Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon was the most outrageous production car ever created by an American manufacturer, a vehicle so extreme that the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) banned it from competition for being too fast without a roll cage. Purpose-built for the drag strip, the Demon was a factory-produced race car that happened to be street-legal.
The Demon's supercharged 6,166cc Hemi V8 produced 808 horsepower on 91-octane pump gas and an astonishing 840 horsepower on 100-octane race fuel. The supercharger was enlarged to 2.7 liters (from the Hellcat's 2.4 liters), with a larger throttle body, higher-flow fuel injectors, and a dedicated low-temperature cooling circuit for the supercharger intercooler that used the air conditioning system's components. This After Dark chiller system was activated via the key fob before a run, lowering charge air temperatures for maximum power.
The Demon was equipped with drag-racing features never before seen on a production car. A TransBrake function held the car stationary against the torque converter while building engine speed, then released for maximum launch force. The Line Lock feature locked the front brakes while allowing the rear wheels to spin, enabling proper tire warming burnouts. Launch Assist calibrated the suspension to transfer weight to the rear wheels during hard acceleration.
Performance was barely believable. The Demon could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds (with the optional drag radial tires) and cover the quarter mile in 9.65 seconds at 140 mph, making it the fastest quarter-mile production car ever tested. The front wheels lifted during launch, making it the first production car to achieve a documented wheelie, pulling the front tires 2.92 feet off the ground.
To achieve this performance, the Demon received numerous weight-reduction measures. The passenger seat was removed (available as a $1 option), the rear seat was removed, the trunk carpet was removed, and the audio system was replaced by a single speaker. Skinny 18-inch front wheels with drag-specification tires reduced rolling resistance and rotating mass.
The Demon came with a Demon Crate that included additional equipment: narrow front wheels and tires for drag strip use, a tool kit for adjusting the suspension, an ECU calibration for race fuel operation, and the passenger seat. This crate concept emphasized the car's dual nature as both a street car and a drag racing tool.
Dodge produced exactly 3,300 units for the US market and 300 for Canada, for a total of 3,600 Demons. Each was individually numbered. Despite the astronomical demand, Dodge maintained the limited production to preserve exclusivity.
The SRT Demon represents the absolute extreme of what is possible within the constraints of a street-legal production car. It is a monument to Dodge's commitment to outrageous performance and a unique artifact of an era when a major manufacturer could still produce a factory drag racer without apology.
Verify the build number through Dodge records. Low-mileage examples command the highest prices. Check if the Demon Crate is present and complete — its absence significantly reduces value. Inspect for drag strip use, which was the car's intended purpose. Many remain undriven or low-mileage; these 'time capsule' examples are most valuable. Verify both sets of wheels and tires are present. The supercharged engine should be inspected for any signs of modification beyond factory specification.
Exactly 3,300 units for the US and 300 for Canada were produced at Chrysler's Brampton Assembly Plant in 2018. Each car was individually numbered. The Demon was a single model-year special edition that was not continued.