2016 Dodge Challenger Hellcat for the Slightly Insane

Commanding the tremendous power of a 2016 Dodge Challenger Hellcat with your right foot is a rush of pure adrenaline, but having those 707 horses as your daily driver borders on insanity.

So get out my straight jacket, because this baby hauling Home Depot runner is the perfect ride for the power hungry. With realistic room for 4 (if you scoot the front seats up just a touch) and a trunk that’s you could park a Miata in, Dodge’s appropriately named Hellcat may just be the craziest and most ideal ride that does it all!

The Challenger Hellcat is truly a muscle car gone mad. Power is delivered in ridiculous quantities and requires the highest level of self-control. Triple digits come so fast, you’re always at risk of losing your license. With the Hellcat’s massive 707 horsepower supercharged 6.2 liter power plant delivering 650 lb-ft of torque, the g-forces against your body may feel like you might be pressed through the perforated Laguna leather seats like Playdough!

It’s not just the evil power and great looks that suck you into this day dream. The Hellcat’s exhaust note is a musical masterpiece that entices you to go deep into the throttle at every opportunity. Combined with the crackles and pops as you decelerate, the glorious sounds this monster makes are worth the price of admission alone. Each mash of the gas pedal opens dual mode exhaust valves to release a furious roar that will make Beethoven’s 9th Symphony sound like a Metallica soundtrack.

MAIN FEATURES

  •  Supercharged 6.2L HEMI® SRT Hellcat V8 Engine
  • 707 HP
  • 650 lb-ft Torque
  • 0-60 in 3.6 seconds
  • 204 MPH Top Speed
  • Brembo six-piston calipers
  • TREMEC® six-speed manual transmission

PERFORMANCE & DRIVING EXPERIENCE

To go this fast, you need brakes equally as powerful. A giant two piece Brembo system slows a hefty 4,449 pounds amazingly quick for a vehicle with that much mass. It took two hard laps at the Palm Beach Speedway before a little break fade kicked, but this setup is rock solid and predictable. You really do feel like you’re driving a much smaller car.

Dodge took the vanilla looking base version of the retro Challenger gave it the full Hellcat treatment. A lowered stance, aggressive front air-dam, rear spoiler and beautiful wheels create a car that looks like it will devour anything that crosses its path. The front end of this SRT Hellcat is especially ominous and was designed to suck in massive amounts of air through the giant hood scoop, upper and lower grills, and the SRT team even removed one of the fog lamps to create an additional air intake. With downright evil looking headlamps and a blacked out grill, this car is looks menacing as it approaches its prey.

While near perfect from the factory in most every way, there are a couple of changes we would make. The shoes on this beast are a bit narrow for so much power, and transferring all those horses to the pavement is a huge test of patience. Had Dodge designed the Hellcat from the ground up, I’m certain they would have made the fenders a few inches wider to accommodate more tread in the rear. Not to say drifting isn’t a blast in the Hellcat, but we’re talking about a near 10 second car with just a little more grip.

INTERIOR FEATURES

It’s a car that can do it all though. If you’re ever in the rare mood to just cruise around town, this hell raiser will transform from Hellcat to pussy cat. In default suspension mode, the ride is quite smooth and absorbs bumpy and uneven surfaces well. With all the creature comforts and hi-tech gadgetry of the most luxurious cars around, you may for a brief moment forget you’re riding a bolt of lightning.

The foldable rear seats create a huge area to store the occasional large and long items from the mall or four wheels and tires for a trip to the track. As a comparison, a Porsche 911 is a very fun car to drive. But while the 911 can hold a set of golf clubs if you leave any passengers at home, the Challenger Hellcat allows you to bring your entire group with their four bags of clubs.

  • Premium Laguna Leather SRT® Seats
  • Ventilated Front Seats
  • Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror w / Microphone
  • 18 Speakers Premium Audio System with 2 Subwoofer
  • 8.4-Inch Touchscreen Display
  • GPS Navigation
  • Integrated Voice Command with Bluetooth®

PRICING

Starting At

$62,495

Add the 8-speed automatic transmission to your 2016 Hellcat Challenger for $2,995, Pirelli P Zero high performance tires for $595. The power sunroof adds $1,995, Black Satin hood treatment goes for $1,995, SRT Brass Monkey wheels $995, Red seat belts $195 and the engine block heater for $95. Ivory White or Redline Red will cost an extra $500.

WHO’S THIS CAR FOR?

The 2016 Dodge Challenger Hellcat is an ideal daily driver for the slightly insane. It combines the heart pumping power of 707 supercharged horses with all the modern conveniences and advanced technologies you could ask for. You name it: road course, drag strip, stop light racer, or trip to the store. This is an all-around ride that exceeds expectations at every turn. Pack up three friends and throw all your gear in the trunk. Your next road trip may just be the fastest yet!

2016 Dodge Challenger Hellcat

Starting at $62,495
8.1

Fun Factor

9.5/10

Interior Design

9.0/10

Exterior Design

8.2/10

Fuel Economy

5.0/10

Interior Space

8.8/10

Pros

  • Your kids will never be late for school again.
  • Chrysler’s fast and very user friendly U-Connect system delivers one of the best climate, phone, media and NAV systems available.
  • Hydraulic Power Steering! Feel is great, and the driver is actually steering the car!

Cons

  • You will never sneak a Hellcat in or out of your drive way.
  • Local law enforcement officials may start to call you by your first name
  • A driver’s license shredder.
  • Rear tires too narrow.