What's the news?

The muscle car is alive and well, and in classic American style there are a lot of ridiculous but brilliant nameplates bandied about on these latest contenders. They're a pair of performance iterations of the Dodge Challenger, available in either mildly upgraded 2015 SRT form or the more inspiring, supercharged SRT 'Hellcat' version. And these both surpass the Scat Pack Shaker as seen at the New York show only last month. No, we're not making this stuff up...

Exterior

Both the SRT and the 'SRT with a Hellcat engine' (Dodge can't seem to decide in its own literature how to refer to the more powerful machine) have been in the wind tunnel for their 2015MY redesign, with a new, vertical-split front grille said to be inspired by the original 1971 Challenger. There's a larger power bulge on the aluminium bonnet with a prominent cold-air intake, dual air extractors further back on said bonnet and the exclusive 'Air Catcher' ram on the Hellcat, which is in the driver's-side parking lamp. Wide arches, minor revisions to the light clusters front and rear, splitters and spoilers (they're a bit bigger on the wilder Hellcat) and some supercharged badging on the range-topper round out the body changes; and you can finish either in a choice of 11 colours, with the lesser SRT getting two full-body 'Daytona' stripe options too.

As for wheels, the SRT gets exclusive '77' eight-spoke 20-inch forged aluminium alloys in Hyper Black. The Hellcat has 'Slingshot' split-seven-spoke 20s, also made of lightweight aluminium, in a matte black finish, although there's another option for the supercharged car - 20-inchers again, this time finished in 'Brass Monkey' and dark bronze finish.

Interior

Referring back once more to the '71 Challenger, Dodge says the interior is an 'enthusiast-centric cockpit'. There's a seven-inch TFT display in the instrument cluster, the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen in the centre console and aluminium trim throughout. You'll also note plenty of leather everywhere, including on the redesigned SRT-branded heated steering wheel, while the front chairs are tasteful buckets that are both heated and ventilated. Both cars will have an SD card slot, USB outlet and audio jack point in a 'media hub' hidden in the centre armrest.

Mechanicals

So, these engines - the SRT gets a mildly reworked version of the '392' (cu in, that's 6.4 litres) Hemi V8 as seen in the old SRT8 and Scat Pack models. It gets only modest power and torque increases of 15hp and 7Nm to peaks of 485hp and 644Nm. It can be paired to a 'proven' six-speed manual or a new TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic.

But let's get onto this Hellcat. While Chrysler has not yet confirmed the specific peak output, it will at least say that with a projected figure in excess of 600hp, this supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi will be the most powerful V8 in the group's history. It also can be mated to the TorqueFlite auto, but the six-speed manual option is uprated to deal with the massive hp/torque figures. It has an amazing spec, with forged alloy pistons and a forged-steel crankshaft that can withstand firing pressures of 110 bar (1,595psi) and has a crank damper tested to 13,000rpm - all to cope with Dodge and SRT's first V8 application fitted with a supercharger.

There will be multi-mode adjustability of the horsepower, autobox paddle shift speeds, steering (on the SRT only, not the Hellcat), traction and suspension on both versions, while the Hellcat gets the biggest front brake package ever seen on anything bearing the three-letter badging: colossal 390mm Brembo two-piece discs with six-piston calipers. You can spec these stoppers on the 392 SRT as part of a Track Pack. Anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control systems are all configured for the specific powertrain/tyre combinations on offer.

Anything else?

You get two key fobs with the Hellcat - one red, one black. The red one is the only key that will unlock the full horsepower and torque of the 6.2 Hemi; the black item limits the engine's mighty outputs as a safety feature. Both cars also come with Valet Mode anyway, which limits revs to 4,000rpm and puts the SRTs in all of their 'safest' settings.

No word on whether we'll get these 2015 cars over here yet - we certainly hope so - but production of the 392 SRT and the SRT Hellcat will begin in the third quarter of this year.

Matt Robinson - 21 May 2014