The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon earned its place in the history books as the world’s most powerful muscle car and the world’s fastest production car with a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 2.3 seconds. Its 840 hp (626 kW / 851 PS) supercharged 6.2-liter engine was also the most powerful V8 in a production car and it enabled the Demon to have a record breaking quarter-mile time of 9.65 seconds at 140 mph (225 km/h).
That’s just scratching the surface, but the Demon was a street-legal drag car and Detroit muscle personified. That’s part of the reason why the model can command nearly $200,000 at auction today.
While the Demon was thought to be one of a kind, Dodge is preparing to say goodbye to the current Challenger and embrace an electrified future. However, this is no retirement party as the model is heading off into the sunset with a big smoky burnout and a finger in the air.
Meet The Challenger SRT Demon 170
The Demon might be dead, but its death has paved the way for the all-new Challenger SRT Demon 170. It’s an absolute beast and the performance specs are mind-boggling, especially for a street-legal factory car.
Without further ado, let’s rattle off some numbers:
We’ll give you a second to let those numbers sink in as they’re absolutely insane. However, while the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 1.66 seconds would seemingly annihilate everything including the Bugatti Chiron and Rimac Nevera, Dodge confirmed that’s with a rollout when we asked. This means that the time includes the car rolling for a short distance before the official acceleration time starts. While this slightly affects the time compared to a measurement from standstill, it’s still an impressive feat.
An Almost All-New Engine
The Challenger SRT Demon 170 is lightning quick and that’s thanks to a completely reimagined 6.2-liter V8. The changes are so extensive that Dodge said it’s almost an all-new engine as the camshaft is the only significant part that carries over untouched.
The V8 draws inspiration from the one used in the original Demon and “shares DNA” with the Hellephant C170 crate engine. As a result, a number of components are upgraded and this includes a 3.0-liter supercharger, which delivers nearly 40 percent more boost pressure (21.3 vs 15.3 psi) than the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody.
The supercharger pulley has also been upgraded, while the fuel rails and injectors are capable of delivering 164 gallons (621 liters) of goodness every hour. Dodge notes that’s more than the average shower head in America and that might make you want to take a cold shower.
Elsewhere, there’s a larger diameter throttle body, upgraded fasteners, and nitride-coated intake valves. The engine also sports upgraded valve guides and seat materials for ethanol compatibility, higher-strength connecting rods, new main and rod bearing materials for increased load capability, and new spark plugs that deliver “optimal combustion with ethanol fuel.”
While that’s just a brief overview of the engine upgrades, the car comes with a recalibrated powertrain control module that optimizes fueling and spark timing for both premium and ethanol-blended fuels. Speaking of the latter, a sensor determines the ethanol percentage in the fuel and that number is shown on the instrument cluster.
The engine’s output adjusts automatically based on the ethanol percentage and “when a 20 percent threshold of ethanol is detected, the gas pump icon located in the cluster will appear as white.” When the ethanol content exceeds 65 percent, the fun begins as the icon turns blue to inform drivers the full 1,025 hp (764 kW / 1,039 PS) and 945 lb-ft (1,280 Nm) of torque is at their disposal.
A Driveline Built To Last
A powerful engine is sure to draw attention, but it doesn’t matter much if you can’t put that power to the ground without the car grenading itself. In the Demon 170, the engine is connected to an upgraded eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to a beefier rear prop shaft. The latter is 30 percent stronger than the one found in the original model thanks to increases in tube diameter and wall thickness as well as the use of larger CV joints.
The rear axle has been fortified and features a housing that is 53% stronger thanks in part to Hot Isostatic Pressing. It also boasts a larger 9.4 inch (240 mm) ring and pinion as well as a new input flange to accommodate the larger CV joint.
They’re joined by 43 spline rear half shafts, which benefit from a revised heat treatment process and offer “optimized stiffness for acceleration performance.”
Bespoke Drag Radials And Available Carbon Fiber Wheels
The upgrades don’t end there as the Challenger SRT Demon 170 is the “first-ever factory production car built with staggered drag radial tires and fender flares.” As part of this effort, Dodge and Mickey Thompson spent months creating bespoke rubber for the ultimate muscle car.
The front wheels measure 18- by 8-inches and wear ET Street tires that are optimized for the drag strip. Out back, there are smaller and wider 17- by 11-inch wheels wrapped in ET Street R drag radials.
The latter aren’t your run of the mill rubber as they feature added grooves for improved on-street performance. They also have a nylon body for greater power transfer compared to traditional polyester sidewalls. Dodge went on to say the lighter front wheels help transfer weight to the rear and deliver a significantly higher coefficient of traction, when compared to street tires used on similar surfaces.
