Las Vegas, Nevada - If you had loads of money to spare, what sort of custom car would you build?
Dodge answered this question at this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas with its 'Hellephant' powered 'Super Charger Concept' - a supercharged brute of a car with the heart of a modified Hellcat and the looks of a classic muscle machine.
The car features a 7-litre supercharged Mopar HEMI crate engine that spits out 746kW and 1288Nm of torque - which should be more than enough to please Vin Diesel and his buddies who like to live life a quarter mile at a time.
“Our enthusiasts crave power and performance and our new ‘Hellephant’ Mopar Crate HEMI engine and kit deliver huge horsepower and torque in a plug-and-play package that is unique in the industry,” says Steve Beahm, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar) and Passenger Car Brands, FCA - North America.
He says that the 1968 Dodge Charger is one of the hottest classic cars ever, which is why they decided to use it as a starting point for the ‘Super Charger’ Concept. "It’s an amazing vehicle and a great showcase for our ‘Hellephant’ engine.”
The 'Hellephant' engine makes a magical 1000 horsepower (745.7kW) thanks to a bulked-up displacement, compared to the standard engine used in Hellcat.
Also, an improved supercharger with a high-efficiency rotor is mounted on an all-aluminum block, which provides huge weight savings to keep the 'Hellephant' engine light.
The engine and kit’s distinctive 'Hellephant' logo provides a nod to the Mopar brand’s past and present. The logo and name call out the legendary 426 HEMI engine, first introduced in 1964 and nicknamed the “elephant” engine for its power and size, as well as the 707-horsepower (527kW) Mopar “Hellcrate” Engine Kit, revealed last year at the 2017 SEMA Show.
The complete engine kit includes a water pump, flywheel, front sump oil pan, supercharger with throttle body, fuel injectors and coil packs. It's been purpose-designed for installation on pre-1976 street and off-road vehicles.
Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era, with Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use, and expanded to include technical service and customer support. Today, the Mopar brand’s global reach distributes more than 500 000 parts and accessories in over 150 markets around the world.
So, if you have an old school muscle car wasting away in the garage, the ideal engine for it has arrived. Get in touch with FCA South Africa to find out if they can help you import a 'Hellephant' kit.