The Hemi V8 engines in the Dodge Challenger and Charger are so powerful they’re the heart of the brand’s image. Designed by Dodge’s Street and Racing Technology team, they are the focus of much of Dodge’s advertising, and the thing that sets those two cars apart from their competition. The naturally aspirated 6.4-liter version is good for 485 horsepower and a growl that will wake the neighbors. And if that’s not enough for you, the 6.2-liter version adds a supercharger to put 717 horsepower under the hood instead.
But you can set them to top out at 2.8 horsepower. No matter how hard you mash the pedal, a car with a 2.8 horsepower Hemi won’t do much more than a crawl.
Thwarting Thieves
Why would you want this? Because it’s a brilliant anti-theft device.
This new Security Mode works like two-factor identification for an app on your phone. When it’s on, the car will start anytime the radio-frequency-enabled key is inside it. But it limits the car to a speed not much more than engine idle. To activate full power, the driver must enter a PIN on the infotainment screen.
Dodge created the system because car thieves have grown quite good at spoofing key codes, using a device that replicates the signal from the car’s key. But a thief spoofing the key code of a Charger or Challenger with Security Mode wouldn’t be able to get far.
The update is free and will be available at Dodge dealerships in the second half of 2021. It can be applied to 2015-2021 RT Scat Pack models carrying the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 and to SRT Hellcats with the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8.
Related: See the Hellcat Specs, Prices, and Speed of the Challenger and Charger
