It's Official: The New Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Hemi has More than 600hp (Video)

For months now, we have been talking about the Hellcat Hemi V8 that would power both the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT and the 2016 Dodge Charger SRT. Until the release of the 2014 Chrysler Group 5-year plan a few weeks ago, there had been no official acknowledgement that the Hellcat Hemi existed. When those small images of the Hellcat Hemi appeared in the 5-year plan PDF, we knew that it was coming and we all expected that it would have more than 600 horsepower.

The Chrysler Group still hasn’t announced exactly how much power the new 6.2L supercharged Hellcat Hemi will make, but the company has promised that it will have “600 plus horsepower”.

The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat models make this 600+ horsepower with a 6.2L supercharged Hemi that is 91% new compared to the 6.4L Hemi currently in use. Atop this new Hemi sits a 2,380cc supercharger housing that uses a twin rotor setup to force 11.6psi into the 92mm throttle body to make this engine the most powerful V8 ever built for a production road car by the Chrysler Group. All of that power is then channeled through the buyer’s choice of a heavy duty 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission that is borrowed from the SRT Viper.

"If ever there was an engine that does Detroit proud, this is it," says Bob Lee, Vice President and Head of Engine, Powertrain and Electrified Propulsion Systems Engineering – Chrysler Group LLC. "The supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V-8 is beyond robust. With 91 percent new content compared with the standard 392 HEMI, it will shatter the expectations of SRT customers – and they are among the most demanding and knowledgeable powertrain buffs anywhere."

The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat features a collection of unique exterior appointments like special 20 inch wheels wrapped in high performance tires, supercharged badges on the fenders and the customary SRT badges on the front and rear of the car, the 2015 Challenger SRT models powered by the Hellcat Hemi wear a unique front fascia that improves downforce and helps feed the hungry supercharged V8 along with a unique hood that features a large front facing opening flanked by a pair of heat extraction vents.

By the way, you may have noticed that I have specified that these unique features are found on the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT with the Hellcat Hemi engine. That is because the 2015 Challenger SRT is offered with both the new 6.2L Hellcat Hemi and the 6.4L (392 cubic inch) Hemi that is offered in the 2015 Challenger R/T Scat Pack. When the 2015 Challenger Scat Pack was introduced at the 2014 New York International Auto Show with the 392 Hemi, I assumed that meant that the SRT models would no longer rely on that motor. Surprisingly, the 392 Hemi will continue to serve as a sort of “base” SRT engine while the Hellcat Hemi will serve as the premium engine option. The non-Hellcat Challenger SRT will pack many of the go-fast goodies such as the specially tuned braking system, the dual mode suspension setup and the high performance transmissions, but the 2015 Challenger SRT with the 392 Hemi will obviously have less power and a slightly different look around the outside.

Oh, I’m sure that the 2015 Challenger SRT with the 392 Hemi will also have a price tag much closer to the price of the current 2014 Challenger SRT while the Hellcat Hemi models will likely cost considerably more.

Production of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat will begin during the third quarter of 2014 and – like the rest of the modern Challengers – the 600+ horsepower Hellcat Hemi models will be built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Canada. The video below offers a bit of information on the new Hellcat Hemi, but more importantly, it also gives us a chance to hear the Hellcar roar in the 2015 Challenger SRT. Crank up your speakers and enjoy!