Dodge Is Hoping There’s Life Left in the Hellcat Engine’s Appeal
As it has for the last decade, Dodge will lead potential Hellcat customers to the water for the 2025 model year. But can it make Durango customers drink?
The Hellcat engine debuted in the 2015 Dodge Challenger, and has been a potent part of Dodge’s performance inventory since. Although it was an easier sell in the Challenger and Charger cars, they’re gone (no, we’re not counting the electric Charger, yet anyway), leaving one good outlet for the big Hemi V-8s: The Durango SUV, which has evolved into a pretty solid platform.
For 2025, Dodge has introduced three Hemi-powered Durango special editions, led by the just-announced SRT Hellcat Hammerhead, so named for the Hammerhead Grey Laguna leather interior seating—outside, it’s dark blue.
The Hammerhead is powered by the 710-horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi Hellcat V-8 engine, which, Dodge says, serves up a 0-to-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, and covers the quarter mile in 11.5 seconds. Top speed is 180 mph. The Hellcat V-8 is paired with a TorqueFlite 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission that includes steering-wheel-mounted shifter paddles.
The Hellcat Hammerhead offers seven available Drive modes—Auto, Sport, Track, Snow, Tow, Eco and Valet. Standard SRT Performance Pages provide information on vehicle performance, including timers, g-force, gauges, engine and dyno readouts. Configurable Drive Modes provide more vehicle control, and Race Options allow the driver to activate, deactivate, and adjust the rpm values for Launch Control and Shift Light features.
The 2025 Hellcat Hammerhead has a starting price of $113,720, plus a destination fee of $1595. It’s available for order now.
For that matter, so are the other two performance special edition Durango models. The Hemi V-8 was first offered as an option for the Durango in the 2004 model year, with full production of the Hemi-powered Durango commencing in 2004. Dodge kicked off the Durango celebration last month with the rollout of the first two special-edition vehicles: the 2025 Durango SRT Hellcat Silver Bullet (also $113,720) and the 475-horsepower Durango R/T 20th Anniversary ($66,970) model.
“The new Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Hammerhead continues the celebration of a potent combination: the legendary Hemi engine and the Dodge brand’s three-row performance SUV,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge brand CEO since June. “Dodge is America’s performance brand, and we plan to continue to celebrate that legacy at every turn.”
Is there still life left in the Hellcat? We’re about to find out. The Hammerhead may well be the last Hellcat model, which could boost its resale value a bit, come auction season in five years or so.
I think the fat Lady is singing on this one. This is the end of an era.
They sold 69,195 last year and are on track to repeat the sales this year.
I have always been thankful for people that buy my future vehicle at crazy prices when new.
My current 13 year old X5 was purchased at 30,000 miles at 20% of new cost.
Thank you new vehicle buyers
The price tag confirms that the engine timing has become over-retarded
Huh?
6 figures seems like a pretty high bar to overcome.
Even with that amazing engine, I struggle to believe that anyone pays six figures ………. for a Durango.
They will sell, I was hoping for that engine in a new Grand Cherokee or Grand Cherokee L.
Maybe they will stuff it in!
“Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Hammerhead For Real Last Edition, Seriously We Mean it This Time Edition” is something I would not pay $115k for one. Silver Bullet, what silly names this company comes out with.
Take a look at silverbulletgtx.com.
Read and learn.
While Dodge may have stopped making Chargers and Challengers with a v8, every dealer still has them on their lots. Mind you, these are all 2023 cars. And the 2025 model year vehicles will be hitting the lots soon. Dodge better figure out how to fall out of love with these cars soon before they completely devalue the brand.