The Hellcat V-8 sinks its claws into
the Charger.
What It
Is: A pair of Dodge’s full-size, four-door bruisers wearing
front and rear camo, reported to be packing a version of the Challenger SRT’s
Hellcat V-8. Caught testing in southeast Michigan, the partial cover-up on
these Chargers can’t hide the presence of a large hood scoop, aggressive chin
and trunk-lid spoilers, and larger exhaust tips.
The white Charger pictured
features plain honeycomb upper-grille inserts, following the styling lead set
by the Hellcat SRT Challenger.
While photos alone can be misleading—often intentionally so—the earlier news
that Chrysler has filed papers with the Society of
Automotive Engineers regarding the use of the Hellcat
V-8 in the Charger indicates that the carmaker is already invested in finding a
home for said engine under the sedan’s hood. Combined with rolling stock
identical to that of the Challenger Hellcat (20-inch wheels in 275/40 Pirelli P
Zero Nero tires) and the presence of upgraded brakes in the form of slotted
rotors wrapped and Brembo calipers, the writing on the wall is fairly legible.
Why It
Matters: As Chrysler’s standalone tuning
division, SRT was responsible not only for the Viper, but also for injecting adrenaline
into a number of Mopar products in the name of performance. So when the refreshed-for-2015 Charger
debuted in New York earlier this year, we were a little befuddled that the
manufacturer made no mention of what SRT might be cooking up for the four-door
muscle car. In hindsight, it’s clear that corporate wheels were turning
vigorously behind the scenes, putting the maker’s plan to bring the SRT banner underneath the Dodge brand
into full effect. With that situation tidied up (the Chrysler 300 SRT is discontinued and the Jeep
Grand Cherokee SRT lives on), the next order of business was to
make a big statement with the Challenger SRT Hellcat. How better to follow that
up than with a four-door barnstormer packing the same wallop? Following the
Challenger SRT Hellcat’s naming scheme, we expect the Charger’s official title
to be Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.
Platform: Despite
wearing a fresh exterior, the 2015 Charger is built on an evolution of
Chrysler’s LX platform, which also underpins the current Chrysler 300 and Dodge Challenger. Expect the Charger SRT Hellcat to
make use of the same or similar upgrades that Dodge performed on the Challenger
to cope with the Hellcat’s prodigious output.
Powertrain:
This car is all about the engine, in this case the Hellcat’s
supercharged V-8. We expect the Hellcat V-8 to arrive packing the same
707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque it makes in the Challenger, its might
backed up to the same ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The idea of
offering a six-speed manual in the outsize sedan appeals to us dearly, but the
Charger has thus far gone without, so that decision likely will be based on
buyer demographics and consumer interest. One final thought: If Dodge decides
to make Hellcat V-8 engine–equipped Chargers available to law-enforcement
agencies (we’re thinking Dubai, maybe), it will forever change the nature of
televised police chases.
Estimated
Arrival and Price: There’s still plenty of time to slip
the Charger Hellcat into showrooms as a 2015 model, but halo cars like this can
generally transcend model-year designations with little impact on sales. That
said—and considering much of the development was completed along with that of
the Challenger SRT Hellcat—it could arrive as early as this fall. Pricing will
likely follow the Challenger’s lead, the Charger SRT Hellcat retailing for
approximately $15,000 more than the base SRT model, bringing it in around
$65,000.