2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
Based off the already ludicrous Hellcat, the Demon is a more powerful drag racing focused muscle car. The latest incarnation of the Demon was the first street legal production car to have a 0-60 time in under 2.3 seconds with 1.8gs of acceleration. It could complete the quarter mile in a blisteringly quick 9.65 seconds at 140mph, giving it the fastest quarter mile time of any production car at the time. It was so fast, that it was banned by the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) because it did not have a certified roll cage and racing harness from the factory. Impressively, the Demon was the first production car to do a wheelie.
The Dodge Dart was not intended to be a muscle car when it was introduced in 1960. By 1970, when sales for muscle cars had skyrocketed, Dodge entered the market with the Dart “Swinger” GTS, and in 1971, the Dart Demon. Originally, Dodge utilized a version of Plymouth’s popular Valiant-based fastback Duster, dubbing the car the Beaver. However, soon after Chrysler’s marketing department learned that their name choice was CB slang for a part of the female anatomy, the vehicle was renamed the “Dart Demon.” Although the name was innocent enough – the historic reasoning behind the name was in correspondence with getting people to come in for a look at the car, as in “Come in for a Demon-stration.”
The Demons’ skinny front tires, known as “runners” in the drag-racing world, were not street legal. When buyers picked up their Demon from a special parts dealership, four identical street legal Nitto NT05R drag radical tires were installed to provide just enough tread. Because of this, Dodge made their customers sign a form saying that they would not drive the car in the rain due to the risk of hydroplaning.
This car comes optioned with the desirable Demon Crate for the price of one additional dollar. The kit includes a performance powertrain control module, high octane control button, performance air filter, narrow front drag wheels, and more.
The engine in the Demon is based on the Hellcat’s engine with twenty-five major component upgrades, such as a new supercharger, pistons, rods, valve train, and fuel injection system, all of which allow a higher redline limit, at 6,500 rpm.
The Demon was the first production car to come equipped with a TransBrake. The TransBrake locks the transmission output shaft to hold the car in place, while keeping the engine at 2,350rpm without using the brakes to add 15% more torque at a launch.
Interior features of the 2018 SRT Demon included a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, power sunroof, and real-time display of horsepower and torque output.
Specifications:
Configuration: Longitudinal Front Engine, Rear Wheel Drive
Engine: 6.2 Liter Supercharged Hemi V8
Horsepower: 840 @ 6300 rpm
Torque: 770 ft-lbs. @ 6500 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Performance: 0-60 mph: 2.3 seconds, top speed: 168 mph
Weight: 4280 lbs