Dodge’s final Last Call special edition was supposed to debut at SEMA last year, but it was delayed as the company blew up seven engines trying to get the vehicle through a grueling certification process.
The issues appear to have been resolved as Dodge has announced the highly anticipated model will debut at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 20. The company is keeping details under wraps but, during a media briefing last year, CEO Tim Kuniskis told us the special edition has an upgraded Hellcat engine and the testing process saw it run at “wide-open throttle for hours and hours on end, 24/7.”
Also: Dodge Blew Up 7 Engines Trying To Certify Ultimate Hellcat For Final “Last Call” Challenger
This is why the company “grenaded seven engines,” but the rigorous testing should ensure the model can handle everything that’s thrown at it and then some. The biggest question remains how much power it will have as the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 develops 717 hp (535 kW / 727 PS) in the SRT Hellcat, 797 hp (595 kW / 808 PS) in the SRT Hellcat Redeye, and 807 hp (601 kW / 818 PS) in the SRT Super Stock and Challenger Black Ghost.
Those are all very impressive numbers, but there’s little doubt Dodge is aiming to surpass the iconic Challenger SRT Demon. The limited edition was introduced in 2017 with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 developing up to 840 hp (626 kW / 851 PS) and 770 lb-ft (1,042 Nm) of torque. This earned the car a place in the history books as it was the world’s fastest production model with a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 2.3 seconds. The car could also run the quarter-mile in 9.65 seconds at 140 mph (225 km/h).
Getting back to the March 20th event, it will be open to the public and livestreamed for those who can’t attend in person. However, those willing to make the trip will find a “performance festival” with drag racing, thrill rides, a car show, and celebrity appearances.
The company will also use the event to highlight the electric Charger Daytona SRT concept, which reimagines what a muscle car can be. Kuniskis added the event “will be a celebration of Dodge performance” with the two cars representing “different performance eras for our brand.” Speaking of which, Kuniskis said “No matter the era, Dodge will always be about muscle, attitude and performance, and that’s what this event will celebrate.”
