Preview: 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

Cars, News I By Bradley Iger I August 13, 2014
Recently we heard rumors about a Hellcat flavored Charger making its debut soon, and today Chrysler made its existence official. Normally we’d spare you the superlatives, but this new four-door Dodge boasts some particularly notable ones, as it is officially the quickest accelerating, fastest, and most powerful production sedan in the world.
 
As one historically familiar with the SRT treatments applied to past LX platform vehicles might expect, much of what’s found on the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat has made its way over to the Charger SRT Hellcat. That includes the 6.2-liter supercharged V8, which still makes a jaw dropping 707 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque in the Charger, and is connected up to a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission that offers 160 millisecond, rev-matched shifts.
 
 
Also making the jump is the 15.4 inch, six-piston Brembo brake system, the 20 x 9.5-inch forged aluminum wheels wearing 275/40ZR20 Pirelli PZero rubber, the three-way adaptive suspension, and all the latest on-board performance tech found in the Hellcat flavored Challenger.
 
So with all these upgrades, how does that translate to actual on-road performance? Shockingly well, actually – and somehow the Charger’s performance numbers trump even its two-door Challenger counterpart’s. Where the Challenger will blast through the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds on street tires, and the Hellcat Charger will do the deed in 11 flat. Additionally, while the Challenger’s top speed is 199 miles per hour, the Charger manages to reach 204. That’s right people, this is a family sedan in the 200mph club.
 
 
Externally, the Charger SRT Hellcat is differentiated from more sedate models by way of a large dose of visual aggression. Up front a new hood sports a prominent center intake and a pair of large heat extractors, while a more menacing front fascia and integrated splitter serve to channel more air into the engine’s intercooler and bolster high speed stability. Out back, a body color matched decklid spoiler, more aggressive rear fascia, and 4-inch exhaust tips make it clear to those behind that this is no typical Charger.
 
Pricing and availability for the Charger SRT Hellcat have yet to be announced, but in the meantime, take a look at the video and press release below for additional details. Also keep an eye on the 2015 Dodge Charger overview page for updates as we have them.
 

 
New 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is The Quickest, Fastest and Most Powerful Sedan in The World
 
With 707 horsepower, an NHRA-certified quarter mile elapsed time of 11.0 seconds on street tires and a top speed of 204 miles per hour, the world’s only four-door muscle car is the quickest, fastest and most powerful sedan ever
Supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Hellcat engine produces 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most powerful V-8 Chrysler Group LLC has ever produced
Unrivaled four-door performance includes quarter mile elapsed time in 11.0 seconds on street tires, 0-100-0 mph in under 13 seconds and a top speed of 204 miles per hour (mph)
Dodge and SRT designers re-sculpt and refined nearly every body panel with functional performance cues, including heat extractors in the hood, unique front and rear fascias and dramatic LED lighting in both front and rear
Segment-first TorqueFlite heavy-duty eight-speed automatic transmission capable of delivering fuel-efficient street driving and maximum performance track driving with 160 millisecond shifts with rev-matching
New performance attributes include the largest brakes ever offered in a Chrysler Group vehicle – 15.4-inch Brembo two-piece rotors with six-piston calipers, 20 x 9.5-inch wide forged aluminum wheels with Pirelli P Zero performance tires, adaptive damping three-mode suspension and three-mode, heavy-duty eight-speed automatic transmission
New SRT Performance Pages allow drivers to tailor the driving experience by controlling horsepower, transmission shift speeds, paddle shifters, traction and suspension
Two key fobs – one black and one red. The red fob unlocks all 707 horsepower
New interior design elements, including SRT three-spoke, flat-bottom steering wheel, 7-inch reconfigurable digital gauge cluster, 8.4-inch touchscreen, Nappa leather and Alcantara suede seating, premium materials and a choice of four new trim and color combinations
Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat features a slew of the latest high-tech features, including the new award-winning available Uconnect Access system, Uconnect Access Services with roadside assistance, theft-alarm notification, voice texting, new 3-D navigation and the ability to turn the Charger into a Wi-Fi hotspot
August 13, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Dodge is upping its high-performance game again with the unveiling of the new 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.
 
The new Charger SRT Hellcat will feature the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Hellcat V-8 engine that produces 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque – making it the quickest, fastest, most powerful production sedan in the world, as well as the most capable and technologically advanced four-door muscle car in America.
 
“For the last eight years, a large part of the Dodge Charger’s successful formula has been its many personalities. It’s a muscle car, a performance sedan, a family capable sedan; its success is that it can be any or all of those things, depending on how the customer chooses to equip their car,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO — Dodge and SRT Brands. “And now, with a NHRA-certified quarter mile time of 11.0 seconds and a 204 mph top speed, the new 2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat redefines itself again, as the quickest, fastest, most powerful sedan in the world!”
 
The 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat will be built at the Brampton (Ont.) Assembly plant. Production is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2015.
 
