Dodge is an American brand of cars, minivans, and sport utility vehicles manufactured by Stellantis North America, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Throughout its history, Dodge has produced some incredibly powerful engines for its high-performance vehicles. Let’s take a look at the most powerful Dodge engines ever made.
The Gen III Hemi V8
One of Dodge’s most iconic engine families is the Hemi V8. Hemi refers to the engines’ hemispherical combustion chambers, which allow for excellent breathing and power output. Gen III represents the third generation of Hemi V8 engines produced by Chrysler.
The Gen III Hemi first appeared in the 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10. This 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V10 produced 500 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque. At the time, it was the most powerful engine ever installed in a regular production Dodge vehicle. The same basic engine architecture later powered the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8, 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, and more.
In its largest 6.1-liter displacement for the Charger, Challenger, Ram, and more, the Gen III Hemi produced 425-426 horsepower. Variants for trucks and SUVs like the Ram 2500 and Durango SRT8 made up to 420 horsepower on regular gasoline. While later eclipsed by other engines, the Gen III Hemi set a new bar for accessible power in Dodge vehicles.
6.2L Supercharged Hellcat V8
The most powerful Dodge engine currently in production is the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8. Introduced in 2014 for the Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat models, this engine represents the pinnacle of factory Dodge performance.
The Hellcat V8 uses a 2.4-liter twin-screw supercharger to force-feed the engine compressed air. At a maximum of 11.6 PSI of boost pressure, the engine is officially rated at 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque on premium gasoline. Power output is controlled through drive modes, with 717 horsepower available in the Challenger Hellcat Red Eye.
Before the Demon’s arrival, the Hellcat engine was the most powerful production V8 Chrysler had ever built. It enabled the four-door Charger sedan to reach 204 mph and do 0-60 mph in just under 3.6 seconds. The engine has since expanded to other Dodge models like the Durango and Ram 1500 TRX.
Hellcat V8 Engine Specs
| Displacement | 6.2 liters |
|---|---|
| Bore x Stroke | 4.09 in x 3.58 in |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 |
| Supercharger | 2.4L Twin-Screw |
| Peak Boost | 11.6 psi |
| Horsepower | 707-717 hp |
| Torque | 650 lb-ft |
6.2L Supercharged Demon V8
For the 2018 model year, Dodge created a limited-run Demon variant of the Challenger SRT Hellcat. This car featured a heavily upgraded supercharged 6.2L V8 optimized specifically for drag racing.
The Demon’s engine used components like a larger supercharger, strengthened internals, higher compression, and 100+ octane racing fuel compatibility. In optimal conditions with race gas, it was officially rated by Dodge at 808 horsepower and 717 lb-ft torque.
That made the Challenger SRT Demon’s engine the first factory V8 from an American automaker to break the 800 horsepower barrier. It allowed the production car to rocket from 0-60 mph in just 2.3 seconds and complete a quarter mile in 9.65 seconds at 140 mph.
Only 3,300 Demons were built, cementing its special V8’s status as the rarest and most powerful Dodge production engine ever.
Demon V8 Max Output Specs
| Horsepower | 808 hp |
|---|---|
| Torque | 717 lb-ft |
| Fuel | 100+ Octane Gasoline |
Conclusion
From its legendary Hemi engines to today’s Hellcat and Demon powerplants, Dodge has produced some of the most powerful American V8s ever made. Currently, the supercharged 6.2L V8 in the limited-run Dodge Challenger SRT Demon reigns supreme as Dodge’s most powerful engine, making a monstrous 808 hp and 717 lb-ft of torque at maximum output.
With sophisticated forced induction, high compression, and exotic fuels like racing gasoline, the Demon V8 represents the cutting edge of factory Dodge performance. It demonstrates the incredible output that Chrysler’s engineers can reliably achieve with the iconic Hemi V8 architecture. While the Demon is now out of production, Dodge will surely develop new record-setting engines in the future.
In the end, Dodge’s most powerful production engine will come down to how much power they can reliably and safely extract from a street-legal V8. Given the company’s history of pushing boundaries, expect Dodge to chase ever-greater performance benchmarks with each new generation of supercharged Hemi powerplants. The Demon’s 808 horsepower record undoubtedly has a timer ticking down until a new halo Dodge model can surpass it.