The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is being called the most powerful American car ever made. The 2018 model from Fiat-Chrysler has a 6.2 liter V-8 engine with 808 horsepower and can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in a mere 2.3 seconds. If high octane race gas is being used, it can achieve 840 horsepower. These specs led Automotive News to brand the Demon as a car “so inherently dangerous to the common safety of motorists that its registration as a road-worthy automobile should be banned.”
The Demon is the first production car designed to run on high octane fuel and the highest horsepower V8 production car ever made. It can do a quarter mile in 9.65 seconds, the world’s fastest time for a production car. This was certified by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA); the NHRA subsequently banned the Challenger SRT Demon from racing.
Dodge is manufacturing the Demon on a limited basis; only 3,000 will be available in the United States. The car maker says the Demon is perfectly street legal, but for those who are so inclined, an optional crate of tools and parts to make the car track-worthy is available. It comes standard with only a seat for the driver, so those who intend to carry passengers have to specify they want extra seats when they order the car. The optional Demon crate and extra seats cost only a dollar each.
Driver Beware
Anyone who intends to buy a Demon must first sign a three-page release form. This could be an indication that Dodge knows how dangerous the car could be in the wrong hands. At issue are the tires mentioned by Automotive News, which called them unsafe. The Demon’s Nitto NT05R tires cannot be used in wet weather because of the risk of hydroplaning. Additionally, they are unsuited for highway driving and cannot tolerate temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
The first paragraph that the buyer has to initial states that the buyer assumes all responsibility and risk when using the features and applications of the Demon and that failure to do so could result in an accident involving serious injury or death.
Muscle cars like the Demon are not known for their crashworthiness. The 2016 Dodge Challenger, a cousin of the Demon, was found to be severely deficient in crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. While these cars represent a small segment of the market for personal vehicles, they attract buyers looking for performance features. Muscle car enthusiasts may drive too fast which increases the risk of crashing at speeds too high for the car to handle. Not all muscle car drivers are out to test the limits of their cars, but those who do put their own safety and the safety of others in danger.
Bear Car Accident Lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow Represent Those Harmed by Driver Negligence or Recklessness
If you have been injured in a car accident that was caused by another’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. A dedicated Bear car accident lawyer at Rhoades & Morrow will review your case for free and offer experienced counsel. Call (302) 600-1107 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We have offices in Wilmington, Bear, and Milford, to assist car accident victims throughout the state of Delaware.
