Charger SRT Hellcat

Make
Dodge
Segment
Sedan

Update: The Dodge SRT Ghoul was an April Fools' prank. You can find out more about it and the real 1,025-horsepower Challenger Dodge is building here.

For the past few years, a majority of attention was given to the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat with new variants like the Demon and Redeye. More recently, however, there has been a refocused effort on the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, more specifically the arrival of the widebody version and the rumored upcoming Charger SRT Redeye. Unfortunately, we'll probably have to wait a bit longer for the latter's confirmation and arrival because its debut at Spring Fest LX in California was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, it appears there's yet another Charger variant in the works that could redefine the super sedan. Sources claim the automaker is about to approve the Dodge Charger SRT Ghoul. If the Ghoul name sounds familiar then you have a good memory.

A year ago, the potential existence of the Dodge Challenger SRT Ghoul became known and the plan then was to give it an even more powerful version of the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 than the Demon's 840 hp tune. But a lot can happen in only a year. Dodge has reportedly opted instead to build the Charger SRT Ghoul because it believes the market for an American super sedan is open for the taking.

But there's another major development: instead of using the standard Hellcat engine or even the upgraded Demon version, Dodge is going with the 1,000 horsepower Hellephant V8, previously a crate engine only. Production was limited to only 100 units priced at $29,995 each and all quickly sold out. However, Dodge felt it didn't receive enough return on the engine's total investment. Instead of upping the crate engine build count, the decision was made to stuff it under the hood of the ultimate Charger.

Needless to say, the Dodge Charger SRT Ghoul won't come cheap. The Challenger Ghoul was originally supposed to cost around the $200,000 mark and Dodge believes that's also a fair price this time around. A launch date? Unknown for now and if anything was planned it's likely been pushed back. Chances are the Charger Redeye will come first while the Charger Ghoul could serve as the grand finale for the current generation.

Just last week, Fiat Chrysler global design chief Ralph Gilles posted a sketch on Instagram of what could be the next generation Charger or Challenger. In other words, successors are in the works. But before that happens, some 1,000 hp madness will arrive.