[1]When Dodge was teasing us with the upcoming Hellcat [2], there was a lot of speculation as to what the horsepower would be. We got the numbers from an insider that it was going to be “around 700” and posted it in May of 2014 [3], but if we knew then what we know now about Dodge and it’s numbers game, we would have seen the signs in Dodge’s teaser images.
[4]We were told the Hellcat was going to be 707 horsepower right before our very eyes.
An image that was found on the SRT website [5] had shown the Sirius display set to ’70s tunes on channel 7, that display showed us the horsepower of 707 right before our very eyes. Taking what we now know, and basing that on a recent press release from FCA telling us, “nothing is a coincidence and everything means something,” and we can start to read between the lines with the launch of the weekly Challenger SRT Demon videos, beginning with “Cage [6].”
Using that hint from FCA, we can look at things like the license plate on the Demon at the dragstrip from the third video titled “Body [7].” At the end of that video, the license plate reads “#2576@35,” and while we know that manufacturer’s plates are unique, we also know that hashtags and @ are not standard fare on any plates. So what does it mean?
[8]Could that plate give us the size of the Demon’s blower and the boost level?
A search on that phrase brings up a lot of questions, and even one site we found listed the Mopar Performance Hemi ProStock cylinder heads (PN P4876883AB) as a special price of $2576.35. We found that rather odd, because that site states the list price is $3031.00 where other sites have the list price as $2000.00, with a sale price of $1920.00. So how is it that two sites selling the same cylinder heads have $1031 difference between their list prices? It is odd.
However, if we take what we know about the Hellcat’s supercharger [9], being 2.4L and 11.6 pounds of boost (actual numbers are 2380cc at 23.61Hg), or you could say #2361@23 could have been the license plate on the Hellcat. See where we are going? If we take that theory, given the Demon’s increase in power, we could say that 2576@35 equates to roughly a 2.6L blower with 35Hg, or about 17.19 psi. That would make far more sense than a ProStock cylinder head price.
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Why would one site show a price that matches the license plate, when another site has the same part for more than a grand less? Yes, this was rather odd.
Now let’s look at some other numbers that FCA has unleased on us, particularly in the latest “Crate [12]” video. The personalized plate on the Crate shows Tom Coddington, who was a Chrysler engineer and member of the famed Ramchargers [13]. There are also two numbers on that plate: Serial Number 0757 and VIN Number VIN 001121. While there are memes going around about “Black Key/Red Key” we’re not so sure we’d call it that, for a couple of reasons.
We all know the Black Key is to be the key fob you give to valet, or a (very lucky and very close) friend. That said, would you give the valet the keys to your car with 757 ponies under his right foot? Didn’t think so, and that kind of eliminates a Black Key/Red Key theory right there.
[14]Those could be horsepower ratings, perhaps for the Demon and the ADR versions, but black key/red key? Who would ever hand 757 horsepower over to a valet?
The other part of the equation is that 1121 seems like a lot of horsepower to get through emissions, and we were specifically told by a source that we should expect 850 horsepower from the Demon, and over 1,000 from the ADR (American Drag Racer). But then there’s that “Race Gas” button on the dash that enters the equation, as well. Some have speculated that 1121 could be the et, but with the Hellcat Charger putting down an NHRA verified 11.0 seconds, and the Demon being “superior”, that doesn’t make sense, either.
So could the Demon be 757 horsepower on pump fuel, and possibly 850 horsepower on race gas, while the ADR is 1121 horsepower? We’re just throwing this out there to see if it will stick, but so far our source was correct about the Demon not being AWD. We weren’t the only ones who speculated that as a possibility due to the Nitto NT05R Drag Radials at all four corners. Now that we’ve seen Crate [15], adding a set of skinnies makes sense that AWD is out of the question – there is likely no way that those tires would last more than a minute if they were on the drive end.
[16]Those 315/40R18 tires trumped the Camaro’s 305 width front tires, meaning the Demon will have the widest front tires ever on a production musclecar. We wonder, with that Demon logo, is the tire going to be any different from the regular NT05R?
That brings us to a comment in the FCA press releases for each video that says, “Fans should visit www.ifyouknowyouknow.com [17] to watch the [latest] video multiple times.” Adding on the latest “Crate” video, “and know, just like the previous videos, nothing is a coincidence and everything means something.” So we watched each video multiple times, and here’s what we know about that Crate.
For starters, we see that Direct Connection, and that the tools will include the Demon brand. The Crate is organized, inside it appears to have compartments that hold those track tools, which includes a floor jack, a torque wrench, an electric impact gun, and a tire pressure gauge. If we try to read between the lines, it makes us wonder if the helmet, gloves and maybe even a Demon-inspired racing suit or jacket makes up part of those 18 components? We’d love a limited edition Demon jacket, are you listening Dodge?
[18]The Crate includes 18 components that make the Demon exclusive, flexible, and collectable.
From the press release:
Eighteen components that maximize the Challenger SRT Demon’s flexibility, exclusivity and future collectability:
- Direct Connection Demon Performance Parts
- Demon-branded track tools
- Matching Demon spare wheels
- Demon Track Pack System
Also from the press release:
The Challenger SRT Demon provides a platform from which each customer can design their own ultimate “Street/Strip” muscle car. It’s not intended for a road course; rather, each customer can decide at the time of order, or once they own the car, or even on a moment’s notice that they want their car to favor street performance, drag strip performance or something in between.
[19]We see the wheels/tires in the center, the floor jack on the right, and the torque wrench closest to the “Demon”. Could he be wearing some of the 18 components included with the Crate?
We know from the “Reduction [20]” video, that the weight reduction includes four-piston calipers versus the Hellcat’s six-piston calipers, smaller diameter wheels, and the removal of the passenger and rear seats, as well as other components that were highlighted in the “Reduction” video. This also included the right mirror, interior, suspension, and steering – all adding up to a 200 pound reduction.
Based on the FCA release, stating that a customer can decide on a “moment’s notice” to go racing, it’s probably safe to say that the Demon would be a street musclecar and that the passenger and rear seats can be removed. That would make more sense than the car simply not having them.
The debut of the car is to be at the New York International Auto Show April 14-23, 2017, but just like Dodge did with the Hellcat, the 2018 Challenger SRT Demon is giving us a lot of clues – and showing us that come April 2017, something wicked this way comes.
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