Dodge Demon Concept: Will Another Two Seat Roadster Challenge the Miata?
Dodge is gearing up for the Geneva Auto Show in March with a new concept car they call the Demon. Sharing a power plant with the Dodge Caliber the Demon is a two-seat roadster that looks like the illegitimate child that resulted from a three-way between a Dodge Viper, Honda S2000 and BMW Z4 (that’s not necessarily an insult). Using the same familiar ingredients that proved successful for the Mazda Miata, the Demon concept incorporates a peppy front mounted four cylinder engine and a small rear drive platform to make a package that at least sounds and looks like it would be fun to drive.
Under the hood of the new Dodge roadster is a hefty 2.4 liter four banger which churns out 172 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque. This is the same engine which has already proven its merit in the boldly styled Caliber. The engine is said to be mated to a six speed manual gearbox although the actual details of the transmission are hazy at this time. According to Chrysler the interior is going to be a bare bones design that relies on basic aluminum trim to highlight the essential controls giving the car a distinct air of performance.
So far Chrysler hasn’t said anything about the production of this vehicle but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me to see it on the streets in the next few years. The drive train is there and the shape of the car is easy for the public to swallow. If Chrysler wants a piece of the Miata market they may have found a decent vehicle. My only concern for the Demon is the motor. After driving the Saturn Sky, which also has a large displacement four cylinder, I was left feeling like a smaller free-revving motor would have transformed the car from buzzy and truck-like into a genuine sports car. I worry that the 2.4 in the Demon will give it the same truck-like feel, despite its great power. Time will tell.
-Bill Mertz
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