Awe-inspiring powertrain; largest brakes ever offered in a Chrysler Group vehicle
 
The new 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is powered by the new supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V-8 engine. Its 707 horsepower matches the highest rating of any V-8 engine in Chrysler Group’s celebrated history – that of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.
 
The all-new supercharged V-8 engine is mated to the beefy new TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission.
 
This new Hellcat engine is Dodge and SRT’s first application of V-8 supercharger technology, featuring a forged-steel crankshaft with induction-hardened bearing surfaces. The result is a crank so well-engineered it can withstand firing pressures of 110 bar (1,595 psi) – the equivalent of five family sedans standing on each piston, every two revolutions. And its unique, specially tuned crank damper has been tested to 13,000 rpm.
 
High-strength, forged-alloy pistons, developed using advanced telemetry measurement, are coupled to powder-forged connecting rods with high-load-capacity bushings and diamond-like-carbon-coated piston pins.
 
The supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V-8 has premium-grade, heat-treated aluminum-alloy cylinder heads, which are optimized for superior thermal conductivity. And its die-cast aluminum rocker covers are HEMI Orange.
 
Standard on the Charger SRT Hellcat is the largest front-brake package ever offered in a Chrysler Group vehicle, which were first introduced on the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat, featuring all-new 390-mm (15.4-inch) Brembo two-piece rotors with six-piston calipers for outstanding heat management and thermal capacity and longevity.
 
The unrivaled four-door performance numbers tell an impressive story with the quarter mile in 11.0 seconds, 0-100-0 mph in under 13 seconds, and a top speed of 204 mile per hour (mph).
 
All-new Drive Modes tailor the driving experience to each individual driver
 
Whether its on-road or on-track, Charger SRT Hellcat owners can personalize their drive experience, via the all-new Drive Modes feature. Drive Modes tailor the driving experience by controlling horsepower, transmission shift speeds, paddle shifters, traction and suspension. Drive Modes are pre-configured for Sport, Track and Default settings, while the Custom setting lets the driver customize the drive experience to their favorite settings.
Custom — Allows the driver to personalize the vehicle’s performance
Sport — Delivers increased vehicle performance capability over the Default Mode
Track — Delivers maximum vehicle performance capability on smooth, dry surfaces
Default — Activates automatically when starting the vehicle
Eco — Maximizes fuel economy with a revised shift schedule, pedal map and second-gear starts
The Drive Modes feature is controlled through the Uconnect system and may be accessed by performing any of the following:
Pushing the SRT button on the instrument panel switch bank
Selecting “Drive Modes” from the “SRT & Apps” menu
Selecting “Drive Modes” from within the Performance Pages menu
Unlocking the power
 
The all-new 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat comes standard with two key fobs – red and black. The red key fob is the only key that can unlock the full horsepower and torque potential of the SRT Hellcat engine; while the black key fob limits the driver to a reduced engine output.
 
When Valet Mode is activated, the following vehicle configurations are enabled:
Engine is remapped to significantly reduce horsepower and torque; limited to 4,000 rpm
Transmission locks out access to first gear and upshifts earlier than normal
Transmission will treat the manual shifter position the same as the drive position
Traction, steering and suspension are set to their “Street” settings
Steering-wheel paddle shifters are disabled
Drive Mode functions are disabled
Electronic stability control (ESC) is enabled to Full-on
Launch Control is disabled
 
The driver can activate and deactivate Valet Mode with a four-digit PIN code they create.
 
Sinister, functional exterior design
 
Inspired by its performance-enthusiast roots when Charger first launched more than 45 years ago, the new Charger successfully pays homage to past muscle cars while offering distinctly modern all-new exterior and interior appointments.
 
The Dodge and SRT design team builds upon the 2015 Dodge Charger’s new modern four-door fastback coupe’s already iconic exterior styling by adding a sinister-looking, unique front fascia, hood, rear fascia and spoiler.
 
The new exterior of the 2015 Dodge Charger is spiritually inspired by the iconic second-generation Charger from the late 1960s, and for 2015, specifically draws its cues from the 1969 model. With its rear-wheel-drive (RWD) platform and proven power, the Charger’s modern take on old-school muscle is sure to resonate with today’s enthusiasts.
 
Up front, the Charger SRT Hellcat receives the larger, power-bulge aluminum hood, which features a dedicated “cold-air” intake – a visual styling cue from the first Viper coupe built in 1996 – and dual air extractors to ensure effective removal of heat and reduced air turbulence in the engine compartment.
 
The redesigned front fascia and grille use unique, blacked out upper and lower textures to produce the menacing look that is sure to make onlookers notice the ultimate performance sedan.
 
An integrated front splitter optimizes airflow to the cooling modules without compromising vehicle balance.
 
Filling the wheel wells are “Slingshot” split-seven spoke 20 x 9.5-inch, lightweight forged-aluminum wheels with either standard Matte Black or available Brass Monkey/dark bronze finishes.
 
