The Early Reign of the Shelby GT500

During the dawn of the 2010s, the automotive muscle scene was dominated by the 2013 Shelby GT500. At the time, it faced limited opposition. While the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was a formidable contender, its 580 horsepower fell significantly short of the 662 ponies produced by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT). Even the Dodge Challenger of that era lagged behind, maxing out at 470 horsepower from its 6.4-liter V8. For a brief period, the GT500 held the undisputed title of the muscle car horsepower king.


The Arrival of the Hellcat Era

The landscape shifted dramatically in 2015 with the launch of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. By introducing a 707-horsepower, 6.2-liter supercharged V8, Dodge effectively eclipsed the Shelby and forced competitors back to the drawing board. It is important to note that the Ford GT500 was by no means poorly engineered. Its 5.8-liter Trinity V8 featured advanced cooling, a 2.3-liter supercharger pushing 14 psi of boost, and a carbon-fiber driveshaft. Even so, the Mopar engine surged ahead, boasting 650 lb-ft of torque compared to the Ford's 631 lb-ft.


Engineering the Goliath

The creation of the Hellcat engine was a massive undertaking. According to information from InsideHook, the project was kept under strict wraps. Engineers utilized the 6.4-liter V8 as a starting point, but the unit was de-stroked to 6.2 liters and paired with a nearly 2.4-liter supercharger—a component that required 80 horsepower just to operate.


To ensure reliability under extreme stress, Mopar upgraded over 90% of the engine's components by value. The build featured high-end hardware, including:

  • Forged-aluminum pistons
  • Forged-steel crankshaft
  • Powder-forged connecting rods with reinforced bushings
  • Carbon-coated pins

A Legacy of Performance

Following its 2015 debut, the Hellcat engine became an industry phenomenon due to its accessible price point and immense power. Over the years, this powerplant found its way into a diverse range of vehicles, from the Challenger Demon and Charger Redeye to the Durango SRT and the Ram TRX. As muscle car enthusiasts look toward the future, the spirit of the Hellcat continues to evolve, with reports suggesting its influence will persist in upcoming high-performance vehicle lineups.