Autoblog

Chrysler readying Hellcat V8 with Viper-like power

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Chrysler, Dodge, SRT

A monstrous supercharged V8 engine could be in store for Chrysler and SRT products, if recent rumors are to be believed. Allpar is reporting that the forced-induction V8 - Chrysler's first, if this goes down - could make its debut this summer.

The story goes that the Hellcat would be based on a 6.2-liter Hemi engine, rather than on the existing 5.7- or 6.4-liter versions of the company's vaunted mill. In any case, the general consensus is that the motor will have gobs of power. Modest estimates call for between 500 to 570 horsepower, with some outliers predicting a figure as high as 600 hp. That figure would put the output of the Hellcat awfully close to that of the 640-hp V10 in the SRT Viper, too. Allpar contends that a slightly less powerful version would allow Chrysler to keep costs below that of the more powerful Ford Shelby GT500, which might be a sweet spot.

The Hellcat could debut in a number of SRT products. SRT versions of the Charger, Challenger and 300 are all up for grabs, as is the rumored SRT Barracuda.

Chrysler readying Hellcat V8 with Viper-like power originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 May 2013 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confederate X132 Hellcat Combat prototype breaks Bonneville record [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Motorcycle, Specialty

James Hoegh's mission to go faster than 168.912 mph on a naked bike on the Bonneville Salt Flats has met success. Hoegh traversed the salt during the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials at 172.211 mph, entering the books in the APF3000 class as the rider on the world's fastest big block American V-twin.

The prototype X132 Hellcat Combat ran with the 132-cubic-inch S&S XWedge engine used in the retail Hellcat, given a knife's-edge tune and plenty of performance bits so it could push through the air faster than any other.

There are three ways to follow in Hoegh's footsteps: break the record yourself, buy one of the limited-production-run Combat Hellcats that Confederate says will be coming next year, or become a physical therapist, which is Hoegh's day job. While you decide, there's a video chronicling the achievement below.

Continue reading Confederate X132 Hellcat Combat prototype breaks Bonneville record [w/video]

Confederate X132 Hellcat Combat prototype breaks Bonneville record [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confederate heads to Bonneville with prototype X132 Hellcat Combat

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Motorcycle, Specialty

In 2010, James Hoegh rode his Confederate P120 Fighter motorcycle across the Bonneville Salt Flats and reached 159 miles per hour. A little later he went back and got that up to 162.6 mph. This year he's going back to the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials in Bonneville to try and hit 170 mph, which would break the record of 168.912 mph in the APF3000 class, set last year by Wink Ellis.

Heogh is sticking with Confederate for the attempt, but he's switched over to the X132 Hellcat Combat, a specially developed prototype version of the X132 Hellcat. The one-of-a-kind bike maintains the 132-cubic-inch S&S XWedge engine of the standard Hellcat and fits upgraded kit like a custom dual-track intake, CNC-ported heads with shorter cylinders, new rocker arms, a radiused crankshaft and a different compression ratio.

It won't be one-of-a-kind for long though, with Confederate set to produce "a limited number" of Hellcat Combats early next year. The trials were held this past weekend and results weren't available at the time of writing, but if Hoegh manages to break the record with his, we imagine the production run will sell out even faster than limited-edition Confederates usually do. Scroll down below for the press release.

Continue reading Confederate heads to Bonneville with prototype X132 Hellcat Combat

Confederate heads to Bonneville with prototype X132 Hellcat Combat originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confederate Motorcycles unveils X132 Hellcat

Zach Bowman — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:44:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Motorcycle, Design/Style

Confederate Motorcycles has ripped the sheets off of its latest creation, and it's a stunner. The X132 Hellcat is the latest in what the company calls its line of "heirloom" creations, and the bike boasts a billet aluminum engine case machined from two hunks of 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum. Whereas past Confederate products have had to rely on outsourced engine cases, the company says that the X132 Hellcat is a purebred. The V-twin gurus at S&S likely had a hand in the lump's development, however. Like every other bike to roll out of the manufacturer's Alabama facility, the X132 Hellcat makes use of a raft of high-end components right down to its stainless steel nuts and bolts.

