Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is Ready to Torture Tires

The first product to come out of the re-married Dodge and SRT brands is shaping up to be a red-hot tire smoker.

Specifications for the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat include “600 plus” hp from it’s all-new 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 and 15.4-inch Brembo front brake rotors with six-piston calipers. For 2015, the Challenger line is switching to an eight-speed automatic while a six-speed manual transmission is also available as an upgrade. Unfortunately, the company is being stingy on other details for its new high-performance muscle car.

Production will begin on the 2015 model year vehicles in the third quarter of this year at Chrysler’s Brampton, Ontario assembly plant. This is the first application of a supercharged V8 for Dodge and SRT.

“The new 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is the ultimate performance muscle car,” said Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis. “Dodge is the mainstream performance brand and now combined with SRT, we are able to unleash a true GT car with an all-new driver-focused interior and the TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission combined with the most powerful V-8 Chrysler has ever produced.”

Aside from brakes and a minimum horsepower figure, other specifications are absent from the announcement. Torque from the supercharged V8 is still unannounced as are any possible changes to the suspension or other handling enhancements.

Range-topping performance variants of the Camaro and Mustang both come with a long list of upgrades that do much more than add power. Presumably, the Challenger SRT Hellcat will be similarly bolstered.

Dodge did say today that Hellcat models will come with two key fobs: one is red and the other is black. The red fob is required to access the vehicle’s full power while the black fob limits output. Similarly, the Challenger SRT and Hellcat will be available with a valet mode that will “significantly reduce horsepower and torque.” The engine won’t rev pasr 4,000 RPM and the transmission locks out first gear. Launch control is disabled, as are the paddle shifters and manual shift mode in automatic models. The customizable drive modes are also disabled.

Speaking of drive modes, the Challenger will come with four specific drive settings: “default, sport, custom and track.” Dodge didn’t say specifically what changes with each mode aside from altering vehicle performance.

Pricing, 0-60 times and a long list of other details have yet to come out. But with the next generation Mustang on its way to dealers by the end of the year, Ford’s oh-so loved Shelby variants will be on a brief hiatus until the GT350 arrives, meaning Dodge will hold the “most powerful muscle car” title over the ZL1 Camaro for at least a little while.