Automotive

Dodge prepares to unleash the Demon in New York

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Dodge is planning to unleash a Demon at the New York Auto Show
The Demon can be fitted with a range of track-ready parts
Owners are able to track almost every detail of their Demon's performance through the central touchscreen 
Dodge launches the Demon next week 
The tease for the Demon has been drawn out, but it's almost ready to be unleashed 
Dodge is planning to unleash a Demon at the New York Auto Show
Sticky drag radial tires help channel the Demon's power to the road 
The Demon will be built in limited numbers 
Dodge is bundling a bespoke tool kit with the Demon
Cooling is key at the front of the Demon 
The Demon breathes through a massive cold-air intake 
The Demon has a lot of power, but cooling is arguably more important 
The cold-air intake on the Demon is the largest ever fitted to a production car
Dodge is selling the Demon with a set of garage gear
Given its power output, expect to be jacking the Demon up and changing its tires a lot 
The Demon gear can be packed up for travel
Unfortunately, a pit crew isn't included with the Demon 
Dodge wants owners to tweak their Demons for drag use 
Any good drag racer would know tire pressures are crucial to getting off the line
We can only assume the entry to hell is adorned with a similar welcome mat
The Demon comes with a special bag, perfect for storing helmets and other race gear 
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We usually loathe long, drawn out teaser campaigns, but we're willing to overlook that fact when it comes to the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. The hyper-Hellcat will debut at the New York Auto Show next week, but a stream of details from Dodge means we already have an idea of what the car will be like. Suffice to say, Demon is an appropriate name.

Step one in the transformation from Hellcat to Demon is, presumably, a strict diet and exercise plan. Dodge has shed 200 pounds (91 kg) from the regular Hellcat, pairing lightweight suspension, wheels and brakes with a single-seat interior. That's right, not only have the standard car's sound deadening, carpet, spare wheel and parking sensors been thrown in the trash, the passenger- and rear-seats have been given the flick too.

Of course, lighter doesn't necessarily mean smaller or subtler. A wide bodykit has been fitted to make space for a set of 305-section drag radial tires, wrapped around new 18-inch wheels. Given the car is expected to make upwards of 750 hp (559 kW) from its supercharged V8, those tires will need to be seriously sticky if they're to avoid being vaporized whenever the driver goes near the throttle.

Sticky drag radial tires help channel the Demon's power to the road 

As you might have guessed from the drag radial tires, Dodge has given up trying to match the Mustang and Camaro for outright handling honors, instead tailoring the Demon for the drag strip. Hardware tweaks like unique suspension geometry are joined by a raft of software touches designed to build boost in the supercharger, stop the car creeping forward while getting ready to launch and, when in Drag Mode, using the air conditioner to keep the engine cool.

Drivers will be able to keep track of their best times using a new set of Performance Pages on the central touchscreen. The system will actually keep a live record of how much power the engine is making, meaning mechanically-minded owners are able to see if their modifications are having an impact without having to strap the car to a dyno, and constant feedback on supercharger and intercooler temperatures mean there's no excuse for overheating.

As is increasingly common, the touchscreen can be used to track 0-60 and 0-100 mph times, along with eighth- and quarter-mile times on the drag strip. There's also a g-force display, and drivers can test their reaction time using an inbuilt timer. Fun though that sounds, we'd be putting more time into configuring the shift-lights, or fine-tuning the fully adjustable launch control system.

The cold-air intake on the Demon is the largest ever fitted to a production car

Dodge has remained coy about the drivetrain in the Demon, but we do know it will be much tougher than the standard Hellcat setup. The new prop-shaft can handle 15 percent more torque, and the rear-differential can deal has been hardened to take 30 percent more twist than the standard offering. It'll breathe through the largest cold-air intake ever fitted to a production car, aided by the two Air Catcher headlights.

"Most cars attempt to be everything to everybody," says Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands for Fiat Chrysler USA. "Then there are the rare few that revel in a single objective, rendering them totally irresistible to a subculture. The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is conceived, designed and engineered for a subculture of enthusiasts who know that a tenth is a car and a half second is your reputation."

The Demon will make its debut at a special event on April 11, before landing at the New York Auto Show on April 14. It might not be raising hell yet, but already Hennessey has signaled its intention to tame Dodge's most powerful car with The Exorcist, so the Demon won't be without competition.

Demon vs Exorcist. Now that's a drag race we'd like to see. In the meantime, check out the video of the Demon launching down the drag strip below.

Source: Dodge

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7 comments
Captain Danger
I'll put this right out there, I am biased I do not care for Dodge's , growing up the biggest joke in our family were the people that drove brown Dodges. The slant 6 does nothing for me and the only Dodge that ever looked good was the Cuda. Yes I know, Blah Blah Blah , hemi , Blah , 426 , Blah Blah Superbee etc. That's just the way it was.
I must say though this Car sounds pretty cool. Handling is great but what really counts in a car is how quick it is and this has the potential to be pretty quick, might wake a few motorcyclists up. I am not sure about dropping the passenger seat but it sure gives the impression that this is a focused car. I look forward to seeing the numbers.
RobWoods
This reminds me of my 1st car, a 1971 Dodge Demon 340, Tangerine orange colour, bought used in 1973. Wish I could have afforded to keep it and had it now.
Island Architect
You have got to hand it to Ralph Gilles... the Chief Designer for Chrysler... he is an absolute performance enthusiast, as well as a very fine designer... unique as all, get out.
No one has done more than Ralph to rescue Chrysler from the evils of Mercedes Benz and the goddamn "Venture Capitalists" than Ralph.
He graduated from the Center for Creative Studies where he studied Automotive Design and learned about Design History, which he also knows.
So give Ralph some credit! He was president for a short while, but why would anyone wand that when it's a lot more fun battling in the trenches. In the history of Automotive design he stands out as singular.
WilliamSager
I'm hoping Dodge borrows from Alfa Romeo their new chassis under their Giulia and builds a two door coupe styled something like the 1971 Road Runner and drop a new aluminum version of their Hellcat motor in it. This would put them back in competition with the lighter weight Chevy Camaro.
ljaques
I notice that they don't show a mileage figure for these. While everyone else is trying to save gas, they're going the opposite way? Why? The days of few cops and GREAT supercars are over. I miss the 400hp + 425ft/lb torque of my '70 Javelin, but love my Toyota pickup. It costs less to feed and I get 3x the miles a set of on tires. ;)
DouglasAnkrum
...other news says the demon will be 900 horse....Hell-cat is already over 700, but quite heavy at 4,400 pounds...and $83K....like the one I was looking at last Friday, March 31, at the Dealer....
Bob
Even shedding 200 lb., it is still heavy compared to a 3200 lb. Corvette with almost as much horsepower. The Corvette still has all the luxuries along with room for a passenger. For $80-100K I would still go for the Vette.