Pushing the Limits: Dodge//SRT Literally Expands High-performance 2020 Charger SRT Hellcat and Scat Pack With New Widebody

Dodge//SRT is literally expanding its high-performance Charger models for 2020, adding a Widebody Package to America’s only four-door muscle car. The Widebody Package, standard on Charger SRT Hellcat and available on Charger Scat Pack, includes new integrated fender flares that add 3.5 inches of body width, creating an even more aggressive, planted stance, and making room for the wider wheels and tires, to deliver improved performance on the street, strip and road course.

• Powered by the proven supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Hellcat V-8 engine with its best-in-class 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, and mated to the standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, the new 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody delivers a top speed of 196 miles per hour (mph), continuing its reign as the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world
• New aggressive and modern Widebody exterior, standard on Charger SRT Hellcat and available on Charger Scat Pack, features new front and rear fascias with integrated fender flares, adding 3.5 inches of width over the wider wheels and tires
• Widebody Package adds 20-inch by 11-inch wheels, wider Pirelli 305/35ZR20 tires, Brembo six-piston front calipers with two-piece front brake rotors, and unique suspension tuning with Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping, all combining to deliver improved performance on the street, strip and road course
• Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody runs 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and a quarter-mile elapsed time (ET) in 10.96 seconds, pulling .96 g on the skidpad and making this the quickest and best-handling production Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat ever
• Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody runs 2.1 seconds faster than the vehicle it replaces on a 2.1-mile road course, equal to 13 car lengths after one lap
• Charger Scat Pack models deliver the most muscle for the dollar with the 392-cubic-inch HEMI V-8 engine’s best-in-class naturally aspirated 485 horsepower mated to TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission
• Charger Scat Pack Widebody runs 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and a quarter-mile ET in 12.4 seconds, pulling .98 g on the skidpad and making it the quickest and best-handling production Charger Scat Pack ever offered
• New Charger Scat Pack Widebody runs 1.3 seconds faster than standard Charger Scat Pack on a 2.1-mile road course, equal to eight car lengths after one lap
• Dealer orders open in fall 2019 and vehicles will start arriving in Dodge//SRT dealerships in early 2020
• Dodge Charger has dominated the U.S. full-size car segment in total vehicles sales for five straight years (2014-2018)

Dodge is literally expanding its high-performance Charger models for 2020, adding a Widebody Package to America’s only four-door muscle car.

Powered by the proven supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Hellcat V-8 engine, the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody boasts a best-in-class 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque and delivers a top speed of 196 miles per hour (mph), maintaining its reign as the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world.

The Widebody Package, standard on Charger SRT Hellcat and available on Charger Scat Pack, includes new integrated fender flares that add 3.5 inches of body width, creating an even more aggressive, planted stance. The flares make room for the wider 20-inch by 11-inch wheels and Pirelli 305/35ZR20 tires, Brembo six-piston front calipers with two-piece front brake rotors and unique suspension tuning with Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping, all combining to deliver improved performance on the street, strip and road course.

“People say, ‘no one wants cars anymore.’ I would tell you that the 40,000 people who bought a Dodge Charger so far this year would probably agree, because to them, the Charger isn’t just a car. The Charger’s reach extends beyond body-style practicalities and it can’t be defined by average industry shifts,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. “Can you buy a vehicle that is dollar for dollar more practical than a Charger Widebody? Absolutely, but there are also more than 1,000 flavors of ice cream and vanilla is only one of them. If the ‘average’ person will own six cars in their lifetime, our cars need to connect so strongly that people can’t help, but turn around and take a second look before walking away.”

Dealers will be able to order 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody and Scat Pack Widebody models this fall. The new Charger Widebody models will start arriving in Dodge//SRT dealerships in early 2020.

Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Continues Reign as Most Powerful and Fastest Mass-produced Sedan in the World
Designed and engineered to push the boundaries of what a four-door family sedan can be, the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody is powered by the proven supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine, which delivers a best-in-class 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a standard TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission. With a top speed of 196 miles per hour (mph), the Charger SRT Hellcat maintains its claim as the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world.

The performance improvements start with a 3.5-inch wider body, which makes room for new 20-inch by 11-inch Carbon Black forged wheels riding on wider, stickier Pirelli 305/35ZR20 tires. The Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody also features an SRT-tuned Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping competition suspension, new electric power steering (EPS), stiffer springs, larger sway bars, retuned shocks, several race-inspired technologies and Brembo brakes, all designed to deliver performance numbers never before seen on a Charger.

For the first time ever, Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody now features standard EPS with selectable steering tuning to better manage increased grip, both improving handling performance and delivering better steering feel and ease of turning efforts at parking lot speeds.

