The Challenger Hellcat Takes its 707 Horses and Heads to Dealer Lots

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (Credit: © Dodge)

When Chrysler opened the order books for the new 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat, the response was overwhelming with over 4,500 orders rolled in within five days. That number was well beyond Chrysler’s wildest predictions and showed that the next-gen muscle car wasn’t dead yet. Of course, being the most-powerful production muscle car ever was likely a catalyst for the incredible success the Hellcat has earned.

If you happen to be one of the initial 4,500, or so, buyers of the Hellcat, you have reason to celebrate, as your ride is on its way to the dealership now. That’s right, Chrysler has managed to fulfill these orders, get them on trucks and deliver them to their eager new owners. What’s more, Chrysler promises to build as many Hellcats s it needs to fit demand, so there will be no limited-edition status here. This is a huge relief to many, as there were rumors floating around about production being limited to just 1,200 examples.

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (Credit: © Dodge)

The Challenger SRT Hellcat, which packs a massive 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, is also the fastest production muscle car ever built too. To prove that this wasn’t just lip service, Chrysler got the NHRA to certify its quarter-mile time at 11.2 seconds at 125 mph with the stock rubber. Swap the stock rubber with stickier drag radials, and that time drops to 10.8 seconds at 126 mph.

Another thing the Hellcat does well is gulp gasoline. On the highway the eight-speed-auto equipped Hellcat gets just 22 mpg, while the six-speed-manual model gets only 21 mpg. However, if you’re buying a 707-horsepower muscle car for its fuel economy, you’re doing it all wrong.

Pricing for the 2015 Challenger Hellcat starts at $59,995, which doesn’t include a $995 destination fee, but does include the gas-guzzler tax. Though the MSRP is low for the type of car the Hellcat is, you can expect nice “Market Adjustment” markups at the dealership level.