NEWS: 600+HP Hellcat Powered 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Debuts
With SRT returning to a stand-alone sub-brand, Dodge has become the Chrysler groups performance nameplate. They have started out with a bang with the introduction of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT with the Hellcat engine. This is coming a month after Dodge announced the 2015 Dodge Challenger 392 HEMI Scat Pack in New York.
With the introduction of these two new models, Dodge is promising the most authentic modern muscle cars on the road. In the 2015 Dodge Challenger with the Hellcat engine, Dodge has done a first for their company and put a supercharged Hemi V8 under the hood of their car.
Displacing 6.2-Liters, it is promising to be Dodges most powerful V8 ever produced. These two new models will be built in Dodges Brampton Assembly plant and production will begin in the third quarter of this year.
What’s under the hood?
First Dodge is upgrading their 6.4-liter, 392 ci Hemi in the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT to 485hp and 475lb.-ft from 470hp and 470lb.-ft respectively. It will be offered with a 6-speed manual or a new TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, which will be the first time that an eight-speed automatic will be offered in a high performance muscle car.
The 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat will come with a 6.2-liter Hemi V8 that will produce over 600hp, making it the Chrysler Groups most powerful V8 engine ever. It will be available with an upgraded 6-speed manual and the eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic.
Dodge knows that no matter how much power they put into their high performance vehicles people always want more and go to the aftermarket for upgrades. This is why Dodge always makes their engines stronger than what they need to be for the power that they output. The new Hellcat engine is no different.
The new hellcat engine will feature a forged steel crankshaft with an induction hardened bearing surface that is capable of withstanding firing pressures of up to 1595 psi, or the weight of 5 family sedans on each piston. The damper for the crank has also been tested to speeds of up to 13,000 rpm. It also features forged-alloy pistons with powder forged connecting rods. The pins on the pistons are coated in a diamond like carbon coating. The heads of the cylinders are made of a heat treated aluminum alloy that excellent thermal conductivity. The rocker covers are painted in a HEMI orange.
Drive Modes.
Both 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT models will come with a drive mode selector. You will be able to choose from default which is normal mode, sport mode which gives you better throttle response and a heaver steering, and track mode which will give you the maximum performance possible on dry surfaces. There will also be a custom mode which will allow you to set how you want the steering, transmission, suspension, and traction control to do. Dodge is making it so that you can set and select what drive mode you want through the UConnect system.
Two Keys
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT with the Hellcat engine will come with two keys, one red and one black. Both keys do different things. The red one is the only key that allows you to access the full performance of that new supercharged V8. The black one will limit the output of the supercharged V8.
Worried about giving your new 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT with the Hellcat engine to the valet? Don’t fret because Dodge has already thought of this and built in a valet mode into the car. To enable and disable it all you have to do is type in a four digit code. The valet mode will severely limit the cars performance. The car will be in its street settings for suspension, traction and steering. The engine will be limited to 4000rpm and horsepower will be limited. All performance for the car will be locked out and there will be nothing that the valet could do to harm your vehicle.
Handling
The new 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT will come with exclusive “77” eight-spoke aluminum rims that will be 20 x 9 inch and painted Hyper Black. The will be wrapped with 245/45ZR20 Goodyear RSA2 All-Season tires or optional Goodyear F1 Supercar three-season tires.
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT with the Hellcat engine will feature bigger 20 x 9.5 inch “Slingshot” split seven spoke wheels made out of a lightweight forged aluminum wrapped in P275/40ZR20 Pirelli P Zero Nero tires, which will be rated for all four seasons. They will have a matte black finish and will be available on the 392 if you opt for the SRT Track Pack. You will also be able to get the Hellcat with Brass Monkey/dark finish wheels.
Braking
Bringing the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT with the Hellcat engine to a stop are 15.4 inch Brembo two piece rotors with 6-piston calipers front brakes. These will largest brakes ever put on an SRT vehicle. They will provide excellent braking power as well as good thermal capacity and little brake fade. They will also be available on the 392 Challenger if you opt for the track pack. They have also programmed the ABS system, ESC and traction control to be tuned for the specific powertrain and tires.
