Automobile
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon: Everything We Think We Know
Orcun Pont
Dodge has been teasing a widebody, even-higher-performance version of the Challenger Hellcat. Here’s every detail we know so far.
The day after all the motor journalists left the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Dodge dropped a delicious little tidbit on the internet. It was a brand-new pop-up website—ifyouknowyouknow.com—leading to a teaser video hinting at something high performance and evil: The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon.
UPDATE, APRIL 11TH: It’s here! We’ve got all the specs and info live from Dodge’s official unveiling of the SRT Demon. Read all about it right here!
Since then, Dodge has released one tidbit, and one teaser video, every week, revealing tasty details about the drag-racing-optimized Challenger. Each week when that happens, we’ll update this post with the latest, all leading up to the official debut of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon in April at the New York International Auto Show.
This Week’s News, April 6:
Yep, it’s official! The Demon gets a dedicated High Octane mode to take advantage of 100+ octane unleaded race gas. Dodge says running race fuel—available at most drag strips—will lead to “big changes in elapsed time.” The updated Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with the 100+ octane tuning comes in the Demon Crate of performance goodies. To read more about High Octane mode, go here.
Last Week’s News, March 30:
In a forced-induction vehicle like the supercharged Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, controlling the intake air temperature is crucial to extracting maximum performance. To accomplish this, Dodge gave the Demon a liquid-to-air charge air cooler. But that’s not all: In Drag mode, the Demon uses the air conditioning system to chill the charge air cooler. It’s a world-first feature in a production car, and Dodge says it can achieve a reduction in intake air temperature of up to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Dodge says it’s “enough to make the engine perform like it is running in the cold Alaskan air, even after a day of runs down the strip on a hot summer day.” We figure it means you won’t have to bring giant bags of ice to put on your car’s charge air cooler and intake tract between drag runs or dyno pulls.
The News From March 23rd:
This week is all about the launch. Dodge announced that the SRT Demon will come from the factory equipped with a trans brake, a device that lets automatic-transmission drag cars explode off the line on launch. Don’t know what a trans brake is? Read all about it here.
The automaker also released this image, with a license plate that seems to hint at … something? We can’t quite figure it out. But as always, if you’ve got an idea, contact Road & Track on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
And check out this week’s teaser video, “Lock & Load,” at the very bottom of this page.
The News From March 16th:
Launch Mode! The Demon, of course, has it, but it’s got a little something extra in addition to the launch RPM configuration that most performance cars offer in this mode. See, when the Demon is staged at the drag strip, and revved up in anticipation of leaving the line, the system goes into torque reserve, closing the bypass on the supercharger and altering fuel and spark to the engine. This acts as a rev limiter, keeping the engine spinning at the desired RPM for best launch, but it also spools up the supercharger to build maximum boost pressure for a vigorous launch. It’s the first time such a system has been used on a production vehicle, and Dodge promises us it’ll sound wicked. You can hear the Demon’s launch mode in the video at the bottom of the page, or download the sound at IfYouKnowYouKnow.com as a ringtone.
Dodge also released yet another cryptic “secret code” license plate image this week. If you think you know what it means, contact Road & Track on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
The News From March 9th:
Performance Pages! The Challenger SRT Demon’s got ’em. Dodge announced that the super-Hellcat’s infotainment system can display the car’s real-time horsepower and torque output, with data logging to track power improvements from modifications (including from Mopar Direct Connection Performance Parts). It can also display intercooler coolant temp (shown above), as part of the car’s After Run Chiller—the first production car that keeps the coolant fan and intercooler pump running after engine shutdown to properly cool the supercharger system.
Performance features like Line-Lock, launch control RPM, and individual gear shift light RPM can all be adjusted from the infotainment system, which also displays and records reaction time, 0-60 time, 0-100 time, 1/8th-mile and 1/4-mile elapsed time with vehicle speed. Gauges and post-run graphs for engine oil pressure and temperature, coolant temperature, transmission fluid temperature, intake air temperature, air-fuel ratio, intercooler coolant temperature, boost pressure and battery voltage are also available to help you fine-tune your drag strip runs.
Drive modes! It’s got those too. Auto (street) offers three levels of steering and response for both the suspension and steering, and multiple modes of engine performance. Drag mode puts the transmission, traction control, suspension and steering into a bespoke setting, but still offers multiple engine performance levels—allowing for, we assume, the rumored Race Gas mode for even higher output. A Custom drive mode allows the driver to mix and match performance and suspension settings.
As always, Dodge implores us to go searching for clues in everything. See what time the clock is set to in the image above? 7:57. That number has appeared in previous Demon teasers (see below), leading us to believe the car offers 757 horsepower in at least one of its drive modes. Is that the max? We can’t be sure just yet, but you can bet your belly button we’re working to figure that out.
This week’s video is here too, teasing a dyno run. Watch closely and see if you can pick out any particular clues:
The News From March 2nd:
This week’s Demon developments are all about the driveline. Dodge revealed today that SRT Demon will pack a beefier, stronger driveshaft capable of handling 15 percent more torque; an upgraded rear-end gearset and differential housing; and stronger half-shafts with lower-friction bearings.
More importantly, the SRT team gave the Demon a special Launch Assist mode to combat driveline-grenading wheel hop. The system can momentarily cut engine output to quell wheel hop and “maximize traction almost instantly,” without any input from the driver, reducing driveline overload by 15-20 percent, Dodge says.
Finally, with the Demon laser-aimed at the drag strip, Dodge included a four-point harness bar for track use, available through Speedlogix. With the (assumedly optional) rear- and passenger-seat delete package, the four-point harness hardware mount points are made available, allowing customers to install the harness and bar without any cutting or drilling.
