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Dodge

The Hellcat changed what a factory muscle car could be. Before that, the Charger and Challenger of the 1960s wrote the original rules.

Muscle

Dodge built the loudest, most aggressive corner of the American muscle car category. The 1968-1970 Charger and Challenger are foundational documents of the muscle era. The 426 Hemi and 440 Six Pack engines defined what big-cubic-inch American power could be. The Viper of the 1990s and 2000s extended the formula into supercar territory with no compromise: 8.0 (later 8.4) liter V10, manual transmission only for most of its life, and minimal driver aids. The modern era is defined by the Hellcat program. Starting in 2015, Dodge fitted a supercharged 6.2 liter Hemi making 707 horsepower (later 717, then 797 Redeye, then 807 SRT Demon, then 1,025 Demon 170) into the LX-platform Challenger and Charger. These were factory cars sold through normal dealerships at prices below most German performance cars. The Hellcat program made supercharged big-power American cars accessible to a generation of buyers who could not have afforded similar performance from any other source. The Viper deserves its own paragraph. Conceived as a modern Cobra in the late 1980s, the original RT/10 launched in 1992 with no door handles, no exterior door locks, no traction control, and no adjustable dampers. Eight liters of pushrod V10. Six-speed manual. Three subsequent generations refined the formula without softening it: the GTS coupe added a roof, the SRT-10 of the 2000s added 500 horsepower and improved suspension, and the Viper ACR of the 2010s set Nürburgring lap records that beat Porsche 911 GT3s. The Viper ended production in 2017. On WhipJury, Dodge submissions skew heavily toward Hellcats (Challenger and Charger), Demons, the occasional Viper, and classic 1968-1970 Chargers and Challengers. Lifted Ram TRX trucks have become a meaningful presence as well.

Top Dodge cars on WhipJury

2004 Dodge Viper
2004 Dodge Viper#1
Whip Score: 1220
1970 Dodge Challenger
1970 Dodge Challenger#2
Whip Score: 1198
2010 Dodge Challenger
2010 Dodge Challenger#3
Whip Score: 1184

Dodge models we cover

Challenger
Challenger
Charger
Charger
Charger Daytona
Charger Daytona
Coronet
Coronet
Dakota
Dakota
Dart
Dart
Daytona
Daytona
Demon
Demon
Durango
Durango
Hellcat
Hellcat
Hornet
Hornet
Magnum
Magnum
Neon
Neon
Power Wagon
Power Wagon
Ram
Ram
SRT-4
SRT-4
Stealth
Stealth
Super Bee
Super Bee
Viper
Viper

The classic era

The 1968-1970 Charger and Challenger are the foundation. The 1969 Charger Daytona with its aerodynamic nose cone and tall rear wing was a NASCAR homologation special. The 426 Hemi was the most powerful engine option across the lineup, with conservative factory ratings that masked actual output. Surviving Hemi cars now sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.

The Viper

RT/10 (1992-2002). Original generation. 8.0 V10 making 400 horsepower, six-speed manual, no roof or windows in the earliest examples. Pure analog supercar with American engineering.

SRT-10 ZB (2003-2010). 8.3 V10, 500 horsepower, more refined chassis. The ACR variant was the track-focused trim with adjustable suspension.

VX (2013-2017). Final generation. 8.4 V10, 645 horsepower in standard SRT trim. The Viper ACR with its aero package set lap records at over a dozen North American tracks. Production ended after the 2017 model year.

The Hellcat era

The 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat launched with 707 horsepower and an MSRP under $60,000. By 2018 the Demon offered 840 horsepower with a drag racing focus. By 2023 the Demon 170 reached 1,025 horsepower on E85, the most powerful production V8 ever sold in a factory car. The Hellcat program is widely seen as the defining American performance product of the 2010s and early 2020s. Production of the Hellcat-equipped Challenger and Charger ended in 2023.

The Ram TRX

The Ram 1500 TRX (2021-2024) is the Hellcat as a truck. Same supercharged 6.2 V8, this time at 702 horsepower, in a full-size pickup with serious off-road suspension and tires. Direct competitor to the Ford Raptor. Production ended in 2024 alongside the broader winding down of the Hellcat platform.

Dodge on WhipJury

Hellcats and Demons dominate. The community generally respects the engineering even though the cars are commonly criticized for being one-trick ponies (straight-line monsters with limited handling refinement). Vipers are rare submissions but always do well. Classic 1968-1970 Chargers and Challengers in clean restored or restomod form are reliably high-voted.

Frequently asked questions about Dodge

What is the most powerful Dodge?
The 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170 with 1,025 horsepower on E85, factory-rated. It is the most powerful production V8 car ever sold. The Demon 170 ran high 8-second quarter miles in factory trim with the included drag radials.
Why did the Challenger end?
Stellantis (Dodge parent company) ended production of the LX-platform Charger and Challenger in 2023 to make room for the new electric Charger and a future internal combustion model on a shared platform. The 15-year run of the LX platform was unusually long for an American sport coupe.
Is the Viper coming back?
No confirmed plans. The Viper ended production in 2017 after the brand failed to meet projected sales targets and changing safety regulations made the chassis difficult to certify. Various rumors about an electric Viper or a hybrid revival have appeared but none have been confirmed by Stellantis.
What is the difference between Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye?
The Redeye uses the Demon supercharger (2.7 liters of supercharger volume versus 2.4 in the standard Hellcat) and produces 797 horsepower versus 717. The Redeye also has different fuel system, cooling, and stronger internals. Visually they are nearly identical.
Are Hellcats reliable?
Yes for what they are. The supercharged 6.2 Hemi is fundamentally durable. Common issues include supercharger snout bearing wear, transmission heat soak under sustained track use, and the usual modern luxury electronics gremlins. With proper maintenance and not constantly running at WOT, a Hellcat can be a reliable daily.

Dodge on the WhipJury blog

What Is a Hellcat Engine?
What Is a Hellcat Engine?

A Hellcat engine is Dodge's 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8, and it landed in 2015 making 707 horsepower in cars anyone could buy. Dodge kept escalating from there, ending with a 1,025 horsepower Demon 170. Here's what's inside it and why it mattered.

Why the Minivan Died (and Why That's a Little Sad)
Why the Minivan Died (and Why That's a Little Sad)

Americans bought 1.3 million minivans in 2000 and about 306,000 in 2023. The minivan didn't get worse, it got better right up until almost nobody wanted one. The SUV offered the same space with a tougher look, and the soccer-mom stigma finished the job. The cool wagons died in the same wave.

Who Are BYD, Nio, Zeekr and Leapmotor?
Who Are BYD, Nio, Zeekr and Leapmotor?

BYD, Nio, Zeekr, Leapmotor and Xpeng are Chinese electric car brands, several of them huge, and most people can't tell them apart. One makes its own batteries, one swaps them in three minutes, one is owned by Volvo's parent, and one is partly owned by the company behind Jeep.

What Is a Widebody Kit and Does It Make a Car Look Better?
What Is a Widebody Kit and Does It Make a Car Look Better?

A widebody kit is a set of body modifications, usually flared or replaced fenders and quarter panels, that makes a car physically wider so it can cover wider wheels and a wider track. Done with intent, it gives a car the planted stance of a race car. Done as a costume, everyone can tell.

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