With an output of 707-horsepower and a soundtrack to melt your icy heart, the 2015 SRT Charger and Challenger Hellcats have been a MASSIVE hit for Dodge and SRT. Base pricing in the $60k range has done little to diminish demand, and calendar 2015 has been a cut-throat battle to get one in your driveway.
The Charger Hellcat is especially rare so far — but that looks set to change thanks to near-doubling of production capacity for all Hellcats in 2016. The scarcity of the Hellcats has been dramatic on all levels; particularly with dealerships.
Efforts to keep price gouging to a minimum, plus reward solid-performing showrooms, has meant that Dodge dealers have been among the most aggressive Hellcat shoppers.
A revised version of this complex allocation system will still be in place for 2016, but should make more people happy thanks to an overall greatly increased supply of the supercharged HEMI.
There is one group that might not be thrilled with this announcement: 2015 Hellcat buyers whose cars are not yet built. These orders will be canceled in favor of a special discount on 2016 models.The 2015 and 2016 models are identical.
Read all the nitty gritty details below from Dodge on the production and allocations.
Will all the effort as a car shopper be worth it?
YES.
The Hellcat has absolutely unreal power and performance in both variations.
2016 HELLCAT Production
- Due to unprecedented demand for the 2015 models, Dodge significantly increases production for 2016 model-year Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcats
- Plan includes building the remaining 2015 SRT Hellcat scheduled orders at Brampton (Ont.) Assembly
- All unscheduled 2015 model year SRT Hellcat sold orders will be cancelled; these customers will receive discounted 2016 model year pricing
- Dealers will receive details on the full 2016 model year allocation plan in August 2015
- Two allocation cycles to occur – August 2015 and February 2016
- 2016 model year SRT Hellcat allocation eligibility will continue to be based on past Dodge sales performance
- Allocation will be adjusted based on dealers’ average historical Dodge SRT Challenger and Charger Hellcat “days on lot” performance
- If dealers keep inventory moving, they will qualify for February allocation plan
- Dealers will only be able to order their given allocation.
- SRT Hellcat orders open in the second week of August 2015; production starts in September 2015
- New for 2016, both Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat now feature standard ultra-premium Laguna Leather interior appointments, Uconnect 8.4AN with navigation, HD radio and five years of SiriusXM Travel Link and SiriusXM Traffic
- Remaining 2015 SRT Hellcat scheduled orders will be built at Brampton (Ont.) Assembly
- All unscheduled 2015 model year SRT Hellcat orders will be cancelled; these customers will receive discounted 2016 model year pricing
- Dealers will get a 2016 model year potential allocation total for the entire model year in August 2015
- 2016 model year SRT Hellcat allocation eligibility will continue to be based on past Dodge sales performance
- Allocation will be adjusted based on dealers’ average historical Dodge SRT Challenger and Charger Hellcat “days on lot” performance
- They will receive half of the 2016 model year allocation (net of adjustments) beginning in August 2015. They will receive the second half of the 2016 model year allocation (net of adjustments) in February 2016
- Dealers will only be able to order their given allocation
The ordering system will open the second week of August. Production of the 2016 Dodge Charger and Challenger is scheduled to start at the Brampton, (Ont.), Assembly plant in September.
Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is the fastest, most powerful muscle car ever, thanks to the supercharged HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine, which delivers an unprecedented 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. The 6.2-liter V-8 is also the first factory-built supercharged HEMI. The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat also is the fastest muscle car ever with a National Hot Rod Association-certified ¼-mile elapsed time of 11.2 seconds with stock Pirelli P Zero tires. With drag radials, the ¼-mile run dropped to just 10.8 seconds.
Upgraded for 2016, the Challenger SRT Hellcat now features standard ultra-premium Laguna Leather interior appointments, Uconnect 8.4AN with navigation, HD radio and five years of SiriusXM Travel Link and SiriusXM Traffic.
Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Taking the performance sedan world by storm, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat features the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine that produces 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, a top speed of 204 miles per hour, and a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)-certified, quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.0 seconds on stock Pirelli P Zero tires, making it the quickest, fastest and most powerful production sedan in the world, as well as the most capable and technologically advanced four-door muscle car in America.
In addition to all the standard equipment offered in 2015, upgraded for 2016, the Charger SRT Hellcat now features standard ultra-premium Laguna leather interior appointments, Uconnect 8.4AN with navigation, HD radio and five years of SiriusXM Travel Link and SiriusXM Traffic.
About Dodge Brand
The Dodge brand is America’s mainstream performance brand. With the purification of the brand and consolidation with SRT, Dodge is getting back to its performance roots with every single model it offers. The Dodge and SRT brands offer a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out within their own segments. Dodge is the “mainstream performance” brand and SRT is positioned as the “ultimate performance” halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.
From muscle cars to compact cars, minivans, crossovers and full-size SUVs, the Dodge brand’s full lineup of 2015 models deliver best-in-class horsepower, class-exclusive technology, unmatched capability and a slew of cool features, such as LED headlamps, Dodge signature racetrack tail lamps, dual exhaust, 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment centers and 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable gauge clusters, to name a few. For the 2015 model year, customers will be able to drive the new 2015 Dodge Charger and Challenger, as well as the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Charger SRT Hellcat. The Dodge brand lineup also includes the 2015 Dodge Dart, Durango, Grand Caravan and Journey, including the new Crossroad model, and its flagship, the Dodge Viper.
Follow Dodge, SRT and FCA US news and video on:
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Company website: www.fcanorthamerica.com
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Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.