Dodge quietly killed the manual-transmission Challenger SRT Hellcat last year, but it brought it back for 2023.
Dodge is bringing back the six-speed manual option for the 2023 model year Challenger SRT Hellcat after being dropped last March. The news comes from MotorTrend, which claims the six-speed Tremec manual required some “recalibration.” The updates required for the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) in manual-equipped Challenger Hellcats were substantial enough for the automaker to remove the option entirely for what was left of the 2022 model year.
The demand for manual gearboxes has been strong, with many buyers still keen to row their own gears. The manual has remained available on non-Hellcat Challengers ever since the recalibration was required due to Challenger Hellcats being unable to pass emissions.
Dodge has not provided an exact reason for its decision, but a forum post dating back to last spring indicates that this was indeed the case. At the time, a Dodge spokesperson confirmed the six-speed’s absence would be temporary. The carmaker has remained true to its word. The six-speed manual was – and is once again – standard on non-Redeye Challenger SRT Hellcats. An eight-speed automatic slushbox remains optional.
Dodge has not made a formal announcement regarding the manual’s return, but Dodge’s spec sheet for the 2023 models confirms the fact. This is very good news for those craving a Challenger Hellcat as the model and its 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine will be discontinued at the end of the 2023 model year.
More details and a full reveal are expected in the coming months.
SOURCE CREDITS: MOTORTREND
