Dodge Demon concept

[Sage]

autoblog.com/…/dodge-demon-concept-will-debut-in-geneva/

(BTW, for those of you who are too lazy to read the article: this is an official picture from Dodge, not some 3rd-party rendering.)

 

[skip0110]

So, I take it Dodge had a look at the Solstice and decided they could play that game too?

Good, I say, competition will make the products stronger all around.

Also I'd say they did a pretty good job of scaling the crosshair grille down to that size. 👍

 

[Turbo Lag]

It kinda looks like the Vipers headlights, Ram's grill and the Bodyshape of a Solitice

But its fugly; Really fugly

 

[land sea air]

I think they had it a little better with the Razor concept from a few years back. Still I think with some minor tweaks it would look a lot better.

 

[inferno]

So... they built an entirely new platform when they already had a perfectly good one that currently carries two cars this size? (SLK and Crossfire) why?

At any rate, i love the idea. Mini viper, sounds cool. They'll probably stick with small engines for this one, to keep it light and nimble, since they're going after the MX5 solstice and S2000, but man wouldnt this thing be awsome with a hemi.

before you yell at me, remember the shelby cobra.

 

[V1P3R]

Umm... yeah. I'll stick with a Viper thanks.

 

[ND4SPD]

Honey they shrunk the viper! This looks like Dodge's Solstice/Sky competitor, but I thought they had plans to bring the Dodge Razor into production to rival the Solstice/Sky? I like the front of the demon, but everything behind the front windshield doesn't do it for me.
Here's the Dodge Razor for those who don't know.

 

[Kelvari]

Personally, I think it looks kinda like the Dodge Concept car from GT1/GT2

 

[TheCracker]

Looks like a S2000 beaten with an ugly stick.

 

[Dave A]

I actually thought S2000 crossed with a 350Z cabriolet, then beaten with an ugly stick. It's certainly not an appealing car to look at.

 

[Famine]

I actyually though S2000 crossed with a 350Z cabriolet, then beaten with an ugly stick. It's certainly not an appealing car to look at.

Yes - it looks rather like a 350Z violating a rather surprised S2000 from behind.

 

[Jim Prower]

fix the rear fenders, make it more like a Viper, less like a Crossfire. otherwise, looks good.

 

[GT40 MKII]

Looks like a S2000 beaten with an ugly stick.

i agree on that one

 

[SlipZtrEm]

So... they built an entirely new platform when they already had a perfectly good one that currently carries two cars this size? (SLK and Crossfire) why?

Most likely because the platform under the Crossfire is ancient now (we're talking 1st-gen C-Class, so over 10 years old), and the newer SLK chassis is still based on old-ish architecture, and probably too beefy/heavy for something like this.

I like it, except for the rear fenders. It looks like a production car...

 

[Tommi]

I gotta say that is a hideous car it looks like a honda s2000 rammed up the rear and at the front.

 

[YSSMAN]

My first thoughts were "TT meets Viper" on this one, particularly from the rear.

Power comes from a 172 horsepower 2.4 liter engine, offering peak torque of 165 pound-feet. A six-speed manual sends power to the rear wheels. Weight is estimated a 2600 pounds. Dodge officials say an SRT version could also be offered with a 300 horsepower four-cylinder from the Dodge Caliber SRT-4.

Power numbers seem adequate, on-par with that of the standard Solstice/Sky and the MX-5. The good news is that the Dodge appears to be lighter than the Solstice/Sky duo, which should make for some pretty solid performance numbers, however I have to admit that I do not have too much confidence in the rather "coarse" 2.4L I4. Sure, the ECOTEC engines have their issues, but I've never been a fan of anything with a DCX badge that small, no matter how much Mitsubishi and Hyundai may have helped on the design.

LLN.com does bring up an interesting idea: The 300 BHP engine from the SRT-4 could make this thing a monster, particularly when stacked against the GMPD versions of the Solstice/Sky. A budding horsepower war? I'd guess so, that is, if Dodge decides to build the car...

 

[franz]

I like the rear end, but the front is just bad. I mean the front may look right for a crossover. Let me see one in black colour may change my mind.

edit: SRT4 version will be a sweet addition, but can we have Solstice with SRT4 engine instead?

 

[Jim Prower]

You know what? the problem wiht this car is that the front and rear don't agree with each other. they're from two different cars, and that's why it looks so ugly.

let's bring the design direction back into focus, and give this the chance it deserves.

 

[TopHat]

Now the question is... who will be the one to stick the rear of an S2000 on it in PS?

 

[Duke]

The more I look at the pics, the more convinced I'm becoming. That lead-off pic in Sage's first post is actually it's worst angle. I'm prepared to give this thing a chance.

 

[Jim Prower]

Now the question is... who will be the one to stick the rear of an S2000 on it in PS?

That'd be an improvement.

 

[jammyozzy]

You know how body builders always have huge arms and upper bodies, and then legs that look tiny and weedy by comparison?

That's what this is doing. It's got a big, muscular, body builder front-end, and then suddenly at the windscreen it all becomes weedy and pathetic looking. It does just look like two completely different cars sandwiched together somewhere around the front of the door.

 

[Swift]

I guess dodge is trying to go back to the same thing they had in the 90's where almost every dodge(truck, SUV or car) had a similar look to it and was immediately distinguishable as a dodge. Good luck to them... But with the recent trend of decent designs from the American manufactures, I'm actually leaning towards some of them for my next ride.

 

[Barracuda]

Thats a disgrace to the dodge demon name. It looks like a wide s2000 that has been raped an mutilated several times ( it probably deserved it, lol jk )

the razor concept has the same font for the name as the razor scooter, lol.

someone smart about American cars that actually has a sense of style to bring back the old look should bring back Plymouth. If i heard they were building a new barracuda and it actually looked good, me and my father would be up the mopar dealers ass with requests in a second.

 

[stumpydino]

Personally, I think it looks kinda like the Dodge Concept car from GT1/GT2

the copperhead?

well they do have the same problem, ugly front nice rear

 

[Barracuda]

I personally love how the copperhead looks and it doesn't look a thing like the demon concept ( but thats just my opinion ) ( I still have yet to get it in gt2 )

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

Looks angry.

 

[TopHat]

Looks like its front fenders are over inflated, and its headlights are starting to sink into the sheet metal.

 

[JCE]

I don't think it looks that bad. Only problems are the sheetmetal on the rear quarter looks like ass and the fact that its a Chrysler product. If it comes out and they put a GOOD ENGINE and at least decent interior in it I won't like it.

My approval rating = 70% (will add +10% if it has a good interior and another +10% if it has a good engine)

 

[Layla's Keeper]

Jeez, all these complaints about the "thrashy" and "coarse" engine. What the hell? Seriously guys, how many of you have ever driven an MGB or Triumph TR-3A? Real sports cars have loud lumps, simple as that. I have no idea where the fascination with sewing machine smooth engines came into play, but in my experience the most visceral sports cars are always the ones willing to be a little rowdy.

The Demon looks to have all the right ingredients, just needs a bit of sweetening here and there. I like it, and I love the rorty sound of a 300hp SRT4 edition. Honestly, comparing it in its segment (which means Solstice/Sky and Miata - no S2000 or Z4), it looks like it'd be a hit for some showroom traffic and sell a couple units.