The Dodge Charger is one of America’s most revered performance nameplates. Originally an icon of the muscle car era, the Charger was reborn by Chrysler as an affordable performance saloon. Inspired by its performance-enthusiast roots the Charger, first launched more than 45 years ago, continues to successfully pay homage to past muscle cars while offering distinctly modern all-new exterior and interior appointments.
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| Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat |
Design
The new exterior of the 2015 Dodge Charger is spiritually inspired by the iconic second-generation Charger from the late 1960s, and for 2015, specifically draws its cues from the 1969 model. The Dodge and SRT design team builds upon the 2015 Dodge Charger’s new modern four-door exterior styling by adding a sinister-looking, unique front and rear bumper, bonnet and spoiler. The result is car that looks more performance oriented compared to the standard Charger. The more powerful Hellcat version features a larger aluminium bonnet with a middle air intake and two outlets that remove heat from the engine. The front bumper is also redesigned to feature larger air intakes.
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| Aggressive front look |
The darkened air-intakes give the Charger SRT Hellcat a distinct menacing look. An integrated front splitter optimizes airflow to the cooling modules without compromising vehicle balance. The wider side finders conceal the seven spoke 20-inch forged aluminium rims adorned with Pirelli P Zero performance tyres. At the rear there is a single piece decked spoiler painted in the car’s body colour. The wider rear bumper features an integrated air diffuser and houses the 4-inch round exhaust tips.
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| Charger SRT Hellcat’s Profile |
Performance
The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is powered by Chrysler’s newest supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V-8 engine. The monumental engine delivers 525 kW (707 hp) and 880 Nm of torque. 0 to 100km/h is dealt with in 3.7 seconds while top speed is an eye watering 330 km/h. Hence, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is the fastest and most powerful series produced saloon in the world. However, not all the 707 hp is available to the driver at a go. This is because the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat comes with two keys; one is painted black while the other is painted red. The black key unlocks 500 hp and reduced a reduced torque figure.
Insert the red key and the car’s full potential is unleashed. Power from the 6.2-litre power unit is send to the rear wheels via an eight speed automatic transmission. Slowing the car down from its raging top speed is dealt with by large 15-inch Brembo disc brakes. The Hellcat offers five drive modes: Custom, Default, Sport, Track and Eco. Each mode changes shift timing, throttle sensitivity, steering effort, suspension stiffness and traction control parameters. There is even a mode that restrict power and other settings when the keys are handed over to for example your teenage kids.
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| Driver focused cockpit |
Interior
The 2015 Charger SRT Hellcat’s driver-focused interior features premium, soft-touch materials, a new 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable digital instrument gauge cluster and a new instrument panel centre stack with an 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen. The screens feature customisable backgrounds and distinct graphics. A premium and powerful 900 watt, 18-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system delivers the right music notes inside the car.
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| Front sports seats |
The SRT sports steering wheel features a flat bottom and thick rim for easier grasping. Standard paddle shifters are located on the back of the steering wheel. Buttons located on the steering wheel control various functions of both the infotainment and digital instrument cluster. The sporty front and spacious rear seats offer improved cushioning for a more comfortable ride. The 467 litre boot offers plenty of space for luggage.
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| Rear of the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat |
Verdict
The 2015 Dodge Charger Hellcat is a car of superlatives: quite possibly the fastest and most powerful family saloon ever built. Dashing looks, an upscale interior and a relatively affordable price round out this modern take on the classic muscle car. The car also remains practical and easy to use as either a track sprinter or a daily family car. Prices start at $62,300.