2024 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

2024 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 - Design Review

​​Overall Grade = C
​AVERAGE

Front End: C
    Good: Air has nowhere to go
    Bad: Still has a noticeable bumper
Rear End: C-
    Good: Decklid spoiler
    Bad: All too noticeable bumper
Side: C
    Good: Nice wheels
    Bad: A blank space
Overall Appeal: C
    Good: Powerful, even when still
    Bad: Nothing special for the end​

​​​​​​Score: 51.54%
Grade: C
Rating: AVERAGE
AutoLooks Rating: 5.1 out of 10

Front End: 52.55%
Rear End: 49.23%
Side: 51.35%
Overall Appeal: 53.04%

AutoLooks Buy List: BUY
Recommended Tuner: NO
Trent Setter: NO
Future Classic: YES
Stock Value: INCREASE

                It may be the end of the line for Challenger, but it is not going out without a fight.  The Demon 170 is what the last fight between muscle cars and the EV world looks like.  It may not be pretty, but whoever said the hero had to be model.
               
                Dodge may be moving on from its power combustion platforms, but that does not mean that they will go quietly into the night.  Unlike what happened during the gas crisis days, Dodge is starting to think ahead of the game, as it moves itself from an I.C.E. power brand into an EV power brand. This may seem like an odd thing to contemplate, but if this company wants to live on, they must

evolve.

​                Unlike what Ford did with the Mustang nameplate, the Challenger name will not go “quietly” into the night.  Whereas the Mach-E is the next evolution of muscle car for Ford, the Demon 170 is the spawn from hell, sent here to fight for the I.C.E. one last time.  They may lose the battle to the EV stranglehold, but this beast will die fighting for their right as the last surviving muscle car.

​                Like all the previous Challenger models, the Demon 170 does not have much changed when it comes to the looks department.  You could say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, but the Challenger has been broken and was never really the best dressed in the muscle car ring.  But for one last hurray, this model will throw on some of the better parts, to give us that appearance of the coolest dressed to the party.
 
                With a new front grille material, the head light configuration does seem to blend in a bit better than the previous models.  Although the black accents around the lights blend them in a bit too much, this could be something which helps this car become a bit more menacing at night time.
               
                Along the bottom Dodge has borrowed the front wing from their previous models.  Hopefully they let everyone know to take off those stupid yellow side protectors, as that is a fad which should have never happened.  A bit higher up the Demon really shows its face, as the previous hood has been brought back.  Utilizing both the flat engine block, heat resistant black as before the overly sized cowl hood is here to help this demon breath a bit better.  This does fit with the design, but still could have been laid out a bit better.

​                Running down the side you will not notice much more than some different tires and rims and a wheel well extension borrowed from the widebody.  If you are wondering why they only have one piece of the widebody, this is due to the rear wheels requiring an extension due to their size.  Sure, the rim design is nothing to get excited over, but the size of the rear tires is.  We just wish Dodge would have moved the exhaust ports to the side sills and integrated in some brake exhaust ports.  If you run it hard, let us let them cool.
 
                The addition of a viper inspired side exhaust port integrated into the side sills would have really push the power look up in the world.  As my Mustang at home looks better this way, why did not Dodge feel the same about this for the Demon 170.  We would say that maybe they will do it on the mid-cycle refresh, but since this is the last, that boat has sailed away.

​               Out back not much is new.  Dodge has added on a rear lip wing to help keep the rear firmly planted on the streets, but will do nothing when you give it hell at the track.  They did surround the tail lights with a black accent which only helps the tail lights stand out at night.  During the day, this feature is wasted on being only an accent profile.
 
                As we said about the exhaust being moved to the side, the lower portion of the bumper is where you will find this feature and let us say it’s nothing to really talk about.  A small size a low placement makes the exhaust profile for this Demon, a bit too small for what we expect.  A larger profile and placement change could help this make more of a statement for this ultimate power weapon.

​                All around the Demon 170 is an amazing product for what you get in the power department. But when it comes to its design, we must ask Dodge, why did not you go all in on this one to make a lasting impression.  A few minor updates will not hold this design through time.  With only power on its side, the Demon 170 may live on for a bit, but may never be the last hurray we had all hoped for.

Everett J.
#autolooks

---

​COMPETITION:
Gordon Murray T.50 - 61.90%
Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 - 82.26%
Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut - 74.54%