SRT Challenger Hellcat Spotted

Update: Motor Trend Calls BS on these Spy Shots

LeftLane has some photos of what appears to be the 2015 Challenger Hellcat, replete with bulging hood and cold air intake. Now that the “run-of-the-mill” 2015 Challengers have been released, they seem to have relaxed their guard re the front and rear covers. The unique hood is a tip off to something special lurking beneath. You can also see SRT on the wheel centers with some serious Brembo brake calipers behind. More pics after the jump!

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Drag Strip Testing SRT Cars

Did you know that SRT puts its new cars through a rigorous test involving 100 runs at the drag strip in a single day?

Pass after pass completed until 50 is reached on three-season tires. Then drag tires are put on and the race to 50 begins again. This is all accomplished in a single day at the track.

This helps ensure that the drivetrain components are up the the task, and help Mopars dominate at the drag strip. Read the full article at DriveSRT.com

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Viper Gets Last Place in Motor Trend’s Best Driver’s Car Test

So I guess Motor Trend doesn’t like the Viper. Maybe they were mad that SRT gave them a beat press car with some hard miles and worn out tires. But the only car in their test that actually beat the Viper around Laguna Seca was the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series, a car that costs more than twice as much. Hmmm. So which one is the best driver’s car? Oh, a Porsche that was three seconds slower. Video after the jump.

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SRT Viper Presentation in San Carlos, California

Yesterday I drove out to a cool SRT Viper event in San Carlos with my buddy Mike Musto in his 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. I’ll try to post some video next week (I hope, if I can edit it into something half decent) but for now I thought you’d like to see the pics.

The event was sponsored by the Western Automotive Journalists and featured author Maurice Liang along with President and CEO of SRT Ralph Gilles. Maurice Liang is the founder of the Viper Club of America and just published SRT Viper: America’s Supercar Returns. Maurice talked about writing the book and everything that went into designing and building the third generation Viper. Then it was Ralph’s turn, and he talked about how important the Viper is to Chrysler, and how much Viper owners and Mopar enthusiasts mean to the company (and in attendance was D’Anne Rauh, who owns over 60 Vipers).

When the Q and A portion came around, I asked Ralph about the new RWD Alfa platform and what that might mean for Dodge. No comment from Ralph on that one…

The event was held at Sparky’s Hot Rod Garage, which was filled with a lot of 50s and 60s nostalgia. There was good food and cold beer. And when we were done we went back outside to check out the cars some more. Thanks to SRT and WAJ for putting on this cool event. TONS more pics after the jump!

Viper

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Jeep Cherokee SRT in the Works

Allpar is reporting that a SRT version of the new Jeep Cherokee is in the works. It will be AWD and with a hopped-up motor and utilize the nine-speed automatic transmission. No word on the engine: could be a Maserati-sourced twin-turbo V6 pushing over 400 hp, or a turbo 3-liter Pentastar V6 producing anywhere from 375 to 410 hp. This would definitely help enhance the image of the new Cherokee and could be a cool little ride if the price was right. Rendering by Suzqo44 at Allpar

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