MotorWeek | Road Test: 2015 Charger/Challenger Hellcat

Ride with us to Hades and back in the awesome Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcats.

[@dohc1067]

7 years later and both cars are still 🔥 beasts, still iconic. I love the power, room, and overall profile.

[@tedschmitt178]

And still in production

[@ash27slick74]

​@@tedschmitt178 Get one while you can. 2023 is the last year.

[@Yes-uq4qq]

@@tedschmitt178Not anymore 😢

[@stevend3753]

I actually like the old school methods of testing the cars. The zig zagging tests, the emergency maneuvers, the braking zone by the cones and someone runs out with a measuring wheel,...Outdated? Yes. But much more entertaining, .

[@ash27slick74]

Dealer wanted $10,000 over cost for the Hellcat as I drove their in my minivan. A few days later, I returned in my 2012 GTR and suddenly they wanted they wanted to negotiate. After owning about a dozen sports cars over 3 decades, the car buying experience remains similar to a root canal....Painful, but you gotta do it.

[@daveyuen3853]

Do it online.

[@anthonylaudano9751]

I agree iam a huge car collector. I love my car's but I hate buying them because entering a car dealer is like entering fantasy island. They just want sell a car at all costs. Basically telling lies and whatever the think the buyer wants to hear

[@ash27slick74]

@@anthonylaudano9751 I know I'm 3 years late but I did wind up getting the Hellcat. I still have the GTR and the minivan.🤣

[@Garf2O]

Lmao, they thought you was a lot lizard until you pulled up in that GTR, reminds me of talking to a salesman at a BMW dealership one time, he said he nevers judges a book by its cover when it comes to customers because you never know who actually has money.

[@ash27slick74]

​@@Garf2O Funny thing is I actually work in automobile sales, successful but not rich so I was ready for the "Let Me Talk To My Manager Routine" and the inevitable "Back And Forth Trot."

[@paulcondie2520]

How can you not love the hellcats? I don't care what anyone says 707hp in anything is impressive especially with a warranty! Lol

[@ash27slick74]

707 horses at the motor only, only about 563 horses to the wheels, hence the somewhat slow acceleration times for a car with that much horsepower.

[@homoloan]

I like how this guy has been doing these car reviews for about 40 years now

[@onenikkione]

and the bar once again has been raised with the Demon

[@DUNEATV]

Oh, John Davis...you are awesome sir!

[@emanyo]

The black key makes it a heckcat

[@trevornatore]

when giving it to someone because it has so much power that u can spin the tires in just about any gear and if u dont know how to drive it u will put it into a wall

[@saadqureshi7127]

trevor shiaman like the valet.

[@trevornatore]

Saad Qureshi ya there's a actual options in the settings for that one that brings down the power even more

[@Garf2O]

Its a "aww hell" cat, cause theyd be going "aww hell" when they realize it doesnt have all the juice lmao

[@AWDfreak]

Watching this video two years later, and I have a stupid grin on my face watching them slide those Hellcats on the road course!

[@DevPack]

These guys are having wayyy to much fun driving these lol

[@chadj.w.anderson5473]

" ... here kitty kitty" LOL - you are the best John

[@johnr5252]

I have a 2012 Charger RT which I love. The styling of the front is far better that the newer model Chargers. Mine doesn’t have that stupid looking spoiler either.

[@me3333]

I know this high horse powered awesomeness cant go on for ever but I sure do hope it lasts for a long time. It's kind of like what muscle cars would have evolved into sooner (like 80's and 90's) if it weren't for the oil crisis and emission regulations.

[@jjs777fzr]

me3333 i lived through the 80's with my cars. If someone told me in 2015 we'd have a retro Challenger with 707HP I would have punched then in the head for a cruel joke.

[@me3333]

Agree I don't miss the early 80's econo-shit-boxes although I will always have a soft spot for the fox body

[@mikehawk120]

@@me3333 I actually miss my 86 escort LX with the auto seat belts lol. Well boys, the cats are g0ne next year, we were lucky to have these around for about 8 years.

[@aaronjones8341]

If the Challenger weighed 3500 lbs it would be a certified LAMBO killer

[@Nicktheguy24]

Aaron Jones it weighs 1000 lbs more than that so I just contradicted your statement lol

[@cwsosby]

It already is.

[@ghod666]

Did he say "Hella bad"?

[@Jsalrulz]

That was for his street cred.

[@grantrayshaud]

lmao right

[@Garf2O]

Hes hyphy

[@TheSuperMotoHooligan]

One for Saturday. One for Sunday... Commute to work by bicycle rest of the week..

