Skip advert
Advertisement

Hennessey’s Dodge Demon 1700 is a 1700bhp answer to the BMW M4

The Hemi-engined Dodge Challenger is being put to rest, but not before Hennessey builds the ultimate 1700bhp version…

It turns out that Hennessey’s Dodge Challenger ‘Last Stand’ isn’t the ultimate swansong to the Hemi engine, which was discontinued at the end of last year. Meet the Dodge Demon 1700 – built by Hennessey’s Special Operations (HSO) division, the new model is limited to just 12 units and generates (you guessed it) a colossal 1700bhp. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Texan tuning specialist and hypercar creator has launched the HSO department to deliver more bespoke, exclusive products, the first of which is the Demon 1700. Taking the Dodge Demon 170 as a base, Hennessey instals a box-fresh, modified V8 to give the drag-strip specialist hypercar levels of power – not that the 1025bhp Demon was wanting for more grunt to begin with…

The 1700 uses a blueprinted Hemi V8 and ditches the standard supercharger for a pair of turbos, with the headline power figure achieved using E85 fuel. The transmission is new too, with more robust internals to safely transfer that power to the rear tyres. 

According to Hennessey, the Demon 1700 is predicted to achieve a quarter-mile time of 7.9sec, crossing the line at 175mph. That’s just over a second quicker than the standard Demon, which is already one of the world’s fastest accelerating production cars with a 1.66sec 0-60mph time (allowing for a one-foot rollout). 

Production of the Demon 1700 will be limited to just 12 cars, each costing from around $200,000 (c£157,000) including a Dodge Demon donor car. HSO will launch more bespoke models in due course, but the department will be restricted to producing 15 to 20 vehicles per year. 

While Hennessey works to keep the Hemi V8 alive, Dodge is gearing up to launch its new generation of electric muscle cars, the first of which will be the Charger Daytona SRT. Due this year, the EV coupe will replace the Challenger with an 800bhp+ dual motor powertrain, a manually-controlled electromechanical gearbox and an artificial noise generator.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Shelby GT350 returns with 810bhp supercharged V8
2025 Shelby Mustang GT350 front
News

Shelby GT350 returns with 810bhp supercharged V8

Where the last Mustang GT350 was a Ford Performance model using the name under licence, this is a 'proper' Shelby – a tuned Mustang with 810bhp
24 Jan 2025
Ford Mustang Dark Horse 2025 review – the last of a dying breed
Ford Mustang Dark Horse – front
Reviews

Ford Mustang Dark Horse 2025 review – the last of a dying breed

The Mustang fights on with a naturally aspirated V8, manual gearbox and a track-focused Dark Horse variant. We put it through its paces
13 Jan 2025
Ford Mustang GT 2024 review – old school in all the right ways
Ford Mustang GT – front
Reviews

Ford Mustang GT 2024 review – old school in all the right ways

We loved the new Ford Mustang in track-focused Dark Horse form – how does the standard GT fare?
23 May 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best German cars – our high-performance favourites from GT3 RS to M3 GTS
Best German cars
Best cars

Best German cars – our high-performance favourites from GT3 RS to M3 GTS

If you still think Germans don’t have a sense of humour, you haven’t driven their finest performance cars. You’d be grinning from ear to ear
18 Apr 2025
Volkswagen Passat 2025 review – a breath of fresh air next to leaden EVs
Volkswagen Passat front
Reviews

Volkswagen Passat 2025 review – a breath of fresh air next to leaden EVs

Being ‘only’ 1500kg has its advantages. The latest Passat in petrol-only form reminds us ‘normal’ cars can and should be above average
16 Apr 2025
Why the Vauxhall Astra should have been given a different name
Vauxhall Astra GSE
Opinion

Why the Vauxhall Astra should have been given a different name

It’s time to reassess a perennially underrated hatchback, says Porter
17 Apr 2025