What is Dodges most powerful engine?
The most powerful Dodge engine ever produced in a practical, street-legal package is the 6.2-liter Hemi supercharged V8, best known for powering the Challenger SRT Demon and its Hellcat lineage. The Demon tops the charts with up to 808 horsepower on pump gas and up to about 840 horsepower with race fuel.
What follows is a detailed look at the engine family, the key variants, and how Dodge built its reputation for horsepower over the past decade. It also notes how the lineup has evolved and what it means for Dodge’s future powertrains.
Overview of the power hierarchy in Dodge’s modern V8 lineup
To help readers gauge where the most powerful engines sit, here is concise context on how Dodge has stacked horsepower across its current and recent models that use the 6.2L Hemi Supercharged V8 family.
Here is a quick look at the horsepower leaders in Dodge’s modern Hellcat and Demon lineups:
- Challenger SRT Hellcat — 6.2L Hemi Supercharged V8: 707 horsepower
- Challenger SRT Demon — 6.2L Hemi Supercharged V8: 808 horsepower on 93-octane; up to 840 horsepower with 100+ octane race fuel
- Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye — 6.2L Hemi Supercharged V8: 797 horsepower
The progression from the standard Hellcat to the Demon shows how Dodge pushed for higher output, with the limited-run Demon representing the peak in production-era horsepower for its time. The Redeye line extended the upper limit further, before Dodge shifted focus toward broader performance variants and, in more recent years, toward electrified powertrains.
Variant-by-variant breakdown
Challenger SRT Hellcat (707 hp)
The foundational performance milestone for Dodge’s modern supercharged V8 era is the Hellcat, first introduced to deliver a 707-horsepower punch. It established the baseline for street-legal, drag-strip-capable American muscle that could run with European and Japanese competitors in straight-line speed.
Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye (797 hp)
The Redeye variant raised the stakes, boosting output to 797 horsepower while preserving the Hellcat’s broad torque curve. It refined the tuning and cooling to sustain higher power levels on regular driving environs and extended the model’s appeal to enthusiasts seeking more overclocked performance without stepping into the Demon’s drag-focused territory.
Challenger SRT Demon (808 hp; up to 840 hp on race fuel)
The Demon is the landmark model in Dodge’s horsepower chronology. A limited-run production car introduced to maximize drag-strip performance, it delivered 808 horsepower on 93-octane pump gas and could reach about 840 horsepower when fueled with higher-octane race fuel. It also featured other drag-oriented changes, such as reduced weight and specialized tires, to optimize straight-line speed.
Current status and future direction
As Dodge’s mainstream lineup continues, the high-water marks for horsepower still come from the 6.2L Hemi family, particularly in the Hellcat and its Redeye variants. The Demon’s production run has ended, making its 808/840-horsepower figures a historical peak for Dodge’s street-legal engines.
Looking ahead, Dodge has signaled a shift toward electrification and hybrid technology as part of broader Stellantis plans. While the brand maintains its performance heritage, future powertrains are expected to blend traditional V8 DNA with new electric technologies, potentially redefining what “the most powerful Dodge engine” means in a changing automotive landscape.
Summary
In Dodge’s recent history, the 6.2-liter Hemi supercharged V8 stands as the brand’s most potent engine, led by the Challenger SRT Demon at its peak. The Demon’s 808 horsepower on pump gas (and 840 hp on race fuel) represents the apex of Dodge’s internal-combustion horsepower in a production-like package, followed closely by the 797-horsepower Hellcat Redeye and the 707-horsepower Hellcat. As Dodge moves toward electrification, these numbers mark a high-water mark for a thunderous, gas-powered era that shaped a decade of American muscle.
