One Hell of a Goodbye: 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is the last in its line, and it's a true marvel of automotive engineering. The car's name says it all - this is one powerful beast that's ready to unleash hell on the road. With its massive 1040 horsepower engine, the Demon is a high-performance machine that's unlike anything else on the market. It's the ultimate driving experience for those who demand power, speed, and precision.

What sets the Demon apart from other cars is its unique features. The Demon's engine is an engineering masterpiece that's been fine-tuned to deliver maximum power and torque. Dodge has spared no expense in creating a car that's both powerful and reliable, and the Demon is a testament to that. It's a car that's been designed for those who demand the very best.

But it's not just the car's performance that's impressive - it's the entire package. From the sleek and aerodynamic exterior design to the luxurious and high-tech interior, the Demon is a car that's as beautiful as it is powerful. It's a car that's meant to be driven, and its advanced technology and safety features ensure that you can do so with confidence.

The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is the ultimate farewell to one of the most iconic cars of our time. It's a fitting tribute to the Challenger's legacy and a celebration of everything that made it great. In this article, we'll explore the Demon's unique features, delve into its engineering, and take a closer look at what makes it one of the most impressive cars on the market.

The Last Hurrah: One Hell of a Goodbye

As we approach the end of an era, we bid farewell to the Dodge Challenger, one of the most iconic and revered muscle cars of all time. For over 50 years, the Challenger has captured the hearts of car enthusiasts with its bold design, unrivaled performance, and classic American muscle car style.

And as the sun sets on this legendary car, Dodge has given us one final gift: the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. This limited edition, high-performance machine is not only the fastest and most powerful Challenger ever made but also the last. The Demon 170 is the ultimate tribute to a car that has become an American legend, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on the automotive industry.

What sets the Demon 170 apart from its predecessors is its monstrous 1040 horsepower engine, which can propel the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds. It's hard to imagine a production car being able to generate such insane power, but the Demon 170 delivers it in spades.

But the Demon 170 is more than just a powerful engine; it also comes equipped with a number of features that make it a true driver's car. It has been optimized for drag racing with features like a TransBrake 2.0, Launch Control, and Torque Reserve, making it a true force to be reckoned with on the track.

The Demon 170 is a fitting farewell to the Challenger, a car that has always been about pure power and performance. It's the perfect tribute to a car that has become a symbol of American muscle and automotive engineering, and it is sure to be remembered as one of the greatest muscle cars of all time.

The Demon's unique features 

The Demon 170 has several unique features that set it apart from other vehicles. It is worlds apart from anything that came out of Detroit.  Here are some of its standout features:

Insane Horsepower

With a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 engine that produces 1,025 horsepower on E85 fuel, the Demon is one of the most powerful production cars ever made.

Drag-Focused Suspension

The Demon's suspension is optimized for drag racing, with softer springs and sway bars, adaptive-damping Bilstein shocks, and larger Mickey Thompson drag radials.

SRT Power Chiller

The Demon features a unique cooling system called the SRT Power Chiller, which reroutes the air conditioning refrigerant to cool the intake air, resulting in cooler, denser air for better performance.

Widebody Design

The Demon features a wider body than the standard Challenger, allowing for wider wheels and tires and improved traction.

Unique Wheels

The Demon's standard wheels are 17x11 inches in the rear and 18x8 inches in the front, with a staggered diameter to optimize traction. The carbon fiber wheel option drops 11.98 pounds of unsprung weight for quicker acceleration.

Customized Drag Mode

The Demon's Drag Mode allows drivers to customize and save their preferred launch settings for maximum acceleration and traction.

NHRA Violation Letter

The Demon comes with a "ban" letter from the NHRA for running a sub-nine-second quarter-mile without a safety cage and parachute, making it one of the most extreme street-legal drag cars ever made.

Unleashing the Demon: The Beast Under the Hood

The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 has many things to offer, but we need to talk about the demon in the room. The heart of the Demon 170 is its third-generation Hemi engine, that Dodge has heavily upgraded.  The engine features a larger 3.0L supercharger, upgraded cylinder head, and main cap fasteners made of billet steel to handle the additional boost and power. The engine produces a jaw-dropping 1,025 horsepower and 945 lb-ft of torque on E85 fuel, while the engine control unit can detect the ethanol content and adjust the fuel supply accordingly. Even on 91 octane pump gas, the Demon 170 delivers a staggering 900 horsepower and 810 lb-ft of torque.

To keep the engine cool, Dodge has introduced the SRT Power Chiller™, which reroutes the air conditioning refrigerant to cool the intake charge chemically. This technology can drop the incoming ambient air temperature by 45 degrees, resulting in better performance and power.

The  Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170  is the ultimate American muscle car that will leave you breathless. It’s a marvel of engineering that delivers unrivaled power and speed. With its blistering zero to 60 claim of 1.66 seconds and a quarter-mile run in just 8.91 seconds at 151.17 mph, the Demon 170 is a true beast that can’t be ignored.

Unleashing Hell on Track: The Tires and Suspensions of Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The suspension and tires of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 are designed specifically for drag racing. The Bilstein adaptive-damping shocks are tuned for maximum acceleration while also raising the ride height by 10mm to accommodate the larger Mickey Thompson drag radials. The independent rear suspension has a revised geometry that increases the contact patch under load, allowing for better traction during launch. The softer springs (35 percent front, 28 percent rear) and sway bars (75 percent front, 44 percent rear) aid in weight transfer during launch.