Exterior Features
Dodge wanted to get the most out of the new 2015 Challenger with the Hellcat, so they spent a lot of time in a full scale wind tunnel. They added exterior features that would give the Hellcat better down force and engine cooling with improved aerodynamics.
The grill has been revised for the 2015 model year so that it gives more of a look to the 1971 Challenger that it draws its inspiration from. It also has dedicated cold air intakes that harken back to the 1996 Dodge Viper.
The new Hellcat features a hood that has dual air extractors that will help to cool the engine, as well as make it so that there is less air turbulence in the engine compartment for better aerodynamics. The hood will be made out of a lightweight aluminum that can be painted the color of the car or a Satin Black.
In the driver’s side parking lamp is an AirCatcher inlet port which brings air directly into the air box. The Challenger will feature new projector beam head lamps with brow chops on the top of the lens that give the car a more aggressive look. Fog lamps on the car are pushed towards the edge of the vehicle to show just how wide and aggressive the car is. At the bottom of the bumper is a duck-bill splitter that helps aerodynamics by reducing lift and increasing the down force.
The sides of the car are almost the same as the normal car except there is a supercharged badge on the fender and the door sills and gas cap are painted in a satin black finish. The back of the car is meant to look more like the 1971 Challenger. Instead of the solid rear light that we are used to, there is a split tail light design that has satin black surrounds, with Dodge spelled out in between them. The SRT models will get a spoiler in satin black that also has a SRT logo on it. The SRT logo on the Hellcat model will feature raised letters.
Interior
All new 2015 Dodge Challengers will feature a new interior that is more driver oriented and features all of Dodges new technology including their Uconnect system. Some styling cues from the new car take cues from the classic 1971 model.
New gauges take stage surrounding an all new driver’s display. The drivers display is a 7-inch screen in the instrument cluster that is customizable. Surrounding the display are analog Speedometer and Tachometer, which provide a look that is inspired by the 1971 Challenger with concave shapes and a unique needle. The SRT model with the Hellcat has a Dark Radar Red finish to them to further differentiate them from the regular car.
The 2015 Challenger also gets Dodges UConnect system with its 8.4-inch touch screen and it will also have different backgrounds depending on which interior color you choose.
The center console in the 2015 Challenger receives a trapezoidal center stack that gives it a unique look. There is aluminum trim in the new Challengers interior that gets different finishes for the SRT models.
The interior is also given leather on the seats and dashboard to give it more of a luxurious interior. There is contrasting stitching to give it an even more unique look. All of the new Challengers features, including the climate control, can be accessed from the Uconnect touch screen, but dodge has but in hard controls as well to make it easier to operate.
If you get the new TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic, you will get an electronic shifter that has a T-Shape. If you opt for the manual, you will get a ball shifter that is a throwback to the classic car.
The SRT models get a unique steering wheel that is heated and has a flat bottom for more aggressive driving. There are also paddle shifters on the back of the wheel for those that get the automatic. Buttons for the UConnect system are now on the bottom of the horizontal spokes of the steering wheel. Dodge has also given the 2015 Challenger an optional adaptive cruise control system that you will be able to control from the steering wheel. There is still audio controls on the back of steering wheel and the new wheel has tilt-telescoping and has a 360-degree heating element.
The seats have also been upgraded with better cushions for better long distance comfort. The front seats now come standard with heating and ventilation. They have also worked on making it so that it is easier to get in and out of the Challengers rear seats from the passenger’s side.
The SRT models also offers performance oriented seats with good support in cornering. They will be covered in Nappa Leather and Alcantara with SRT logos embroidered in them. They will come in two colors, sepia or black with the SRT logos on them.
Exterior Colors
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT 392 and Hellcat will come in 11 different colors:
B5 Blue Pearl Coat, Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Bright White Clear Coat, Granite Crystal Metallic Pearl Coat, Ivory White Tri-Coat Pearl, Jazz Blue Pearl Coat, Phantom Black Tri-Coat Pearl, Pitch Black Clear Coat, Redline Tri-Coat Pearl, Sublime Metallic Pearl Coat and TorRed Clear Coat.
Twin, full-body stripes are available in Black Satin Gloss and Silver High Gloss on the SRT 392.
By: Joshua Kashinsky
Image Source: Chrysler Media
