Are you a performance junkie that owns a Dodge product and thinks the standard 707 horsepower Hellcat engine is about as exciting as a pack of expired pop rocks? If so, the brand appears to have your needs covered with the unveiling of the crate motor version of the Redeye version of the fabled engine.
The engine is the latest entry into the company’s growing library of crate motors, and joins the standard 6.2 liter blown engine, and the limited production 1,000 horsepower 426 “Hellephant” in the parts catalog. As is the case with the factory installed motor, the Redeye crate version spices the speed factor up a notch for drivers, and makes 807 horsepower. This is mainly due to a larger supercharger assembly that produces 14.5 pounds of boost, which is noticeably higher than the normal Hellcat’s 11.6 rating. A higher rev limiter is also included, and the engine benefits from improved cooling, reduced weight, and even reduced friction in key areas of the engine.
“With the addition of this new supercharged HEMI, Mopar now offers five HEMI crate engines with a range of 375 to 1,000 horsepower,” said Mark Bosanac, Head of Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care for FCA – North America. “All Mopar crate engines are quality-tested and factory-backed to deliver proven performance to our enthusiasts.”
It will be interesting to see how clever customizers utilize the Redeye’s beating heart in some of their creations especially those that are destined for either the track or the dragstrip. However, access to this holy grail of horsepower will require you to pay accordingly for the privilege, with Dodge asking interested buyers to relieve their wallet of a stomach churning $21,807. That’s one third of the cost of a conventional Redeye model, and is also slightly above the price of a 2020 Nissan Sentra SR (for those that are indeed curious about such things.)
However, we suspect that this initial ding to your financial arsenal will be well worth it in the long run, especially when the motor has the chance to deliver your first speed fueled grin as you dial in the apex on a tight turn, or even scorch the quarter mile at your local dragstrip. It all depends what you install it in, but the power of imagination can indeed create some very exciting things.
“2021 marks the year that Dodge is distilled to a pure performance brand with 700+ horsepower models available across the entire Dodge lineup,” said Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. “The new 807-horsepower Hellcrate Redeye crate engine gives any pre-1976 vehicle owner another opportunity to become a member of the Dodge Brotherhood of Muscle by tapping into the Dodge//SRT power that wasn’t available then, but is now.”
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.