[@joelalexander5338]

Damn, they are heavy!

[@aaron.hudacky]

I love the 700 hp part but like the fact the block is cast iron even more. These are amazing cars... unless FCA figures out a way to boost production, I think they will be hard to come by for MSRP for quite a while. Dealers are already not to accept further new orders until August 2015.

[@ChristopherOvrebo]

LOL John said "hella"

[@GalvatronTypeR]

I understand the need for the black key but who would let anyone valet their car? I have a pretty decent very fast car and there is NO WAY I would let some guy wearing a clip on tie and felt vest take possession of my ride.

[@Nicktheguy24]

GalvatronTypeR There’s a valet mode lol. It limits the rpms and takes away more than half the hp.

[@GalvatronTypeR]

@@Nicktheguy24 don't care about "valet" mode. No one drives my car except for me. NO ONE.

[@cryharder1102]

@@GalvatronTypeR probably a gutted out shitbox Honda no one wants to drive your shitbox either

[@zanastumasonis]

how does the suspension on these handle bumps on highway at 100-120mph? where the concrete connects for example

[@Hot80s]

challenger looks like a real car charger looks like a corporate robot

[@Acc0rd79]

My question is....WHY the hell would you even need the black key? ROFL You bought the hellcat for 700hp, not 500!

[@justinhughes9311]

Give the black key to the wife lol

[@lacrymist1976]

Most getting this car including me are going to 305 DR's. If you get caught in the rain I can see dialing it back to 500.

[@alexschmithorst4114]

I agree, there should be NO black key, only the red one. Granted, you can't legally do 200 MPH (320 km/h) yet, but still! Rip-off? Damn right! And the black key would've limited torque access as well. That's bullshit!

[@TJWallace1998]

Alex Schmithorst what do you mean rip off? It's not like you have to buy the red key separately. They just give you both.

[@thatboyrick1]

You ever seen Ferris Buellers day off? You can also program it down to like 300 through the software in then computer and can only be unlocked by code. Cool ass feature

[@BRIANBOBCHAPMAN]

NICE MotorWeek | Road Test: 2015 Charger/Challenger Hellcat

[@nascardrawings7700]

You could get the challenger with a manual?

[@niojataj]

Makes me wanna trade-up from my 2012 charger RT.

[@alex_p90]

Ryan Logan Uh..No shit

[@leonlawrencez28]

Why does motor week get such slower times than any other car review?

[@ottodob]

gimme a charger with a stick plz. i've been asking for years. FCA are you listening?

[@jakey20022]

Red-eye Charger widebody for 21' are you good with that 🤔🤔🤔?!??!

[@andersonsanjose8785]

Que da hora 👍😃😃 sensacional

[@realazduffman]

Glad they have the second key because I really do not want the parking valet having more than 500 bhp

[@laweezemorton8884]

I bet this car is faster than the 12.1 in the quater.. I have seen low 12s from a BMW 335i with just a downpipe and JB4.

[@BMan100]

...that Sepia Laguna Leather..... want it sooo baaaaad.... or I could just by the covers perhaps....?

[@FRESNOSTATE1559]

hahaha the first time i used the word "hella" in AZ this cute chick new i was from Cali, that was the high school year's good stuff.

[@frankez1975]

That white charger....droooooool

[@iamnrz7694]

Walked into my local Dodge with $55,000 in cash, said I wanted a black challenger hellcat with black rims and a moonroof and it was the easiest car buying I've ever done.

[@STATUSTANK]

I am NRZ Congratulations on your new Challenger! Drive fast and stay safe.

[@JRBKLYN718]

Did you finance the rest or did you get it for 55k flat ?

[@damianfurino3691]

I am NRZ $55,000 in cash, I guess that would impress some people. Why would one even brag about such a thing? What were you dropped at Birth? $55,000 doesn't even buy $25,000 today. Long Live you and you're well made LOL Chrysler and your ego the size of the Galaxy of Andromeda. Enough said!

[@ChallengerGuy22]

I know it has skinny tires but those aren't 245 rubber as stated that's 275s

[@_HSV_]

the Power caprice SS 2016

[@tedschmitt178]

These things may be crude, loud, and expensive, but at least they aren’t electric.

[@hyperlogos]

"Hella" :D

[@MrMotoqueroMeister]

Do the Demon review

[@kolourblind3124]

12.1!? ...he used the wrong key 😒

[@gracien2008]

Lol... Like Hell!!! I like my drivers license thankyou :)

[@Trussme96]

If Dodge made a Track pack version of the Challenger with fatter tires, it would probably be better than a Viper.

