Hellcat Hoedown: Here’s All 5 Hellcat V8-Powered Cars FCA Has Released
It seems like the crazy engineers over at Chrysler are stuffing the Hellcat engine into literally any chassis it could fit in. There’s even speculation that a supercharged V8 Chrysler Pacifica minivan could make an appearance in the lineup. However, even Dodge knows that the lifespan of this supercharged brute is limited. That being said, here’s all five chassis the magnificent Hellcat V8 engine has made its way into.
Dodge Challenger, the Hellcat staple
Road and Track laid out all of the hellcats in order of power output. Of course, the 800-horsepower Dodge Challenger Demon is at the top of the list. However, the Challenger has a multitude of Hellcat variations.
First and foremost is the original Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, released in 2015. Eventually, 707 horsepower just wasn’t enough, so the 2020 Hellcat Widebody saw Dodge bump the power up to 717.
Most recently, the Challenger saw another power increase to an eye-watering 797 horsepower in the form of the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye.
Dodge Charger, the other classic
While the Challenger certainly lives in the spotlight, the Charger Hellcat lineup is seemingly a bit underloved by comparison. That’s a bit sad, considering it, too, has been around for the entire ride.
Save for the Demon; the Charger has matched pace with the Challenger since their debut in 2015. The power increase to 717, the widebody fender flares, and of course, the Redeye upgrade to 797 horsepower. It got it all, too!
The Charger Hellcat is awesome because of its four-door duties. There are, however, a couple of downsides. One is that it’s a bit slower than the Challenger. The second and most prominent sadness amongst car enthusiasts is that the Charger Hellcat never had the option for a manual transmission while the Challenger did.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Evidently, the four-door usability of the Dodge Charger with its relatively ample trunk space just didn’t do it for FCA. Instead, they decided to bump up the practicality to a whole new level.
Enter the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. The Trackhawk is the first and only Chrysler product to use the Hellcat engine without bearing the Dodge logo. That may also be why the name Hellcat isn’t on the vehicle or associated with it.
Make no mistake, though. It does indeed have the iconic 707 horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 under the hood.
Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Frankly, the lack of the word Hellcat on the Grand Cherokee must have rubbed someone at FCA the wrong way. There was, of course, an easy solution. Throw it in a Dodge SUV and bring that sweet Hellcat nameplate back.
Enter the 710 horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. It was a short-lived beast that may very well go on to be a collectible someday. It was only available for the 2021 model year. If Doug DeMuro’s theory of appreciating cars has proper merit, this thing could be worth a fortune someday!
Ram 1500 TRX
They did the coupe, they did the sedan, and they did a pair of SUVs. Realistically, there was only one other untapped Hellcat frontier that FCA had to tackle. That’d be the pickup truck.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Ram 1500 TRX. Interestingly enough, a non-Dodge product once again wears no Hellcat brandishing despite having the powerplant. You’d think they would have given it some leeway, given that Ram trucks used to wear the Dodge logo. However, if you’re familiar with the T-rex-related easter eggs throughout this truck, you’ll know precisely why it’s called what it is.
Will we see any other funky Hellcat cars come out?
Given that Dodge and FCA have acknowledged that the Hellcat engine is on borrowed time, we probably won’t. However, that isn’t going to stop folks from buying the engines and putting them into crazy projects—for example, The Stradman’s Jeep Gladiator 6×6 with a Hellcat powerplant.
Overall, you have to respect FCA for their relentless dedication to putting this powerplant in all sorts of chassis. Sure, it’s ferociously terrible on gas. It’s not like anyone buys one looking to save fuel economy. It’s just fun! The automotive world will miss this iconic engine when it’s gone.