Unique among street-legal drag racers is the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. It has 1025 horsepower and is the last V-8 muscle car from the brand. Dodge says its cars can go from 0 to 60 mph in 8.91 seconds and have a top speed of 151 mph on paved roads if they have enough horsepower. When production starts in July, the Demon 170 will cost $100,361, but only 2,500 to 3,000 are expected to be sold in the US by December 31. After that, V-8 Hellcats were no longer made. Ricky Bobby’s father made up the saying, “If you’re not first, you’re last.” Dodge doesn’t believe it. Throughout its more than 100-year history, the well-known muscle car maker has chased tail lights. The first 1970 Dodge Challenger came out shortly after the 1964.5 Ford Mustang, and the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro started the pony car craze. The Challenger’s production time was shorter than those of the other two. Up until 1974, the first generation was in use. The second car was a Mitsubishi Galant with a different name, which Mopar fans would rather forget. In 2008, the Challenger got its third generation, which had a classic look and a new Hemi V-8 engine. Chevrolet and Ford kept putting money into their cars, making them more modern and able to race around a track. This made Dodge stay caught up. At first, Dodge kept up with Camaros and Mustangs made around the same time and with similar designs. As the big-bodied Challenger was about to be put in last place, Dodge changed direction and adopted a new performance philosophy. By focusing on its past, the company doubled down on traditional goals like high horsepower numbers and fast quarter-mile times. The History of Hellraiser’s The 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat was the first step in Dodge’s evil plan. It quickly beat out its main crosstown competitors, the 580-horsepower Camaro ZL1 and the 662-horsepower Mustang Shelby GT500, with a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 that got a lot of attention. When we were in charge of the Challenger, it went from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds and traveled 1320 feet at 126 miles per hour in 11.6 ticks. Its horsepower was close to a HyperCard, and prices started at less than $60,000. All Challengers got a complete makeover at the same time as their release. This included upgrades to the interior and exterior, as well as new engines and powertrains. The Hellcat, in particular, made it possible for SRT cars to get even crazier over time. The 2018 Demon came next. It was made only for drag racing and can only be made in 3300 copies in one year. In addition, it was sold at approximately $86 thousand with a warranty that the manufacturer provided. The modified Hellcat V-8 made 840 horsepower and could do a wheelie while running on 100-octane race fuel. Dodge said it could do a quarter-mile in 9.65 seconds at 140 mph on a smooth surface. So, the NHRA was made illegal, which Dodge was happy about. The Hellcat Redeye came out in 2019 and is available in the Charger and the Challenger. Even though the engine had parts from the Demon, it could only make 797 horsepower because it couldn’t handle race fuel and had less airflow. We tested a version of the Challenger that could go 125 mph for a quarter mile and reach 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Yet, both measures were just like non-Redeyes that cost $11,000 less. This shows how narrow the tires are. In 2020, Dodge came out with the 807-hp Super Stock, a reborn Demon. It has a rear load transfer suspension and four Nitto NTO5R drag radials with a 315-section width. Dodge said that the quarter-mile time for the $82,790 SS was 10.5 seconds at 131 mph (again, on a paved surface). Let’s jump ahead to the year 2023. Fans of Dodge have been waiting for this year because it marks the end of the brand’s “age of excess.” After being used in some of the most famous Chargers and Challengers for almost ten years, the Hellcat V-8 will no longer be made. After this year, both models will be phased out to make room for muscle cars that run on electricity. Dodge’s seven-part “Last Call” series of special editions began in August last year to say goodbye to its beloved monsters. The seventh and previous car has been shown, and it is the strangest one that can be driven on the street. It’s not only silly but also a symbolic middle finger to people who have said that Dodge’s Hellcats are only good at one thing. 