Dodge dropped another Demon teaser today and many are theorizing that the license plate shown in the video might confirm all-wheel drive for the new high-performance car. The speculation is being fueled by confirmation that the Demon will wear the same size tire on all four corners, as well as a license plate displayed at the end of today’s teaser video.
The plate shows “#2576@35”, which Car and Driver speculates to mean the Demon will produce 2,576 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm at each driven wheel. While that’s a fair assumption, I believe the plate tells us something entirely different.
The Demon is set to top the Hellcat, which features a 6.2-liter V8 aided by an IHI supercharger with 2,380cc of displacement. This supercharger is of a twin-screw design, meaning it uses a pair of intermeshing rotors to compress the air forced into the engine. This type of supercharger comes in various displacements, but my speculation is the “2576” portion of our hint translates to a bored-out version of the Hellcat supercharger, which will displace 2576cc on the Demon.
The “35” portion of the hint might also relate to the design of the supercharger. In a twin-screw supercharger, such as the one found on the Hellcat, the mesh of the rotors is created by a male rotor, which has lobes, and a female rotor, which has valleys. In a typical screw compressor, there are three lobes on the male rotor and five valleys on the female rotor. This configuration is called a “3-5 rotor combination,” which could translate to the “35” we see on the end of that plate. The whole combination of the hint would thus end up translating to a 2576cc supercharger with a 3-5 rotor combination.
There are many arguments against an all-wheel-drove confirmation, such as the teaser that was released last week — it doesn’t show any type of differential or axles on the front of the car. The Demon is also set to weigh about 200 pounds less than the Hellcat, which does not help the all-wheel-drive argument.
One example we can use for comparison that is somewhat close is the 2014 Dodge Charger R/T. In rear-wheel-drive configuration, the R/T weighed in at 4,253 pounds. All-wheel drive added nearly 200 pounds to the overall weight, for a total of 4,450 pounds. If the Demon is to use a similar arrangement, one would expect the Demon to gain about 200 pounds’ worth of AWD equipment, meaning it would have to lose a total of 400 pounds over the Hellcat to meet Dodge’s confirmed weight loss claim. While a 400 pounds loss is possible, I believe it’s unlikely to happen, meaning the Demon will probably be released as a RWD model.
Sorry folks.
It would be interesting to see an inflation adjusted price comparison between todays super muscle cars and the rare “COPO” type cars of the late 60’s and early 70’s. In any case it is truly a great time to be a car enthusiast. It would be even better if I had the cash to bring one of these modern muscle cars home:(
The original 69 ZL1 Camaro with its all-aluminum 427 (4160 dollar option) and as well as I can figure the base price of around 3,000 dollars would cost around 47,000 dollars in today’s money.
>>https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm<<
While I don’t know any more than anyone else – meaning nothing – it sounds like you’ve got it figured out, Bozi.
I like this theory, but I’m still not buying it. At this point doesn’t the Demon have to be AWD in order to get its massive power to the ground? The HellCat can already smoke its rear tires pretty much regardless of what gear its in. Thus I have to assume more power without AWD wouldn’t yield a faster car due to the lack of grip. So sticker rubber plus AWD makes sense to me. As for the weight loss, are carbon fiber body panels and a rear seat delete enough?
Bozi consistently adds a lot of value to TTAC. He always knows of what he writes and makes highly technical insights accessible to fifth graders like me.
I dunno. Why put 315-series *drag slicks* on the front wheels?
The plate having nothing to do with AWD and the car having AWD can both be true. Are they? Who knows.
But why have 315-width drag radials in the front otherwise?
Correct, the plate and AWD are not mutually exclusive. My theory is an alternative to the Plate=AWD theory.
As I mentioned above, the weight of the AWD system combined with their confirmation that the Demon will be lighter is the main thing pushing me towards AWD.
As far as the tires, I don’t see them as equating to an AWD system necessarily. The Z/28 had 305/30ZR-19 Trofeo Rs with a 60 UTGQ on all four corners.
My alternate theory for the plate is that it will be 257.6 pounds lighter and 3.5 inches wider.
But the Z/28 was designed from the ground up as a track – i.e. “turning car”.
Running purpose-made *drag* slicks on all four corners, and the marketing has all been quarter mile focused.
I like your theory. I’m not sold on it though.
The Z/28 was ostensibly for road-course HPDE. It had wide front (streetable track) tires which were obviously there for cornering.
These are drag radials. This car is obviously not for cornering.
I’ve seen comments saying that Dodge will offer skinny front wheels and tires that you’re supposed to buy, and the front drag radials are intended to be spares, or something. That makes about as much sense as a RWD car with 315/40R18 drag radials on the front.
Others point to a RWD burnout in one video (I haven’t watched them so pardon me if that’s incorrect,) but the current AWD Charger can disconnect the front axle, and it wouldn’t be crazy for this to come with a line lock that’s tied to that.
I mean, those who bring up the known packaging constraints make a reasonable point, but considering the Challenger GT will come with AWD (and, albeit, a Pentastar,) the alternatives seem even less likely.
Either way, I’m far too excited about a car I don’t even want to own.
PS Your alternative plate theory actually is plausible. Lest we forget, # is the pound sign!
In the Cobra replica community it is common to run drag radials on all corners, usually M/T, to run on a road course. Those are pretty lightweight cars though and it is hard to find high performance 15″ tires for them.
I’d say an eventual video will show the 11’s on pavement after a launch, and the whole debate will be over.
It’s possible it weighs 200 pounds less than a currently unannounced/unreleased AWD Hellcat. It could be that added mass of the AWD system is what started them on a diet in the first place.
2018 also marks 35 years since the death of the 3rd-gen Challenger in 1983, whose engine displaced 2576cc. Coincidence?
Didn’t that Challenger have the 4G54/G54B? I have that same motor in my SWB Montero and as far as I know, it is 2,555cc.
I would also think that it would be odd for FCA to commemorate a rebadged Mitsubishi.
2,576 pounds of parts shed off at Mach 0.35.
Maybe it weighs 2,576 pounds and sells for $35K?
A boy can dream.
It means the car would have been #2576@35 IF it had lived.
I’m just amazed they’re calling it Demon considering all the flak they took the last time they used that name.
The plate refers to $2576 down, and $2576 a month for 35 months.
Coincidentally, that amount is right about how much replacing a set of tires at will cost, after about 8,000 happy miles peppered with occasional smoking burnouts.
Its going to be a weight reduced drag car. No AWD. The number 35 refers to a 3.5 liter supercharger, up in size from the 2.4 liter unit on the Hellcat. Thats my prediction and Im sticking to it!
Actually I have no idea, but Im still keeping my Scat Pack.
What if Mopar sells a pair of skinny tires that you can take with you to the track and then you use the front drag tires as an alternate set of rear wheels?!?!?!
Among car enthusiasts when referring to a supercharged setup usually you go with the size of the supercharger and the drive ratio % (overdriven or underdriven)
For example my streetrod would be running a 6-71 @ 10 under
My guess is 2576cc @ 35 over