We have talked about the rumored 6.2L supercharged Hellcat Hemi here on DodgeForum over the past few months but some new information has hit the web detailing what we can expect when this monster motor hits the streets.
According to Allpar, when the Hellcat Hemi debuts in the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT, these 600+ horsepower muscle cars will all be painted black with silver stripes. Helping to make the most of all of that power will be a set of extra wide, chrome clad rear wheels wrapped in high performance rubber and if history has taught us anything is it that these first Hellcat-powered Mopar muscle cars will be available in limited numbers with both interior and exterior badging that will help these models to stand out from other next generation Challengers that derive their power from the smaller engines.
The one piece of bad news surrounding the arrival of the 600+ horsepower Hellcat Hemi in the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT is that it will likely be backed by an 8-speed automatic transmission built by ZF… not a proper manual transmission.
Dodge upset a great many fans and prospective buyers when they introduced the first modern Dodge Challenger SRT8 without a manual transmission option back in 2008 and I would be pretty shocked to see them make the same mistake with the next generation Challenger SRT. Of course, there is the problem that a great many people looking to buy 600 horsepower cars may not be able to drive a manual transmission so the automatic gearbox doesn’t alienate any possible buyers while the modern 8-speed automatic transmission technology should help make this 600 horsepower Mopar muscle car fairly efficient (as 600 horsepower American muscle cars go).
I should point out that all of the information currently available on the internet is unofficial so actual figures from the new Hellcat Hemi could vary quite a bit when the new Challenger is introduced next year. But unless the rumors and insider information is completely off base – next year should be a very exciting one for fans of modern Mopar muscle.
"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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.