• With EPS and standard SRT Drive Modes accessed via the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, drivers can tailor their experience by controlling horsepower, transmission shift speeds, steering, paddle shifters, traction and suspension settings
• SRT Drive Modes offer selectable settings for Street (Auto), Sport and Track, while the Custom setting allows the driver to select individual preferences

Additional upgrades designed to improve handling include: 

• Increased front spring rates – 32 percent stiffer than previous model
• Larger sway bars – expanding from 32 mm to 34 mm in front and from 19 mm to 22 mm in the rear
• Retuned shocks with revised valving to complement stiffer springs 

Four race-inspired technologies that come standard for 2020 also bolster performance:

• Race Cooldown keeps cooling the supercharger/charge air cooler after the engine is shut off by running the intercooler pump and radiator fan
• Line Lock engages the front brakes to hold the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody stationary, but leaves the rear wheels free for a burnout to heat up and clean the rear tires
• Launch Control, easily accessed from a switch on the dashboard, manages tire slip while launching the vehicle to allow the driver to achieve consistent straight-line acceleration
• Launch Assist uses wheel speed sensors to watch for driveline-damaging wheel hop at launch and, in milliseconds, modifies the engine torque to regain full grip

Not only does Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody go fast, it also stops shorter than the vehicle it replaces. For outstanding heat management and longevity, the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody features standard 15.4-inch Brembo two-piece front brake rotors with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers. Stopping distance is four feet shorter (107 feet) from 60-0 mph.

SRT engineers took this wider, stickier beast to the track to see what it can do. The result: improved performance on the street, strip and road course and the quickest and best-handling production Charger SRT Hellcat ever. The 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody runs 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, has a quarter-mile elapsed time (ET) in 10.96 seconds and pulls .96 g on the skidpad. It also delivers a road course lap time 2.1 seconds faster than the vehicle it replaces after one lap of a 2.1-mile track. That is equal to 13 car lengths per lap.

Form Follows Function
Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody’s added 3.5 inches of width paired with its wider wheels and tires are unmistakably Dodge//SRT, creating an aggressive, planted stance unlike any of the other vanilla four-door sedans on the market.

New, wider wheels on Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody include:

• Standard 20-inch by 11-inch forged split-five spoke with standard Low-gloss Carbon Black finish
• Optional 20-inch by 11-inch “Warp Speed” deep dish, with Low-gloss Granite finish
• Optional 20-inch by 11-inch Brass Monkey

Pirelli 305/35ZR20 all-season performance tires are standard; three-season tires are available.

Beyond its menacing stance, the newly designed front fascia on the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody includes a new mail-slot grille, providing the most direct route for cool air to travel into the radiator, to maintain ideal operating temperature even in the hottest conditions. New side sills connect the front and rear fascias to help amplify the integrated design. A new rear spoiler, unique to the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody, is designed to create aero balance with the new front-end design. New this year are two-piece Satin Chrome SRT Hellcat fender badges.  

Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Receives High-performance Interior Updates
The race-inspired interior of the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody features standard French live-stitch accents throughout the instrument panel and doors. Additional unique interior elements and soft-touch finishes refine the high-performance cabin, including: 

• Available new Carbon & Suede Package adds real carbon fiber accents to the instrument panel and console bezels and Dynamica suede headliner, sun visors and A-pillars
• New SRT Hellcat instrument panel badge is unique for the 2020 model year with a black and red finish
• From the driver’s seat:
  • Standard heated and ventilated Laguna leather front seats feature embossed Hellcat logo – available interior color combinations include Black, Black/Sepia or Black/Demonic Red
  • Heated, leather-wrapped SRT flat-bottom steering wheel with mounted controls and paddle shifters is standard or available in wrapped Alcantara
  • Fully electronic, performance-inspired shifter controls the standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission and gives the driver the look and feel of a traditional linkage shifter
  • Roomy center console storage compartment is designed to keep an abundance of personal items handy and within easy reach 

2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Widebody Reaches Best Ever Levels of Performance  
Following on the success of offering the Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody for the 2019 model year, Dodge is also making the Widebody Package available on the Charger Scat Pack for 2020.

“Since we first launched Scat Pack in 2014, the sales mix of our high-performance models has increased from four percent to more than 25 percent,” Kuniskis added. “Charger Scat Pack models deliver more muscle for the dollar than any car out there. Offering a Widebody Package on Charger Scat Pack gives us the opportunity to build on that momentum.”

This wider Scat Pack is powered by the 392-cubic-inch HEMI V-8 engine with the best-in-class naturally aspirated 485 horsepower mated to the TorqueFlite 8HP70 eight-speed transmission. It features its own upgraded specially tuned suspension with Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping, standard EPS with selectable steering tuning, and wider wheels and tires to reach unprecedented levels of lateral grip, acceleration and braking, delivering its best on-road and on-track performance levels ever.

Standard wheels on the Charger Scat Pack Widebody are 20-inch by 11-inch “Devil’s Rim” split-five spoke with Low-gloss Granite finish. Optional wheels are 20-inch by 11-inch finished in Carbon Black.