Two new 275/40ZR20 Pirelli P Zero tires provide performance for all seasons. Both Pirelli P Zero Nero and P Zero tires are Y-Plus rated to handle the extreme speeds the Charger SRT Hellcat is capable of producing.
 
At the rear, a single piece decked spoiler is painted in body color while the unique fascia and valence showcase the 4-inch round exhaust tips.
 
The Dodge Charger SRT’s signature “racetrack” LED tail lamps take on the same continuous glowing ribbon of light that debuted on the new 2014 Dodge Durango.
 
The center high-mounted stop lamp is relocated from the top of the deck lid to the roofline inside the back glass, allowing centering of the Charger SRT’s backup camera.
 
The rear styling makeover begins at the touchdown point of the C-pillar, which is moved rearward to create an even more pronounced fastback appearance combined with a shorter rear overhang.
 
High-performance driver-oriented interior  
 
The 2015 Charger SRT Hellcat’s restyled driver-focused interior features premium, soft-touch materials, a new 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable digital instrument gauge cluster and a new instrument panel center stack with the latest generation 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen media center.
 
New for 2015, drivers can select one of the many offered backgrounds to connect the digital look and feel with their chosen interior package. In addition, the Charger SRT Hellcat comes standard with a premium 900 watt, 18-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system.
 
An all-new and class-exclusive electronic shifter with an all-new driver-oriented T-handle provides the driver with intuitive gear selection and offers an Auto Stick selector gate for added control.
 
A redesigned SRT-branded heated steering wheel features a flat bottom and thick rim for the high-performance driver. Standard paddle shifters are located on the back of the upper spokes. The buttons to control the driver-configurable, full-color thin-film transistor (TFT) display are large and illuminated. Buttons for Uconnect and phone access now reside along the bottom edge of the horizontal spokes. Optional adaptive cruise control is configured by buttons that are symmetrically opposite on the right-hand side of the wheel. As before, the highly praised audio controls are still found on the back of the upper spokes. This new power tilt-telescoping steering wheel also has a 360-degree heat element.
 
The new 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat features redesigned seats with improved cushioning and more comfortable contours. For improved comfort and convenience, the SRT Hellcat includes standard heated and ventilated front high-performance seats and heated rear seats.
 
Charger continues to grow its market share
 
The 2015 Dodge Charger competes in the U.S. full-size car market, but stands alone in a class by itself as the only American-bred four-door muscle car. In March of 2014, the Dodge brand reached a significant milestone, with Challenger and Charger sales combining to sell a total of more than 1 million units in the United States.
 
The Charger’s combination of aggressive and youthful image, full-size functionality and world-class engineering and quality resonates with young and affluent buyers. Charger’s purchasers on average are 15 years younger than its competitors’ buyers within the segment, with more than half identifying themselves as millennials or Generation Xers.
 
The Charger’s appeal is attracting a high number of conquest buyers, helping drive a 62 percent increase in sales since 2009 – double the growth of the standard full-size car segment. In 2013, Charger posted its best sales year since 2007, further fueling a 3.2 percentage point gain in market share since 2009.
 
About Dodge
The Dodge brand is tearing into its centennial year as America’s mainstream performance brand, celebrating its 100th anniversary on July 1, 2014. With the purification of the brand and consolidation with SRT, Dodge is getting back to its performance roots with every single model it offers. The consolidated Dodge and SRT brands will offer a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out within their own segments. Dodge will be the “mainstream performance” brand within the Chrysler showroom. SRT will be positioned as the “ultimate performance” halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.
 
From muscle cars to compact cars, minivans, crossovers and full-size SUVs, the Dodge brand’s full lineup of 2015 models deliver best-in-class horsepower, class-exclusive technology, unmatched capability and a slew of cool features, such as LED headlamps, Dodge signature racetrack tail lamps, dual exhaust, 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment centers and 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable gauge clusters, to name a few. For the 2015 model year, customers will be able to drive the new 2015 Dodge Charger and Challenger, as well as the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. The Dodge brand lineup also includes the 2015 Dodge Dart, Durango, Grand Caravan and Journey, including the new Crossroad model, and Dodge Viper SRT.
 
Follow Dodge, SRT and Chrysler Group news and video on: 
Chrysler On Demand (COD): www.chryslerondemand.com
Company blog: blog.chryslergroupllc.com
Company website: www.chryslergroupllc.com
ChryslerGroup360: www.chryslergroup360.com
Dodge brand: www.dodge.com
Dodge blog: blog.dodge.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge or www.facebook.com/ChryslerGroup
Flickr: www.flickr.com/dodgeautos or www.flickr.com/chryslergroup
Media website: www.media.chrysler.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/dodgeofficial or www.pinterest.com/chryslergroup
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial or  www.instagram.com/chryslergroup
Streetfire: www.streetfire.net/uploaded/chryslervideo.htm
Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge or www.twitter.com/chrysler
YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge or  www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo

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