Styling of the 2010 Dodge Demon borrows cues from the hulking V-10 Dodge Viper and would likely carry over with little change from the Demon concept. Ditto dimensions, which are very close to those of the Pontiac Solstice.
The Dodge D emon Concept used a 172-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. At this point it is unclear if the 2010 Dodge Demon will use an engine that is part of the U.S.-built Global Alliance family shared with Mitsubishi and Hyundai, or an engine sourced from Chery.
The Dodge Demon Concept sporte d 19-inch wheels, which could be a bit much for a showroom model. Expect 17s to be standard, with 18s optional.
Other concept features would likely survive with little or no alteration. These include the semi-retro cockpit design heavy on brushed-metal trim (or facsimiles); a manual-folding cloth top that hides beneath a hard cover just behind the cockpit; and a stubby rollbar behind each seat to protect occupants in case of a flip.
The rest of the 2010 Dodge Demon package will hinge on marketing decisions based heavily on competitors' pricing, but standards should include modern must-haves such as antilock disc brakes, traction control, and seat-mounted torso side airbags. We also wouldn't rule out a turbocharged Demon as a year-two addition with standard stability control, performance-tuned suspension and special trim.
One thing that might be changed is the name, a point missed entirely by press reports we've seen. Perhaps the writers are too young to remember, but Dodge used Demon way back in 1971-72 for its version of the popular compact Plymouth Duster, complete with logo decals of a cute little cartoon devil. It was all innocent fun, Dodge thought, but some people thought otherwise and wrote nasty letters, enough that Dodge adopted the prosaic Dart Sport handle. Such are the perils of modern automotive marketing.
A Notable Feature of the 2010 Dodge Demon
Like other affordable sports cars, the 2010 Dodge Demon wraps off-the-shelf mechanical components in a distinctive two-seat roadster package.