Dodge Unveils Final Last Call — the SRT Demon 170
The Dodge Brothers have been portrayed as the bad boys of the auto industry for a long time. Dodge’s marketing in the past decade has played upon that theme, especially when it comes to its performance Challenger/Demon model. Last year, Mopar fanatics were disappointed to hear that Dodge would be canceling the nameplate at the end of 2023. Instead of letting it go out with a whimper, Dodge decided to celebrate it with the announcement of a “Last Call” series of special models. With six already announced, the final model was introduced in Las Vegas on Monday as the SRT Demon 170.
Dodge again partnered with the MotorTrend Network and its Roadkill program, enticing more enthusiasts to show up at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on a Monday. This final Last Call strategically capitalized on the popularity of the weekend’s Musclecars at the Strip (MATSLV) car event (previously Mopars at the Strip), which still leans heavily toward the Pentastar. Hoping drag racers and show cars participants would extend their stay a day longer worked to their advantage. [Ed Note: Look for an article on MATSLV soon!]
Car unveilings are often extravagant events, but Last Call went all out for the SRT Demon 170. It featured a lavish VIP area for its dealers and special guests, a cruise-in, 1/8-mile drag racing, thrill rides, celebrity appearances, and a performance by Grammy-winning artist Diplo. Gates opened at noon for the advertised unveiling at 6 p.m.
Drag Racing/Car Show
The drag racing competition was an invitation-only affair for 50 cars split into small and big-tire classes with a $3,000-to-win check waiting for the winners. Ryan Yanez of Time Bandit Performance topped the field for the win in the small-tire category driving modern muscle. Meanwhile, Christopher Thompson, representing the old-school muscle contingent in his ’68 Dodge Dart, walked away with the big-tire title. There were also exhibition runs for a wheel-standing fire truck and a jet car.
On the backside of the grandstands, the cruise-in was well attended but obviously leaned heavily toward the modern Dodge entrants. Several specialty displays showed off Mopars of the past and present, including the original Little Red Wagon and the Hemi Under Glass Barracuda, and even an appearance by drag racing legend Paul Rossi. Spectators could try their skills on a drag racing simulator or ride along with professional drift drivers.
Anticipation Builds
As the anticipation for the seventh Last Call unveiling approached, the excitement began to build in the grandstands as MotorTrend brought out several car-centric personalities from its network and beyond. Surprise appearances by Kenny Wayne Shepard and Jay Leno added to the excitement before Stellantis/Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis took the stage, apologizing to the crowd for the delay on Stage 1 and Stage 2 Hellcat and Redeye kits before telling the crowd that they are now available, and emissions approved.
Next, he turned to the Dodge legacy, talking about its rich history in racing. Finally, the time came to talk about the last iteration of the Demon, the SRT Demon 170. He said 170 comes from it being “170 proof” because it can run on ethanol. The Demon 170 has a new 3-liter supercharger with a 105mm throttle body and all-new redesigned engine internals.
In pure over-the-top style, the Demon 170 was flown in via helicopter to the drag strip from the NASCAR track. The Demon 170 is capable of an 8.9-second quarter-mile time at 151 mph with 60-foot times of 1.66 seconds. Producing 1,025 horsepower and 945 lb-ft of torque, the SRT Demon 170 is, without a doubt, the quickest, fastest, and most powerful factory drag racer to date.
To prove the point, the car was run down the quarter mile (though no time was posted) with an unfurled factory-available parachute. When it returned from the top end, the Demon 170 did a John Force-style half-track burnout, easily roasting the rear hides to the excitement of the crowd. It goes without saying that the last Challenger is a legit factory race car, but it will not fit into any NHRA class, so don’t expect to see it in too many competitions.
Dodge expects to produce 2,500 to 3,000 copies of the Demon 170 with an MSRP of $100,361 dollars. With the SRT Demon 170 being the final iteration, it will probably sell out as collectors will see the significance of the end-of-an-era Challenger model. Current Redeye owners will get first dibs at buying the new Demon 170.
The next question is will the aftermarket find ways to improve upon what Dodge has done? We are sure they will! The Edelbrock Group already offers many parts for the Hellaphant platform, so it goes without saying that it will find a way to make the Demon 170 an even more potent monster for those who want to build the ultimate strip performer. Stay tuned!
