Lies, Damned Lies, and Challenger SRT Hellcat Horsepower Figures

hellcat

Boosted engines, whether they are turbocharged or supercharged, often carry one universal trait; they’re underrated from the manufacturer. BMW seems to be on that kick, and even the mighty Nissan GT-R made more power than Nissan claimed. Our friends over at Motor Trend strapped a new 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat onto the dyno at K&N to see what’s what. With the 8-speed automatic transmission and a 8th-gear dyno pull, the results were surprising.

Rear wheel horsepower and torque was 635 hp and 591 lb-ft, respectively. Because automatics are getting more efficient, Motor Trend only assumed a 12% drivetrain loss, which means at the crank the Challenger Hellcat is making 722 hp and 672 lb-ft.

One interesting thing about this video is that the analog speedometer on the Hellcat stops at 200mph, and the digital stops reading at 202mph. However, the car keeps accelerating beyond that up to the car’s redline. Obviously wind resistance will play a part in the overall top speed, but it is definitely geared to exceed 200mph.

Check out our first drive of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat!

Chad Kirchner

Chad Kirchner is a freelance automotive journalist with a sincere passion for the industry and helping people. He’s a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Texas Auto Writers Association. When not writing about the latest automotive news or vehicles, you can catch him at car shows around the country. Be sure to check him out on social media, including Google+Twitter, and his website.