When the current Dodge Charger lineup was introduced without the supercharged Hellcat Hemi, the Mopar community was pretty angry. The new twin turbocharged inline-six Hurricane engines do a great job of making the SixPack models a ton of fun to drive, but when compared to the blown V8, the new I6 falls short. Fortunately, the company has confirmed that the new Charger will soon get an SRT Hellcat model with the supercharged V8 and today, we take a look at what all should be included in that range-topping package.
Boosted Hemi Power, Likely Closer to 800hp
The original Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat from 2015 was powered by a 6.2-liter Hemi topped by a 2.4-liter supercharger, delivering 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. In 2020, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition was introduced with 717 horsepower and starting in 2021, all Charger SRT Hellcat models had the same 717 horsepower rating. If the new Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat came with 717 horsepower, we are pretty sure that the masses would love it, but we think that there is more power coming.
The latest iteration of the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi was introduced for the 2027 Ram 1500 TRX and the 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee SRT. Those trucks both deliver 777 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque, similar to the output of the 2023 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye at 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque, but there is a key difference. Both of the new supercharged Ram pickups feature the 2.4-liter supercharger while the Redeye models use a 2.7-liter supercharger.
Dodge could use the version of the Hellcat Hemi from the newest Ram 1500 and provide the new Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat with 777 horsepower and 680 lb-ft of torque, or the company could use a setup similar to the previous SRT Hellcat Redeye models and give the owners up around 800 horsepower. What we do not expect is for the new Charger SRT Hellcat to have the same 707 or 717 horsepower rating as the models offered from 2015-2023.
All-Wheel-Drive Would Create a Real Beast
The previous generation of the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat was a real monster on the street or the track, but like all rear-drive performance vehicles, it was constantly hindered by traction issues. Fortunately, every new Dodge Charger built during the latest generation has a pretty solid solution for traction issues – all-wheel-drive.
The previous Charger and Challenger were only offered with all-wheel-drive in V6 form (and some 5.7-liter R/T models prior to that), but we have never seen a factory supercharged Dodge muscle car with all-wheel-drive. During the previous generation, engineers stated that they didn’t have an all-wheel-drive system that would fit comfortably under the car and handle all of that Hemi torque, but the new Charger chassis was designed for electrification. That means that there is more room under the car, possibly making enough space for the kind of heavy duty all-wheel-drive system that will handle 700+ lb-ft of torque.
If Dodge makes a new Charger SRT Hellcat with all-wheel-drive, the rest of the American muscle cars are going to have a hard time keeping up in a drag race.
Higher Performance Suspension and Brakes
The previous generation of the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat came with Bilstein Adaptive Damping Suspension and huge Brembo braking setups behind all four wheels, as shown on the King Daytona above. The current Charger SixPack Scat Pack is offered with a much simpler suspension system and Brembo six-piston calipers and 15-inch rotors up front, but there is no four-wheel Brembo braking setup offered for the Hurricane-powered Scat Pack.
The next Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat will almost certainly come with a big Brembo four-wheel braking package and either the Bilstein adaptive dampers from the previous Charger or a newer version of a similar setup. In short, monster brakes and an advanced, adaptive-and-adjustable suspension system will almost surely be key features of the next Hellcat-powered Dodge Charger.
More Aggressive Exterior, Maybe a Huge Wing
The current Dodge Charger lineup sits fairly high due to the all-wheel-drive setup, even with the addition of things like a chin spoiler. The SRT Banshee Concept had a more prominent chin spoiler, giving it the appearance of sitting lower to the ground, while also being tucked down tighter to the wheels. The suspension system referenced in the previous section will lower the new Charger SRT Hellcat a bit, but it will likely also have a chin spoiler, side sills and a maybe a rear diffuser to give the model a substantially more aggressive stance. There have also been rumors that Dodge is working on a Charger with a big rear wing, but those inside reports may have unknowingly been talking about the Copperhead Concept which we know has a big rear spoiler.
One truly unique aspect that Dodge could add to the upcoming Charger SRT Hellcat is the center-lock wheels from the SRT Banshee EV Concept. Center lock wheels are popular in motorsports and with some European brands, holding the wheels in place with one large, central nut rather than a handful around the outside.
Premium Interior is Guaranteed
The interior of the current Dodge Charger SixPack lineup is already packed with features that would be expected in the next generation SRT Hellcat. The big center screen with the Performance Pages app, the big digital gauge cluster, the Attitude Adjustment lighting, the steering wheel with shift paddles and the race-inspired high-back seats all seem like items that will be included in the new supercharged models, although the fancy seats could be an option. We can also expect the Hellcat models to have the most powerful sound system along with a carbon fiber trim package – both of which are available with the Hurricane-powered models. Really, the Scat Pack comes so heavily loaded that Dodge might have a hard time coming up with many features that are at least already offered as an option, but the bottom line is that the Hellcat interior will be as loaded as any more in the lineup.
