What's an automaker to do when their muscle car is the heavyweight champion in the ring? Give it more muscle, of course.
That seems to be the approach of Dodge when it comes to the upcoming 2015 Challenger SRT, anyway. Now that the competition is no longer seeing fit to rest on their laurels and are furnishing their cars with some of the most impressive power numbers seen yet, it's time for the American automaker to step up into the ring to defend its title.
To do that, they're equipping the Challenger SRT with a new engine. Dubbed the 'Hellcat,' this power plant is set to bolster the muscle car to near legendary status in the pony spectrum while off-setting the car's imposing bulk at the same time.
What will that take, you might ask? It starts off with supercharging the Chrysler Group's already biblical 6.4-liter V8. While the original estimates pointed to a pony rating of 500 to 570, spy photographers who've seen the car on the track believe it could push upwards of 600 by the time it makes it into production.
If that's the case, it's pretty certain that the Challenger will not just maintain its seat, but may attract new drivers who are thirsty for Dodge's special blend of pulse-pounding performance. With speculation afoot that the 300 and Charger SRTs could also benefit from the Hellcat, that interest may not just be limited to the muscle car.
You can keep up on developments of the 2015 Challenger by keeping tabs on the Fred Beans Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM blog. You can also check out the style and performance of other Chrysler Group models by using the live chat on our website, or dropping by our Doylestown, PA blog.