Dodge Sending Off Internal Combustion Challenger With 1,000-hp Demon

It almost seems hard to believe, but the mighty Dodge Hellcat appeared on the scene in 2015 with 707 horsepower from a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine. Not only does the Hellcat have a stirring name, its insane amount of power and exhilarating performance ensured Dodge’s place in the muscle car wars against Ford and Chevrolet. Unfortunately, the muscle car era is coming to an end. In typical Dodge fashion, it wants that end to be loud and smokey with the introduction of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170.

The name that Dodge chose for its “Last Call” special-edition muscle car doesn’t allude to the vehicle’s performance at the slightest. The Challenger SRT Demon 170 makes 1,025 horsepower and 945 pound-feet of torque from a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine. Muscle cars have always been high-powered vehicles, but these figures are more fitting for an exotic supercar with a hybrid system. To get that kind of power from the reliable V8, the SRT Demon 170 requires E85 gas, which is what inspired the car’s name because of the 170-proof ethanol fuel mixture. If you plan to run the muscle car on a more accessible 91 octane, the engine is rated at 900 hp and 810 lb-ft of torque.

The SRT Demon 170 is a car with heavy-hitting numbers. And it’s a car that reminds you of that with an enormous hood scoop that has “Alcohol Injected” laser etched into it. Fill the tank with E85 and the muscle car can hit 60 mph in just 1.66 seconds and complete a quarter-mile sprint in 8.91 seconds at 151 mph. Eat your heart out Tesla. If you plan on running the SRT Demon 170 at full throttle, we recommend keeping a lot of gas on hand, because the car’s tank will get drained in less than seven minutes.

We can poke fun at the fact that Dodge has massaged the Challenger from being a favorite rental car all the way to being a supercar killer with the SRT Demon 170, but what Dodge did here is really special. The engine, which may sound similar to what’s in the SRT Hellcat and Demon models, is basically all-new. Dodge claims that the camshaft is the only part of the engine that remains the same as the regular Demon. The supercharger grows from being a 2.7-liter unit in the Demon to a 3.0-liter unit. Boost is up to the supercharger, too, as it’s running at 21.3 psi.

Dodge also had to make changes to the SRT Demon 170’s driveline to ensure it could handle the power. The driveshaft is now 30% stronger than before, while the rear axle housing has been beefed up by 53%. Anyone who goes looking through the differential will find larger ring and pinion gears, while the eight-speed transmission has an improved transmission brake.

Drivers who plan on actually taking their SRT Demon 170s to the drag strip and not hidden away to be resold will find that the new TransBrake 2.0 feature will help bring quicker drag times. The new feature brings more configurable launch settings that allow the driver to change the torque curve based on surface conditions. Keeping the car’s nose down should be easier than with a Demon, as the SRT Demon 170’s suspension is 50% firmer at the back.

The SRT Demon 170 comes ready to hit the drag strip straight from the factory thanks to hefty Mickey Thompson tires. The tires in the back measure in at a massive 315/50R-17 and have reportedly never been offered on a production vehicle before.

This really does feel like the end of the line for Dodge’s Hellcat era. So, it’s not surprising to hear that Dodge wants to limit the production of the vehicle, even though it doesn’t have a set number yet. Dodge is hoping to build 3,000 units for the US and an additional 300 cars for Canada. Production of the car will start this July and the last one is expected to be rolled off the assembly line on December 31.

With more than 1,000 horsepower, you weren’t expecting the SRT Demon 170 to be cheap, right? Good, because the car starts at $96,666 (get it?) before destination and the gas-guzzler tax. Include those two items and you’re looking at spending $100,361 on the muscle car. That’s a lot of money for a V8-powered muscle car, but boy what a muscle car it is. And what a way to say goodbye.

Pictured: 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

Source: CarBuzz

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