As you're well aware, Chrysler resurrected the Challenger for the 2008 model year with HEMI muscle. In the first year of production, only the 6.1-liter version of the third-gen HEMI was available, meaning 425 ponies and 420 pound-feet (570 Nm). For model year 2023, which is the final year of the third-generation Challenger, the muscle car's swansong is more than twice as powerful.
Lovingly dubbed Demon 170 as a nod to the original Demon and after the 170-proof ethanol fuel mixture that unlocks a staggering 1,025 horsepower, the last hurrah can only be described as mental. It's also rare, for Chrysler will make a grand total of 3,300 units for the United States (3,000) and Canada (300).
Regarding the US allocation, the one and only John Hennessey is the proud owner of VIN 0025. Pictured with much of the factory packaging at the Pennzoil Proving Ground in Texas, the Plum Crazy-painted muscle car still features the yellow front bumper guards that many enthusiasts love to hate on.
Showing just 27 miles (43 kilometers) on the odo at the moment of recording the video below, the Demon 170 came with a window sticker that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Although pricing isn't visible (most likely over $100,000 after taxes and options), the combined fuel economy rating is a meager 13 miles per gallon (18 l/100 km).
In other words, the Demon 170 is thirstier than the Bentley Continental GT with the 6.0-liter W12, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing with the manual transmission, and the Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended. Although the Roller has a larger engine, bear in mind that third-gen HEMIs are far simpler and less efficient than BMW's soon-to-be-discontinued twin-turbo V12.
Photo: Hennessey on YouTube
The ultimate expression of the 6.2-liter Hellcat builds on the 2018 model year Demon's engine. Gifted with a 3.0-liter supercharger and 21.3 pounds per square inch of boost, said powerplant is controlled by a powertrain control module that optimizes both spark timing and fueling for E85 or premium gas. If you were wondering, the Demon 170-specific Hellcat engine makes 900 horses on 91-octane gas.
Fill 'er up with gasoline, and you're looking at no more than 240 miles (386 kilometers) of driving range. On corn brew, the EPA's estimate is 166 miles (267 kilometers). Truth be told, nobody buys a Demon 170 expecting 40 mpg on the highway.
Everyone – including John Hennessey – wants a Demon 170 because it's the fastest and most powerful series-production muscle car in the world. Internal combustion-engined production muscle car, that is, because Chrysler has a three-door Charger lined up for 2025 with I6 and electric powertrain choices. Due to the third-gen HEMI's demise and ever-stringent fuel economy and emission regulations, the Demon 170 is expected to keep that title forever.
The punchiest 2025 Dodge Charger EV of the bunch is expected to develop in excess of 800 horsepower. In due time, electric muscle cars are certain to exceed the Demon 170's astonishing 1,025 horsepower. Be that as it may, there's nothing quite like a HEMI-powered muscle car blitzing the quarter mile in 8.9 at an NHRA-certified 151 miles per hour (243 kph).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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