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By Patrick Rall Nov 3 2014 - 12:14pm

Over 5,000 PreOrders Placed for the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

After hearing a rumor on the internet that over 5,000 examples of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat I checked with the folks at the Chrysler Group and they have confirmed that more than 5,000 orders have indeed been received for the 707hp Mopar muscle car.
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A front high angle shot of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
A front low angle shot of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
The front 3/4 of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
A head on shot of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

When the Chrysler Group first introduced the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat this year, followed by announcing a few months later that it would pack an incredible 707 horsepower, there was a rumor going around that the company would only build a limited number of vehicles. Chrysler quickly and publically refuted that, starting very clearly that they would make as many as they could sell. Even then, the big mouths that populate automotive forums and the various social media sites insisted that the company wouldn’t sell all that many Hellcat Challengers.

Well, those people seem to have been very wrong, as the Chrysler Group has received more than 5,000 pre-orders for the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.

2015 Challenger Galleries:
The 2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack in Sublime
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in TorRed
The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat in Sublime

5,000 People Lined Up for a 707hp Challenger?
I should be clear that those 5,000+ pre-orders don’t necessarily mean that there are 5,000+ buyers sitting around, eagerly awaiting the production and arrival of their 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. That figure of 5,000+ pre-orders certainly includes a great many actual pre-sales by a private buyer where a dealership has accepted a down payment and placed a custom order to the factory, but it also includes orders placed by the dealerships around the US for showroom fodder.

Even though a great many people couldn’t and wouldn’t buy a 707hp Challenger (or a 707hp anything), there will most certainly be people who visit their local dealership if they know that they will be able to check out the most powerful muscle car of all time. While at the dealership, some of those people might end up buying a vehicle – whether or not it is a new Challenger. Because of that, many dealerships will want a 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat on their showroom floor. However, this isn't a car that will be stockpiled in bunches, so with 2,300 dealerships around the country, there are still likely a couple thousand that are earmarked for a specific buyer.

Chrysler Doesn’t Want These Cars Sitting on Lots
While there will most certainly be some 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat models that spend plenty of time sitting in a dealership showroom, the Chrysler Group wants these cars being sold instead of just existing as dealership stock. To help control this, Chrysler is planning a multi-phase allocation process that will essentially force dealerships to move these cars if they want more to sell in coming months. After the first wave of Hellcat Challengers has reached dealerships, the company will monitor the sales of these units and the allocation figures for the second wave of production units will depend on first wave sales. In other words, if a smaller dealership gets a Hellcat and sits on it for months, they might not be able to get their hands on another one in the foreseeable future – and that could impact a customer looking to put down money on a 707hp Challenger.

The biggest problem now is fulfilling these orders, as there are a great many other trimlines of the 2015 Dodge Challenger that are already selling well and the production of the Hellcat model is the most time intensive. Chrysler has to first get the supercharger units from IHI, then they have to build and dyno test each Hellcat Hemi before building the whole car on the assembly line with the rest of the non-Hellcat models.

Because of this, it will take into next year for the company to meet the demand, but it definitely looks as though Chrysler plans to sell as many Hellcat Challengers as they can.