[@1IImrxII1]

You might be on to something, CEO of dodge said on a viper video that the Viper is a track car and Challenger is a muscle car so they purposely hindered its track capability in a way

[@kalebbrown93]

TyranitarComedian In the video he said these cars had 245 rubber on them. So something is wrong. Standard SRT's come with 245 while Hellcats are supposed to come with 275's. Still need more rubber.

[@STATUSTANK]

Kaleb Brown Right on, I thought the tires looked small. I'm sure these beast could fit over 300's on both axles, I mean if the Camaro Z/28 can.

[@coop4274]

Kaleb Brown nope you're wrong as well. The srt's get the same 275's as the hellcat.

[@BMan100]

........Mary had a little lamb....BUT I ATE IT!!!!!

[@SmoothCriminalAaron]

What is the difference between Hellcat and normal?

[@AtomeTman]

+SmoothCriminalAaron hellcat is the most powerful challenger ever made

[@stayoutofourairspace4163]

+SmoothCriminalAaron Srt 392 better cause it has foglights and you have same exterior and interior as a hellcat. you save 15 grand which is better as srt is fast too

[@SmoothCriminalAaron]

+stayout ofourairspace What about the V6 cheapest one? Like honestly I think it is a cool looking car and when I'm older I'll buy the fancy one with the big engine.

[@danl.r2379]

We need a dodge charger coupe hellcat?

[@bigd7328]

The tires are 275 not 245’s

[@ReGGaEToNFLoW88]

10 pair of tyre's used for this review

[@thatboyrick1]

Only thing I'd do is put wider tires on em

[@STATUSTANK]

thatboyrick1 What do you think it could fit? Max size, ballpark? 305 front, 345 rear maybe?

[@blackice7408]

RS1 NAW. 275 front 315 rear

[@coop4274]

Mr Scowl Face they already have 275's on them now lol.

[@blackice7408]

Coop427 I know that. The numbers I stated are the right size tires side shouldve put on from the get go

[@johnnymason2460]

The Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye Chargers and Challengers are good enough for me. I don't like the Demon because of the name and its limitations.

[@tsnaha]

So same time as a alfa romeo guilia six cylinder

[@hmackprotection1]

Thank God Almighty I Am able to own my Challenger Hellcat 6M

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

The Charger’s my FAV because it’s more practical than the Challenger. Don’t get me wrong. I like the Challenger, but there’s no room in that back seat.

[@ifyourmarriedyourasimpanda7440]

If you need backseat room then you don't need a hemi, get an SUV sedan or probably better for you a minivan.

[@ThePhalanx10000]

I have a challenger hellcat. There is plenty of seat back there for an average human being assuming you're not 6'5 and 300 lbs

[@matthewjohnvu8104]

Did I hear that right? 245 tires all 4 corners to hold all that power? Hell no!

[@rumblebeast08]

+Matthew John Vu 275s actually, but still too small

[@DDIAZ-we4dz]

man die hard has been a sponsor for motorweek for ages holyshit! and eh.i get what most people say with "oh i can make my (insert car here) faster than this for half the price" and yeah that is true. very true. but if you have the money and dont want to turn wrenches and experience the cut and bloodied knuckles, the many hours of heat and sweat spent under the car, the weeks if not months of teeth grinding frustration of figuring out why your car isnt running properly and having to do constant fix after fix until you maybe just maybe get your project running right. then the extra money and comfort amenities are well worth the price.

[@paulwicklund1052]

The Hellcat name was taken from a WW2 airplane.

[@farhenheit628of1200]

Lol he said hella bad lol

[@mikelovell9661]

for an extra $30,000 you can actually beat a base model Camaro SS unless it has drag radials and headers

[@kirikos65]

275 tires not 245

[@33AndAThirdRPM]

Agreed,these test drivers look like amateurs compared to the one that have achieved the NHRA certified 10.8 seconds @ 126mph with street legal drag radial tires and the NHRA certified 11.2 seconds @ 125mph with production tires in the 1/4 mile in the Challenger Hellcat. The test drivers for MotorWeek did a 12.1 in the quarter mile?,...almost a full second slower,...now that is laughable!They should have spent more time learning the cars performance settings.This not the type of car you just jump in and think you know how to drive it for an optimum result in the quarter mile.When I get mine I will drive it straight from the dealership to my driveway upon which time I will sit in the car stationary until I read the entire manual and learn every capability by utilizing the 8" x 8" touch screen menu and all it's options.Respect for the Hellcat's power must exercised as to avoid wrapping the vehicle around a telephone or traffic light pole killing yourself and or any passengers,...pure and simple. Just ask the guy from Colorado who after just 1 hour of leaving the dealership destroyed his Sublime Challenger Hellcat after loosing control while hot-dogging down country road and crashing into a big ass tree on the roadside.When you see photos of the car you won't believe that people were not killed inside. The Challenger Hellcat is also officially ranked as the 6th fastest production car in the world.

