New Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Spied; Should the BMW M5, Mercedes E63 AMG be Afraid?

After learning through documents filed with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) that the Challenger SRT Hellcat’s engine is set to make its way under the hood of the Charger last week, our spies captured a prototype Dodge that we believe to be the 2015 Charger SRT Hellcat.

The official paper filed by Dodge is called “J1349 Certified Power Engine data for Chrysler as used in 6.2L SC HEMI (Hellcat) 2015MY Dodge Challenger 6.2L SC SRT; 2015MY Dodge Charger 6.2L SC SRT – Level 1” and what it means is that, Chrysler certified the engine’s output for both cars.

After seeing the brakes, 20-inch wheels wrapped in 275-wide rubber, and of course, the hood scoop, there’s no question that the silver tester is an SRT, but what makes us think it’s the 707hp Hellcat supercharged V8 model and not the 485hp 6.4-liter (392 c.i.) V8 SRT?

Well, it’s the grille and the choice of alloy wheels. More specifically, the absence of crosshair bars in the upper grille piece that encloses a honeycomb backsplash and the matte black 20-inch alloy wheels shod in the Pirelli P Zero Nero 275/40 tires – both of which are found on the Challenger SRT Hellcat.

If Dodge follows the example of the Challenger, then the Charger SRT Hellcat should also have air extractors positioned on either side of the central hood scoop, a larger lower grille, “supercharged” fender badges (instead of “392 HEMI”) and slightly larger front splitter and boot spoiler than the regular Charger SRT 392.

The Chrysler Group’s new 6.2-liter supercharged V8 delivering an awe-inspiring 707 horses at 6,000 rpm and 650 lb-ft (881Nm) at 4,400 rpm should have no problem giving the Charger near supercar levels of straight line performance at a price that will be very close to the $60,000 Challenger Hellcat, or roughly two thirds of what BMW is asking for the M5.

Whether it will be anywhere near as good overall as the 560hp M5 or even the similarly priced 425hp M3 sedan (MSRP starts at $62,000) is a different story, one that we will learn once Dodge gives the car out for reviews.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS