Dodge: Over 5,000 Challenger Hellcats Ordered Since October
Since the 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat roared at the 2014 New York Auto Show, enthusiasts have been waiting for the day the big cats would enter the showroom.
When ordering opened in October, so did the floodgates.
According to Allpar, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis reported over 4,000 orders for the $60,000 707-horsepower musclecar were taken as soon as ordering came online, with an additional 1,000-plus entered since then.
The brand knew demand would be strong, but it had no idea it would come in hot, too; Dodge initially planned to build just 1,200 units annually. There’s also a dealer incentive to get the Challenger Hellcat into customers’ hands as soon as possible so that more can be delivered to the showroom as production moves forward.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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Wow, a lot of gnashing of teeth over a few themes here. If your personal idea of the "pursuit of happiness" is a car like this, then go for it! I actually can afford one but it's not my thing. I'll still probably give you a thumbs up if I see you driving it. If it bothers you when people poke fun at the stereotype* for your favorite choice of vehicle, all I can say is grow a thicker skin and stop worry about what you think the other guy thinks of you. Sticks and stones, remember that? *No matter what that stereotype- macho man compensating for a small weewee, limp-wristed granola eater, tree hugger in comfortable shoes, metro chick magnet, cougar magnet, whatever. Get over yourself. Sheesh!
I would love to have the Charger version as a family sedan. But, I like to drive my cars hard, and I honestly think that having 400ft-lbs of torque at 1,200 RPM would make it a very boring car to drive at a moderately fast pace. I should test drive one though to make sure.
The game ain't over to the fat lady sings. Ford prepares to up the anty on 2015 Mustang performance with a Roush Super Charger package for the GT offered through Ford Racing, but will it, in light of the Hellcat, migrate to a complete OEM model. At an estimated 624-640Hp, the Mustang has a power to weight advantage over the Hellcat, and it will go around corners like a cat after a mouse. Of course a Hennessey Camaro will best both of them, but a test of a the new package with some other treatments, produced a run of 10.97 when fitted with this new street friendly blower setup. At and estimated package cost of around $8,000/plus installation, the cost per HP advantage goes to the Mustang, leaving enough bucks to do additional chassis enhancements and brake work while still coming in at a lower price then a Hellcat, especially as most Hellcats will carry added cost with ADM/ADP. See more at: http://www.torquenews.com/106/2015-mustang-gt-gets-600-horsepower-ford-racing#sthash.j5f0Eodj.dpuf http://www.torquenews.com/106/2015-mustang-gt-gets-600-horsepower-ford-racing
There is a road course that I have frequented over the years and I have ran several of my cars there. Nothing competitive, the track opens up periodically for enthusiasts to run a few solo laps.I was particularly fond of my Cobra but when pushed hard in the corners it had some less than favorible understeer. I've ran low end Porsche's, modified Supras and 280 and 300zx's on that track and they all handled better than either of my Mustangs. We're talking cars that are 2 decades older. Remember the Honda NS400R (2stroke)? I had an 85, it was a scary fast bike with a sketchy powerband in it's day.