It all began in January. Dodge started teasing the world with Demon videos. Nobody quite knew what to think of it all and speculation was running high. Dodge wasn’t giving any big hints. Finally, after what has to be the longest-running series of teaser videos – Thirteen to be exact – we know a lot more about the Demon.
It looks like your bog standard Dodge Challenger with wider fenders until you notice the fat 315-series drag radials under the front and rear.
Looks aside, it’s the numbers that get ludicrous on this car. 840 hp and 770 lb-ft of torque. 1.8 g on launch. Zero to sixty mph in 2.3 seconds and the quarter mile in 9.65 at 140 mph. Yeah. You read that right. An OEM production car capable of 9s in the quarter. It will even lift the front tires off the ground when launched hard, something Dodge claims has never been done by a factory spec car. Insanity abounds, and it’s pretty sweet. The NHRA thinks it’s so sweet that they’ve banned it.
Dodge accomplishes these crazy numbers by using a larger supercharger than the current Hellcat engine’s 2.4-liter unit, three cold air intakes, a liquid-to-air intercooler that diverts air conditioning coolant to lower the temperature by as much as 45 degrees when in drag mode, software wizardry to allow the car to run 100+ octane fuel, street legal drag radials and other tricks.
While most car manufacturers will void your warranty if you race their cars, even though they oftentimes indirectly encourage racing, Dodge is making no bones about the intent of this car. With a rear seat delete, front passenger seat delete, trunk carpet delete, an optional tool box full of drag racing parts and tools, all sorts of drag-specific electronic toys and an industry-first TransBrake and line lock, you’re expected to take this car to the track and flog on it. Dodge even gives owners the number of a company that will provide a harness bar to bolt up to the factory mounting points without any cutting or drilling.
Don’t worry. If you want the seats and trunk carpet back, it will cost you the princely sum of three whole dollars, so you can still use your Demon as the world’s fastest family car. The optional satin black hood, roof and deck lid take you back to Chrysler’s muscle cars of the ’60s. Other comfort options are a 900-watt Harmon Kardon audio system, power sunroof, heated and ventilated leather front seats and a heated steering wheel, but we have a hard time believing many owners will tick all these boxes off on the option sheet given the intent of the Demon.
Like we said: This car is single-minded. It’s meant to go from the Christmas Tree, down the lane to the Big End as quickly as possible. Period.
Dodge hasn’t told us how much they want for the car, but with only 3,000 tagged for the States and 300 for Canada, I’m betting it won’t matter how much they want. People will pay it.
Grip The Wheel is operated in part thanks to Analogy.tech, your new home for the latest tech news, reviews and information breakdowns.
gripthewheel.com 