While after only two years of production the Hellcat wasn’t yet ready for a full facelift, especially not after getting one just a year earlier, there was still enough room to make it more distinguishable from the rest of the lineup. After all, the Hellcat quickly became the most popular Dodge model and it made the brand more popular worldwide than it ever was, virtually becoming its own brand just like the Viper. The major reason behind it is that the Challenger Hellcat was more authentic to the original muscle cars than any other model on the market. And while that made it popular domestically, its power output which surpassed most supercars made it popular worldwide. However, the biggest highlight of the Hellcat was it’s price which was still lower than that of most European sports cars and sports sedans. And while the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat was a bit more expensive than earlier models years, it was nowhere near enough to make any kind of major impact on the demand. But before we go into more detail about its changes, performance, history and styling, check out the ones currently for sale here at Exotic Car Trader.
When the Dodge Challenger first came out in 2008, it immediately became one of the most popular cars to come out of the states. Everything about the Challenger was appealing, including its masculine retro styling, to the massive Hemi V8 engines and sophisticated Mercedes suspension. But because of its weight, it always underperformed compared to its rivals. And while it was never meant to be a track car, it wasn’t that quick in a straight line either. But that would all change with the Hellcat which became one of the most powerful cars in the world as soon as it was introduced. Not only did it outperform muscle cars from Ford and Chevy, but it could outrun most sports cars and even supercars, often at a fraction of the price. And that’s the original muscle car recipe, cheap power wrapped in some of the coolest looking bodies ever made. That recipe helped Dodge sell over 2,000,000 Challengers and over 40,000 Hellcats. Furthermore, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat became even cooler thanks to new Hellcat logo badges which would mark the end of all major updates besides the Widebody, Red Eye and Demon models.
As the first Hellcats were unveiled, so was the first major update for the Challenger in years which could even mark the ones that came after as the second generation. And the most notable changes were found in the interior. That said, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat isn’t different inside from the earlier Hellcats. Still, that doesn’t mean it’s bad, on the contrary. For those who love cars and driving, the Hellcat’s interior can be a source of great entertainment. Its 7 inch digital screen inside the gauge cluster features over 100 different configurations and can display a ton of different information about the drivetrain. At the same time, the new 8.4 inch infotainment touch screen is just as usable today as it was back then. Furthermore, its retro gauge cluster which reads all the way up to 200 mph is enough to get your blood pumping right away. Another interesting details are the black and red keys where the black key limits the power output to 500 horsepower and the red key unleashes the engine’s full potential. Something like that was only seen on the Bugatti Veyron up until that point. The Hellcat was also very civilized and featured a back up camera as standard, three different driving modes, brake assist, hill assist, ParkSense, and rain brake support. Apart from that, the interior is much more authentic and higher quality than it was in earlier Challengers which were essentially put together out of the Chrysler parts bin.
As we mentioned, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat exterior isn’t that much different from the earlier models, but you can recognize it once you know what to look for. For one, the front grille badge now features the Hellcat logo integrated into the SRT badge which sets it apart from the standard Hemi models. Furthermore, the headlights intakes are now deeper and fully illuminated giving them much more depth and highlighting this unique design cue. The intakes also feature illuminated Hellcat logos inside which are difficult to notice, but very cool once they catch your eyes. Hellcats logo could now be found on the wings as well and that’s about where the differences end. However, like all Hellcats, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat features a much more aggressive front bumper with a vintage race car inspired splitter giving it much wider stance. The rear end gets bigger exhaust tips and contrasting ducktail trunk spoiler which also features the Hellcat logo. LED tail lights which came with the 2015 update still look modern today, while the giant 275 rear tires immediately give away that it isn’t an entry level model.
As far as performance goes, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat is no different than the earlier models. In other words, it’s just as impressive. Its 6.2 liter Hemi V8 with a supercharger larger than most modern engines whines like a banshee and pulls like a freight train. But then it would with 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. To put that into perspective, it has nearly 50 horsepower more than the 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB which costs four times as much. It’s also fairly sophisticated with multi link rear suspension, adjustable Bilstein dampers and 15.4 inch Brembo brakes. And despite its 4,456 lbs of weight, it sprints to 60 in just 3.6 seconds. Let’s also remember that the Hellcat is rear wheel drive only and has no hybrid electric motors to help out. Another interesting note is that the Hellcat was offered with a manual transmission as well which is a bit slower but the fact you could buy a 700+ horsepower coupe with a manual transmission in 2018 is nothing short of amazing. That said, the top speed remained the same regardless of the transmission and it was 199 mph thanks to the Challenger’s retro styling, otherwise it would be well over 200.
As the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat entered production, its base price went up by about $2,000 making it $67,390 before options. Considering that the Hellcat is a that most buyers drive daily, there are plenty of examples out there with well over 75,000 miles, but given its nature, there are also a ton of garage queens with less than 10,000 miles. That makes the used market price range pretty wide at $35,000 to $65,000. The ones on the lower side have over 50,000 miles and a few modifications here and there. On the higher end, you will find showroom examples with little to no miles. Hence, there is a Hellcat for everyone on the used market.
Besides the Wide Bodies and Red Eyes, the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat is the one to get. Even though its new bespoke details are often difficult to notice, they do make a difference between it and the older models, especially once you spend a few months with it. And like all Hellcats, it still packs enough power to keep it impressive for at least another decade, not to mention its retro styling will hardly ever look outdated. Lastly, if you are looking to buy a Hellcat or any other luxury car, doing so through Exotic Car Trader is one of your safest and most convenient options. With escrow protection, delivery, first inspection Exotic Car Trader leaves nothing to chance. The same goes if you sell a car through Exotic Car Trader, only in that case you also get a professional photographer at your door regardless of which state you live in.
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