Jay Leno Takes the Demon 170 for a Rip, Comes Away Mighty Impressed

By Brett Foote - April 27, 2023

The legendary comedian and car guy is amazed by not only the incredible power of the Demon 170, but also its on-road manners.

While the Demon 170 may represent the last great ICE version of the beloved Challenger, at least we can say that Dodge is sending it out with a massive bang. With more than 1,000 horsepower on deck, it’s a truly ridiculous, in-your-face, ode to the ICE engine in general, as well as a car that’s incredibly quick in a straight line, to boot. However, the Demon 170 is also the perfect car to take out for a hoon every now and then, and we can’t think of a better person to do that than the legendary comedian and car nut Jay Leno.

In this recent episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, that’s precisely what we get to see – the man who has driven just about everything get behind the wheel of the latest and greatest piece of Mopar muscle, and it’s certainly worth the watch. In fact, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis is along for the ride, and gives us some very interesting details about how it came to fruition – including the fact that the company merely set out to improve upon the regular Demon, yet ended up creating what is essentially an entirely new model in the process.

The goal here was simple – to make this car as quick as possible, which involved not only adding copious amounts of power, but also shaving weight wherever possible. A whopping 30 pounds in savings came from the wheels alone, which are wrapped in Mickey Thompson tires that were specifically designed just for this car. During testing, the car hooked so well, in fact, that Dodge had to go back and re-tune the suspension to compensate.

Technical details aside, the real question is – what is the Demon 170 like to drive? The answer, as it turns out, is pretty darn amazing. Leno is obviously impressed by the way the car leaves strips of rubber behind it on command, as well as its ridiculous ability to accelerate at a rapid rate. But on the other hand, he’s also amazed by how well the car drives, and how it feels “light on its feet” for something that still tips the scales at 4,200 pounds. It seems as if the Demon 170 is perhaps the ultimate iteration of the American muscle car, which is fitting for the last of its kind – as well as a bit somber for those of us that have oil in our veins.