Speaking of the wheels, they’re made from forged aluminum. However, customers can order optional carbon fiber wheels that have a forged aluminum center, titanium hardware, and a large weave pattern for a more noticeable appearance. Dodge says the front carbon fiber wheels save 20.12 lbs (9.1 kg) of weight, while the rear shave off 11.98 lbs (5.4 kg) compared to the standard Redeye Widebody.
As for the aforementioned fender setup, the rear has Widebody fender flares while the front doesn’t. Dodge says this helps to save 16 lbs (7.3 kg) of weight.
On the topic of weight savings, the car is 157 lbs (71.2 kg) lighter than the Hellcat Redeye Widebody. This is due to a number of weight saving measures including the elimination of trunk trim, NVH padding, and a rear seat delete. The model also has lightweight carpeting, a minimalist audio system, lightweight front brakes, and hollow sway bars.
Line Lock, A Power Chiller And TransBrake 2.0
As the ultimate muscle car, the Demon 170 has a few tricks up its sleeve. Among them is TransBrake 2.0, which is billed as a new and improved version of the system that debuted on the original Demon.
Owners can press a dedicated button and be taken to a TransBrake Performance Page, which enables them to “configure and select from multiple launch-torque profiles to match the engine power delivery to specific track conditions.” Drivers can select between high, medium, and low grip surfaces as well as vehicle launch settings best fit for the conditions at hand.
While it’s a bit hard to explain everything, Dodge says the “TransBrake allows engine throttle to be increased up to 2,350 rpm and generates greater powertrain energy with maximum torque converter multiplication, an up to 110 percent increase in engine stall torque compared to brake torque and produces up to 15 percent more torque at the rear tires during launch.”
Besides TransBrake, drivers will find a Torque Reserve function, Launch Control, Line Lock, and Launch Assist. The latter aims to reduce wheel-hop by maximizing tire contact during launches.
The SRT Power Chiller is also making a return and it uses the air conditioning system to cool the supercharger intercooler, lowering the air induction temperature by up to 45° F (7.2° C). The model also has a Race Cool Down feature, which provides cooling even after the engine has been shut off.
Moving onto the suspension, the Demon 170 has adaptive-damping Bilstein shocks and a slightly higher rear ride height. The model also sports ‘softer’ springs and sway bars as well as a revised rear suspension camber that increases the contact patch under load.
Drivers will be able to select between three different modes known as Auto, Custom, and Drag. Auto is designed for the street, while Drag is made for the strip as it optimizes traction as well as the suspension, transmission, and steering for maximum performance.
A Familiar Design That’s Easy To Overlook At First Glance
Despite being the most over-the-top muscle car ever created, the Demon 170 doesn’t really standout aside from its Air-Grabber hood, Air Catcher headlights, and mismatched fender flares. In fact, if you pulled up from behind, you’d probably never notice there was anything special about the car until the light turned green.
That being said, the model sports new Demon badges with a “170 neck tattoo.” The Demon also has a yellow eye as a reference to ethanol.
The car will be available in 14 different colors including heritage hues such as B5 Blue and Plum Crazy. Customers can also order an optional Satin Black hood or a more extensive treatment that sees Satin Black applied to the hood, roof, and rear decklid.
While the exterior is familiar, the cabin is bare bones as the special edition eschews a front passenger seat, rear seats, and insulation. This results in a relatively basic interior that features a minimalist two-speaker audio system and a houndstooth driver’s seat with a Demon 170 logo.
That being said, the car has a handful of special touches including unique instrument cluster graphics and a badge featuring the last four digits of the vehicle’s VIN. They’re joined by an Alcantara-wrapped sport steering wheel with carbon fiber accents as well as an illuminated SRT logo.
Customers willing to sacrifice weight savings for comfort can get an optional premium leather interior package. It adds heated and ventilated front seats with black Alcantara and Laguna leather upholstery. They’re joined by a heated steering wheel and an 18-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. Customers can also get Demonic Red Laguna leather, if they’re looking for a splash of color.
Pricing Starts At $96,666
The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 will be limited to 3,300 units and pricing starts at $96,666. The order books open on March 27th and this is one car you certainly don’t want to miss.
We’ll have more to say about pricing, perks, and options in a separate article, but Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis said the company “Pulled off all the governors to reach a new level, a new benchmark of ‘factory-crazy’ production car performance.” He went on to say the final Last Call special edition celebrates the end of the HEMI muscle car era and we think they did it in spectacular fashion.
