707hp Dodge Charger Hellcat All But Official

On more than one occasion, the topic of a new Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat has come up across the various social network websites and that is because putting the new 6.2L supercharged Hemi V8 known better as the Hellcat in the Charger just makes sense. The Challenger and Charger have always shared every engine option and since we know that the similarities in chassis design will accept the Hellcat, it is hard to come up with a reason to NOT build a supercharged Dodge Charger SRT.

Chrysler has the engine and we know that it will fit under the hood of the Charger so why not install the Hellcat in the brawny sedan and create the most powerful sport sedan in the world? I cannot think of any good reasons.

The Newest Proof of a Hellcat Charger
While common sense (and maybe my love of high performance cars) suggests that there would eventually be a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, the folks at Road & Track have dug up some interesting proof that the 707hp Charger is coming – and it could be here very soon. Road & Track got a hold of the formal SAE horsepower certification document for the 6.2L supercharged Hemi V8 and in the filing details, we learn that the Hellcat Hemi is being certified for both the 2015 model year Challenger and the 2015 model year Charger.

This paperwork doesn’t prove that there will be a 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, but this is very clear proof that the project is at least being considered. Dodge has stolen the lion’s share of media attention this spring and summer with the introduction of the 2015 Challenger lineup, the 2015 Charger R/T and the 707hp Hellcat Hemi. We are expecting to see GM steal some attention later this year with the next generation Chevrolet Camaro while Ford looks to score some press attention with the 2016 Shelby GT350 Mustang. Rolling out a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat with 707 horsepower at the LA Auto Show later this year or at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit would most certainly shed some rain on GM and Ford’s parade.

Expect 707hp from the Hellcat Charger, but No Manual Transmission
Since it was first made official that the Hellcat Hemi existed and would be used as a production engine in the Dodge Challenger, I have expected that there would be a Hellcat Charger. However, I still do not think that we will see a manual transmission option in the 707hp Charger, as of all of the engines in the Charger lineup – the Hellcat “needs” the manual transmission the least. I have driven the Hellcat Challenger with both a manual and automatic transmission, and while the manual transmission is great – the automatic transmission makes the 707 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque far more manageable. While the manual gearbox offers a bit more fun to drive factor, the sheer power of the Hellcat Hemi packs enough fun for the Charger with the 8-speed heavy duty automatic transmission.

The only way that I could really see the Chrysler Group rolling out a new manual transmission for the 707hp Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is if they make a manual transmission available across other trimlines. The Hellcat is going to be a very low take rate vehicle (relative the size of the segment) and the manual transmission will be an even less popular feature – so spending the money to introduce a manual transmission to the Charger lineup strictly for the Hellcat is very unlikely.

Source: Road & Track