Pirelli 305/35ZR20 all-season performance tires are standard; three-season tires are available.  

The superb stopping power of the Charger Scat Pack Widebody comes from the standard SRT-engineered Brembo braking system with two-piece 15.4-inch front brake rotors with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers. Stopping distance is 107 feet, three feet shorter than the non-Widebody Scat Pack from 60-0 mph.

Suspension upgrades for the 2020 Charger Scat Pack Widebody include:

• Modified springs, sway bars and shocks
• Increased front spring rates are 27 percent stiffer
• Larger rear sway bar, expanding from 19 mm to 22 mm
• Revised damper calibration to match suspension tuning revisions 

Launch Control, Launch Assist and Line Lock features come standard on all Scat Pack models.

The 2020 Charger Scat Pack Widebody builds on the stellar attributes of the Scat Pack, improving street, strip and road course performance compared with the non-Widebody Charger Scat Pack. It delivers 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds, a quarter-mile ET in 12.4 seconds @ 111 mph, pulls .98 g lateral grip on the skidpad, brakes 60-0 in 107 feet and finishes 1.3 seconds faster on a 2.1-mile road course, which is equal to eight car lengths per lap.

Uconnect Technology Brings SRT Performance Pages, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Charger
As America’s only four-door muscle car, the 2020 Dodge Charger is spacious with plenty of room for a family of five and loaded with high-tech features that are easily accessible through the available class-exclusive Uconnect 4C system.

SRT Performance Pages bring critical vehicle performance data to the driver’s fingertips, including real-time engine data, such as horsepower, torque, oil pressure and dyno graph; various vehicle dynamics measurements, including a g-force heat map, a wide variety of vehicle gauges and performance driving timers.

The Uconnect 4C system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on the Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody and all Scat Pack models, and includes an 8.4-inch touchscreen display that offers multi-touch gestures, vivid imagery, sharp graphics and support for smartphone integrations and features SRT Performance Pages.  A 7-inch driver information digital cluster display gives instant information on performance, available navigation and plenty of vehicle stats, and is easily customizable with the steering wheel-mounted controls.

Dodge Charger’s Successful Formula Is Its Many Personalities
From optimized V-6 highway fuel economy to class-exclusive all-wheel-drive (AWD) capability, Dodge Charger is a performance sedan, a family sedan with attitude, a favorite amongst law enforcement and the only four-door muscle car available. In addition to the SRT Hellcat and Scat Pack models, Charger also offers:

• Award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 with up to 300 horsepower and up to 264 lb.-ft. of torque in Charger SXT, Charger SXT AWD and Charger GT models
• Intelligent AWD on the Charger SXT AWD, which features a segment-exclusive active transfer case and front-axle-disconnect system to improve real-world fuel economy. No other major automotive manufacturer offers the combination of these two independent technologies. When AWD is not required, the system automatically disconnects the front axle to maximize fuel economy while still providing the outstanding fun-to-drive performance and handling inherent in rear-wheel-drive (RWD) vehicles
• Legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with 370 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque in Charger R/T

A wide variety of newly designed wheels, interior options and equipment packages give Charger customers even more factory-custom options, including:

• New standard 19-inch by 7.5-inch Satin Carbon and optional Black Noise wheels for Charger SXT AWD
• New standard 20-inch by 8-inch Satin Carbon wheels on Charger GT and Charger R/T
• Available new Carbon & Suede Package that adds real carbon fiber accents to the instrument panel and console bezels and Dynamica suede headliner, sun visors and A-pillars (also available on Charger R/T and Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody models)
• Available new Caramel interior color (available with Plus Group)
• New Scat Pack instrument panel badge with “392” and multicolor Scat Pack Bee
• Updated Plus Packages:
  • Available on Charger SXT AWD and Charger SXT, adds new 20-inch by 8-inch Satin Carbon wheels to the existing package content, including leather sport seat, rear body-color spoiler, six premium Alpine speakers, 276-watt amp, Uconnect 4C, sport suspension and compact spare tire
  • Available on Charger GT, adds new 20-inch by 8-inch Satin Carbon wheels to the Nappa/Alcantara perforated seating from the existing package  
  • Available on Charger R/T, adds new 20-inch by 8-inch Machined Granite wheels to the Nappa/Alcantara perforated seating from the existing package  
• Updated Blacktop Package, available on Charger SXT AWD, Charger GT and Charger R/T, features new 19-inch Black Noise wheels on SXT AWD
• Updated Performance Handling Group, available on Charger GT and Charger R/T, adds new leather flat-bottom steering wheel and 20-inch by 9-inch forged Black Noise wheels to the existing package content, including Black Brembo fixed caliper four-piston brakes, high-performance suspension and 245/45ZR20 AS performance tires
• Daytona Edition updates, available on Charger R/T and Charger Scat Pack, include 20-inch by 9-inch wheels with new Lights-Out finish (R/T only) and instrument panel badge. The Daytona Edition includes many more unique features on both models, such as the Mopar cold-air intake under the hood, Daytona logo leather/Alcantara seats, premium floor mats, unique wheels, Daytona instrument panel badge and front grille badges
• Updated Dynamics Package, available on Charger Scat Pack (non-Widebody only), adds a new leather flat-bottom steering wheel to existing package content, including Black Brembo six-piston front brakes and 20-inch by 9.5-inch Low-gloss Black wheels with 275/40ZR20 all-season tires

