Since the first Hellcat-powered car (Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat) was launched in 2015, the engine has been synonymous with all-American muscle and raw straight-line power.
Before we dive deeper, a quick look at the Hellcat engine. It's a Hemi V8, and its name comes from the Grumman F6F Hellcat, a fighter plane used during WWII. Unlike its namesake, equipped with a 54-liter 18-cylinder, the Hellcat is a 6.2-liter V8 with a 2,380 cc supercharger with two integrated charge coolers bolted on top. As you will soon see, the power output varies from model to model.
Hellcat-powered cars are known for putting their best foot forward on a drag strip, providing suitably outrageous and supercar-quick 0-60 mph times. Keep reading as we compare Hellcat-powered models ranked by their claimed 0-60 times. We also included the claimed quarter-mile times for additional context and ammunition for the inevitable argument in the comments section below.
Ram 1500 TRX
- 0-60 mph time: 4.5 seconds
- Quarter-mile: 12.9 seconds
The Hellcat engine wasn't just fitted to cars. In 2021, it eventually found its way into a pickup truck, the Ram 1500 TRX. Thanks to its 702 horsepower and 650 lb/ft of torque, the 1500 TRX truck can hold its own against sports cars, at least in a straight line. The TRX also forced Ford's hand, which led to the creation of the Raptor R.
Dodge announced the Ram 1500 TRX will be discontinued in 2024, no doubt disappointing countless high-performance truck fans. Its upcoming replacement, dubbed the Ram 1500 RHO, is going in a slightly different direction. Instead of being powered by a Hellcat engine, it will use Stellantis' new Hurricane twin-turbocharged inline-six.
Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
- 0-60 mph time: 3.6 seconds
- Quarter-mile: 10.93 seconds
Need more doors than the Challenger can offer? Dodge has got you covered. The Charger SRT Hellcat's V8 produces 717 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. The "regular" Hellcat only had 707 hp from 2015 to 2020, while later models made an additional 10 horses. The torque output remained static.
The interior can't be described as luxurious, but if you're looking for a bonafide muscle car with some degree of practicality, the Charger Hellcat has everything you need: a vehicle that can simultaneously transport a family and keep them entertained with the hellish howl produced when you mash the throttle.
Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
- 0-60 mph time: 3.6 seconds
- Quarter mile: 10.8 seconds
First launched in 2015, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat introduced the Hellcat engine to the world. While the base-level Challenger SXT and the mid-level trim Challenger Scat Pack were high-performing cars in their own right, the Hellcat version took things to a new level,
The Dodge Challenger Hellcat also introduced another feature that characterizes Dodge's high-performance vehicles: a black key fob limits power output to 500 hp, while a red one enables the 6.2-liter V8 to produce its total output of 717 hp (later model years).
The Challenger SRT Hellcat is also the only Hellcat-powered model available with a six-speed Tremec manual gearbox. These models are scarce, as most people opted for the eight-speed automatic for comfort and because the self-shifter accelerates much faster.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
- 0-60 mph time: 3.5 seconds
- Quarter mile: 11.6 seconds
Do you want a Jeep and a Hellcat engine in the same package? From 2018 to 2021, you could. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk combines SUV practicality with outrageous acceleration provided by the Hellcat engine, taking you to 60mph as fast as a sports car despite the Jeep's size and weight.
The Jeep produces 707 horsepower, 10 less than you would find in an equivalent Charger or Challenger, and thanks to its exhaust system, the Jeep only has 645 lb/ft of torque, but the difference is impossible to feel in a real-world setting. The interior is spacious and comfortable, as you would expect of any Grand Cherokee, making the Trackhawk a true combination of adrenaline and luxury.
There is one flaw we have noticed with Trackhawks. Because of the additional weight, these things go through brakes faster than a college student goes through a six-pack of Bud. This makes it tricky to launch at higher RPMs because the brakes aren't powerful enough to hold the car back. It's just something to keep in mind.
Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
- 0-60 mph time: 3.5 seconds
- Quarter mile: 11.5 seconds
The go-faster Durango results from Dodge taking its Hellcat powertrain and the traditional styling cues that make the Charger and Challenger instantly recognizable and applying them to an SUV.
The result is a vehicle that functions perfectly well as a daily driver for up to six passengers while simultaneously packing a respectable amount of punch.
The Durango Hellcat produces 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. Its exterior is suitably muscle car-like, with a hood scoop, racing stripes, and 20-inch wheels, making it clear this is no ordinary SUV. Thanks to all-wheel drive, it's quicker off the line than its RWD family members.
It's also the most controversial Hellcat family member. Dodge originally stated that the Durango Hellcat would only be sold for one model year, but it was brought back in 2023. Owners who purchased the original car were outraged because it impacted their vehicle's value. Because of that, Dodge was dragged to court by unhappy customers.
Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye
- 0-60 mph time: 3.5 seconds
- Quarter mile: 10.6 seconds
The top-trim of the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, the Redeye, pushes the Hellcat engine further, with strengthened components including connecting rods, pistons, and valvetrain. The result is a higher redline and a considerable power boost. The Redeye produces 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque.
As with the "regular" Charger Hellcat, the Redeye is also available with the "Jailbreak" package. The elaborately-named Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak receives a further power boost, up to 807 hp.
The Redeye's perks are not just under the hood. There are also some styling cues that mark the difference from the standard Hellcat, such as a red speedometer, a larger hood scoop, and Redeye logos scattered around the car.
Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye
- 0-60 mph time: 3.4 seconds
- Quarter mile: 10.8 seconds
One of the fastest high-performance Challengers, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye gets a power boost up to 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque (the even crazier Jailbreak edition bumps power output to 807hp).
The Redeye variant of the Dodge Challenger Hellcat may be marketed as a more driver-focused, track-ready beast, but in the real world, it struggles to put all that extra power down, resulting in a similar level of performance as its four-door sibling on both the 0-60 and quarter mile fronts.
Initially, the main advantage of the Redeye version was the availability of the Jailbreak package, but Dodge made this available for the regular edition of the Challenger to celebrate the model's last year before electrification.
Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock
- 0-60 mph time: 3.25 seconds
- Quarter mile: 10.5 seconds
First introduced for the 2020 model year, the Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock fits between the Redeye and the Demon in the Challenger lineup. This is reflected in its 0-60 time. The Super Stock hustles to 60mph in a mere 3.25 seconds.
807 horsepower and 707 lb/ft of torque have been squeezed out of the engine, and the only way to harness that power without incident is to avoid corners altogether. The Super Stock is entirely geared towards straight-line power, with features such as Line Lock and Launch Control that make it ready for the drag strip.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
- 0-60 mph time: 2.3 seconds
- Quarter mile: 9.65 seconds
A limited-edition, drag-oriented performance version of the Challenger, the Demon debuted at the New York Auto Show in 2017.
The Demon took every aspect of the Challenger Hellcat and turned it up to 11, redefining the meaning of fast with its incredible acceleration, 808 horsepower and 770 lb/ft of torque.
In the Demon's standard configuration, only the driver got a seat. The other seats (along with all non-essential features) were eliminated to save weight and replaced with rear roll bars. You could repurchase it all for a buck. Thanks to all of these extreme-performance features, the Demon gained the title of the first production car in history to perform a wheelie.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170
- 0-60 mph time: 1.66 seconds
- Quarter mile: 8.91 seconds
Five years after the Demon was discontinued, much to the dismay of drag racing fans around the world, Dodge brought the nameplate back with the Demon 170: a car that's even more bonkers than the original Demon, with a power output of 1025 horsepower and 945 lb-ft of torque.
The Demon 170 continues Dodge's track record of outrageous 0-60 and quarter-mile times, with the company claiming it can accelerate from 0 to 60 in an astonishing 1.66 seconds (making it the fastest-accelerating production car in the world) and cover the quarter-mile in 8.91 seconds.
However, it is essential to note that the record-breaking feat was achieved on a drag strip with a prepped surface to maximize traction, and the car wore drag-specific tires.
