 because the Challenger SRT Hellcat.

Sure, the Charger SRT Hellcat is undoubtedly a extra sensible tackle the Hellcat fever. But no one would’ve mistaken it for a rational buy. Instead, this was a gift for Mopar fanatics with households. Scratch that — current for automotive fanatics, usually. A decade in the past, the Charger SRT Hellcat was the quickest and strongest sedan on sale — worldwide. Heck, with a high pace of 204 mph, it may overrun most exotics from its time. Come on — it even lined the quarter mile in 11 seconds. 0-60: 3.7 seconds.

Apart from efficiency figures that also demand respect in 2025, the Charger SRT Hellcat additionally got here with upgrades that made it simpler to drive, like stiffer suspension and big Brembo brakes. Not sufficient to chase a BMW M5 on a mountain cross, in fact, however sufficient to maintain it in verify as soon as the speedometer exhibits three-digit numbers.

Ah, sure, you may arrive at these shortly, no query about it. But for the sake of the rear tires, you may need a gentler method. Yup, the Charger SRT Hellcat by no means got here with all-wheel drive (AWD), which might’ve made it a greater automotive for most individuals. At the identical time, the eight-speed automated was all the time the correct selection for the Charger — a handbook would not have made sense right here, anyway.

Dodge gave the Charger the Redeye therapy for the 2019 mannequin 12 months. You’d argue the Charger SRT Hellcat by no means wanted this energy improve however come on — Mopar has all the time been about extra. So, like within the Challenger Redeye, Dodge geared up the sedan with a 797-hp tune of the Hellcat engine, achieved utilizing a bigger supercharger, stronger connecting rods and pistons, high-speed valve practice, and a brand new gas injection system. A neat normal function on the Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye is SRT Power Chiller, which lowers the consumption air temperature utilizing the air conditioner, additional growing efficiency.

As a outcome, the Redeye engine has shortened the quarter-mile time to 10.6 seconds. The stronger engine has additionally shaved 0.2 seconds of the 0-60 time. However, as a result of normal widebody’s added drag, the Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye has a decrease 203-mph high pace. In reality, with the widebody trim, the common Charger SRT Hellcat tops at 196 mph.

Crucially although, in accordance with Dodge, the extra highly effective mannequin is 1.2 seconds sooner on a 2.1-mile highway course, or seven automotive lengths. Now, that is not achievable solely with an engine tune — cornering pace is normally extra vital. So, the Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye additionally acquired wider 305/35ZR20 tires, alongside SRT-tuned Bilstein three-mode Adaptive Damping Suspension. Oh, sure, like its two-door sibling, the sedan additionally has Line Lock, which engages the brakes on the entrance wheels to allow you to do burnouts and provides the viewers actual purple eyes.

Using the Hellcat engine in a sedan was in fact not sufficient for Dodge, so for the 2021 mannequin 12 months, the automaker determined to drop the engine contained in the Durango SUV. Hardly stunning, this made the Durango SRT Hellcat essentially the most highly effective SUV on the time, packing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the Charger and Challenger, the Durango was additionally geared up with AWD, so regardless of its sheer mass, it accelerated to 60 in a hardly plausible 3.5 seconds. Top pace: 180 mph.

Do we have to point out you possibly can seat as much as seven individuals within the Durango SRT Hellcat? Yes, it is an obscene automotive that also has no equal within the automotive world. Seriously, you may smoke any German three-row SUV on the site visitors gentle prefer it’s nothing. The Audi SQ7? That has a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 500 hp and sprints to 60 in 4 seconds. The BMW X7 M60i — 523 hp. Heck, even the Alpina-tuned XB7 produces solely 630 hp.

Thank you for stating that the German rivals are in all probability higher to drive within the corners, however will you actually be bringing your Durango SRT Hellcat on the monitor? Besides, the adaptive dampers work simply high-quality, offering a pleasant steadiness between dealing with and luxury. And for 2026, the Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak even gives premium-level customization choices. You can select a number of completely different inside colour trims with the six-seat configuration — together with seat belts in contrasting colours. Those twin stripes additionally add boy racer vibes, proper?

The Durango SRT Hellcat wasn’t the primary SUV with the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine. That title goes to the unhinged 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. For this mannequin, Jeep used the 707-hp tune of the Hellcat engine, mated to an eight-speed automated with launch management and normal AWD.

In 2018, the combo made the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk a massively sensible supercar but in addition the quickest SUV with an inside combustion engine on the planet. How quick? 0-60 took simply 3.5 seconds. Quarter mile: 11.6 seconds. Top pace: 180 mph. But the Trackhawk wasn’t solely a one-trick pony; Jeep additionally stated it may generate 0.88 g on the skid pad and cease from 60 mph in simply 114 toes.

To make the Trackhawk extra palatable on the road, Jeep geared up the Quadra-Trac on-demand AWD system with digital limited-slip rear differential. Furthermore, the motive force may select from amongst 5 driving modes: Auto, Sport, Track, Snow, and Tow. The Track mode, in fact, was designed to get essentially the most out of the engine with 30/70 torque cut up and blazing 160-millisecond transmission shift instances. Like most automobiles geared up with the Hellcat engine, the Trackhawk got here with Bilstein adaptive dampers and bigger brake rotors.

The Trackhawk was a present from the gods, however the absence of a manufacturing unit Hellcat Wrangler stays a gaping gap in our hearts. It’s not a hallucination — Jeep teased us with the Hellcat-powered Trailcat idea manner again in 2016. Two doorways. Open high. Real off-road chops. 707 supercharged horsepower on strong axles. It’s so absurd that the Wrangler 392 looks like a mere comfort worth.

Fortunately, off-roaders obtained their Hellcat drugs within the Ram 1500 TRX. Yes, it is a full-size truck, however a mega enjoyable one. And by this, we imply launching and touchdown a 6,443-pound automobile on Baja-style off-road programs. Or smoking sports activities automobiles on the site visitors gentle. With its 702-hp Hellcat engine, the Ram 1500 TRX can do any shenanigan you throw at it and produce the full-size SUV to 60 in simply 4.5 seconds.

We examined the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, and it is actually superior off-road, surprising exactly zero individuals. From the strengthened body to the Bilstein Black Hawk adaptive dampers, the 1500 TRX has all the pieces it must plow by way of essentially the most uneven terrains — at pace. It’s additionally geared up with large all-terrain tires, which offer larger off-road traction however take away from the truck’s on-road dynamics. So, the highest pace is restricted to only 118 mph.

To make issues worse, the Ram 1500 TRX is usually difficult to drive in site visitors and never simply because it is enormous. The throttle is jumpy. The steering and brakes really feel disconnected. Oh, and there may be a lot physique roll within the corners that it beats the purpose of a Hellcat-powered truck within the first place.

Curiously, Ram may be engaged on an up to date 1500 TRX for subsequent 12 months. It ought to have much more energy as a result of at present the 700-hp Ford F-150 Raptor R additionally exists. Let’s simply hope that Ram solves the gremlins and turns the 1500 TRX into an actual competitor.