Is the Hellcat a V6 or V8?
The Hellcat uses a V8 engine, specifically a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8.
Across Dodge’s high-performance lineup, the Hellcat badge signals a purpose-built V8 that's engineered for extreme horsepower and instant torque. It powers the Challenger, Charger, and Durango variants, and it is defined by a Roots-type supercharger and a long-running V8 architecture rather than a V6 configuration.
What makes the Hellcat a V8 powerhouse
The Hellcat’s core identity rests on eight cylinders arranged in a V, a 6.2-liter displacement, and forced induction to reach extreme output. While many performance cars rely on smaller engines or turbocharged six-cylinders, the Hellcat leverages a big-capacity V8 to deliver its signature surge of power. Below is a concise look at the main variants and their horsepower figures.
Key Hellcat models and their power outputs include:
- Challenger SRT Hellcat — 707 horsepower
- Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye — 797 horsepower
- Challenger SRT Hellcat Jailbreak — 807 horsepower
- Charger SRT Hellcat — 707 horsepower
- Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye — 797 horsepower
- Durango SRT Hellcat — 710 horsepower
Across these variants, the engine remains a V8, with tuning and forced-induction changes driving higher or lower horsepower while preserving the eight-cylinder layout.
Engineering details and performance context
The heart of the Hellcat is the 6.2-liter HEMI V8 with a roots-type supercharger, designed to deliver sudden, high-level boost across the rev range. In the original Challenger and Charger Hellcat models, that configuration produced about 707 horsepower. The Redeye variants upped output to roughly 797 horsepower through boosted boost pressure, intercooler improvements, and revised intake airflow. A later Jailbreak package raised the limit further to about 807 horsepower by enabling higher-fuel-system performance for enthusiasts using premium fuels.
For the Durango, Dodge applied the same fundamental V8 architecture to an SUV chassis, resulting in around 710 horsepower with a focus on SUV-wide performance and traction. In all cases, the Hellcat lineup remains anchored to a V8 platform rather than a V6, underscoring its identity as Dodge’s most extreme factory-equipped eight-cylinder performance line.
Current status of the Hellcat line
As Dodge reorganized its performance lineup and gradually shifted toward electrification and new powertrain families, the SRT Hellcat models continued through the early 2020s with limited production. The Hellcat badge remains a symbol of the brand’s V8 performance heritage, even as Dodge expands into alternative powertrains and new performance architectures for the future.
Summary
In short, the Hellcat is a V8, not a V6. Its six-cylinder counterparts are not part of the Hellcat family. The lineup centers on the 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8, delivering ranging horsepower across Challenger, Charger, and Durango variants from about 707 hp to 807 hp in the Jailbreak edition, with the Durango variant at around 710 hp. The Hellcat’s appeal rests on a legendary eight-cylinder powerplant paired with modern forced induction to create extreme acceleration and straight-line performance.