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Comments

JeffS wrote on November 4, 2014 - 8:50am
Wow, sounds like the Dodge boys hit the sweet spot with price, performance and design. Although I am not in the market for a new car, if my local dealer gets one in, I will stop by and take a look just out of curiosity. It will be interesting to see how many they sell. Typical Chrysler, they take it on the chin in the marketplace and then come back with a vengeance. I was one of those who were under the impression that there was going to be a, "Limited" run and if memory serves, I've read somewhere next year will be it for production. Sounds like that is not going to be the case.
Dave Cooper wrote on November 4, 2014 - 10:21am
I also ordered a Hellcat challenger, hopefully I would be able to get it sometime in the Spring. CAN 'T WAIT!!!!!
paul Zak wrote on November 5, 2014 - 12:07pm
What did the dealer charge you over Invoice I was charged 10%
jody key wrote on November 5, 2014 - 9:05pm
I had put down a deposit on a hellcat .once they opened up to order the dealer contacted me and told me it would be 20k over invoice I told them they could give mine to the next person in line.thats just way to much.10% is understandable
Dave Cooper wrote on November 6, 2014 - 6:31am
I would email Chrysler Headquarters and tell them what is going on, dealers are discouraging customers with that markup
JeffS wrote on November 6, 2014 - 11:40am
Good day Dave. This happens often, especially with, "New" enthusiasts' cars, (sports, pony and muscle cars). The dealers with take every advantage they can for that enthusiasm. As long as the cars are moving, chances are Dodge won't do something. When the interest wanes and it will, prices will more than likely come down and the buyer will be in a better position to negotiate.
JeffS wrote on November 6, 2014 - 8:38am
Jody, @ 60 plus a bargain, @ 80 plus not so. More than likely after the initial rush to buy, prices the dealers are charging will go down. In a 1/'2 year, or so, may even be able to get a few bucks off of the MSRP, maybe. Certainly what ever the dealers are upcharging will come down significantly, if not disappear entirely. Even 10% is a significant amount, buys allot of gas and this brute is going to be thirsty. Waiting may not be a bad idea, anxious to see what kind of problems may rear their head. Although I might catch the wrath for mentioning this, Chrysler doesn't exactly get the best quality and reliability ratings. I am by no means saying it will, but it could put a damper on the party. Even @ 60+ you are talking significant coin, regardless it being an apparent bargain. It's cool to be the first kid on the block to have the latest, but that doesn't last long. Is it really worth the, "Premium" in this case. To some, obviously the answer is yes and I certainly can understand that, to others, no.
Alan Zolotoff wrote on April 17, 2015 - 2:20am
I put my 10% down which was $6750.00 on November 15th and I paid $2500.00 over invoice. I just got my Vin number on April 8th.
frank wrote on August 9, 2015 - 9:45am
do they send you a vin by mail?does that mean its being built?
JeffS wrote on November 5, 2014 - 8:19am
Patrick, if/when you have a mo; Do you think the Charger Hellcat will do as well? I'm kinda amazed at how many are plunking down money on the Challenger and it hasn't even hit the streets yet. We aren't talking chump change.
Dave Cooper wrote on November 6, 2014 - 6:36am
I don't think that the charger will do as well as the challenger, only because the challenger s a 2door,and looks like a true muscle car, who wants a 4 door muscle car (not me)
JeffS wrote on November 6, 2014 - 12:01pm
Hey Dave, I think it will be a different demographic on the people buying the Charger vs. the Challenger. If they get cross shoppers from M.B. and BMW, (that's yet to be seen), it may be another winner. There are those looking for a Hi-Po 4 door. Particularly from my generation weaned on cars from the 60's-70's.Practicality becomes more of a consideration when one get's older. I think it will come down to how many Motorheads from the past are jonesing for this kind of ride. "But Honey, it has 4 doors" might help convince the Boss as well.
Patrick Rall wrote on November 6, 2014 - 4:24pm
Considering that the Charger routinely outsells the Challenger, I expect that the Charger will sell even better. The bottom line is that 4-door cars sell a great deal better than coupes in the USA and this is why the coupe market is shrinking. People want the added space of a sedan and in the past, getting a really fast sedan meant looking to Mercedes, BMW, Audi, etc. Now, all of those people who want a really powerful sedan can buy a Dodge that costs a fraction of those European models and will crush them.
JeffS wrote on November 6, 2014 - 4:59pm
"Thanks" for taking the time. May I add, You lucky --------person. I bet you are still having dreams about your time spent getting some time behind the wheel. My own take, it's a Looker 4 doors and all. Just enough, "Evil pretense". Also, as you point out, "The Sounds" it makes, there will never be a better exhaust note than comes from American V-8 muscle. I heard a bit of supercharger whine as well, very cool.
JeffS wrote on November 6, 2014 - 5:24pm
One more thought and then I will leave it alone; Funny how things seem to come full circle. You go back far enough, when America ruled the roads, if you could get an engine in a Muscle car, you could get it in a Sedan. The big 3 were sticking some pretty big blocks in their, "Family and Luxury Sedans". If memory serves, (these days sometimes it doesn't), Big horsepower of the time, trickled down from the Sedan to the Muscle car.
Rob wrote on November 29, 2014 - 11:07am
We make the best clutch for these!
john wrote on January 1, 2015 - 8:31pm
I paid sticker for mine here in NY and mine is sitting in my garage already. I don't think any dealer should mark them up at all.
mr.alexander wrote on January 2, 2015 - 4:01pm
I like the hell cat...but with the price mark up on the hell cats in California I will super charge the one I have now...don't believe the hype...its hell no...over priced I am looking out side this state...