Of course, that level of attention to detail comes with a price tag to match. If you like what you see, you'll have to hand over $49,500. That's a far cry cheaper than the company's previous efforts, and you still get to chew on 145 pound-feet of torque from a 2,200 cc V-twin engine. Did we mention the bike weighs in at a scant 475 pounds? Sounds like a dirty night on the town to us. Then again, you can buy three BMW S 1000 RR hellions for the price of the X135 Hellcat and still have cash left over to put in the tank. What you won't have is exclusivity, however.

Confederate plans to produce just two X132 Hellcat models per week starting in January. Head over to the manufacture's website for more information and be sure to check out the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Confederate Motorcycles unveils X132 Hellcat

Confederate Motorcycles unveils X132 Hellcat originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Melling Hellcat concept

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:14:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Supercars

Earlier this week, we were blessed with more information about the Melling Hellcat and how the original prototype has evolved into a 1,175 HP beast, befitting of its name. However, we'd never seen the man behind the machine talking about his creation, until we came across this video of Melling discussing his pride and joy. It's a short flick, but it gives credence to the old adage of a thin line between genius and insanity.

Click through for the video.

Continue reading VIDEO: Melling Hellcat concept

VIDEO: Melling Hellcat concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EXCLUSIVE: Melling Hellcat final design includes 1,175-hp quad-turbo V10

John Neff — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 01:11:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars

click the image above to view a high-resolution gallery of the Melling Hellcat

Thanks to an avid Autoblog reader, we're pleased to bring you pictures of the final prototype of the Melling Hellcat supercar that's being developed by famed British engine designer, Al Melling. We've reported on the Hellcat a couple times in the past, but the details surrounding this supercar have changed. As you can see, the final design is much more aggressive than the original prototype, and more fitting for a car setting its sights on the fastest production vehicles in the world. Just as the skin has been upgraded to compete on a world-class level, so has the engine, which was originally supposed to be a 700-horsepower, 6.0-liter V10. Knowing full well in these modern times of 600-hp Vipers and supercharged Blue Devils that a 700-hp V10 a world-class supercar does not make, Melling went back to the drawing board and did what he does best. The production Melling Hellcat will now come with a quad-turbo V10 producing a completely ridiculous 1,175 horsepower. That's well above the number of ponies the Bugatti Veyron produces, and it will be stuffed in a package that's considerably lighter. 0 to 60 is expected to occur in a 2.6-second blink of the eye, and terminal velocity will be 275 mph. Those are big numbers; we'll be eagerly anticipating some material evidence of those feats. Until then, enjoy the high-resolution gallery of pics taken by Mark from Maserati of Minneapolis and purveyor of its blog that broke the story.

[Source: Maserati of Minneapolis Blog]

Gallery: Melling Hellcat

EXCLUSIVE: Melling Hellcat final design includes 1,175-hp quad-turbo V10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Melling Hellcat supercar unveiled!

Stuart Waterman — Thu, 25 May 2006 20:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Supercars

The accompanying pictures are vidcaps from a Sky News piece about Al Melling's new supercar - the Melling Hellcat. As the video shows, Melling has a running prototype of the V10-powered car. (Watch the video here.)

The prototype looks rather racy, sporting Viper-style like pipes, and in an interview the designer confirms he's taking the new sportscar to Le Mans in 2007.

More interesting still is this story, which maintains that not only will Melling build four cars a month in his Rochdale, U.K. factory, but he has also inked a deal with Roush Industries to build 100 cars a month in the U.S.! While one has to wonder about the predicted production volume, the USA/UK badging on the prototype certainly suggests there's something to the story.

Stay tuned!

[Sources: Rochdale Observer via Pistonheads, Sky News]

Melling Hellcat supercar unveiled! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 May 2006 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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