The New Dodge Challenger Demon 170 Crate Engine Costs As Much As A Miata

Called the Hellephant C170, its one of several new crate engines available next year.

Photo by: Stellantis

By: Christopher Smith

Oct 31, 2023 at 5:40pm ET

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The Dodge Challenger Demon 170 is the one Hemi to rule them all, but with 3,300 planned for production at a starting price just under $100,000, they aren't exactly within reach of everyone. Fear not, for the Demon 170's heart will soon be available for purchase as a crate engine. And while it costs significantly less than the Challenger from which it originated, its MSRP of $27,695 is still as much (or more) than many neat performance cars.

Technically speaking, the engine – known in crate form as the Hellephant C170 from Direct Connection – generates 1,025 hp just as it does in the Demon 170. Yes, it costs as much as an entire Mazda Miata, but at that price, you get a fully dressed engine crowned with a 3.0-liter supercharger to force-feed the 6.2-liter mill. If you want something a bit more fundamental (and cheaper), the Hellephant C170 long block deletes the intake, supercharger, and other components at a price of $18,995.

The Demon 170's engine isn't the only new offering from Direct Connection. Stepping down to only 807 hp is the Hellcrate Redeye 6.2-liter long block. This is the familiar Challenger Redeye engine also devoid of the intake, supercharger, and other bits, and it costs $12,995. There's also the Hellcrate Hemi in 717-hp trim, also in long block format for $9,495. Stepping outside the supercharged realm, Direct Connection offers 392 and 345 Crate Hemi long blocks for $6,995 and $4,495.

But wait, there's more.

We know the Hemi V8 is on the way out, and aside from electric power, it looks like the twin-turbocharged Hurricane 3.0-liter inline-six will be a player in Dodge's performance book. A taste of that starts here with two long-block versions of the six-pot, one rated for 420 hp (called the Cat 1) and the other capable of 550 hp (Cat 3). Pricing for the I6 starts at $6,495 and reaches $8,995 for the higher output version.