Leno and the Hellcat Challenger

[kevm14]

http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/wa ... dailydrive

This car is C6 Z06 fast, which is pretty damn fast.

I like how he says the first gen Challenger SRT-8 handled well. I guess that all depends what you are expecting.

In any event, it's nice to see SRT step up with some serious hardware in the modern times. I dunno how well balanced the car actually is so I'll be curious what the rags have to say about that. The thing is, with 707hp, they sort of earn the license to not be class leading in handling. And the Challenger really isn't supposed to be that kind of car, anyway. It's a modern day actual muscle car and really a competitor to the outgoing GT-500 Mustang. All of the Camaros are much more chassis oriented, so GM doesn't really have an offering in the high HP but meh handling department. I'm fine with that.

I would bet money that this engine is heavier than something like the LS9 (or any alloy LS) but maybe that's not fair as the LS9 was designed for a $100k car. As for the Challenger Hellcat, $60k is a pretty good deal. Though you can go this fast in a used C6 Z06 for less money, but with different tradeoffs.

[kevm14]

So far I am impressed with what I see regarding the powertrain development and function. It revs very responsively, something that's irritated me from day 1 on my CTS-V. I can fix that, of course. The auto also seems to crack off some nice shifts. Finally, they discussed thermal management, an area that I know GM has been sweating (no pun) in the past 10 years on their hi-po stuff. So all in all, this seems like a very solid development effort for Dodge.

[Bob]

I think this car is impressive when you consider the amount of power being produced; however when you look at it in terms of quarter mile speed, it seems less impressive because GM already acheived this performance level with the C6 Z06 8 years ago for roughly the same MSRP. I have to say I was less than impressed with the chassis on the base model Challenger I rented a couple months ago. I am sure SRT was able to do some nice things with it, but it just didn't feel like a fundamentally great platform.

I have heard rumors of the 707 HP engine finding its way into a Charger. In my opinion, this would be much more impressive since this performance level is something very rarely achieved by 4 door sedans at any price point.

[bill25]

I have to start out by saying this:

I am NOT a Dodge/Chrysler guy. I know too many people who had a New Yorker - 4 transmissions later, intrepid - replaced everything and it still didn't run, ever, Le Barron, same, sebring, junk, Omni, worst small car ever made, should I keep going?

My dad had a souped up Duster that I heard was awesome so I guess they were good in the sixties. That is nice, and that was 50 years ago.


But all that being said...
For 60K, having probably a huge trunk and actually having a back seat, over 700 HP, and stats similar to a few year old vette, this thing is pretty impressive. Oh yeah, it looks awesome too.

Good job, maybe I will forget about the 6 cyl Prowler, the V10 Viper with less HP than the new Z06 and Challenger, and the sweet 4 cyl PT Cruiser that you thought was so cool that it needed a convertible version.

Nope.