12 Different and Distinct Colors Available Across the Charger Lineup
Dodge Charger customers have a wide array of exterior colors from which they can choose. Twelve different exterior colors and a wide variety of interior trim selections include:

• F8 Green
• Frostbite (NEW – late availability)
• Go Mango
• Granite Crystal
• Hellraisin (NEW – late availability)
• IndiGo Blue
• Octane Red
• Pitch Black
• Sinamon Stick (NEW – late availability)
• TorRed 
• Triple Nickel
• White Knuckle

Available Interior Colors: 

• Black
• Black/Caramel
• Black/Demonic Red
• Black/Houndstooth
• Black/Ruby Red
• Black/Sepia

America’s Only Four-door Muscle Car Dominates U.S. Full-size Car Segment Sales   
The Dodge Charger continues to dominate the U.S full-size car segment as the reigning sales leader for five straight years (2014-2018). 

From the fastest and most powerful mass-produced sedan in the world to V-6 efficiency and AWD capability, a large part of the Dodge Charger’s successful formula has been its many personalities. It’s a four-door muscle car, a performance sedan, a family capable sedan; its success is that it can be any or all of those things, depending on how the customer chooses to equip their car.

Dodge Charger’s standard RWD architecture enables a model lineup powered by extensive performance-driven powertrains with the latest technology under the hood and behind the wheel – further building on the Dodge brand’s promise to deliver American performance machines with world-class power, efficiency, technology, authentic materials and standout styling.

About Dodge//SRT
Dodge//SRT offers a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out in their own segments. Dodge is America’s performance brand and SRT is positioned as the ultimate performance halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge, who founded the brand in 1914. Their influence continues today. New for 2019, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is possessed by the Demon. Its 797-horsepower supercharged HEMI® high-output engine makes it the most powerful, quickest and fastest muscle car, reaching 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 3.4 seconds, and the fastest GT production car with a ¼-mile elapsed time (ET) of 10.8 seconds at 131 mph. It also reaches a new top speed of 203 mph.

Joining the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, with its more powerful 717-horsepower engine, and the Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody, featuring fender flares from the SRT Hellcat Widebody, which add 3.5 inches of width to the 485-horsepower Scat Pack’s standard body. Also new for 2019 is the Challenger R/T Scat Pak 1320 with exclusive drag strip technology from the iconic Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. The Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 is a drag-oriented, street-legal muscle car and a blank canvas for the serious grassroots drag racer. The 2019 Dodge Durango SRT, America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV with a best-in-class tow rating of 8,700 lbs., completes the brand’s performance lineup. These visceral performance models join a 2019 brand lineup that includes the Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, Charger and Challenger — a showroom that offers performance at every price point.

Read more at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pushing-the-limits-dodgesrt-literally-expands-high-performance-2020-charger-srt-hellcat-and-scat-pack-with-new-widebody-300876268.html?fbclid=IwAR2RnoXKqD5P72pK7pQWv72ak5lgdP9CBEIt0O-pWkQZSD_3blg9wrDh59s

50 Years of Charger: Part 5 of 5 | The 2016 Dodge Charger SRT® Hellcat

For the past 50 years, since the first Dodge Charger took to the streets in 1966, Americans have enjoyed an obsession with power, performance and style. The ‘66 Dodge Charger was a flat-out menace on the asphalt, and a game-changer in a hyper-competitive segment and era. With the foundation firmly in place, Dodge Charger continued to grow in size and stature, year after year, always striving for cutting-edge design, awe-inspiring interiors, and performance and capability that broke boundaries with each new iteration of the iconic vehicle.

In this five-part series, the Redline Dodge Blog is looking back at five landmark models in the Dodge Charger’s 50-year history. We started with the 1968, 1969, 1970 and 2006 Dodge Charger. Today, in our final blog post in the series, we’re focusing on the 2016 Dodge Charger SRT® Hellcat.

Strap on your safety belts and prepare to be pressed back into your seat.

The 2016 Dodge Charger SRT® Hellcat: Interior, Exterior and Engine

Inside and outside, the 2016 Dodge SRT® Hellcat is a sight to behold — if you can catch a glimpse of it racing by, that is. From the sporty, refined interior to the supercharged 6.2L HEMI® SRT Hellcat V8 engine, every detail of this road warrior is designed for comfort and performance.

