Elite Traveler Fall 2023

NEED TO KNOW Challenger SRT Demon 170’s drag mode allows the driver to customize shift points, traction, suspension and steering

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 1 70 To salute the dusk of the fuel-burning era, Dodge released the fastest-accelerating and quickest street-legal production car to date, Challenger SRT Demon 170. At full throttle, the 1,025 hp, 6.2-liter, supercharged, HEMI V8 can drain a tank of 170-proof E85 ethanol in 5.75 minutes. Inside the fuel tank, a sensor assesses the alcohol content of the fuel (should the driver use a di ff erent type of gasoline) and consequently adjusts the vehicle’s performance capabilities. The eight-speed, rear-wheel-drive muscle car heralds a decisive moment in automobile history, showing a willingness for manufacturers to push their own limits — a commendable skill now required to navigate the industry-wide entrée into electric. On a prepared surface with the engine literally fi ringonall pistons, Challenger SRT Demon 170 can achieve 0-60 mph in 1.66 seconds. It can sprint the quarter-mile in 8.9 seconds at 151 mph. For context: To achieve those stats, the driver will face roughly 2 gs against the seat — which is what a Formula 1 driver experiences when accelerating from a standing start. Hence, why Dodge requires buyers to sign a notarized disclaimer stating they understand the car's unique characteristics and note that the car can’t be driven in the cold or rain. Certi fi ed by the National Hot Rod Association as the fi rst factory production car to run the quarter-mile in under nine seconds, the association subsequently banned Challenger SRT Demon 170 from its events because it doesn’t have a roll cage or parachute. While Dodge declared that a fully electric muscle car will be a part of its future, this vehicle shuts the book on the Challenger’s 15-year production run. Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 from $96,666, dodge.com

Photo Stellantis