Challenger Hellcat gets 707HP!

viperbilliam

Enthusiast
Joined
May 17, 2005
Posts
1,061
Reaction score
1
Location
Richland, WA
What's so $hitty about the Challenger platform? It's a pretty successful platform; yes it's heavy but it's also very DD friendly with a great interior and passsenger accomodations with quality superior to its direct competition. That's why it cost more (not insignificant) although not as fast (which hurts it). The Hellcat may change that and wil serve as stepping stone to the Viper should Dodge figure a way to bring the price down a bit so that it isn't such a big leap.
 

Bobpantax

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 2, 2000
Posts
6,957
Reaction score
3
Location
Miami
Hellcat automatic lbs per HP = 6.28

Hellcat weights:
8-Speed auto - 4,439lbs

6-speed manual - 4,449lbs


Gen V Viper lbs per HP = 4.9

But the Viper is engineered as a road course car and its power curve is quite different.

Would an eight speed auto Gen V Viper beat an eight speed auto Hellcat if same existed? I think it would. But as we know, the eight speed auto does not fit in a Viper. Will the factory ever make a Viper variant whose main mission is drag racing? I do not think so. That is clearly what the Hellcat's main mission is even though the data on it indicates that it is no slouch on a road course.
 
Last edited:

viperbilliam

Enthusiast
Joined
May 17, 2005
Posts
1,061
Reaction score
1
Location
Richland, WA
Wow, it's that heavy? I keep thinking it's 4100 lbs (still a pig) but 4400 lbs is just too much. I believe supercharger equipment adds over 100 lbs; perhaps 200 lbs when considering all the added drivetrain beef to hold up to it. Think SRT will find places to reduce weight in the Hellcat?
 

PatentLaw

Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Posts
2,597
Reaction score
4
Location
Sugar Land, Texas
The New Hellcat has a better power to weight ratio than almost all Vipers, including the 96. Guess you have to point that out to people who are not that intelligent.
 

kdaviper

Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 14, 2008
Posts
553
Reaction score
0
Location
Marion, IN
Wow, it's that heavy? I keep thinking it's 4100 lbs (still a pig) but 4400 lbs is just too much. I believe supercharger equipment adds over 100 lbs; perhaps 200 lbs when considering all the added drivetrain beef to hold up to it. Think SRT will find places to reduce weight in the Hellcat?

They didn't just add a supercharger and the equipment. They use a heaver block from the heavy duty truck application to start off, upgraded a lot of engine internals, added bigger brakes to handle the power, added enough cooling capacity to run hard in 100 degree weather and not experience heat soak for a good while, and added additional sound deadening material to meet NVH standards. Not to mention, the hellcats (as of now) will be coming very loaded. probably an extra 20 lbs in stereo equipment alone over the base challenger.
 

Bobpantax

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 2, 2000
Posts
6,957
Reaction score
3
Location
Miami
I think that posters realize that. The discussion point mentioned here and in another related thread has to do with comparing the Gen V with 640 HP to the Hellcat with 707 HP. HP bragging rights are important to marketing but lbs per HP can be a more telling statistic subject to the distribution over the power curve and how that powewr is put down to the road. The Nissan GTR is a good example of a car that is somewhat heavy; has less power than a number of its competitors and manages to produce very impressive performance stats based on its power distribution implemented through a very efficient transmission and the fact that it uses all wheel drive to put it to the ground.

The New Hellcat has a better power to weight ratio than almost all Vipers, including the 96. Guess you have to point that out to people who are not that intelligent.
 

viper srt10

Viper Owner
Joined
Jan 8, 2013
Posts
83
Reaction score
0
Location
Qatar
Why would ever The Dodge/SRT make a car stronger than the Viper ?

I know that numbers are not everything, but what could be the reason behind this move , ( from Viper perspective ) ?
 

FLL-B/W-GTS

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 31, 2007
Posts
575
Reaction score
0
Don,t Worry that the Viper has been dethroned,not only by the new Z06 ,but the Challanger also.Dodge can not let it stand how it is.I am sure(Maybe) they will have a big surprise for the fans if they expect anyone to buy a new Viper.
 

Free2go

Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Posts
3,290
Reaction score
6
The New Hellcat has a better power to weight ratio than almost all Vipers, including the 96. Guess you have to point that out to people who are not that intelligent.

Patent trolling.......
 

