Most carmakers don’t even try to make a ten-second car, but Dodge decided to build one and overtake most supercars on the planet on the drag-strip.
While the European sportscar makers were trying to develop advanced suspension systems, enhance the dampers and tune the springs to ridiculously small details, Dodge introduced the SRT Demon for the Challenger and got banned from the drag-strips all over the country. NHRA forbids a car to enter a race if it can perform a sub-ten second run and is not fitted with appropriate safety devices. And the Demon was just a standard coupe.

The Demon sent a shock-wave through the market when it was tested on the track and, with its whining supercharger engine, stopped the clock at 9.65 seconds. Its wide gap on the hood and the two air-intakes that replaced the inbound headlights made the scream sound louder. Its lowered front end, fat rear tires, and slim front ones made it look like a hot-rod. And it was.

Inside, the Demon looked similar to its regular Challenger siblings but in standard mode featured one seat: for the driver. The side seat was offered as an option for one buck, and the same went for the rear bench. Dodge left the infotainment system installed to help the driver go through specific tuning sequences before starting a race and the AC to cool the air-intake manifold. While in standard mode, the Demon produced 707 hp, in full race mode with racing fuel, it unleashed 840 hp.

The Demon was the first production car that could perform a wheelie, lifting its front axle from the ground when launched. It also featured special technologies developed by the SRT department to help drivers achieve those sub-ten seconds times on the drag-strip.