The latest video born of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon teaser saga boasts a “Demon Crate” — a box that comes with 18 components, including parts, spare wheels, a mysterious “Demon Track Pack System,” and tools emblazoned with the Demon logo.
Since we now know how the Demon shed its weight, what extra customization could the “Crate” bring?
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles claims the personalized box will let customers choose whether the vehicle is set up for straight-line times or street performance.
“It’s not intended for a road course; rather, each customer can decide at the time of order, or once they own the car, or even on a moment’s notice that they want their car to favor street performance, drag strip performance or something in between,” FCA said in a release.
The box will have a personalized badge displaying the owner’s name, the car’s serial number, as well as the VIN.
There is some speculation that there is a not-so-hidden message in the photo FCA released of the nameplate.
CNET suggests that the “0757” serial number denotes that the Demon will produce 757 horsepower, a 50 hp bump from the Hellcat’s 707 horses. This is certainly believable, especially considering the name of the “owner.” Tom Coddington was one of the founding fathers of Dodge/Chrysler drag racing and a member of the original Ramchargers.
FCA plans to trickle bits of information to us every week until the Demon’s launch in April, so the vehicle’s mysteries won’t remain unknown for long.
[Images: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
I saw the headline about “Demon crate” and assumed that’s what the passenger was supposed sit on because the Demon has only one seat.
I was about to ask: “Will the passenger seat fit in the crate? So you could bolt it in if you wanted to.”
I googled Todd Coddington and came up with an arrest record. Asslt w/Int Gr Bod Hrm Less Murder
http://www.courtrecords.org/people/Todd+Coddington+MI/
Try googling *Tom* Coddington instead.
I’ve been privileged to meet several of the Ramchargers. One was my Wednesday evening and weekend riding buddy about fifteen years ago. Sadly, met the rest of them at his funeral.
Antoine Dodson would have some choice words for you.
I know it’s cheesy, but I have an irrational love of gimmicks like this.
Boy, they are really going hard after the sort of people who love buying toys and keeping them in boxes.
This is the *exact* impression I got from the salesman when I test drove a Challenger last year. During and after the drive, he was rooting through the car and trunk pulling out the build sheets because, “Guys that buy these like to frame these and hang them on the wall.”
Seems like an extremely limited and myopic strategy, but nonsense like this is cheaper than developing and building quality product with compelling value for the consumer.
That’s the thing. Most will not get driven how the factory intended because they are “investments”.
VoGo:
Not the same guy. Born in ’68.
Ramchargers were early Sixties.
“‘Demon Crate’ — a box that comes with 18 components, including parts, spare wheels, a mysterious ‘Demon Track Pack System,’ and tools emblazoned with the Demon logo.”
Spare wheels? Exactly how big is this box, and will it fit in the trunk of the Demon?
Speculation says that this car will “come with” skinny front tires like you see on serious drag cars. Maybe those are the wheels in the box, and the tools are intended to transform the car at the track and back again, when it’s time to drive home.
Good call! That would be pretty nice.
However this whole Demon unveiling thing is already getting old. Maybe tomorrow will learn about how many dBs the exhaust has, or the recommended tire pressure… oh I can’t wait :o
666 (or possibly more accurately, 616) WOULD be a big dip in power…
11/21 – release date? I.e. only 4.5 more years of this “teaser” crap? :-)
It worked for Toyota and the FR-S.
Hey, nice crate Sergio! Maybe you could get around to engineering a competent compact and midsize car/CUV for Dodge and Chrysler once you’ve finished the big picture stuff.
The Crate is to put all the broken pieces in after 20% of the new owners crash them in the first day off the lot.
That’s a distinct possibility with a four square drag radial setup! Drag radials aren’t particularly well known for their low temperature and/or wet capability.
757 is too low, hp will be a lot more than the current 707. Quarter mile will be in the 9’s.