JOLIET, IL – Marketing a pair 700-hp, high-performance cars would appear to have its own set of challenges, but Fiat Chrysler officials say they’ve noticed none so far when it comes to the new Hellcat line of Dodge Challenger and Charger.
“We took 4,000 (dealer) orders the first four days, many of them (for) celebrities or enthusiasts,” Bob Broderdorf, Dodge brand manager, says of the Challenger Hellcat at the recent Midwest Automotive Media Assn.’s ’15-model rally here.
“We hope it will grow traffic to Dodge showrooms, where people can see how much better Dodge has become,” he adds. “We hope it will help build sales, and like to think it will help conquest sales from other brands. We hope all our cars will.”
Spokesman Dan Reid says some of the early customers are collectors, “which we expected, especially among the first buyers.”
The 2-door Challenger was launched earlier this year equipped with the high-powered 707-hp 6.2L V-8. The engine is teamed with either a 6-speed manual or new 8-speed automatic transmission, a $1,995 option.
Dodge boasts the V-8 is rated at 22 mpg (10.7 L/100 km) highway, though more quietly says the city mileage rating is 13 mpg (18.1 L/100 km), and a gas-guzzler tax adds $1,700 to the price of the car.
“We have no sales estimates on the Hellcat,” Broderdorf says. “We are going to build to meet demand.”
The Charger Hellcat goes on sale in the first quarter of next year. It was on display at the MAMA rally, but not allowed to be driven. Media only could start the car and listen to the exhaust. They opted instead to drive the Challenger Hellcat, so much so that the low=fuel light flashed on after a couple pf hours and the car had to make a quick stop to fill the tank.
