Dodge Doubles Hellcat Production For 2016, But Cancels 900 Orders For 2015

If you woke up today and decided to buy a 707-hp Dodge Challenger Hellcat or Dodge Charger Hellcat, your options would be limited and expensive. There’s basically none available at Chrysler’s original $58,295 sticker price; if you’re willing to pay the dealer markup, you might find one starting around $70,000, with used ones going for a little (but not much) less. Earlier this year, a bone-stock 2015 Challenger Hellcat sold at auction for $110,000; two more are set for a collector auction next month in Reno.

Today, Dodge revealed several moves aimed at satisfying Hellcat demand, including more than doubling production for 2016. But as part of that process, some 900 customers who thought they were getting a Hellcat this year will have to wait a little longer — and miss out on that first-model-year pride.

Dodge executives said today the company had scheduled the last runs of 2015 models at the Canadian plant that builds the two models. It will re-open the order books for dealers in August and again in February, with new rules that specify exactly how many Hellcats a dealer can order in 2016. Those dealers that did the best job of moving Hellcats will get more; those who bought a few and slapped $20,000 markups on the sticker hoping for a sale will get penalized.