2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 – Street-Legal Drag Strip Dominance
In the lineup of 2025 Woodward Dream Cruise muscle cars, the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 stands as the ultimate mic drop from the modern muscle era. It’s not just another special edition — it’s a farewell performance to Dodge’s supercharged Hellcat platform, and it delivers with thunderous authority. Built to be both a collector’s dream and a drag strip menace, the Demon 170 pushes the limits of street-legal performance in ways that once seemed impossible. That’s exactly why it’s quickly becoming a legend.
A Farewell to the Hellcat Era
For over a decade, Dodge’s Hellcat-powered Challengers and Chargers have defined modern American horsepower. But with tightening emissions regulations and the transition toward electrification, Dodge knew the days of the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 were numbered.
The Demon 170 is their way of going out with a bang — and what a bang it is. It’s a one-year-only model, with production capped, ensuring that every unit is an instant collectible. Enthusiasts aren’t just buying a car; they’re buying a piece of history.
Engine and Powertrain – A Monster on E85
Under the hood sits a heavily re-engineered 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8. When fueled with standard premium gasoline, the Demon 170 already makes jaw-dropping power. But feed it E85 ethanol, and it unlocks its full fury:
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1,025 horsepower
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945 lb-ft of torque
These numbers aren’t just for bragging rights — they translate into blistering real-world performance. On a prepped drag strip, the Demon 170 rockets from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.66 seconds, making it the fastest-accelerating production car ever built. It’s capable of running the quarter-mile in 8.91 seconds at over 150 mph. That’s so quick that the NHRA requires it to have a parachute for sanctioned racing.
Drag-Focused Engineering
Dodge didn’t just crank up the boost and call it a day. Every part of the Demon 170 was tuned with drag strip domination in mind:
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Lightweight 17-inch rear wheels wrapped in street-legal Mickey Thompson drag radials.
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A unique suspension calibration for maximum weight transfer during launches.
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TransBrake 2.0 technology allowing drivers to pre-load the drivetrain for harder launches.
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Reinforced driveline components designed to handle four-digit horsepower.
Even with this performance focus, the Demon 170 is still street legal, meaning you can drive it to work during the week and to the track on the weekend — if you’re brave enough.
Styling – Classic Challenger Meets Subtle Menace
Visually, the Demon 170 retains the wide, aggressive stance of the Challenger, with flared fenders and an unmistakable muscle car silhouette. The differences are in the details:
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Special Demon 170 badging featuring a devil’s head with a “170” neck tattoo, referencing the proof rating of E85 fuel.
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Lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum components to shed unnecessary pounds.
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Available in dozens of paint colors, including exclusive heritage shades.
It’s a car that doesn’t scream “exotic” in the way an Italian supercar might, but true enthusiasts know exactly what it is — and what it can do.
The Demon 170 at the 2025 Woodward Dream Cruise
When the Demon 170 hits Woodward Avenue during the 2025 Dream Cruise, it will be impossible to ignore. The distinctive whine of its 3.0-liter supercharger will cut through the summer air, followed by the thunderous roar of its exhaust.
Even surrounded by classic big-block Mopars, 1970 HEMI ‘Cudas, and rare drag racing legends, the Demon 170 will hold its own — and often overshadow them.
Why It’s a Future Collectible
Several factors make the Demon 170 a guaranteed collector’s item:
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Final Hellcat-powered Challenger – the end of an era.
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Limited production – making it rare from day one.
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Unmatched performance – setting records that may never be broken by another gasoline-powered car.
For collectors and muscle car purists, owning one is not just about driving — it’s about preserving the last great chapter of Dodge’s V8 dominance.
Muscle Car Evolution – Not Just Nostalgia
The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 proves that muscle cars are not just museum pieces from the 1960s and 1970s. They’re still evolving, still breaking records, and still shocking the automotive world. While electrification is the future, cars like the Demon 170 remind us why gasoline-powered performance will always have a place in car culture.
Bottom line: The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 might be the last of its kind, but it’s going out on top. Among the 2025 Woodward Dream Cruise muscle cars, it represents the extreme edge of modern performance — a once-in-a-lifetime blend of history, engineering, and raw power that you simply won’t forget.