It’s heartening to see so many Hellcat-engined Challengers in the UK. There are always a good few in the classifieds, and it’s not unheard of to see a couple at a Sunday Service or similar. Over the decade the supercharged V8s were on sale, plenty must have been put on boats and shipped across the Atlantic. Talk about commitment to the cause: it’s not cheap to import a car, and it’s definitely not cheap to run anything with a forced induction 6.2-litre engine. There’s the added palaver of left-hand-drive too. So bravo to all those that took the plunge, because there isn’t a day that’s not brightened by seeing a Hellcat.
Dodge could put Pagani to shame with the assortment of special editions launched for the two-door Challenger and four-door Charger since 2014, from Jailbreak to Redeye and all in a fantastic selection of colours. Sometimes it can feel like no two cars left the factory the same. But where all of the Hellcat cars are special - the powertrain and the design guaranteed that - there are certainly some that are more desirable than others. Perhaps one day a ludicrous 170 will make its way over to the UK; for now, feast your eyes on the 840hp Demon.
Even by Hellcat standards, the 2017 Demon was truly wild. It was banned from competing by the National Hot Rod Association because it was too fast, for heaven’s sake. Everything about the car was nuts, from the plumes of smoke in the press pictures to the fact that the rear seats and boot carpet could be optioned back in. For a dollar each. Dodge claimed 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds, a 9.65-second quarter with a 140mph trap speed, and longitudinal g of 1.8; to watch a Demon launch with such violence, heaving its front wheels up into the air (apparently the wheelie could go to almost three feet) was to love it.
Unsurprisingly, at the time the 6.2 was claimed to be the most powerful V8 ever produced. Thanks to a larger (2.7-litres instead of 2.4), boostier (14.5psi rather than 11.6) supercharger, new pistons, rods and more revs, the Demon was rated at 840 imperial horsepower and 770lb ft. That’s 850 in metric measurement, or just over twice that of a Porsche Cayman GT4. The Demon had the power of two fast cars in one monster muscle car. A heavy one, sure, albeit with 90kg taken out to further benefit acceleration.
And don’t forget the Demon Crate, which this Challenger comes with (and appears to be unused). That contained the skinny front wheels and host of branded accessories for track use. Opting for it also meant the Demon would be calibrated for use on really racy (100 octane plus) fuel. There must be some of that lurking at Santa Pod.
Indeed the whole Dodge looks practically unused, registered in 2018 yet only having covered 3,520 quarter miles in the half a dozen years since. Or 880 full ones. So as well as crate accessories in as-new condition, the interior seems factory fresh and the exterior - from the widest bonnet scoop of any car to the surprisingly subtle exhausts - without flaw. And yes, a six-figure sterling sum for a Challenger will look crazy to our US cousins; such is the nature of dealing with imports over here. The Demon is not the most expensive Challenger on PH, put it that way. But it is the most powerful - and that’s enough for us.
SPECIFICATION | DODGE CHALLENGER HELLCAT DEMON
Engine: 6,166cc, supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 851@6,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 770@4,500rpm
0-60mph: 2.3sec (claimed)
Top speed: c.200mph
MPG: 15ish
CO2: Ha
Year registered: 2018
Recorded mileage: 880
Price new: $84,995 (2017)
Yours for: £109,995
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