2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
New for 2015
The Challenger SRT Hellcat is a new trim added to the 2015 Dodge Challenger lineup. Along with a powerful new engine, the Hellcat benefits from the standard model’s revised exterior, upgraded interior, and new eight-speed transmission.
What the Hellcat
An all-new addition to the Challenger lineup, the SRT Hellcat represents the very best of what the retro-inspired model has to offer. Outfitted with a rip-roaring supercharged engine doling out 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, it’s the most powerful V8 engine in Chrysler Group history—and clearly the most talented member of the Challenger family. In other words, it’s the Alec of Baldwin brothers. Sorry, Stephen.
Powertrain and Performance
If the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat was an old-timey map, it would read “there be monsters” where the engine is located. This particular version sports a beastly 6.2-liter HEMI V8 engine, designed to deliver gonzo levels of power and performance.
In total, the Hellcat pumps out 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque—all of which get pushed to the rear wheels via a standard six-speed manual Tremec transmission. While the manual will no doubt please purists, the Hellcat is also available with an advanced TorqueFlite® eight-speed automatic.
The former option is quick and nimble, and while some may scoff at the prospect of diligent automatic managing power distribution, the intelligent gearbox has plenty of snap and quick shifts to keep the focus squarely on the four-wheeled thrill ride that is the SRT Hellcat.
Unless you’re planning on driving the Hellcat exclusively on salt flats, there is going to come a time where you’ll need to slow down, just a little. Thankfully, the SRT Hellcat is outfitted with six-piston Brembo brakes with 15.4-inch vented/slotted rotors that help bring it to a stop without delay.
This isn’t a one-trick pony car, either. The Hellcat’s high performance adjustable suspension with Bilstein shocks and lowered ride height allow for silky smooth handling in corners.
Features
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is five-seat coupe that starts at $59,995.* All of that treasure nets you a comprehensive list of standard and premium features, including upgraded leather/simulated suede sport seats, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and keyless entry.
Other advanced features include rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and a six-speaker premium audio system.
Design
The Challenger’s retro roots are strong, and fans will be pleased with the exterior’s deft display of strength and passion. It’s a thoroughly modern take on a classic American muscle car.
For 2015, the Challenger sports new headlights nestled in a revised vertically split grille. Part of what makes the Challenger so appealing is its ability honor the past while embracing the modern era. This clever dualism is best highlighted in the rear, where the now LED taillights are styled after the 1971 classic.
The Hellcat features many of the same styling details as the standard Challenger but adds a cold-air intake atop the hood, air extractors that replace the standard model’s high beams, black rocker panels, and larger front and rear spoilers. It sits commandingly on 20-inch matte black forged aluminum wheels.
Inside, the entire Challenger lineup benefits from sweeping interior upgrades. The center console is now canted, providing easier, more intuitive access to the Challenger’s superb 8.4-inch touchscreen display. Even more impressive is the ease with which the entire system operates. The virtual buttons are large and responsive, featuring a smart layout that is never a chore to navigate.
In keeping with the vehicle’s driver focus, the Hellcat comes with leather and simulated suede sport seats that offer plenty of lateral support and are perfect for taking corners at speed. Cushioning is also top-shelf, providing plenty of comfort during long-distance drives.
Despite its position as a bona fide muscle car, the Challenger SRT Hellcat is happy to accommodate friends and gear. The rear cabin is spacious, with good head and legroom. It also sports a 60/40-split-folding back to help fit awkward items. And the trunk is truly impressive, too, with enough space on tap to fit 16.2 cubic feet’s worth of cargo.
Safety
Every 2015 Dodge Challenger comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. The Challenger Hellcat ups the ante with standard rear parking sensors and a rearview camera.
Available safety features include blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, and a forward collision warning system.
Bottom Line
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (to praise its full name) is one of the most unique cars in existence. It’s equally at home on the track as it is on the boulevard, and its raw power goes virtually unmatched. That is, until it comes across one of Italy’s most expensive makes/models.
Indeed, the Hellcat’s raw power makes it the automotive equivalent of a shotgun; just point it in a direction and it does what it was built to do. It’s a splash of crimson in an automotive landscape that’s become gray and dull. And yet, while the 2015 Hellcat is the perfect platform for adrenaline-fueled driving, it’s remarkably refined, with a lavish and spacious interior that provides sofa-levels of comfort for miles on end.
It’s never an easy feat to stay faithful to the past while remaining relevant in the present, but the Hellcat earns impressive marks for doing just that. It’s a true callback to the muscle cars of yore, one that is thoroughly equipped for the modern era.
For more information, or to test drive this and other Dodge vehicles, contact us at Hall Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Virginia Beach today.
*MSRP excludes destination, taxes, title and registration fees. Starting at price refers to the base model, optional equipment not included. A more expensive model may be shown. Pricing and offers may change at any time without notification.
Image: Dodge