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The new 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 shatters previous production muscle car records across the board. However, it wasn’t the first Dodge or even the first Challenger to break the mold. The 2018 SRT Demon was the automaker’s previous disruptive halo car, and it had many of the same bragging rights when it first hit the streets. So, how much faster is the new guy from the “Last Call” bunch than the seasoned super-coupe? 

Why is it called a Demon 170?

The new 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 gets its name from its drink of choice, an E85 fuel mixture. The ethanol blend is 170-proof, hence the numeric partner for the hellacious moniker. 

The new 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 badge shows off its new look.
The new Demon 170 badge | Stellantis

Moreover, the E85 in the Demon 170’s tank allows it to produce massive power. The Last Call Dodge model makes 1,025 horsepower and 945 lb-ft of torque with 170-proof fuel. Still, the brute isn’t a weakling on pump gasoline; it will make a tire-shredding 900 horsepower on 91-octane. 

As a result, the new Demon produces 60 ponies more than the 2018 SRT model without adding the E85. However, if you feed the Demon 170 the right fuel, it will out-muscle the older halo car by around 185 horsepower. That’s right; the book might be closing on V8-powered Mopar muscle, but not without a thunderous tantrum.  

A 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170  shows off its rear-end styling.
2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 | Stellantis

How fast is the new Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170?

With a one-foot rollout, the new Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 will hit 60 mph in just 1.66 seconds. Moreover, the 170 will cover a quarter-mile drag in a blistering 8.91 seconds at 151 mph; it’s a bona fide drag car masquerading as something you could drive daily

That sort of speed is difficult to achieve, and the crew at Dodge had their hands full doing so. The Demon 170’s unveiling as the final installment of the Last Call models was months late after CEO Tim Kuniskis and his team destroyed several engines turning the familiar supercharged 6.2L V8 into the new Demon’s heart. In fact, the new car’s motor received an entire allotment of newer, more robust components, save for the shared camshaft with the 2018 model. 

How fast is the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon?

The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is still fast enough to earn a ban from the NHRA. Specifically, the 2018 halo car will hit 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds on its way to a 9.65-second quarter-mile drag. 

A gray 2018 Dodge Demon blasts down a test track.
2018 SRT Demon | Stellantis

As a result, the 2023 Demon 170 could outrun the 2018 model by as much as 0.64 seconds to 60 mph and around 0.75 seconds in the quarter mile. 

What’s the difference between the new Demon and the 2018 model?

In addition to the new Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170’s reimagined 6.2L V8, the new Dodge model goes without the 2018 Demon’s 1$ crate. Instead, the new Dodge halo car is ready to hit the strip on 245/55R-18 front and 315/50R-17 rear tires courtesy of Mickey Thompson. 

The rubber replaces the Nitto tires on the previous model, including the weight-saving front wheels and tires from the 2018 model’s crate. Moreover, Dodge spent time and money strengthening the new model, including a 30% stronger driveshaft and 53% stronger rear axle housing, per Car and Driver

Does the new Demon 170 live up to the name? Or is it pomp and hype? Tell us in the comments below!

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