Challenger, Charger Direct Connection Stage Kit Launch Details

Challenger Hellcat Redeye will get the kits first, Charger models coming this summer.

We have known for a few months now that the new Direct Connection brand would soon be offering performance packages for the Dodge Challenger Hellcat models, but we didn’t know exactly when. We have also known that the Dodge Charger Hellcat models would likely be included in the program, but there was no official word on that.

Yesterday, Dodge announced that the full network of Power Brokers dealerships would be published on March 6^th and on that same day, the Direct Connection performance kits would go on sale. More importantly, Dodge shared a PDF that details their plans for the future of the performance package options over the next few months. This includes more accurate information on the launch of Challenger Hellcat kits, but it also lists information for the Charger Hellcat, Redeye and Scat Pack – along with the Challenger Scat Pack and the 2018 Demon. Also, this new information shows that there will eventually be a Stage 3 for the Redeye models and a Stage 2 option for the standard Hellcat models.

Below is everything that we know about the Direct Connection performance upgrade stage kits right now.

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, Redeye

First up, we knew that the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and SRT Hellcat Redeye have been discussed since this program was announced, but now we know when they will go on sale. The Redeye packages will be first, with Pre-Stage, Stage 1 and Stage 2 going on sale sometime in March – presumably on March 6. The Redeye kits will also apply to SRT Super Stock models, although Super Stock models don’t get a power bump with the Pre-Stage kit.

The Redeye Pre-Stage kit lifts output to 802 horsepower, Stage 1 yields 840 horsepower and Stage 2 leads to 885 horsepower. Stage 3 is in development, but the company is unsure when it will be introduced and there is no information on power numbers for that kit yet.

The Direct Connection performance packages for the standard Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat are expected to go on sale in April. For 2015-2018 models, Pre-Stage gets you 712 horsepower and Stage 1 jumps to 747 horsepower while 2019-2022 models end up with 722 horsepower and 757 horsepower, since the 2019-2022 models come with ten extra horsepower in stock form. There is also a Stage 2 kit in the works for the standard Hellcat Challenger, but the brand is unsure when it will be available and how much power it will yield.

Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, Redeye

As expected, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and SRT Hellcat Redeye sedans will benefit from the same Direct Connection performance kits as the Challenger – just a few months later.

The Charger Hellcat Redeye kits will go on sale in May with the same Pre-Stage, Stage 1 and Stage 2 specs as the Challenger. In other words, Direct Connection is going to build warranty-friendly sedans with 885 horsepower. What a wonderful time to be a muscle car lover. There is also a Stage 3 in the works which will be launched in the future.

The Charger SRT Hellcat is next, with these kits slated for launch in June. The Charger will have the same Pre-Stage and Stage 1 kits as the Challenger, with some slight variations in years. The 2015-2020 Charger Hellcat Pre-Stage kit offers 712 horsepower and Stage 1 leads to 747 horsepower while the 2021 and 2022 models have 10 extra ponies, with 722 and 757 respectively.

Scat Pack and Demon

Finally, there are no details on performance numbers or availability, but we know that Direct Connection is currently developing performance stage kits for the Challenger R/T Scat Pack, the Charger R/T Scat Pack and the 2018 Challenger SRT Demon.

The 2015-2022 Challenger and Charger Scat Pack models will both be getting Pre-Stage, Stage 1 and Stage 2 kits. It will be interesting to see what those kits consist of, as it isn’t as simple to get big power gains from a naturally aspirated engine as a supercharged engine. The biggest change with the Hellcat and Redeye models is a Hellraiser pulley swap, which leads to more boost and with a good tune, more power. There is no boost to add to with a Scat Pack, so the company may look at options like a new camshaft, free flowing exhaust, etc.

As for the 2018 Demon, we expect to see a pulley kit and tuning device package similar to what is offered for the Redeye, but we are betting that Direct Connection will offer slightly more power from the Demon than from the Redeye models. Redeye Stage 2 offers 885 horsepower, so look for the Demon to go somewhere north of that.

Photos: Stellantis

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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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