The Dodge Hellcat has become one of the most popular cars among rappers in recent years. While fans can still hear artists brag about sports cars and foreign luxury vehicles, more and more rappers have shouted out the Hellcat. However, the Hip Hop community only has a couple of more years to enjoy the trend as Dodge has announced it will stop production on Hellcat engines by 2023.
The popular V8 engine, which powers the popular Challenger and Charger models, will be discontinued with Dodge's 2023 model year lineup. The popular engine debuted with the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. While originally offering 707 hp, later versions have reached 808 hp.
"I will have this car, this platform, this powertrain as we know it through the end of '23. There's two more years to buy a Hellcat, then it's history," said Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis.
The limited-edition Durango SRT Hellcat SUV has already been discontinued due to increasingly strict federal emissions rules. Kuniskis admitted that such regulations have played a role in Dodge's decision to focus more on electric vehicles. Car owners, like manufacturers, are also subject to expensive taxes related to the vehicles. Currently, buyers of Hellcat-powered Challengers and Chargers are required to pay a gas guzzler tax of about $2,100 per car.
"You can still meet emissions with these cars. You're going to pay a lot of compliance fines," Kuniskis said.
Last week, Dodge announced its new Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak models. Kuniskis also said the first electric Dodge will be unveiled next year ahead of its debut as a 2024 model.
Source: Motor Authority
