Dodge Challenger Hellcat Needs Wider Rubber

Dodge officials previously confirmed that they stopped taking orders for new Hellcat models on March 9, and the company plans to build and “scheduled” 2015 Hellcat orders as planned.

FCA says that dealer allocation for the cars will continue to be based on past Dodge sales performance. “It’s not a few more; it’s a lot more”, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis told the outlet, promising that the build rate will more than double without suggesting a total production figure. The 2016 cars will be pricier due to now standard “Laguna leather” (which may or may not be similar to Corinthian leather) and five years of Sirius XM service.

“To meet this demand, we are more than doubling our SRT Hellcat production for 2016 and simplifying the process to make it easier for our enthusiasts to get their hands on the hottest muscle cars in history”. In addition, it looks like Dodge will be cancelling all 2015 Dodge Charger and Challenger Hellcat orders and replacing them with 2016 Dodge Charger and Challenger Hellcats at a discounted price (equal to what they would have already paid for.). But to prevent the same sort of situation in the future, Dodge will be telling dealers exactly how many Hellcats they’ll be getting.

Dodge also is changing the way dealers receive Hellcat allocations and place orders, Kuniskis said. But that still isn’t enough, so to get the jump on 2016 production, 2015 production is ending.

Total Hellcat output for 2015 surpassed 4,000 units.

The consumers will be informed that their factory orders are being canceled, but if they are still interested, they will receive a voucher – usable by that individual only – that will hold the 2015 pricing, at least from the factory.

Increased 2016 Hellcat production will result in broader distribution for FCA’s 2,400 Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram dealers.

Ordering for the 2016 model-year vehicles will open the second week of August. There will be two rounds of allocations, the first this August and a second in February 2016.