Official(ly Incredible): Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Packs an 707hp, 650tq

The Chrysler Group has announced the official power numbers for the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and with a bone chilling 707 horsepower, the Hellcat Hemi is officially the most powerful American V8 ever while also being the most powerful muscle car ever, the most powerful American production car ever and the 6^th most powerful production car in the world today. In addition to packing 707 horsepower, the new Challenger Hellcat offers an equally incredible 650lb-ft of torque, which puts it in the top three in the world behind just the McLaren P1 and LaFerrari.

We have been speculating for months – maybe even years – as to how much the supercharged SRT Challenger would have when it arrived. At first, it was expected that the Hellcat would offer between 550 and 650 horsepower, most likely coming in right around the power figures of the SRT Viper. Chrysler gave us some numbers to go on a while back, announcing that the supercharged 6.2L Hemi would offer at least 600 horsepower and at least 575lb-ft of torque. I speculated that the Challenger Hellcat would likely be in the range of 625hp and 600lb-ft of torque, which would leave plenty of space for the mighty Viper, but Chrysler hasn’t shown any concern for the power exclusivity of the SRT supercar.

That power is channeled to the rear wheels by means of a new 8HP90 8-speed automatic transmission that has been beefed up compared to the 8-speed transmission offered throughout the rest of the 2015 Challenger lineup. With the help of launch control, that 707hp and 650lb-ft of torque will almost certainly make the Hellcat powered Challenger the quickest and most likely the fastest American muscle car of all time. Even though the Challenger SRT is a little heavier than the 2014 GT500, the added horsepower, torque and transmission gearing should allow the brawny Mopar muscle car to outrun the Shelby Mustang in a straight line – whether racing through a quarter mile or battling for the highest top speed.

Claims of Fame for the 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Hemi:
Most Powerful American Muscle Car Ever – beating the 2014 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang which offers 662 horsepower and 631lb-ft of torque.

Most Powerful American Production Car of All Time – In addition to besting Ford’s supercharged Mustang, the Hellcat Challenger offers significantly more power than the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (650 horsepower, 650lb-ft of torque) and the SRT Viper (640hp, 600lb-ft of torque)

Most Powerful American V8 Ever – Even if you look through the seriously underrated V8s of the original muscle car era, none of them offered 707 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque.

6^th Most Powerful New Car in the World – The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat’s 707 horsepower puts it 6^th among the world’s most powerful new cars on sale today. Only LaFerrari, the McLaren P1, the Porsche 918 Hybrid, the Lamborghini Veneno and the Ferrari F12 have more horsepower than the SRT Hellcat Challenger and only LaFerrari and the McLaren have more torque than the blown Hemi.

1. LaFerrari – 950hp, 664tq, $1,400,000
2. McLaren P1– 903hp, 664tq, $1,150,000
3. Porsche 918 – 795hp, 575tq, $845,000
4. Lamborghini Veneno – 740hp, 590tq, $4,000,000
5. Ferrari F12 Berlinetta – 730hp, 508tq, $319,000
6. Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat – 707hp, 650tq, Price Unavailable
7. Lamborghini Aventador – 690hp, 507tq, $397,500
8. Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang – 662hp, 631tq, $55,110
9. Ferrari FF – 651hp, 504tq $295,000
10. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 – 650hp, 650tq, Estimated around $125,000
11. SRT Viper – 640hp, 600tq, $102,485

While the next generation Ford Shelby Mustang and the introduction of the 6^th generation Chevrolet Camaro might come up with some answer to the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in the future – right now Mopar lovers can rejoice in knowing that their favorite automaker official offers the most powerful American production car ever sold for road use…and that is freakin’ AWESOME.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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