Hennessey Performance Engineering has supercharged the Dodge Challenger Demon 170 into a 1,700-horsepower beast. The car is capable of completing a quarter-mile in just 7.9 seconds at speeds exceeding 180 mph (289 km/h), faster than the all-electric Rimac Nevera, which holds the current production record of 8.25 seconds.
A reborn HEMI engine and a corporate spectator
The Demon’s original 6.2-liter HEMI V8 was reengineered into a 7.2-liter twin-turbocharged powerhouse, producing 1,700 hp and 1,400 lb-ft of torque when running on E85 fuel. Gone is the standard supercharger, replaced by two massive turbos for maximum power output.
What started as a tuner project has now captured corporate interest. Tim Kuniskis, the CEO of RAM and a vocal advocate for keeping HEMI alive within Stellantis, attended the engine’s dyno test. Insiders suggest Dodge may now be assessing the feasibility of fitting this engine into its next-generation Charger platform—originally designed for electric motors.
American innovation meets performance extremes
This performance leap comes just 18 months after Hennessey’s Special Operations (HSO) division was launched in January 2024. The unit’s mission is to create limited-run, ultra-high-performance vehicles, and this engine may be its most iconic creation yet.
With Bugatti’s Tourbillon generating a combined 1,775 hp from a V16 engine and three electric motors, the Demon 1700 is closing in, using only fuel and raw engineering.
Read more on V-8 Roars Again: Dodge to Restart Hemi Engine Production in Michigan
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