Charger SRT Hellcat

Make
Dodge
Segment
Sedan

It's the standard operating procedure for automakers to purchase their competitors' products for benchmarking purposes. We see this happen all the time. But every now and then, that benchmarked vehicle and the company that bought it are an interesting mix. Case in point: Ford and a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.

Ford Authority reports the Blue Oval was caught benchmarking the 707 hp muscle sedan a few days ago, a highly unusual act considering the Charger's Ford rival, the Taurus, was discontinued a few years ago. Even then, the Taurus SHO was not Charger Hellcat rival. Today, the Charger Hellcat and its Challenger coupe sibling are considered to be semi-rivals for the Mustang Shelby GT500.

Does this mean Ford is secretly developing an all-powerful muscle sedan, say a stretched version of that Shelby? Highly unlikely. A more likely possibility is that Ford engineers simply want to experience the Charger Hellcat. How does it drive, handle, and everything in between. These lessons could theoretically be applied to, for example, an all-electric muscle sedan instead.

Remember, Chevy is reportedly planning to drop the Camaro in a few years' time and replace it with a pure battery-electric sedan. It's a fair assumption it'll use GM's Ultium battery technology which, as we all know, is capable of producing excessive amounts of horsepower and torque. The GMC Hummer EV is proof.

Ford could easily make greater use of the Mustang Mach-E's platform. Imagine the next generation being split into two separate body styles, a coupe and a sedan - just like today's Challenger and Charger duo. Ford has already set a precedent in expanding the Mustang nameplate with the Mach-E crossover and the public and media response has been excellent so far. A sedan variant no longer seems entirely out of the question.

But again, we're only guessing here based on the information available. And since Dodge aims to launch an all-electric muscle car of its own in 2024, Ford can't afford to be left behind in that department.