NHRA BANS DEMONIC MOPAR

You’ve heard the hype: the new Dodge Demon cuts the quarter-mile at a mind-blowing 9.65 seconds at 140mph straight off the factory floor. However, you can’t conduct such a run from this streetlegal production drag car, as the NHRA has officially banned it — but only in its stock form. Dodge is pushing that quarter-mile time as a selling point, but the standard car isn’t legal to race in the US, as a competition licence and roll cage are mandatory there and are not offered by Dodge. That said, anyone in New Zealand who gets their hands on one will be able to take it to the drag strip and make a pass — but drop below 11 seconds and you, too, will need a roll cage and to conform with other safety requirements. With the cars offering 840hp and coming with a factory-equipped transbrake, we’d say you don’t deserve to own one if you can’t get it to run a 10.