New Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Scores Serious Bragging Rights

The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat recently scored serious bragging rights as the fastest muscle car on the drag strip.

Dictionaries define “hellcat” as, “a bad-tempered, spiteful, woman; shrew; a woman with magic powers derived from evil sources.” But Dodge’s definition reads a bit differently as the fastest muscle car ever to hit the drag strip. And company officials now have the proof to back up those bragging rights.

In a Friday test run, the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, outfitted with a screaming 707 horsepower 6.2-liter Hemi engine boasting 650 lb.-ft. of torque, earned a National Hot Rod Association-certified quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.2 seconds at 125 miles per hour – and that was with its stock Pirelli P275/40ZR20 P Zero tires. When the pit crew switched out those stock Pirellis with a set of drag radials, the Hellcat practically set the strip on fire, burning up the track with a 10.8-second time at 126 mph. Hell hath no fury, indeed.

The latest Dodge muscle car’s on-track competition during the test was a vintage 1971 Dodge Challenger, a top contender from the glory days of muscle cars and drag racing. The Hellcat left the classic that inspired it in the dust with quick-hit speeds that rival those of the storied Ferrari 458 Italia and Nissan GT-R.

“It wasn’t long ago that a 10-second car, was a full-on race car. The new 2015 Dodge Challenger raises the bar to a level some of us never thought we’d see,” Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Fiat Chrysler’s Dodge and SRT brands wrote in a media release. With the new model, “We’re reaching deep into our history and bringing back the notion from the muscle car era of the street and strip dual-purpose car. Not only can Challenger run 10s on the drag strip, but you can also fit your family and drive cross country.”

The Hellcat is slated to hit the sales floor this fall and will be available in 8-speed automatic or 6-speed manual. But it’ll set you back a bit. This wild gal is expected to carry a price tag of around $80,000. That’s roughly three times the price of a base Challenger – and here at E3 Spark Plugs, we’re betting she’s worth every penny.

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