PatentLaw

Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Posts
2,597
Reaction score
4
Location
Sugar Land, Texas
You are the one essentially on a Dodge website, trashing product. Again, not so smart.

Go back to calling out people who fly different flags. It is more your style and mental level. Also waiting for your next "selfie". Pathetic as usual.
 

ViperSmith

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 19, 2012
Posts
2,918
Reaction score
0
Location
Tysons Corner, VA
Don,t Worry that the Viper has been dethroned,not only by the new Z06 ,but the Challanger also.Dodge can not let it stand how it is.I am sure(Maybe) they will have a big surprise for the fans if they expect anyone to buy a new Viper.

Don't worry, still has more HP than a TTS, since that's all that matters.
 

Free2go

Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Posts
3,290
Reaction score
6
You are the one essentially on a Dodge website, trashing product. Again, not so smart.

Go back to calling out people who fly different flags. It is more your style and mental level. Also waiting for your next "selfie". Pathetic as usual.

As a "paying" member here, I'm entitled to my opinion...free of enthusiast condescension. I also have other Dodge products in my garage. As far as the "flying different flags" comment, you may be on to something there. As you believe yourself to be of superior intelligence, I believe that I am morally superior to you. I apologize if I have offended your chosen lifestyle, but I must say that your living proof that a strong a$$hole cultural current flows through this Viper forum.
 

05Commemorative

Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 15, 2010
Posts
480
Reaction score
0
Location
Sammamish, WA
what is the car stronger than the Viper? Are you suggesting a 4400lb car is stronger? (I guess it would have a higher towing capacity...)

simple, this is a pony car compete offering. no more, no less. Hopefully they will sell all the units to better compete in the segment.

Why would ever The Dodge/SRT make a car stronger than the Viper ?

I know that numbers are not everything, but what could be the reason behind this move , ( from Viper perspective ) ?
 

FLL-B/W-GTS

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 31, 2007
Posts
575
Reaction score
0
Ya,but still runs mid 10s all day long...The Hellcat and Z will be right their with just DRs..
Boost and tect is the way forward...
Period...
 

PeerBlock

Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 23, 2013
Posts
460
Reaction score
0
The New Hellcat has a better power to weight ratio than almost all Vipers, including the 96. Guess you have to point that out to people who are not that intelligent.

If power-to-weight is so important:

F1 Racecar
Typical Power: ~1,000 HP
Typical Weight: 1,500 lbs
Power-to-Weight: 1,000 / 1,500 = 0.67 HP/lb

Top Fuel Dragster
Typical Power: 9,000 HP
Typical Weight: 2,400 lbs
Power-to-Weight: 9,000 / 2,400 = 3.75 HP/lb

I guess this means that the dragster is the "better" overall car...next, let's talk about other relevant metrics like 0 to 60 times and use that metric alone to declare one car better than the other.

Patent trolling.......

:lmao:

You are the one essentially on a Dodge website, trashing product. Again, not so smart.

Go back to calling out people who fly different flags. It is more your style and mental level. Also waiting for your next "selfie". Pathetic as usual.

Is this response copyrighted and did I commit an infringement by quoting your response in my reply?
 

Free2go

Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Posts
3,290
Reaction score
6
The New Hellcat has a better power to weight ratio than almost all Vipers, including the 96. Guess you have to point that out to people who are not that intelligent.

Listen, I understand that your butt hurt from some comments that I made in the past. Is it not however totally plausible that your butt could be hurting from something "other" than my comments?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=kp&v=HChzRB8h6LU
 

FLL-B/W-GTS

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 31, 2007
Posts
575
Reaction score
0
That car is so Bad Ass...They have definitely embarrassed the Gen.5 with that 10.85 number...Another member of the very exclusive stock 10 second club....
 

adprokid

Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Posts
11
Reaction score
0
I know the Hellcat is a heavy muscle car, but I wonder if the 2015 Viper's power figures will increase and if it will remain N/A or it will be FI since it has forged internals already?
 

Bobpantax

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 2, 2000
Posts
6,957
Reaction score
3
Location
Miami
I do not think that they embarrassed the Gen V at all. The main mission of the Gen V is to perform on a road course. The main mission of the Hellcat is to perform in the quarter mile. Two very different cars.

That car is so Bad Ass...They have definitely embarrassed the Gen.5 with that 10.85 number...Another member of the very exclusive stock 10 second club....
 