[@Decal0327]

Dude set the helmet on the car sheesh!smh

[@SkullzAceRevo]

whats wrong with that?

[@Spinal2111]

The tire size is 275 not 245, if it was that small it'd be a joke.

[@STATUSTANK]

Spinal2111 Still seems too small for a car this big with this much power don't it? It should at least have 305's or bigger like the Camaro Z/28

[@Spinal2111]

Yep, IMO I would've done 295 front, 315 rear.

[@STATUSTANK]

That'd be really really nice. I love big tires,'specially on big ass cars like the hellcats.

[@vqbeast7502]

Why would we need the black key to unlock less horsepower on a Hellcat? That's ridiculous!!!!

[@SkullzAceRevo]

give it to ur wife if u dont like it then -.-

[@vqbeast7502]

I don't have one.

[@SkullzAceRevo]

give it to me........

[@jsiszero]

RWD and 700hp? That's pretty reckless considering the car has trouble putting all that grip and power to the ground.

[@trentj2304]

People say that a lot, but others who actually own the car have been putting up multiple videos of themselves being able to put the power to the ground. Cars don't need to have AWD to handle high hp.

[@jsiszero]

Anything over 4 seconds for 0-60 sprint in a 700hp car is lousy with stock tires. There are cars that are faster than that with less hp.

[@Kingsoupturbo]

The traction control systems are very good, if you leave it on you won't be smoking anything and its very easy to control the power, its the only way manufacturers can sell cars like this to the general public and not have everyone ending up dead!

[@Kingsoupturbo]

Carpe Diem Whats up with that guys name? 14yr old I'd say! the car has 275's all around, its just hard to put down that kind of power in RWD, even the best RWD cars with 335 semi slick track tires with 80wear rating can barley get into the 3's for 0-60, I'd say thats pretty good for a set of tires that'll probably last 20,000 miles

[@jsiszero]

Carpe Diem Oh look, an Internet tough guy

[@Z900RS58]

Quarter Mile times are not correct

[@tmjeff1220]

Hellcats have 275/40/20s MotorWeek is too old to be making these mistakes

[@agencyheadquartersdc4568]

FORGET MUSTANGS THROW WHIPPLE ON BOSS 302 AND THESE TO SHIT BOX

[@Nicktheguy24]

Any Infiniti owner who says they are faster then this is probably intellectually disabled

[@Garf2O]

Infiniti owners aka "i couldnt afford a real performance car so im gonna talk hella shit and wreck this pretty good car that most people would love to have on purpose like a complete spoiled brat with 50IQ because i have daddy issues"

[@Nicktheguy24]

@@Garf2O yep for sure 😭

[@juliusjones972]

on

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

Why the hell doesnt Dodge go to an aluminum engine allready? Their cars desperately need a diet. Chopping 100lbs of engine block weight can only help.

[@carpediem8642]

chally better

[@wclutch]

These puns are terribly bad. I mean, they're just downright cringeworthy.

[@pontiacGXPfan]

Typical Chrysler to use lots of horsepower to disguise how shitty their cars are

[@RBFR01]

The 2016 charger looks like utter shit but the 2015 challenger looks mint!

[@brettrainville6943]

To each their own I guess I think they both are fucking badass

[@TylerF35A]

Disagree! Charger looks better than ever!

[@Hot80s]

agree the ugly charger looks like a robot & the styling the vomit of a corporate committee

[@esteemedenergy]

Ancient cars, even the 2020 models. Laughable at best.

[@2t713]

your still here though...🤣

[@leebrown6153]

The car handles crap and those are professional drivers. just think how the average drive who thinks he's a professional is going to drive hope you have life insurance because that car is a death trap on wheels

[@Misanthropichell]

Seriously, thank guys. But Who... who is writing this god awful script? They must be stopped.

[@dobbins2550]

Shame on Dodge, 275s on a 4500lb car, wtf? These cars a loco.

[@jayyoutube8790]

Bad ass car.. But ugly as sin

[@slacadjuster237]

LOL, these guys are obviously shitty drivers, 0-60 in 3.8, and 1/4 mile at 12.2?? Yikes, that's about a second slower in the quarter, and half a second slower 0-60 then in ANY magazine, tv show, and what I've seen at the track myself.