Even at a standstill, the 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat looks like it’s ready to sprint from the line. The SRT Hellcat front fender badging puts the competition on notice, and the aluminum hood featuring air extractors astride a center NACA duct is both functional for cooling and bold in style.

In addition, the 20×9.5-inch forged aluminum slingshot wheels in standard Matte Black or available Brass Monkey finish exude speed. For muscle car enthusiasts who truly want to stand apart from the crowd, optional SRT Hellcat dual racing stripes add an aggressive appearance to an already intimidating vehicle.

If you thought the 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat looked like a beast on wheels, just wait until you feel the power under the hood. The supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 pushes muscle to its very limit, exerting a monstrous 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. All of that power is routed to the rear wheels via a TorqueFlite® eight-speed automatic transmission that’s been enhanced with additional pinion gears and five additional clutch pack discs.

To harness all that power, the Charger SRT Hellcat features performance-tuned steering to give the driver good vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability in tight spaces. Further, the three-mode Bilstein® adaptive dampening suspension works to put the driver in full control no matter the conditions. The Brembo® ultra high-performance brake system boasts monster-sized 15.4-inch two-piece rotors that work with six-piston calipers on the front, and 13.8-inch rear discs for incredible stopping power.

For those who believe driving can be an art form, the interior of the 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat has been designed for comfort and style, with dark satin accents, and engineered for road-ready confidence and control. The SRT flat-bottom steering wheel with gunmetal accents is designed to fit firmly in the palms of your hands, and the 7-inch customizable driver information digital cluster display delivers real-time information. To flex some serious muscle on the interior, the 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat features a 200-mph speedometer.

The 2016 Dodge Charger SRT® Hellcat: Keyfobs and Safety & Security Features

Speaking of high speeds and harnessing power, the 2016 Dodge SRT® Hellcat comes with two key fobs — a black key fob that restricts power to 500 horsepower and a red key fob that unlocks the full 707 horsepower of the supercharged 6.2L HEMI® SRT Hellcat V8 engine.

Safety and security features include the ParkView® rear back up camera*, ParkSense® rear park assist system, and suite of standard airbags†, including advanced multistage driver and front-passenger airbags, supplemental full-length side-curtain airbags, front seat-mounted side pelvic thorax airbags and a driver-side knee blocker airbag.

Power, performance, style — after 50 years of the Charger, the 2016 Dodge Charger SRT® Hellcat still represents the principles of the original and continues to define the muscle sedan. We can’t wait to see what the next 50 years of Charger brings.

Learn more about the history of the Dodge Charger at the Redline Dodge Blog, and check out the current lineup at dodge.com.

Read more at: https://blog.dodge.com/heritage/50-years-dodge-charger-2016/

Does the TRX presage a Jeep Trackhawk Hellcat?

The Ram TRX is the first publicly-shown vehicle that hooks up the Hellcat engine to a four wheel drive system. It dropped down to 575 hp, but that’s a hundred horsepower more than the 6.4 Hemi and even further above the Ford Raptor.

A Hellcat-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk has been rumored since before the Hellcat was even shown to the public. Insiders said that FCA leaders were concerned the engine be too loud or uncouth for the refined Grand Cherokee, and that the cost would be too high.

The supercharged Hemi turned out to be relatively quiet, and easily controllable — surprisingly so, in fact. It might be hard to whip it around corners at speed in the big Jeep, but at least it’ll be possible to drive it gently.

That left durability, and the TRX is our first look at how that’s being handled. Dialed down to 575 horsepower, it seems to be compatible with many factory parts. The differentials are possible issues; so is the full time AWD transfer case. The TRX uses a part-time Borg-Warner 44-45; there is a full-time B-W 44-44, but Jeep already uses the formerly-New-Venture-now-Magna MP3010 on its SRT. Can full time four wheel drive work with 575 horsepower, while still fitting into the Grand Cherokee?

There are still many questions, but sources have told Allpar that there are Grand Cherokee Hellcat mules running around, and that the Hellcat would be detuned for the purpose. Whether they turn out to be “commercial” — practical for commercial sale — is still up in the air. See the Ram 1500 Rebel TRX.

Read more at: http://www.allpar.com/news/2016/10/does-the-trx-presage-a-jeep-trackhawk-hellcat-34120

Is this the Dodge Durango SRT?

There are no official images of the ever-popular-but-still-rumored Dodge Durango SRT; however, when Allpar’s suzq044 created this rendering, an inside source said it was “very accurate.”

Here is a quick rundown compared to the already sporty Durango R/T:

– The front fascia is similar to the 2017 SRT Jeep, including a large lower-central grille opening flanked by two smaller vents and a long opening along the bottom.
– The upper grille opening has swapped out the crosshairs for the same style mesh as the lower grille opening; the SRT badge has been added to about the same place as it is in the SRT Charger and Challenger.
– The hood has a Hellcat-inspired design, with a front scoop like the Hellcat hoods and two vents from the Jeep SRT.
– This SRT Durango rendering has a far more aggressive stance than any current Durango, requiring a unique suspension tune.
– The wheels are from the Challenger Scat Pack.

