USA TODAY US Edition

New Dodge a marriage of Demon and Hellcat, with 797 horsepower

- Eric D. Lawrence

Fiat Chrysler is rolling out some serious new muscle for 2019, with a nod to the mighty Dodge Demon.

The highlight is the 797-horsepower

2019 Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye, which the company unveiled this week at its Chelsea Proving Grounds.

“I like to say it’s a Hellcat that’s been possessed by a Demon,” said Steve Beahm, head of passenger car brands for Fiat Chrysler in the U.S.

Fiat Chrysler says it leveraged the power output of the supercharg­ed Hemi Demon V-8, which powered the limited-edition Challenger SRT Demon that recently ended its production run, to boost the Hellcat Redeye. The Demon, one of the most powerful production cars ever produced, had

840 horsepower.

Fiat Chrysler says the new Hellcat Redeye manages 707-pound-feet of torque with its 6.2-liter V-8, mated to an eight-speed transmissi­on. It can hit

60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 203 mph.

“Like its Demon brethren, it has 25 major component upgrades, including a larger supercharg­er, strengthen­ed connecting rods and pistons, high-speed valve train, fuel injection system and improved lubricatio­n system,” the company said.

The car pulls intake air from three sources, including a new dual-snorkel hood and driver-side air catcher headlamp and inlet near the wheel liner, the release said.

Fuel consumptio­n can vary greatly. At full throttle, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye’s consumes 1.4 gallons of fuel a minute — enough to drain the fuel tank in just under 11 minutes, Fiat Chrysler said. Yet it is still rated at

22 mpg on the highway.

Pricing has not been released, but Beahm said it would cost around

$70,000 and be available in the fourth quarter of this year.

Unlike the Demon, the Hellcat Redeye will widely available. “We’re going to make them available to everyone rather than a select few,” Beahm said.

For Charger, the company is promising six “distinct, attitude-infused models,” including the 707-horsepower V-8 Charger SRT Hellcat and a 303-horsepower V-6 all-wheel-drive SXT.

 ?? KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/USA TODAY NETWORK ?? The new 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye can consume a tank full of gas in under 11 minutes at full throttle.
KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/USA TODAY NETWORK The new 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye can consume a tank full of gas in under 11 minutes at full throttle.

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