Lunatic Fringe
Tom Cochrane is a celebrated Canadian icon. The Charger/Challenger duo is a celebrated American icon. What do they have in common? Not much. Except, Tom Cochrane performed in Brampton, Ontario at least once. And virtually every Hellcat’s first performance resonates through Canada’s flower city as well. That’s because this American muscle is actually assembled in Canada. But that doesn’t make it any less potent.
The Hellcat is a mighty 707 horsepower supercharged animal. It’s so powerful it comes with two keys – a black one and a red one. The black key is what you hand to the valet. Or to your relatives who keep asking to drive your muscle car. Or maybe to yourself if you’ve got lead foot tendencies. The black key gives you access to modest, safe, restricted 500 horsepower.
But that red key gives you all 707 horses - and we’re seeing red.
All cats are beautiful and this Hellcat ticks all the right boxes to us. Especially when it’s got this mean looking widebody kit. To the undiscerning eye, this is just a run of the mill Charger. If not for some minimal extra badging or surprisingly subtle fender flares, it hides in plain sight. Some public road users may even think you’re an officer of the law should you creep up behind them in traffic in a white one. Assuming you don't get the optional matte black hood, roof and trunk, that is. But as soon as you hit the ignition, a thunderous roar tells you this is no ordinary charger. More on that soon.
Often times, high performance motoring means a minimal interior, with lightweight carbon fiber seats, stiff suspension and a brutal, hard shifting gearbox. One of our favourite features of the Hellcat is just how usable and friendly it is. We had three passengers comfortable in the car for hours. There was no shortage of room, either in the cabin or the trunk. We’re not going to call a Hellcat a family car…but we’re also not going to say it can’t be one. Just don’t expect your kid to get too much napping in. Our only faults inside are a lack of radar guided cruise control, and a (visually) unimpressive infotainment system. Dodge’s Uconnect system is very intuitive, packed with features and easy to use. But design wise, we’ve seen better systems in much cheaper cars. But you do get a lot of car for your buck. A LOT.
On top of the aforementioned exhaust roar, the Hellcat also features a very audible 2.3L supercharger. That's a higher displacement than the average economy commuter these days. It’s a high pitched, mechanical cacophony that harmonizes oh-so-nicely with the deep bellows of the car’s 6.2L Hemi V8. Those 707 horses paired with 650 lb-ft of torque mean peeling out is far too easy, even with traction control in its most intrusive setting. But don’t let that scare you out of one. It’s thrilling, to say the least, and not at all uncontrollable in Street setting. Launch control gives you the slightest taste of fishtailing in the best possible way. It’s just some of the most fun lunacy you can imagine.
The Hellcat’s engine is its biggest draw, and it is nothing short of a work of art. The massive supercharger bolted on top is both beautiful and functional. And of course, there’s the punch of nostalgia from the Hemi Orange valve covers. This engine has a lot to give. Tuners have already pushed it well past 1000 horsepower. Dodge themselves will offer it to you with 797 horsepower in the Hellcat Redeye on the Challenger (and 840hp on the former Demon trim.) As loud as this engine is under hard acceleration and ignition, it’s quiet and well behaved under normal cruising conditions. But the temptation to blip the throttle in a tunnel or downshift or any other tomfoolery is always there. It’s a great sound and an even better feeling. Just keep an eye on that fuel gauge. This thing is thirsty
In our eyes, the Hellcat is a celebration of lunacy. This car shouldn’t exist. It’s like a child was asked how to make a car better, and they answered ‘put in a big engine and make it go real fast.’ You have to treat it with respect but it’s incredibly forgiving. Especially if you have the wider rubber and improved handling afforded to you by the widebody package. It’s very easy to get the tires to chirp at a red light, even if it’s done unintentionally. As automakers focus on sustainability, efficiency and safety, it’s heartwarming to see a car, as niche and nonsensical as it may be, exist and thrive the way the Hellcat does.
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