Charger Hellcat from Dodge is the most powerful sedan in the world. Officially.
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This boys and girls is officially the world’s most powerful sedan—the all-new 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, which made its debut today at the 2014 Woodward Dream Cruise muscle car fest in Detroit. Yes, this Charger is packing the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 from the 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, and incredibly the engine's peak output has been maintained at 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, the next most powerful sedan available today is the V-12-powered Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG, and it produces ‘only’ 621 hp.
All that power also makes the Charger SRT Hellcat the quickest and fastest sedan in the world. Dodge quotes a quarter mile time of 11.0 seconds flat with the standard Pirelli P Zero tires, and a top speed of 204 mph. The 0-60 mph time will be in the "mid threes" and the 0-100-0 mph time will be less than 13 seconds. Of course, you need to use a secondary ‘red’ key to unleash the full power. Using the regular key leaves the engine producing a tamer 500 horses, and will likely save you from a boatload of fines.
It’s been no secret that Dodge was planning to pack its Charger with the Hellcat engine. In fact, it was during the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles five-year strategy announcement back in May where we first learned that a new Charger SRT will be launched for the 2015 model year, complete with a supercharged engine. And then, just a couple of weeks ago, we learned of the power ratings via a leaked SAE filing.
In the 2015 Charger SRT Hellcat, Dodge has only added an eight-speed automatic transmission, and drive only goes to the rear wheels. The Challenger SRT Hellcat offers a six-speed manual borrowed from the Viper supercar in addition to the automatic. The curb weight is 4,560 pounds, which is about 100 pounds more than the weight of the Challenger SRT Hellcat. However, this extra weight gives the sedan more traction off the line, which is why it’s quarter mile time is 0.2 of a second better than the coupe’s. Weight distribution, meanwhile, is 54:46 front to rear.
To help with the dynamics, there is a Drive Modes feature. Drive Modes tailor the driving experience by controlling horsepower, transmission shift speeds, paddle shifters, traction and suspension damping. Drive Modes are pre-configured for Sport, Track and Default settings, while the Custom setting lets the driver customize the drive experience to their favorite settings.
As for its styling, there’ll be no mistaking the Charger SRT Hellcat coming up fast in your rearview mirror. It takes the new styling of the recently updated 2015 Chargerand combines this with a number of tweaks aimed at further boosting performance. For example, the aggressive front bumper has been designed to aid downforce and feed cool air to the engine bay. On the hood, there’s a central scoop and a pair of vents that resemble the units on the Viper.
The wheels measure 20 inches across, and inside these sit massive Brembo brake units measuring up to 15.4 inches across in the front. At the rear, the bumper features a vertical vent at either side and at the bottom is a diffuser insert that integrates a pair of circular exhaust tips. The final distinguishing element is a trunk lid spoiler.
Inside, there’s a slew of the latest high-tech features, including Chrysler’s Uconnect Access connectivity and interface complete with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display. Uconnect Access also provides a number of services such as roadside assistance, theft-alarm notification, voice texting, Wi-Fi hotspot and new 3D navigation. Around the cabin you’ll find Nappa leather and Alcantara suede trim as well as a flat-bottom steering wheel. Finally, the gauge cluster features a 7-inch reconfigurable display.
With Dodge only charging $60k for the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat, we expect this new Charger SRT Hellcat to be just as big a bargain. Unfortunately, supplies are expected to be tight, so if you’re interested in one you had better call your local Dodge dealer real fast. The order books officially open in the next couple of months and deliveries are scheduled to start in the first quarter of next year.