Dodge Increasing Hellcat Engine Production for 2016
There are more Dodge Hellcat engines on the way.
The American automaker has confirmed that it will be increasing production of its Hellcat engines for 2016 in order to meet increasing demand for the high-performance powerplants. Although the company declined to say how many more engines it will be making, it manufactured 4,000 units so far this year at its Saltillo, Mexico, plant.
According to Tim Kuniskis, head of the Dodge and SRT brands, Dodge stopped taking Hellcat orders months ago “so that we could catch up to that demand, and then we will launch the 2016s.” Since the Challenger and Charger Hellcat models have launched, the automaker has increased production twice above its initial estimates and is still fulfilling existing orders.
SEE ALSO: Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Headed to Production with Hellcat Power
The Challenger Hellcat went on sale in the U.S. last September ahead of the Charger variant debuting three months later. Kuniskis admits that Dodge can’t even gauge the demand for the Charger Hellcat since it’s still working through the Challenger backlog. The announcement that Dodge is increasing production the powerplants adds credibility to the report that the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will become a reality with Hellcat power.
One of the production constraints for the Hellcat engine isn’t the availability of parts, but because each engine is tested on a dyno for 42 minutes before it’s installed into a vehicle.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Very cool story. Didn't know they were limited by dyno run-in time, not parts availability.
Dodge - American muscle my rear. Just crap made in Mexico.