Manoli Katakis 
The final word. Today, Dodge blew the doors off the performance car community by revealing its magnum opus – the Challenger SRT Demon 170. It’s the last one, guys. They promise this time.
And don’t be so quick to say that it’s a new Demon. Because, even though the name is there, just about everything has been redone or rethought. Using the Challenger Demon from the 2018 model year as the starting point, the engine is almost entirely new, save for some small parts and the camshaft. The chassis is almost entirely redone, with new shocks that also play well with different set of tires. Out with the Nittos, in with the Mickey Thompsons. You’ll notice, too, that they got rid of the skinny tires up front. And the Demon Crate is no more. Instead, you can order performance upgrades through Direct Connection.
You’ll want them, too. Because the Dodge Demon 170 is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 1.66 seconds –faster than even a Tesla Model S Plaid – running an 8.91 second quarter mile. Also faster than the Plaid. This is largely thanks to an extensively reworked supercharged 6.2L Hemi V8 engine, running on E85 fuel. But you don’t have to if you don’t want to, the engine is fully FlexFuel capable, meaning it can run a mixture of premium gasoline and E85 if need be, or pure gasoline. Max output? a staggering 1,025 horsepower, and 945 lb-ft of torque. That’s more than double a new Ford Mustang Dark Horse. That’s nearly 200 hp more than a Demon on race fuel. And it’s the grand finale of the Hemi V8 engine.
How much for this record-setting performance? How much for the absolute authority on modern American muscle? $96,666. And Stellantis plans to build as much as 3,300 examples of the Dodge Demon 170, with 3,000 for the USA and 300 for Canada. Just like the Demon, and more than any other “Last Call” muscle car. Of course, that’s before taxes, title, destination, Gas Guzzler Tax, and the dreaded dealer markup.
You’ll have to hand over seven figures if you want anything close to this kind of factory performance from just about anybody else. But this is Dodge’s winning formula: as quick and as powerful a car as possible.
This is also how Dodge says goodbye to an era of muscle car dominance. What happens next will not be the same, but they’re sure going to make it as exciting as possible.