1-0-2-5 Horsepower If the Hellcat V-8’s top speed didn’t go over 100 mph, it would have been a letdown for the company that changed how muscle cars use horsepower. Dodge, on the other hand, is not known for having disappointing power numbers. It brought back the Demon name and built the best dragster to be driven on the street for the big finale. In 2023, the Challenger SRT Demon 170 will come out. The 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine makes 1025 horsepower and 945 lo-fi of torque, which is crazy. The name “Demon” comes from the mix of E85 gasoline and 170-proof ethanol fuel it needs to run at full speed. Using 91 octane fuel, the new engine generates 900 horsepower and 810 lo-fi of torque. The new Demon is a numbers car, just like the old one. Moreover, it’s a vehicle that isn’t scared to cause controversy. On the door of the massive hood scoop, it says “Alcohol Injected.” Suppose that doesn’t give you the chills, the 170’s roaring exhaust will. Dodge says the Demon 170 ran a quarter-mile at 151 mph in 8.61 seconds and hit 60 mph on E85 on a well-prepared road in 1.66 seconds. It will move slowly on the street, though. The 170 had to be better than the Demon that came before it. The new model can still do wheelies, which is clear from the press photos and videos that Dodge has put out. Direct Connection, where the brand’s factory-backed performance parts are sold, can add a parachute to the 170. It’s great to be alive right now. Just about tools A few weeks ago, Dodge CEO Tim Konicki’s told a group of auto writers that several engines were broken while working on the Demon 170. This pushed back the unveiling date and caused Kanski’s to spend a lot more money than they had planned. His words support the claim that the crew did much more than tweak the old Demon V-8. Even though the mill in the 170 has the same 376-cubic-inch displacement iron block, it has new parts inside. The only part of the engine that stays the same is the camshaft. The steroidal V-8 has a stronger crank, connecting rods, and primary and rod bearings. Because steel studs now hold the cylinder heads together, the cylinders can handle much higher pressure (up to 2500 psi on E85). A more considerable 105 mm throttle body lets more air into the new Demon engine. Dodge says the new injectors can give out 164 gallons/hour, more than a regular shower head. On top is a custom supercharger made from Dodge’s Elephant crate engine. The bigger 3.0-liter engine makes 21.3 psi of boost pressure, much more than the original Demon’s 2.7-liter supercharger, which only made 14.5 psi. Dodge strengthened the driveline so the Demon 170 could handle its vast power. The driveshaft is now 30% stronger, and the rear axle housing is 53% stronger. Also, the differential has many more giant rings and pinion gears. It still has an automatic transmission with eight sacks, but the brake has improved. For those who have forgotten, the first Demon was the first car to have a drag race. Dodge says the new Transrace 2.0 makes launch settings more flexible, including changing the torque curve to account for the surface. Because it has more torque at the back wheels, it can also be started faster. The world’s fastest takeoffs should get even better with a retuned suspension that is said to be 50% stronger in the back to prevent front-end lift. The brake system on the old Demon still works. Good drag radials are a must on any excellent drag car. Dodge asked for help from Mickey Thompson. The company makes ET Street R tires in sizes 245/55R-18 in front and 315/50R-17 in the back. These tires are said to be better than the original NATOs. Dodge doesn’t sell a separate Demon crate with the gear needed for the fastest quarter-mile runs, so the 170 is ready to go as soon as it’s unpacked. A Million Dollars’ Big Finish For the new Demon, there are still choices. The most expensive option is two-piece wheels constructed of aluminum and carbon fiber. Even though they look the same, they are lighter than the standard set. Each of these costs $11,495. After Dodge removed the old Demon’s front fender flares, all 170s lost 16 pounds. The new vehicle weighs about 4275 pounds, so the two cars probably weigh about the same. Dodge will sell a street-tire kit to people who want to take their Demon on a road trip, making it more likely that they will get home safely. The equipment price has yet to be set, just as the cost of installing a passenger seat has stayed the same from the previous $1. The cloth driver’s seat is the only other thing that comes with the 170. The Nappa leather that covered the front bucket seats of our car was easy to get to. Since 2015, the inside rest had been the same on every Hellcat Challenger. The 2023 Demon 170 will start at $100,361 when it goes on sale later this spring. Dealer markups are almost sure to make people upset, though. The amount that can be made will be limited. That number is still being determined. Dodge plans to make up to 3000 copies for the United States and another 300 for Canada between July, when production starts, and December 31, when the last one rolls off the assembly line. On New Year’s Eve, Dodge will stop making the Hellcat V-8. This will be the start of a new era for the company. It’s hard to say goodbye, but it’s been an exciting trip.
