7 Unforgettable Facts About The Dodge Challenger SRT: The V8 Era's Final, 1,000+ HP Roar

The era of the supercharged V8 Dodge Challenger SRT has officially concluded, marking the end of one of the most significant chapters in American muscle car history. As of late 2023, the production line at the Brampton Assembly Plant has gone silent on the iconic Challenger and Charger, a decision driven primarily by increasingly stringent global emissions regulations. This shift has cemented the final "Last Call" models, particularly the monstrous SRT Demon 170, as immediate collector’s items and the ultimate send-off for the HEMI engine. This article dives deep into the legacy, the mind-bending specifications of the final models, and the electrified future that awaits the SRT badge, providing the most current and up-to-date information as of December 15, 2025.

The Challenger SRT, from its Hellcat debut to the final Demon 170, redefined factory-built performance, offering unparalleled horsepower-per-dollar and a distinct, aggressive aesthetic. The cessation of production for these V8 titans is a pivot point for Dodge, signaling a commitment to an electrified future while leaving behind a legacy of uncompromising, gasoline-fueled power that will be celebrated by enthusiasts for decades. Understanding the details of its farewell—from the limited-edition final specs to the details of its replacement—is crucial for any muscle car aficionado.

The Last Roar: Why the Dodge Challenger SRT Production Ended

The decision to halt production of the V8-powered Dodge Challenger and its four-door sibling, the Charger, was a monumental one for the brand. The final cars rolled off the assembly line at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, in December 2023.

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This sunsetting of the modern muscle car was not a matter of waning popularity, but a direct response to global regulatory pressures. The increasingly strict emissions regulations being implemented worldwide made the continued production of the large-displacement, supercharged HEMI V8 engine financially and logistically unsustainable for high-volume manufacturing.

The "Last Call" Series: A Final Salute to the HEMI

To celebrate the end of the V8 era, Dodge launched the "Last Call" series for the 2023 model year. This series consisted of seven special-edition models, each paying homage to a classic Challenger or Charger variant. The crescendo of this farewell tour was the release of the ultimate, limited-production machine: the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170.

• Production Cap: Only 3,300 units of the Demon 170 were produced globally, with 3,000 designated for the U.S. market.
• Instant Collectible: Due to the low volume and the fact that it represents the final, most powerful iteration of the V8 muscle car, the Demon 170 immediately became a sought-after collector's entity.
• Unprecedented Power: It holds the distinction of being the first factory-produced muscle car capable of over 1,000 horsepower.

The Unrivaled SRT Lineage: Key Models and Performance Specifications

The SRT (Street & Racing Technology) badge was the pinnacle of Challenger performance, culminating in a trio of supercharged beasts that dominated the drag strip and the street. These models are the essence of the Challenger's legacy.

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1. Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (The Game Changer)

The original SRT Hellcat, introduced in 2015, fundamentally changed the muscle car landscape by delivering supercar-level horsepower at a fraction of the cost. It was the first mass-produced muscle car to break the 700-horsepower barrier.

• Engine: Supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8
• Horsepower: 717 hp
• Torque: 656 lb-ft
• 0-60 MPH: Approximately 3.7 seconds
• Top Speed: Up to 199 mph

2. Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye (The Street Predator)

The Redeye variant took the Hellcat platform and infused it with technology derived from the original 2018 Demon, making it a more track-focused, high-output machine. The Redeye, especially in its Widebody configuration, offered superior handling and a more menacing stance.

• Engine: High-Output Supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8
• Horsepower: 797 hp
• Torque: 707 lb-ft
• 0-60 MPH: 3.4 seconds
• Key Difference: It featured a larger supercharger and a higher boost pressure (15.3 psi) than the standard Hellcat.

3. Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 (The Final Boss)

The Demon 170 is the ultimate expression of the V8 Challenger, engineered for maximum drag strip performance. Its name is a nod to the high-ethanol content of E85 fuel, which it is optimized to run on, maximizing its output.

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• Engine: Highly-Modified Supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8
• Horsepower (on E85): 1,025 hp
• Horsepower (on Premium Fuel): 900 hp
• Torque (on E85): 945 lb-ft
• Boost Pressure: An incredible 21.3 psi, a 30% increase in airflow over the Redeye.
• Quarter-Mile Time: A certified 8.91 seconds at 151.17 mph, making it the fastest production muscle car ever built.

The Electrified Horizon: What Replaces the Challenger SRT Muscle

The end of the V8 Challenger SRT does not mean the end of the muscle car for Dodge. The brand is aggressively pivoting toward an electrified future, with the next generation of performance cars already unveiled.

The 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona

The new face of Dodge performance is the 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona, which will be offered in both all-electric (EV) and gasoline-powered variants. This move ensures the "muscle car" nameplate survives, albeit in a dramatically different format.

All-Electric Daytona SRT

The electric Charger Daytona SRT is the true successor to the high-performance SRT badge, promising instantaneous torque and zero-emission performance. The concept features a unique "Fratzog" logo and is built on the STLA Large platform.

• Performance: The top-tier Banshee variants are expected to deliver performance that rivals or exceeds the outgoing Hellcat models, utilizing a 400V or 800V architecture.
• "R-Wing" Aerodynamics: A unique pass-through front end is designed to improve downforce and efficiency, a necessary engineering step for high-speed EVs.
• "Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust": Dodge is attempting to replicate the visceral sound of a HEMI V8 through a patent-pending exhaust system that produces a loud, synthetic roar, addressing a key curiosity point for muscle car fans.

The Hurricane Sixpack Option

For purists not ready to fully embrace electric power, the 2025 Charger will also offer a gasoline engine option known as the "Sixpack." This will utilize the new Hurricane Twin-Turbo Inline-Six engine, a high-output powerplant that is both more powerful and more emissions-compliant than the outgoing V8.

• Engine: Twin-Turbo 3.0L Hurricane Inline-Six
• Expected Horsepower: The High-Output version is expected to produce over 550 horsepower.
• Significance: This variant serves as a crucial bridge between the V8 past and the electric future, providing a powerful, smaller-displacement alternative to the HEMI.

The transition from the supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 to the electric and twin-turbo powertrains is a seismic shift for Dodge. While the V8 Challenger SRT will forever be remembered as the king of horsepower wars, the 2025 Charger Daytona represents the brand's bold commitment to maintaining its performance identity in the new age of electrification and efficiency.

The Legacy of the Challenger SRT: A Performance Icon

The Challenger SRT is more than just a car; it's a cultural icon that brought the muscle car back to the forefront of automotive performance. The sheer audacity of the SRT Hellcat, the raw speed of the Redeye Widebody, and the drag-strip dominance of the Demon 170 created a legacy of power, noise, and excitement that few vehicles can match. The final "Last Call" editions, now out of production, are a testament to the Challenger's place in history, forever locking in the final V8 chapter of American muscle.

The SRT engineering team pushed the limits of what a street-legal production car could be, delivering engines with boost pressures and horsepower figures once reserved for specialized racing vehicles. Enthusiasts worldwide will now turn their attention to preserving these final models and watching how the new, electrified Dodge Charger Daytona SRT attempts to fill the massive, supercharged shoes left behind by the legendary Challenger SRT.