2018 Dodge Challenger Demon
A new feature named TransBrake locks up the transmission’s
output shaft to keep the Demon
stationary as the engine revs, allowing for brake-free launches at up to 2,350 rpm. This technology is commonly found in dragsters, but it has never been offered in a factory-built car before. When TransBrake is engaged, all the driver has to do to pelt the muscle car down a drag strip is flick one of the steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.
stationary as the engine revs, allowing for brake-free launches at up to 2,350 rpm. This technology is commonly found in dragsters, but it has never been offered in a factory-built car before. When TransBrake is engaged, all the driver has to do to pelt the muscle car down a drag strip is flick one of the steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.
From a standing start, Dodge’s hottest muscle car can pop a
wheelie for 2.92 feet, a Guinness-certified record for a production vehicle.
And while accelerating on two wheels sounds like it’s frowned upon by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Demon is fully
street-legal across the nation.
FEEDING THE BEAST
The Demon runs on 91-octane premium fuel in regular driving
conditions, which limits the car’s output to 808 hp and 717 lb-ft. Trust us,
that’s plenty. But if you need that extra grunt, the Demon’s V8 can be
configured to slurp 100-octane gasoline (and higher) for the full output of 840
hp and 770 lb-ft. Your friendly neighborhood Chevron probably doesn’t carry
high-octane fuel, but it’s available at select gas stations, specialty shops,
and drag strips.
Feeding the V8 high-octane fuel does require swapping out
the powertrain control module (PCM), a part best described as the engine’s
brain. Owners also need to install a cluster of switches on the center console
that include a button labeled “high octane.” Both parts are included in the
optional Demon crate.
Under the sheet metal
Dodge has upgraded the steering system and fitted bigger
Brembo brakes on both axles to keep the V8’s prodigious power in check. The
Demon also receives a set of extra-wide 18-inch wheels wrapped by Nitto tires that
blur the line between street-legal and drag-racing rubber. More width equals
more grip, and the setup is so wide that Dodge had to give the Demon massive
fender flares.
The Demon weighs about 215 pounds less than its
707-horsepower counterpart, which is quite portly at about 4,500 lbs. No
high-tech wizardry or advanced lightweight materials were involved in making
the Challenger lighter. Dodge simply removed the passenger seat and all
associated hardware, the rear bench, the parking sensors, the 16-speaker sound
system, and most of the sound-deadening material, among other components deemed
superfluous. CNET’s Roadshow has learned a factory-developed roll cage won’t
join the list of accessories.
Drag racers who want to share the Demon’s ass-hauling
aptness with friends can add the missing seats for $1 each when they order the
car. Additional options include creature comforts like a 19-speaker sound
system, leather upholstery, and a power sunroof.
Specifications
Mode : Challenger
Model : Demon
Engine : V8
Transmission : Eight-speed automatic
Horsepower @ RPM : 808 @ 6300
Torque @ RPM : 717
@ 4500
Displacement : 6.2 L
0-60 time : 2.3 sec.
Car Segment : Muscle Cars
Body Style : Coupe
"The Demon is pretty much a Hellcat on steroids.
Everything else remains the same, but the hood scoop is a strong hint that the
Demon is way more powerful than the Hellcat."
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