Torquemonster

Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 14, 2003
Posts
2,174
Reaction score
0
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
I do not think that they embarrassed the Gen V at all. The main mission of the Gen V is to perform on a road course. The main mission of the Hellcat is to perform in the quarter mile. Two very different cars.

Maybe, but with all due respect I won't be ponying up with the coin on a Gen 5 when it can't keep up with a Challenger on the road. I think the Gen 5 (whether via ACR or otherwise) needs to step up and remake Viper the Chrysler performance benchmark on all fronts. A 700hp Gen 5 would do that. Going to smaller diameter wheels would also sure help better traction with higher profile tires. What race cars run 30/35 profile rubber? Time for OEM's to lose the silly childish obsession with Hot Wheels proportioned wheels. 18" is more than enough, and watch track times and road course times go down then!
 

pathoguy

Enthusiast
Joined
May 16, 2010
Posts
191
Reaction score
0
Location
Gulf of Mexico
do not think that they embarrassed the Gen V at all. The main mission of the Gen V is to perform on a road course. The main mission of the Hellcat is to perform in the quarter mile. Two very different cars.

You are right of course.......however beyond the racing aspects, lots of folk capable and willing to buy these types of cars are influenced by hp numbers. I love my Gen 5 as I did my previous vipers, but it bothers me a tad that the newest viper now has 60+ less hp than another factory Dodge automobile. It makes little sense actually, since more hp for me only means a longer walk out of the woods. Still there is something rattling around in my alleged brain that says the newest viper should have the highest power rating of all the Dodges and in fact also more than the C7Z06, GT500 etc. and by a comfortable margin

To me the hellcat means one of two things: Dodge has something magnificant planned for the viper powerplant. The viper will be taken off life support.
 

sunsalem

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 12, 2014
Posts
324
Reaction score
0
To me the hellcat means one of two things: Dodge has something magnificant planned for the viper powerplant. The viper will be taken off life support.
I couldn't agree more.

FWIW, I hope the Hellcat engine (and auto transmission) will be shoehorned into the current chassis somehow.
If so, I will put in a order.
 

evomind

Viper Owner
Joined
Aug 22, 2006
Posts
426
Reaction score
0
I dont know guys.......
I remember when the Gen 5 was a rumor and the Viper die hards were insisting the new Viper HAD to be a V10 and HAD to be naturally aspirated, as going forced induction was cheating, a-la ZR1. Viper fans said the new Viper HAD TO BE naturally aspirated V10 even if it meant less power.
Am I the only one who remembers all that?
I believe most of us were a bit surprised the Gen 5 "only" had 640 hp, basically a Gen 4 with headers and Venom controller (power wise anyway), but Viper fans got their V10 naturally aspirated just like they demanded.
Dont flame me if you dont like my comments, I am just repeating what I read on this website a few years back, plus Im on my 4th Viper, so "troll" I aint.

That said, I think the Hellcat is cool and its good for the industry as it pushes the envelope a little bit further. I dont know that it automatically means a HP boost of any significance for the Viper, theyre 2 different cars with different purposes. Im not sure Dodge/SRT will throw more money at the Viper. IDK.
That said, I think I still like the GT500 for the looks over the Hellcat, plus the Ford is a little lighter.
These cars are getting so heavy the manufacturers have no choice but to keep throwing more HP at them. Id like to see the cars get a little lighter but I realize thats problematic.
 

sunsalem

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 12, 2014
Posts
324
Reaction score
0
I believe most of us were a bit surprised the Gen 5 "only" had 640 hp, basically a Gen 4 with headers and Venom controller (power wise anyway), but Viper fans got their V10 naturally aspirated just like they demanded.
I was a bit surprised too, but the current HP isn't a big concern for me: I want the auto trans.
I realize Ralph said no....however, with inventories so high and SRT put in the back seat by Fiat, things have changed.
If there is a future for the Viper, it will be a different beast.
No way can they keep producing a car that does not sell....NO car company can.
 

Stealth

Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 3, 2008
Posts
536
Reaction score
0
Location
SoCal
Does anyone know how much the Viper engine and Hellcat engines weigh? (respectively).
 

RPHJR

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 29, 2004
Posts
166
Reaction score
0
Hellcat motor coming to the viper with 725-750 horse. Any bets?
 
Top