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Cars.com runs 11-second quarter with Dodge Charger Hellcat

The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and its Challenger sibling are two of the heroes of the modern performance world. With a headline-grabbing 707 horsepower from a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, their output even shames many supercars. But how quick can one really cover a quarter mile? Cars.com recently decided to find out by taking a Charger Hellcat to the drag strip to see if the sedan lived up to Dodge's 11-second claims. The results were quite impressive. After 13 quarter-mile runs of adjusting variables like the tire pressures and the car's various electronic aids, the Charger Hellcat managed a pass in 11.03 seconds at 126.61 mph – the pinnacle result of the day. This car was mechanically stock and wore the optional Pirelli P Zero tires. According to Cars.com, other quick sprints reached 11.09 seconds and 11.1 seconds, which even beat the site's 11.41-second best from a Challenger Hellcat last year. Getting the Hellcat's prodigious power down without losing traction was a challenge, even on the summer tires. Cars.com thought it had a run that could have dropped below 11 seconds, but then the wheels spun. Using the factory-recommended pressures, the Charger Hellcat was no still slouch with an 11.27-second time recorded, but taking things down to 25 psi proved the quickest at the strip. We already knew that the Charger Hellcat was a wonderful vehicle for eating up huge gulps of asphalt at high speeds and could verify its 204-mile-per-hour top speed (quite a bit faster, incidentally, than the Ferrari California T's 196 mph top-speed). Apparently, the 11-second quarter-mile claim is just as accurate. Also, for any curious owners, the Cars.com story divulges many of the tweaks required to reach this seriously quick time. Related Video:

Dodge Challenger spied exercising supercharged Hellcat Hemi V8

One of the prime complaints against the Dodge Challenger is that, even in SRT8 guise, its 470 horsepower is responsible for hauling over 4,200 pounds of vehicle. For comparison, the 420 hp in the Ford Mustang GT only has to deal with 3,618 lbs. Things only get worse from there, as the higher-performance variants of both the Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro are far more powerful than an SRT8 without adding on much heft.
So what is Chrysler to do? The correct answer is add a whole lot more grunt to its hefty two-door and even the odds. That's where the all-new Hellcat engine comes into play. We reported on this engine in May, and suggested that the Hellcat, a supercharged powerplant based on a 6.4-liter V8, would easily generate 500 to 570 hp and could likely arrive boasting more than 600 ponies.
Chrysler's ace in its sleeve has now been spied testing, with a number of Hellcat-equipped Challengers running the potent new engine both in more urbanized areas and under the sun of Death Valley. The hoods on these testers have been raised to accommodate the engine, and that camouflage over the fascias of these prototypes is there to hide a larger air intake. We also note what appears to be a new split grille under wraps. As for power output, our spies are now suggesting a Viper-equalling 640 hp from the Hellcat-equipped cars.

FCA adds 88k Dodge Challengers to Takata inflator recall

The Takata airbag inflator recall from FCA US is growing 88,346 vehicles larger in the US after the company's discovery of the faulty parts in the 2008-2010 Dodge Challenger. The affected examples have production dates between September 19, 2007, and October 29, 2010, and the coupes need the replacement components on the driver's side. According to chronology posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (as a PDF), the automaker was auditing the models covered under the campaign in July and "identified a population of vehicles that was inadvertently excluded." Initially, FCA believed these cars were using an unrecalled Takata inflator. The audit revealed that the affected cars indeed used a recalled version. As with the rest of the faulty parts, exposure to moisture can cause them to ignite too quickly during an airbag deployment and spray shrapnel at occupants. The problem has been linked to at least eight deaths worldwide and a vehicle fire in Japan. The Challenger wasn't previously part of FCA's 3.3-million unit national campaign or the subsequent expansion. According to FCA US the parts to complete the repairs in these Challengers aren't currently available. However, owners will be notified of the issue by mail starting August 14. They will receive a second notice when the parts become available. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Driver Side Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture Report Receipt Date: JUL 10, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V444000 Component(s): AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected: 88,346 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) DODGE CHALLENGER 2008-2010 Details Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) SUMMARY: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Dodge Challenger vehicles manufactured September 19, 2007, to October 29, 2010. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. CONSEQUENCE: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. REMEDY: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Parts to remedy the vehicles are not currently available. Interim notices will be mailed to owners beginning August 14, 2015.