The auto world is sometimes filled with terminology beyond the average driver’s understanding. You may be familiar with VIN (vehicle identification number), OBD (onboard diagnostics) and grip (tire’s ability to stick to road surfaces). But are you in on the meaning of “scat pack”?
You’ve probably seen the term attached next to a Dodge Charger when you look up cars from the automaker. And you may have seen scat pack refer to an engine at one point and a trim at another. Is a scat pack a kind of engine or is it just a trim on a Dodge model?
What Does Scat Pack Mean?
It all began in 1967. Dodge started designing and creating its 1968 Scat Pack lineup: a motley of muscle cars. It featured the Coronet R/T, Dart GTS and the Challenger R/T — and much later, the Coronet-based Super Bee.
And because the line’s name originates from the verb “scat” (to go away fast or go fast), inclusion to it meant that a car must run the standard start of the 14-second bracket in a quarter mile. Otherwise, it wouldn’t qualify as one of the cool muscle cars in the Dodge scat.
The name “scat pack” is also said to be inspired by The Rat Pack, with the intention of developing community and loyalty. Developed by advertising firm Ross Roy, the term also symbolized the performance and power of the Dodge scat pack.
One of the more memorable tag lines for a car belonging to the Scat Pack was “Run with the Pack.” With the Scat Pack’s recognizable logo of a tiny racing bee with wheels, helmet and goggles, the automaker’s distinct muscle car lineup meant a badge of coolness. The marketing campaign even created a club called “The Hive.”
Clearly, a scat pack didn’t just mean an engine or a trim as you may have read elsewhere.
But that was in the late ‘60s. The Dodge Scat Pack was offered up until the early ’70s. It was shelved after, collecting dust in the archives. In 2014, the automaker resurrected the scat pack for the Charger, Challenger and Dart as an option. In 2015, the scat pack was offered as a trim for the Charger and Challenger.
When Dodge attaches “scat pack” to a model, like Charger or Challenger, it means it’s got the make up to get fast and inspire coolness.
Is a Scat Pack Faster Than a Hellcat?
The speed of any car, be it a Dodge Scat Pack Charger or a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, is determined by its power, weight, aerodynamics and powertrain. Most of the components for speed will be found in the engine. The more power the engine generates the greater power it’ll have to turn the wheels faster. And so you’ll find most car lovers scouring through the web or going through auto shops for specific engines and components, like an engine block.
So what’s the engine on a scat pack?
The engine in a Dodge Scat Pack Charger is a 392 HEMI (incidentally, HEMI was created by Chrysler, owner of Dodge) V-8. A Dodge Hellcat will also have a V-8 engine, except that its output (on a 6.2L) is 717 horsepower.
What’s a Scat Charger hp? It’s at 485 at 475 lbs.-ft in torque; not the impressive 717 hp from an SRT Hellcat, but still the Charger hp’s nothing to snort at. The Hellcat can go 0 to 60 in under four seconds whereas the Scat Pack Charger can go from 0 to 60 in over four seconds.
The Scat Pack is fast, but the Hellcat is a hell of a lot faster on the road.
Still, if you’re looking to save a few thousand dollars off your Dodge purchase, the Scat Pack trim on a Challenger or Charger is a solid option. It’ll set you back some $40,000 compared to the $75,000 on a Hellcat Charger.
But if you’d rather get behind the wheel of a Charger scat pack widebody, you’re looking at an expense of a little over $47,000. A widebody can cut both ways: on the upside, it’s got excellent with sufficient power and on the downside, it’s additional 3.5 inches means you’ve got to stay in your lane (literally).
What’s the Difference Between SRT and Scat Pack?
The Dodge Challenger and Charger come in different versions: SRT and R/T.
SRT is Street and Racing Technology, and it indicates the varying performance levels of cars models under Dodge. It’s particularly associated with Hellcat whereas the Scat Pack is a performance trim and specific to the Dodge Challenger and Charger.
R/T is Road/Track and you’ll find it on different Dodge models. Unlike the SRT, R/T is a lot more affordable. So if you’re after auto performance without the hefty price tag, check out the R/T configurations on the Challenger, Charger and Durango.
A car purchase is rarely ever simple. Unless you’ve got all the money in the world, then choosing the model would be a quick decision. But if you’re limited by budget more, consider your options. And when you’ve narrowed down your choice to a Dodge, dig into the performance configurations.
