The 2018 Dodge Demon is the fastest production car ever built.
The Dodge Demon Is Out and the Devil Is in the Details
To much fanfare, the Dodge Demon finally hit the streets. And after looking at the numbers, well, it’s easy to see that the machine lives up to the hype.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon by the Numbers
Never before has a production car been so ridiculously performance-based. FCA North America released information to the media that could be seen as bragging.
However, the Dodge Demon has the numbers to back it up. Check out these facts (yes, facts):
Most Powerful Muscle Car Ever
A Supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Demon V8 splits the gates of Hades with 770 lb-ft of torque and a mind-numbing 840 horsepower. No V8 production car has ever been built with power to that extent.
It’s achieved by putting a bigger blower under the hood than the Hellcat, increasing boost pressure up to 14.5 PSI, adding a second dual-stage fuel pump for increased fuel flow, and improving airflow with three cold air sources. The A/C system also helps cool the force-fed air.
First Production Car with Wheel Lift
On the drag strip, the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon’s front wheels lifted 2.92 feet on launch. That’s not only an impressive amount of wheel lift – it’s the only production car that can claim the ability to lift the front wheels at all. The amount of torque may help. It’s received the Guinness Book of Records award for it.
It’s Banned by NHRA
A stock Dodge Demon can’t make a drag strip pass with the NHRA – it’s simply too fast. The rules don’t allow for sub 10-second cars to run without a roll cage.
In case you didn’t catch what that means, the Dodge Demon runs a quarter-mile pass in under 10 seconds. It’s 9.65 seconds to be exact. Its trap speed is 140 miles per hour, which is downright astounding.
World’s Fastest Production Car
Faster than the McLaren P1. Faster than the Bugatti Veyron and the Ferrari LaFerrari. The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is the fastest production car in the world, at least in terms of acceleration. It’s 0 to 60 time is a mere 2.3 seconds. It launches from a stop to 30 miles per hour in 1.0 second flat. In terms of top speed, the fastest car is the Hennessey Venom GT.
Most G-Force
No other production car can pull a higher g-force than the Demon. It accomplishes 1.8 g. I’d believe that, considering that 0-to-60 time.
Not Your Average Muscle Car
Let’s get something straight: you’re not heading down to your local Dodge dealer and buying one of these off the lot. This is an extremely limited production car, and it’s probably because there aren’t many buyers for it. It’s built to go stupidly fast, but it’s not built for comfort…although it can be.
In its stock incarnation, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon looks like it’s been through the chop shop. From factory, several items have been deleted including:
- The rear seat, seat belts and floor mats (saves 58 pounds)
- The front passenger seat and seatbelt (55 pounds)
- 16 speakers, wiring and amplifier (24 pounds)
- Spare tire cover, trunk lid trim and carpeting (20 pounds)
- Lighter brakes, lighter wheels and open-end lug nuts (32 pounds)
- Other odds and ends (43 pounds)
All these items are deleted from the build sheet, but they can each be added back if the buyer wants at the cost of $1 each. That means you can buy a stripped-out Demon, but most buyers will opt for the equipment to be installed.
There are different drive modes that are user-customizable, whether for drag use, street use or custom mode. It modifies the Bilstein Adaptive Damping Suspension to optimize the ride and control the Demon provides.
In Drag mode, the car is completely track-focused: the A/C refrigerant is diverted to the SRT Power Chiller to cool the charge air, the industry-first TransBrake is enabled for launching, and the paddle shifters are turned on.
Bob Bondurant Driving School Supplied
Controlling a devilish beast like the Demon isn’t for the faint of heart. Without a doubt, it’s easy to lose control of a nine-second car with 840 horsepower. That’s why FCA North America has teamed up with the Bob Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving.
Each 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon purchaser receives a complimentary full-day session at Bob’s school, so they can settle in behind the wheel – in as much as that’s possible, anyway.
It’s not the first time FCA has paired up with Bob Bondurant’s driving school. When the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth was released, buyers received the same complimentary track day.
Wondering what it will cost to buy the Dodge Demon for yourself? You’ll have to wait a little longer. The pricing details haven’t been released yet, but you’ll have to be fast. Only 3,000 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demons will be available in the U.S. and 300 more in Canada.
As a cost-saving measure, the next generation Dodge Challenger will be moving to the new Giorgio platform that underpins the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia. And although FCA says the transition won’t take place until the 2021 model year, this Demon iteration of the Dodge Challenger could be a bold bon voyage to a fan favorite.