The artist changed the front fascia, the upper grille, the hood, the wheels and lowered it a bit, creating what I have been told is an accurate depiction of the upcoming SRT Durango. The fact that so few items have been changed to create such an aggressive looking, high-performance SUV is a testament to just how sporty this big SUV is in its “normal” form.

Still, there are a few features of this SRT Durango rendering which I don’t expect to see on the production model. Mostly, I don’t expect so much Hellcat inspiration in the hood, so scratch the “Hellcat scoop.” I also don’t think that Dodge will use Scat Pack wheels, but I do expect to see something far sportier than the Durango R/T wheels. Finally, I don’t know that we will see a factory SRT Durango that sits quite this low to the ground.

In addition to the 392 cubic inch engine and the unique trim, the SRT Durango will surely have a set of Brembo brakes, lightweight wheels wrapped in high performance tires, and an interior with plenty of logos when it hits dealerships.

Read more at: http://www.allpar.com/news/2016/09/very-accurate-srt-durango-rendering-33563

50 Years of Charger: Part 4 of 5 | The 2006 Dodge Charger

For the past 50 years, since the first Dodge Charger took to the streets in 1966, Americans have enjoyed an obsession with power, performance and style. The ‘66 Dodge Charger was a flat-out menace on the asphalt, and a game-changer in a hyper-competitive segment and era. With the foundation firmly in place, Dodge Charger continued to grow in size and stature, year after year, always striving for cutting-edge design, awe-inspiring interiors, and performance and capability that broke boundaries with each new iteration of the iconic vehicle.

In this five-part series, the Redline Dodge Blog is looking back at five landmark models in the Dodge Charger’s 50-year history. We started with the 1968, 1969 and 1970 Dodge Charger, and today we’re focusing on the 2006 Charger, with one final blog post to follow on the 2016 Charger SRT® Hellcat.

Strap on your safety belts and prepare to be pressed back into your seat.

The 2006 Dodge Charger: Interior, Exterior and Engine

Following a nearly two-decade hiatus, Dodge Charger roared back onto American roadways in 2006. This sixth-generation model took cues from its forbearers of the muscle car era, and put a modern spin on the iconic nameplate. The Dodge Charger, in its first year back on the blacktop, was available in SE, SXT, R/T, R/T with Road/Track Performance Group, Daytona R/T and SRT8 versions.

The true excitement of the 2006 Dodge Charger is that the muscle car giant returned with a focus on power and performance. The SXT model came equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick® manual shifting feature, all-speed traction control, as well as ABS and electronic stability control.

The 2006 Charger also saw the introduction of all-wheel drive. Additional power was available with the Charger R/T, which packed the punch of a 340-horsepower 5.7L HEMI® V8 mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. And at the top of the line, the 2006 Charger SRT8 flew off the line with a 425-horsepower 6.1L HEMI® V8 engine.

For its part, the 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T was equipped with a high-output version of 5.7L HEMI V8 engine that boasted 350 horsepower, a retro HEMI decal on the hood and Daytona decals on the rear fenders. The Daytona R/T also included a special front fascia with a chin spoiler and a black rear spoiler.

The exterior appearance of the 2006 Dodge Charger paid homage to the past with reminiscent stamped hood and side panels, and brought its own unique style as a four-door sedan. The SRT8 version featured exterior upgrades such as a special grille, rear spoiler, front fascia and engine cover, larger exhaust tips, and unique colors and exterior trim.

The modern interior of the 2006 Dodge Charger was designed for comfort and loaded with technology. Features included air conditioning, CD player, tilt and telescoping steering column, remote keyless entry and power locks, mirrors and windows. The SRT8 took the interior and technology to yet another level, with standard and optional features including heated front seats with perforated suede inserts, automatic climate control, a performance steering gear, power-adjustable pedals, GPS navigation system, 322-watt audio system, sunroof, rear-seat DVD entertainment system and body-color interior trim.

From highways to racetracks (in 2006, the Dodge Charger silhouette design returned to stock car racing) the 2006 Dodge Charger claimed its place at the top of the muscle car scene. Since then, for the past decade, there’s been no looking back.

Read more at: http://blog.dodge.com/heritage/dodge-vehicle-history/50-years-dodge-charger-2006/

2017 Dodge Charger Hellcat

The newest reiteration of the Dodge Charger Hellcat is here, and it’s ready to give you the ride of a lifetime! With its classic design, powerful performance, and feature-packed interior, expect to fall in love with this full-size sedan from the moment you take the wheel. Here at Dick Scott Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Dick Scott Motor Mall, we have the 2017 Dodge Charger Hellcat for sale and our team can’t wait to show you this one-of-a-kind vehicle!

