And for that what better than borrowing from its "brother" the Dodge Charger AWD all-wheel drive system, using the same BorgWarner Torque On Demand intelligent transfer case. Under normal conditions, it sends 100% of the torque to the rear axle, behaving like a traditional pony car. However, when it senses low grip conditions, the front axle can receive anywhere between 0% and 50% maximum, depending on the level of slip. This way it maintains that characteristic sporty behaviour with the advantage of all-wheel drive, without increasing fuel consumption too much. Here's a video to see how it works:
The first thing I thought while reading the announcement of this model, was that Dodge's decision was very smart if applied to the SRT Hellcat, to be able to send in a better distributed way its 707 hp, as it is too much power to be digested by a single axle if you are not a driver, and thus make the pony taming easier for the rest of the drivers; but it was not so. I'm afraid the transfer box can't take that kind of torque. In any case, the engine chosen by Dodge is the 3.6-liter V6, which offers 305 hp and 282 Nm, nothing exaggerated for the U.S. market, although from this side of the pond is a more than respectable power. The homologated consumption is 13 l/100 km in the city and 8.7 l/100 km on the highway, something reasonable given the power of the engine.
As for the equipment, apart from specific details of this version as the leather-alcantara seats or the Alpine sound system of 276 watts of power, brings paddles on the steering wheel, Sport mode, and a VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) that collaborates with the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) to maximize traction and stability on slippery surfaces. The latter has three operating modes, one of which switches it off completely, for drifting enthusiasts.
The production of this version will begin in January 2017, being during the first quarter of the year when it is expected to reach dealers at a price of 34,490 dollars, 32,667 euros at the exchange rate (taxes, fees ... apart). If you liked it and the price fits you, we have some bad news: Dodge is only going to market it in the American continent. Within that price range, there is no sports car with all-wheel drive, so it can open a gap in the U.S. market, although if we include the 4 / 5 doors, the competition is quite nourished:
- Subaru Legacy, Outback and WRX.
- Volkswagen Golf Alltrack
- Ford Fusion SE AWD
- Dodge Charger AWD
- Chrysler 200 S AWD
Seeing the competition with all-wheel drive, it does not seem a very crazy move by Dodge, especially when it already has the technology of its brother the Charger, which also can take advantage of economies of scale to offer affordable prices. We'll have to see how it is received in the market when it arrives at dealerships. In the meantime, we'll continue to wait to see if Dodge is encouraged and delights us with an all-wheel drive SRT Hellcat.
