Anyone who's ever driven a Dodge Challenger knows it's no mewling kitten. It roars like a lion, soars like an eagle, and pumps the proverbial iron like Arnold Schwartzeneggar bench pressing a grain thresher. And when the automaker adds its new 'Hellcat' engine, it's going to get even better.
What is the 'Hellcat?' Well, it's no mewling kitten, either. It's a supercharged 6.4-liter HEMI V8 that the Chrysler Group has been testing as of late to give its 4,200 lb. muscle car even more oomph.
See, as powerful as the Challenger is, it's also a little on the heavier side. With the competition putting out lighter cars with higher power numbers, the time has come to remind the segment why the Challenger is so aptly named.
With the 'Hellcat' under the hood, spy photographers say that the car is really going to pack on the ponies. By design, it's set to twist out between 500 and 570 horsepower, although spy photographers believe it might even get as high as 600 to 640 by the time it hits production.
According to the spy shots, which depict a 2015 Challenger with a larger air intake to cool the new engine, we'll probably see this supercharged auto sometime next summer. And better yet? Chrysler hasn't ruled out tapping the Hellcat for other SRT autos, meaning a positively beasting 300 or Charger SRT might be in our future.
If you don't want to wait, we have to say that the current Challenger is quite the beast indeed. Drop by Paul Bailey's Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM in North Kingstown, RI and sign up for a test drive. You might just register on the Richter scale.