There is plenty of power surging through the 2017 Charger Hellcat. Boasting a 3.6L V6 powertrain, your performance is taken beyond limits with 292 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. The impressive powertrain line-up continues with the 5.7L V8 HEMI® and the 6.4L V8 HEMI® powerhouses. The first rewards you with 370 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque, while the second engine choice takes you to the next level with its 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque. For the ultimate ride, the beastly 6.2L V8 HEMI® powertrain cranks up to 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. When equipped with the 8-speed TorqueFlite® automatic transmission, you’ll be able to ride with optimal precision and swiftness.

You’ll have onlookers stop in their tracks when you’re behind the wheel of the 2017 Dodge Charger Hellcat due to its commanding presence and bold style. Its athletic frame and carefully-sculpted profile lines highlight the distinct grille, while the aggressive stance of the Charger Hellcat makes for an unforgettable entrance. Made with new lightweight materials, the 2017 Charger Hellcat not only looks sleek and modern, but is able to ride with more agility and control. Eye-catching features like LED headlights and an available rear spoiler allow the Charger Hellcat to stand out in the crowd.

An array of amenities welcome you to relax and set your mind at ease once you’re inside the new Dodge Charger Hellcat. With its driver-centric cockpit loaded with features like a multi-information display, USB ports1, and more, you’ll be prepared for anything that’s in store on the road ahead. The soft-to-the-touch cloth-trimmed seats keep you comfortable throughout the whole ride. However, if you desire more luxury, select the leather-appointed seats to enhance your cabin’s sporty flair.

Here at Dick Scott Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Plymouth and Dick Scott Motor Mall in Fowlerville, your local Dodge dealers, we now have the 2017 Dodge Charger Hellcat! Visit http://www.DickScott.com or stop by our showroom to learn more about this exciting, new vehicle!

How big will the next Dodge Charger be?

Back in 1960, Chrysler Corporation converted almost its entire product line from body-on-frame to unibody (still using subframes). The revolutionary change could have frightened customers off, as the Airflow did, despite extensive testing.

The company’s leaders thought they could prevent customer resistance by making the cars look fairly similar to the 1959s, a successful strategy. They were lighter and handled better, and that’s all most customers noticed. Chrysler could have made major changes to the styling to call attention to the change, but chose not to.

That made a comment by reliable source oh2o especially interesting: he wrote that the next-generation Charger would be about the size it is today. Most sources have claimed that the Charger would be shrinking to differentiate it more from the 300.

This goes along with yet-unconfirmed rumors that Chrysler might make a large front wheel drive car — a niche flagship which, thanks to shared engineering and a shared plant with the Pacifica, would not need to sell in large numbers to make a profit. The Chrysler could be even larger inside, perhaps sacrificing the V8 for a six, turbocharged or not.

The Charger would stay a muscle car, keeping its size and successful market niche, but with higher gas mileage, better acceleration with its standard engines, and better handling.

As for running against Mustangs and Camaros, there’s no reason for the Charger to do that anyway — now that we have the Dodge Challenger. Indeed, when the original Dodge Charger was made, it was not aimed at the Mustang or Camaro; that was the job of the Plymouth Barracuda (joined in 1970 by the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Duster).

Read more at: http://www.allpar.com/news/2016/05/how-big-will-the-next-dodge-charger-be-31783

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk: More Off-Road Prowess for the Grandest Jeep

Jeep first introduced the Trailhawk name on a Grand Cherokee concept in 2012, whipped up for that year’s Easter Jeep Safari fan event in Moab, Utah. In the years since, Jeep briefly introduced an off-road-oriented Grand Cherokee Trailhawk model for the 2013 model year but quietly removed it from the lineup after the Grand Cherokee’s 2014 facelift, transferring the Trailhawk name to trim levels on the smaller Cherokee and Renegade. Due this summer as a 2017 model, the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk follows the formula laid down by that concept of many years ago and codified by the production Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Renegade variants, adding more off-road capability and butchier looks.

The Trailhawk joins the Grand Cherokee family as that SUV’s sixth trim level next to the existing Laredo, Limited, Overland, SRT, and the freshly revised Summit. (It is, we must point out, distinct from the 707-hp, Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee SRT Trackhawk that arrives next year.) Standard is Jeep’s Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive setup—the hardest-core version available in the Grand Cherokee, which can also be had with rear-wheel drive or Quadra-Trac I, an all-wheel-drive system that lacks low-range gearing. Other standard features include an electronic limited-slip rear differential, Hill Ascent/Descent control, skid plates, and 18-inch Kevlar-reinforced Goodyear Adventure tires. The adjustable air suspension optional on other Grand Cherokees is also included, albeit modified for an extra 0.4 inch of ground clearance in its tallest setting (for a total of 10.8 inches), and Trailhawk-signature red-painted tow hooks poke from the Grand Cherokee’s bumpers. Jeep will offer this Trailhawk with either the Grand Cherokee’s standard 3.6-liter V-6 engine or its optional Hemi V-8, but not with the diesel engine offered on other models.

