A real-world look at the difference between the red key and black key functionality of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is powered by a supercharged Hemi that delivers 707 horsepower, but this monster Mopar muscle car also features a 2-key system which allows the owner to limit the output to “just” 500 horsepower. When using the red key, a Hellcat owner can enjoy all 707 horses, but when the driver only has the black key, the ECU will only allow the engine to create 500 horsepower.
While this 207 horsepower reduction seems pretty substantial, one Hellcat Challenger owner put together a video for the Family Cruisin YouTube channel showing the real world difference in acceleration when using the two different keys and the two different power levels.
The video starts off with a short explanation from the owner of this gorgeous 2016 Plum Crazy Hellcat Challenger, along with a great cold-start segment where we get to hear the supercharged Hemi roar upon being woken up on a cold day. The owner/driver explains that he is making pulls from 50-100 in order to minimize the number of variables impacting the times, which gives us the clearest data on the real world differences of the two power levels.
On each of the runs, this Hellcat Challenger driver starts in second gear at 50 miles per hour and accelerates at full throttle up past 100mph, timing the runs during the post-production process to get the differences from run to run. The driver also gives us a quick rundown of what changes on the infotainment system screen when you change keys.
The first run is his best, with the Plum Crazy Challenger scooting form 50-100 in just 4.06 seconds. On the second run, the dash to 100 takes 4.58 seconds and on the third run, it took 4.41 seconds. We also get to watch the Hellcat Challenger in 707hp mode pull from 50-100 with a third gear start, for comparison, and we see that it is quite a bit slower with a time of 4.95 seconds.
When he removes the red key from the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, forcing the car into 500hp mode, he found that those same runs took 6.30, 5.70 and 5.94 seconds.
Based on those numbers, in a best case scenario with each power output, the red key makes the Hellcat Challenger nearly 2-seconds quicker when pulling hard through the midrange.
"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.
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