Dodge's Direct Connection Will Awaken Your Hellcat V8 And Provide Factory Warranty 

Dodge stated in November that its Mopar Direct Connection aftermarket performance components catalog would be reintroduced. The chief executive officer of Dodge, Tim Kuniskis, has now revealed in an interview with Road and Track why the Hellcat engine and related performance equipment were brought back.

Direct Connection was a muscle car enthusiast-focused program that began in 1974 and changed its name and purpose in 1987. Modern Mopar fans have to rely on the aftermarket for most of their modifications. After seeing this squandered opportunity, Dodge decided to take action.

Clients will have access to a full catalog of factory-built, factory-tested, and factory-backed performance improvements beginning March 9. Aftermarket components aren't all built to the same standard or quality, according to Kuniskis, and when issues develop, buyers may lose their manufacturer warranty and be responsible for the repair expense. Dodge is attempting to prevent this by providing components they are confident in while also providing a warranty to their consumers.

“The thought is, we know how to modify these cars, we’ve engineered them from the beginning,” Kuniskis told the publication. “Let’s modify them for performance, certify them for emissions, and cover them under the warranty. The customer is going to do it anyway. They’re going to be okay with the warranty, and we don’t need any conflict with them if they have a problem, and lastly, they are safe from an emissions standpoint,” he added.

Under the Power Brokers brand, the Direct Connection components will be available only through a restricted number of Dodge dealerships. All Dodge Power Brokers-upgraded vehicles will be protected by the automaker's standard three-year/36,000-mile new vehicle warranty as well as the five-year/60,000-mile engine warranty.

The components list is quite extensive, ranging from basic ECU adjustments to full-fledged Challenger Drag Pak shells. Whereas the body-in-white isn't legal on the street, many of the changes are. When you pair the Direct Connection Tuner with one of Mopar's Stage Kits, you'll notice a performance bump as well.

When Hellcat owners buy a Stage 1 package that includes a Hellephant supercharger pulley and a matching ECU tune, they may receive a total of 757 hp and 696 lb-ft of torque. With the same pulley, Redeye drivers can get a massive 885 hp and 787 lb-ft of torque. These upgrades have been planned for a long time, according to Kuniskis, and all engines are capable of handling them.