Dodge Commemorates HEMI Day in Style
Photo Source: Dodge
April 26th holds a special significance for Mopar fans, who call it HEMI Day. This day celebrates the legendary 426 cubic-inch HEMI V-8 engine, manufactured between 1964 and 1971. This engine was nicknamed the “Elephant” due to its outstanding power output and massive size, and it has left an indelible mark on the automotive industry. Despite being out of production for years, its legacy continues influencing contemporary HEMI engines, making it a favorable option for muscle car enthusiasts.
In honor of April 26th being HEMI Day, Dodge revealed a 22-minute video for the upcoming 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. The video takes a behind-the-scenes glimpse at not only the launch of the 1,025-horsepower muscle car but also a sneak peek at the development of the car. During its development, Dodge set a goal of 100 quarter-mile passes for the Demon 170.
Advice from the Experts
Drag testing is a complicated process because every pass on the dragstrip represents a different surface; that is to say, the temperature may be altered, or the glue and the rubber on the surface may shift. Jim Wilder, Vehicle Development Manager, Challenger SRT program, brought up further questions that a reputable driver has to keep in mind. “Did you warm the tire up to exactly or close to the same temperature during your burnout? Did you line up cross-track, left, right, in the same spot? And then on top of that, as the driver, am I applying the throttle at the exact same rate to get consistency?”
According to Wilder, maintaining consistency is of the utmost importance. Promoting a product that performs well is one thing, but emphasizing that performance on a continual basis is an absolute necessity. For example, suppose a car runs down the track multiple times and sets exceptional track times and performance but cannot carry on that performance for a prolonged period of time. In that case, that vehicle can easily be transformed from a production car into a car that suits a family’s daily commute.
The Development Process
Dodge did not disguise the fact that there was a substantial amount of heartache with engines breaking during the development of the car. “You break a lot of eggs making an omelet, right?” added Wilder. “It’s the old saying, and we have. We’ve broken a lot of engines; we’ve broken transmissions; we’ve broken prop shafts; we’ve broken differentials. At the end of the day, we come together.”
While it may seem like the premiere was nothing more than a run-of-the-mill Livestream, there was considerable work involved behind the scenes to piece together the event. Getting the Demon 170 strapped to the helicopter and into the air was a laborious process that took an extensive amount of time, but it was ultimately accomplished. The task depended upon numerous steps and required significant effort to guarantee the security and triumph of the flight, which lasted only a couple of minutes. Helicopter pilot Neal Jenson had to be in constant contact with Nellis Air Force Base, as he claimed, “Their runway is right over there. The problem that (Nellis Air Force Base has) is their planes are taking off or landing, I’m right in their path.”
Going Out with a Bang
Dodge also revealed that prior to its unveiling on the track, the car had to rev up three to four miles to get the driveline, all the grease, the transmission, the differential, all the metal pieces that are spinning, warmed up to temperature, so that it could arrive on track hot, making the Demon 170 ready for its debut. It functioned without a hitch. As a matter of fact, the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 pulls the highest G-force acceleration of any production car, reaches the 60-foot mark in 1.24 seconds, and accelerates up to 60 miles per hour in 1.66 seconds.
Production of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is set to commence this summer, with a production volume that will not exceed 3,300 units, with 3,000 for the United States and 300 for Canada. It is clear that no obstacle was too challenging for Dodge to meet head-on. The 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is an unrivaled treat that car enthusiasts will assuredly love. Please visit Cape Coral Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for a look at our new and pre-owned vehicle lineup. We have a plethora of automobiles for you to choose from.