For as long as humans can remember, the cheetah has always been the fastest cat on the block – oh, how times have changed. Sure, it might not feast on live gazelles, but bursting forth from 0-60 in the low 3s is no problem for the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. It’s loud, large, and unforgiving – everything a modern muscle car should aspire to. It’s an automobile that commands attention, exhibits insane off-the-lot performance, and deserves to preserved for the next germination of power-hungry gear heads. For one owner, that meant taking steps to improve the exterior’s lifespan with some of the best preventative protection on the market in addition to some unique aesthetic modifications.
For starters, the Hellcat was due for a standard New Car Detail. To ensure the post-dealer reconditioning treatment would last well through the near year, we opted to equip the SRT Challenger with a Ceramic Pro Gold exterior coating package utilizing 9H & Light on all painted surfaces as well as wheels and calipers. Additionally, interior components were treated to Ceramic Pro Leather & Fabric shield treatments. For additional protection & visual improvement, we also installed mix of window tint, including Prestige Spectra PhotoSync 75 for the windshield & SunTek CXP 18 for the sides. In order to really take the Hellcat a step further, the set of custom vinyl stripes we had in mind needed more than just clean execution. As the car got prepped for correction & protection we got to work digging around for inspiration.
Fortunately, after a thorough 24-step hand wash & clay, the Pitch Black paint on the Challenger appeared to be in decent shape. The single stage of polish provided by the New Car Detail was plenty to get it prepped for the Ceramic Pro Gold package. If anything, the most consuming part of the Hellcat’s stay at the shop was still to come, and with a multi-layer twist. We fired up the plotter & let it run through the night, awaiting the busy work that was sure to follow.
But why, you ask? Because we weren’t just laying a dual stripe with bounding pinstripes — nope, that would’ve been too easy. This Hellcat’s stripe pack is a mix of matte black overlaid on a seemingly never-ending array of punch-outs, spec’d to resemble a signature SRT grill design that some may immediately recognize. To further spice things up, we mixed in accents & pinstripes using Avery’s latest fluorescent green. Exhaust notes aren’t the only think loud about the Challenger SRT Hellcat — this fluorescent green vinyl is borderline blinding!
The effect created by layering lies somewhere between reptile-like scales & a chain link fence. Fitting visual attributions for a vehicle with as much hard-edge style & performance bite as a Hellcat. With the addition of 4 coats of Ceramic Pro 9H & a topical coat of Light, the glossy surface of the Pitch Black paint almost looks wet to the touch, making perfect visual contrast between the matte finish of the textured dual stripe design.
From a distance, it’s almost difficult to spot the unique base layer of this Dodge’s vinyl additions. Only when the light hits the texture on the stripes just right does it become apparent that there’s more to this Hellcat than where the rubber meets the road. Couple the wild stripe pack with the subtlety of the blacked out badges & corner marks, and this SRT Challenger Hellcat becomes a whole different animal.
Side-profile wise, we didn’t make too many updates to the Hellcat beyond emblems & a small fluorescent green lip on the mirrors. The standard “Brass Monkey” finished 20-inch wheels & heavy-duty Brembos look right at home nestled into the wheel wells of the Hellcat. Dirty bronze is definitely more “out there” as far as factory finishes go, but we love it, especially when paired with the likes of a Pitch Black finish. Of course, it helps that they’ll stay even cleaner & free of corrosion with the protection provided by our Ceramic Pro wheel & caliper coating package!
Look closely, and you’ll notice the side markers are a bit of a trick on the eye. While they appear to simply be masked out with black film, it’s actually a carefully cut strip of black reflective vinyl. The amber or red lights behind the lenses still shine bright thanks to the small windows in the middle, keeping them fully functional & RCW compliant.
The only other bits of florescent green on the sides are hidden behind closed doors. As requested, we installed a set of custom cut Hellcat doorsill stickers to notify anyone who may have stepped over the threshold without knowing what they’ve got themselves into.
Inside the cockpit, the driver & passenger are treated to plush, SRT-adorned upholstery & thick but forgiving seat bolstering, like a cross between a captain’s chair and a classic hot-rod bucket. The Hellcat’s interior might not share the same level of design refinement exuded by its high-end & comparatively underpowered german counterparts, but there’s no denying that the Challenger feels comfortable while looking miles ahead of the Dodge interiors of yesteryear.
Of course, keeping it clean is always top priority. That’s where Ceramic Pro Leather & Textile protective coatings come in to play. After all, no one wants to see their sharp white contrast stitching get dulled up with dirt particles, dye transfers from clothing, or seats soiled by a passenger who can’t hold on to their lunch. Our Ceramic Pro Interior Shield treatment will do an incredible job of preventing surface wear, UV damage, and staining for car cabins of any variety. At a minimum, we recommend coating all interior surfaces with a leather protection cream, but if possible, upgrade to Ceramic Pro Leather & Textile for the peace of mind.
Around the back, the custom vinyl stripe pack takes on a modern twist. By capping the outer rim of bodywork that surrounds the tail lamps, the Hellcat starts to take on a look that’s reminiscent of the Dodge Challenger GT AWD Concept that debuted at SEMA just a few months prior.
It’s a bold addition that adds a little more oomph to the rear end & draws the eyes in for a peek at the textured dual stripes.
The rear also received blacked out SRT badging in addition to blacked out Dodge lettering, which looks much more at home than the standard bling. The change is subtle but absolutely necessary for tying the sinister look of the Hellcat together.
As luck would have it, deliver day also happened to be a sunny Saturday. Outside, the tiny ridges of the textured stripes pick up just enough light to catch your attention — it was quite a bit of work to produce, but the effect it provides is definitely one-of-a-kind & incredibly hard to ignore.
The bright morning delivery also provided the perfect opportunity to really see the gloss & depth added by the 4 coats of 9H in the Ceramic Pro Gold package. Even without the white walls of the cyclorama surrounding it, the depth of the Pitch Black was seemingly infinite in the piercing sunlight.
The Hellcat’s matte black side emblems now appear to be lurking in a mirror-like sea of swirl-free polish, ready to pounce on any unsuspecting autos. With the help of Ceramic Pro’s 9H protective coating & a top coat of Light, we can rest assured that this Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat will stay looking as nice as the moment it was pulled it out of the shop.
We’ve been wanting to stripe up a new Hellcat since the rumor mill first got fired up about this 700 HP beast machine, so it was nice to finally get our hands on one & let our latest protective coating option really work its magic. Want to learn more about what Ceramic Pro products can offer your personal vehicle? Pop over to our Ceramic Pro FAQ for answers to some of our most popular inquiries or check out all the service listings for details on 9H, Light, or the Gold, Silver, and Bronze protection packages.