Five Ways the Hellcat Challenger Still Beats the GT500
Challenger Hellcat has less horsepower than the GT500, but the Dodge shines brighter in many ways.
When the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat was introduced in the summer of 2014, it was the most powerful American production car on the market. It was also the most powerful car in the muscle car segment, offering lots more power than the strongest Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang at that time. The Hellcat Challenger continued on as the power leader until the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was introduced in 2019 with 760 horsepower.
Since the GT500 came onto the scene, Ford fans have been quick to point out the fact that the newest Shelby Mustang has more horsepower than the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. The output of the Challenger has been bumped-up to 717 horsepower, but when compared to the Mustang, Ford still has the advantage. Fortunately, the Dodge Challenger still has a handful of defined advantages over the Shelby and today, we take a look at five key ways that the SRT Hellcat outshines the GT500.
Manual Transmission
When Ford introduced the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500, there were lots of impressive aspects. What did not impress prospective buyers was the lack of a manual transmission. The GT500 comes standard with a 7-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox and there is no manual available. The Shelby Mustang 7-speed is impressive, offering lightning-fast shifts and the best possible performance. However, the best automatic in the world won’t satisfy someone who demands a manual transmission in their performance car.
That is the first area where the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat has the advantage. The standard transmission in the Hellcat Challenger is a 6-speed Tremec manual transmission. While many Hellcat owners opt for the quick-shifting 8-speed automatic, many of the 707- and 717-horsepower Mopar muscle cars are equipped with the manual transmission.
Roomy, Comfortable Interior
Most people don’t buy a high performance car because the interior is comfortable, but in the case of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, the cabin is more luxury car than muscle car. Aside from the awarding winning infotainment system in the Challenger, the SRT seats are deep, plush and wide, offering a far more comfortable ride for the daily drive or a cross-country cruise. Of course, these seats are wrapped in either leather or suede, along with being heated and cooled.
The GT500 seats are also leather-wrapped with heated and cooled surfaces, but the Mustang seats are a bit tighter than those of the Challenger. The Ford seats are uncomfortable, but they aren’t as plush as the Dodge seats, giving the Hellcat an advantage for the daily drive.
Also, the Challenger has far more interior space in every direction when compared to the Mustang. Whether you are sitting in the front or the rear, the Hellcat has far more space inside than does the GT500.
Challenger Torque Advantage
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat has less horsepower than the 2020 Shelby GT500, but the supercharged Hemi has a sizable advantage in torque. The Mustang offers 625 lb-ft of torque while the Hellcat Challenger packs 650 lb-ft in earlier models and 656 lb-ft in the later models.
Not only does the Challenger have an advantage in peak torque, but that torque advantage helps throughout the powerband, giving the supercharged Dodge a key weapon in a race with the new GT500.
Greater Top Speed
When the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat first came to market, it had an official top speed of 199 miles per hour. However, that is not the car’s actual top speed. That number was established with the two-run method, where the car made a pair of runs on the same track. Each run is in a different direction and the official number is the average of the two. This eliminates outside factors such as wind and any incline on the track. Although the official top speed is 199, many Hellcat Challenger owners who have made top speed runs have gone well beyond 200 miles per hour.
On the other hand, the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is electronically limited to just 180 miles per hour. Although it is Ford’s highest performance car ever, the company’s engineers didn’t think that it was necessary for GT500 owners to be going over 180, so they decided to limit the car to that point. Ultimately, it was pointed out that 180 is faster than the GT500 Mustang will get moving on any road course in the world, shy of the Nurburgring.
Most drivers will never go over 180, but for those who participate in top speed runs, the Hellcat Challenger has the advantage over the GT500.
The Redeye
Finally, the supreme trump card for Dodge fans in facing the new Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the Redeye. With a combination of 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque, the stronger of the Hellcat Challengers packs the power needed to lay waste to Ford’s little pony. Unlike the standard Hellcat, the Redeye is only offered with the automatic transmission, so you can’t row your own gears, but you can run deep into the 10-second range in stock form.
The Challenger Hellcat Redeye also has the advantage of the comfortable interior, gobs more torque and the greater top speed when compared to the Mustang GT500. Best of all, the Redeye starts at $73,790 with Gas Guzzler Tax and destination fees whereas the GT500 starts at $74,095, so the 797-horsepower Challenger costs a little less than the 760-horsepower Mustang.
Photos: FCA
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