Jeep further distinguishes the Trailhawk with gray-painted door mirrors and a matching gray roof rack, a matte-black hood decal, and red-hued “Trail-Rated” badging. Buyers can choose from Redline Red, Billet Silver, Bright White, Rhino, Granite Crystal, Velvet Red, and Diamond Black paint. Inside, the seats are covered in black leather and microsuede with red stitching, and the dashboard features piano-black and gunmetal-colored trim. There also is a Trailhawk badge on the steering wheel and a standard 8.4-inch touchscreen with Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment platform and special displays for the suspension settings, wheel articulation, and more. Optional extras include 20-inch wheels and Mopar rock rails for protecting the Grand Cherokee’s rocker panels from pesky boulder impacts. Pricing for the resurrected Grand Cherokee Trailhawk hasn’t yet been announced, but expect it to live in the middle of the Grand Cherokee lineup.

Read more at: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2017-jeep-grand-cherokee-trailhawk-more-off-road-prowess-for-the-grandest-jeep/

What exactly is the Hurricane engine?

Speculation/analysis. Last week, Allpar was the first to show one of the Hurricane prototype engines. It is a turbocharged two-liter, according to various reports; scuttlebutt had the goal at 300 horsepower or so for an SRT version, and the mid-200s for a standard model.

Alfa Romeo recently announced its two-liter four would hit 276 horsepower, but other than taking full credit for its development, said nothing about its origins. If it were based on the 1.75 liter engine they already have, we would expect them to say it, so we suspect they are using some version of the Hurricane.

Normally, it would seem that the Hurricane was an updated, turbocharged version of the current “World Engine,” but Bob Lees’ 2014 presentation included an image of a future four-cylinder engine family, to be made in two sizes, for the entire company: Fiat, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, and Alfa Romeo (Maserati seems unlikely to use it).

Some of these technologies are being explored by Chrysler, such as the belt-starter alternator, stop-start system, cooled EGR, integrated manifold, and variable-displacement oil pump. MultiAir is from Fiat, and direct injection probably draws on Fiat’s expertise as well. The Alfa Romeo engine uses MultiAir and direct injection.

It’s possible that this will be the first appearance of the new engine family, which would, among other things, explain why the Alfa Romeo Giulia is taking so long to arrive.

It’s also possible that they are building on the existing Chrysler 2-liter engine and past work on trying to make a Dart SRT4. Alfa Romeo would have to do their own tuning and engineering, partly because the SRT engine would be built to a lower cost budget, partly because they have different goals.

Regardless, for marketing reasons, expect any new engine to show up as an Alfa Romeo first — because no premium car owner wants a mass-market engine under the hood. Since mass-market car buyers don’t mind high-end engines, even if Auburn Hills had done all the work on the new engine series (which they almost certainly have not), it would still be credited to Alfa Romeo.

Read more at: http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2015/11/what-exactly-irricane-engine-30625

What will be the next Hellcat?

The 707-horsepower Hellcat engine, a supercharged 6.2 liter Hemi V8, has rewarded Dodge with much higher sales than expected, along with a great deal of publicity in both magazines and social media.

The engine, carefully set up so that it can be run “all day” at the track on hot summer days — unlike at least one competitive Camaro — seems to be a real winner, but it’s available only in two cars, the closely related Challenger and Charger. In the Challenger, buyers can get a manual or automatic; in the Charger, it’s all automatic, but that automatic responds far more quickly than even a well-trained human can.

As Chrysler and its suppliers work to boost production of the Hellcat engine (particularly the unique supercharger), the next question becomes, “Which car is next?”

There are two real possibilities, both of which have been rumored: the Ram 1500 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep is the more credible choice, because the Grand Cherokee SRT has been a hit — and has been able to command a higher price than most FCA US cars. In addition, the suspension has already been tuned for performance with the 392 engine, which puts out 485 horsepower.

Jeep Grand Cherokee is a worldwide seller, and a Hellcat version would certainly be relatively popular in parts of the world where Rams are rare if available at all.

Ram, on the other hand, would be much harder to performance-tune; engineers would be starting from scratch, rather than building on work already done. Packaging might be easier, but would it sell more normal Rams, the way a Grand Cherokee Hellcat would sell more of the 6.4 SRTs?

All indicators, and our own long ears, are that the next Hellcat will be a Grand Cherokee. There’s no point in waiting for it to come out this year, though — demand for the hot engine means that it’ll be restricted to large cars for the moment, simply because orders exceed supply.

Read more at: http://news.allpar.com/index.php/2015/07/what-will-be-the-next-hellcat-29268