The article was originally produced on October 6, 2016, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

I have felt the power of the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat which is more like a straight right from Mike Tyson!

The way Americans think and design cars has always been different from what we are used to in Europe. The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is a very clear proof of this. European muscle cars, such as the BMW M5, Mercedes E63 AMG and the Audi RS6 itself, are literally put to shame when compared to the Hellcat's power resources. We are not talking about a few tens of horsepower here, but over a hundred horses more than the Germans. The Hellcat has as much as 717 horses or 707 depending on how you measure. Regardless of the method, this is an amount that surpasses all understanding. In order to succeed in scaring up the 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine, a compressor has been installed, which gives it 881 newton meters of torque. This makes it the strongest and fastest sedan in the world.

The name Charger has had iconic status in the USA since 1966. Who does not remember the films "Bullit" with Steve McQueen and "The Fast and the Furious" with Paul Walker. The model was discontinued in 1978 but returned in 2005 and in 2014 the Hellcat special model was presented. Actually, a hellcat is the same as a wild cat but has become a symbol of a person with a violent and unpredictable temperament, especially a woman.

What is also significant for American cars is that they are extremely comfortable. Here, too, the Hellcat follows this manner. Alcantara-covered seats that feel more like comfortable armchairs than car seats. The seats have really good support, which can be needed when things start to go fast and the road turns. Otherwise, you will find all conceivable technology and a massive sound system that makes the journey in a Hellcat very pleasant. 

To start the car, you obviously need a key, and with the Charger Hellcat you get two keys just like most other cars. Here, however, things are slightly different compared to other cars. For the Hellcat you get a black and a red key. With the black key, the amount of power is limited to 507 horsepower, while the red one unleashes all 717 horses.

To start the engine, it is enough to press a button. With a proper roar, the engine starts and it is impossible to mistake this for a Toyota Prius or another environmentally friendly car. Despite all the muscle, the Charger Hellcat has an "Eco mode" where the engine and transmission are remapped for more frugal driving. However, it is something we do not intend to delve into here and now. The gearbox that sits inside is an eight-speed Torqueflite automatic gearbox with a traditional gear selector and paddles on the steering wheel. The "Drive" mode is now engaged and you hardly have time to think about the gas pedal before you leave a plume of smoke behind you from the rear tires. Even with the anti-skid system fully activated, the car is unable to keep its grip on the asphalt. And so it goes on, the Hellcat has so much power and torque that it happily spins in almost all gears. It's not often that I get scared behind the wheel of powerful cars because I've driven it mostly, e.g. Koenigsegg that has over a thousand horses. The Hellcat, on the other hand, is a little different, it is so insanely strong from the start and the rear tires are too narrow, which means that the fight for grip is always a losing battle for the tires. Straight ahead this is not just a fast car, this is more like a missile and the whining sound of the supercharger is a joy to the ear. If you manage to keep your grip, it takes just 3.5 seconds to reach the hundred mark on the meter. If you have a sufficiently long and straight stretch of road, the Hellcat should be able to reach up to 328 kilometers per hour! To keep track of things, there are a series of menus to browse through on the dashboard screen. Here you can follow your lap times, G-force and top speed record and more. You can also set up the car completely according to your own wishes. You can choose between 500 horses or 700+, softer or harder suspension, faster gearbox and much more. Everything for the car to behave the way you want. 

The German muscle cars are probably a wiser option than a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. But at the same time, they will never give you the horror-mixed delight that a Hellcat evokes. Just as the name says, this is a wild cat from hell!