Hennessey Planning 1,700-hp Upgrade for Dodge Challenger Demon 170
The freshly departed Dodge Challenger is not quite done yet. Texas-based tuning company Hennessey is announcing an insane upgrade for Dodge’s ultimate muscle car, the 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170, one that will boost output from 1,025 horsepower to no less than 1,700 horsepower. Yes, you read that right.!
The project will be led by a newly established division called Hennessey Special Operations (HSO), starting with the personal car of founder and CEO John Hennessey.
- Also: Final Dodge Challenger Out of Brampton Was This Demon 170
- Also: Dodge to Make 1,025-Horsepower Demon 170 V8 Available as Crate Engine
The Demon 1700 Twin Turbo, as it will be called, is a comprehensive build with an all-new blueprinted motor and transmission (the factory-supercharged V8 from the Demon 170 will be shrink-wrapped and preserved for safekeeping). A pair of massive turbochargers provide boost, while a more robust powertrain ensures the maximum power goes to the pavement. Burning E85 ethanol, the coupe will have a target quarter mile time of 7.9 seconds—a full second quicker than the Demon 170—at a speed of 175 mph (282 km/h).
Displacement remains unspecified, but a large number of forged components, unique alloys and a special cooling system will be part of the package. Will Hennessey keep the stock Mickey Thomson ET Street R (315/50R17) rear tires or go with something even beefier? That’s another unknown at this time.
Production will be extremely limited: HSO will only build 12 copies of the Demon 1700 Twin-Turbo, each with a base price starting at about $200,000 USD (or $270,000 CAD) in addition to the donor car. Remember, the Demon 170 was priced at $96,666 in the U.S. and $130,890 in Canada—freight, PDI and sales tax not included.
“The transition to becoming a manufacturer with a factory producing lots of vehicles meant that we had to shift some of our resources away from the high-horsepower vehicles that have kept the Hennessey name in the automotive headlines for the past 33 years,” Hennessey explained. “We are happy to announce that we’ve created a new division within the company that allows us to build mega-powerful vehicles in small production runs. Taking my new Dodge Demon 170, removing the blower, adding a pair of turbos, and increasing power from 1,025 to 1,700 horsepower was exactly what we’ve been wanting to do.”
And what about the upcoming Dodge Charger EV? We’re pretty curious to see what tuning shops like Hennessey plan to do in the era of electrification.