The 315/50R17 Mickey Thompson ET Street R drag radials are a first for a production vehicle, providing significant grip on the drag strip. The rear differential housing has been upgraded with a larger 240mm ring gear, pressure cast differential case, revised mounting points, and larger rear cover-mount fasteners to handle the additional power and traction. The driveshaft, 43-spline half shafts, and other suspension components have also been strengthened to handle repeated launches on a prepped racing surface.

The standard wheels for the Demon 170 measure 17x11 inches in the rear and 18x8 inches in the front. The unusual diameter stagger is designed to provide maximum launch traction, paired with the 315/50R17 drag radial rear tires. Additionally, for the first time on a Demon, there is a carbon fiber wheel option from Lacks Enterprises. These wheels are the same size as the standard aluminum wheels but weigh 11.98 pounds less, reducing unsprung weight and providing even quicker acceleration. Overall, the suspension and tire setup on the Demon 170 is optimized for 1320, making it a formidable drag racing machine.

Drag Mode: Where the Dodge Challenger Demon SRT 170 Shine

The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is a purpose-built drag racing machine, and the Drag Mode is the most important of the suspension mode options. When the Drag Mode is selected, the car's calibration changes to focus entirely on delivering the perfect launch and the best possible elapsed time (E.T.). The power output is maximized based on the ethanol content in the fuel, and the transmission is set to shift as quickly as possible, with a trade-off in comfort. The steering wheel paddle shifters are engaged, and the traction is dialed in specifically for drag racing applications.

The suspension system is optimized to promote the best weight transfer for launching the car with maximum traction, while the steering delivers the greatest amount of feel and effort. One of the most notable features of the Demon 170's Drag Mode is the TransBrake 2.0, which is a factory-issued device that significantly improves upon the original Transbrake in the previous Demon model.

The TransBrake 2.0 allows drivers to choose from multiple launch-torque profiles, enabling them to match the engine power delivery to specific track conditions. This device locks the car's automatic transmission into multiple gears when stationary, effectively creating an internal bind. When it is time to launch the vehicle, the trans brake is released, and the transmission unlocks, allowing the car to accelerate with significantly more momentum than any other means.

The TransBrake 2.0 is easily accessible through a button located near the center console, and it is much easier to use than the first iteration. It allows engine throttle to be increased up to 2,350 RPM, generating greater powertrain energy with maximum torque converter multiplication and an up to 110 percent increase in engine stall torque compared to brake torque. The result is up to 15 percent more torque at the rear tires during launch, providing the Demon 170 with an incredible ability to get off the line quickly and efficiently.

The Options and Prices of Dodge Demon

If you are one of the lucky few to get your hands on an Dodge Demon, there is 

Exterior Colors:

• White Knuckle (No additional charge)
• Pitch Black (No additional charge)
• Granite ($95)
• Destroyer Grey ($95)
• Triple Nickle ($95)
• TorRed (No additional charge)
• Octane Red ($395)
• Sinamon Stick ($395)
• Go Mango ($395)
• F8 Green ($95)
• Sublime ($395)
• B5 Blue ($95)
• Frostbite ($95)
• Plum Crazy ($95)

Exterior Color-based Options:

• Satin Black painted center section of hood ($1,995)
• Full Satin Black treatment (hood, roof, and trunk lid) ($3,695)
• Carbon fiber wheel package ($11,495)

Interior Options:

• Single houndstooth cloth seat (Standard)
• Full cloth interior (adding passenger seat, rear seat, and seat belt assemblies) ($1,995)
• Black Alcantara/leather interior or Demonic Red Laguna leather with Premium Group ($5,995)

Additional Interior Options:

• Demonic Red seat belts ($395)
• Trunk Dress kit ($295)
• GPS Navigation system ($995)
• Power Sunroof ($9,995)

Premium Group Add-ons:

• Rear seat delete (Free)
• 18-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Suede headliner
• Power tilt and telescoping steering wheel
• Suede door trim panels
• Rain sensing wipers
• And more

Gas Guzzler Tax:

• $2,100 (same as SRT Super Stock models)

Destination:

• $1,595 (same as other 2023 Dodge Challenger models)

Saying Goodbye to an Icon: The Dodge Challenger

The Dodge Challenger has been an iconic American muscle car since its debut in the 1970s. Its powerful engine, sleek design, and classic styling have made it a favorite among car enthusiasts for decades. However, all good things must come to an end, and the time has come to say goodbye to this beloved icon.

The 2023 model year will be the last for the Dodge Challenger, as the company has announced it will discontinue production of the vehicle. This news has been met with sadness by fans of the car, who have grown attached to its unique style and performance.

Over the years, the Dodge Challenger has undergone many changes and updates, but it has always remained true to its roots as a muscle car. Many other manufacturers have imitated its iconic design, but they have yet to quite capture the essence of the Challenger.

As they and we say goodbye to this legendary vehicle, we can look back on its many accomplishments and contributions to the automotive industry. The Dodge Challenger will always hold a special place in the hearts of car enthusiasts and will be remembered as one of the greatest American muscle cars of all time.