Skip to main content

Can Hennessey’s 1,000-hp Exorcist Camaro send Dodge’s Demon back to hell?

Demon, begone! American tuner Hennessey has released a 1,000-horsepower muscle car named The Exorcist developed to stop the upcoming Dodge Challenger Demon from possessing the minds of drag racing enthusiasts.

The Exorcist started life as a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which already stands out as one of the most capable high-performance coupes on the market. Hennessey’s engineers bumped the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine’s output up to 1,000 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 966 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. The list of upgrades includes a bigger supercharger, a high-flow intake, new cams, custom engine management calibration, and likely a little bit of black magic.

The V8 spins the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic transmission. We don’t know how much horsepower the Dodge Challenger Demon will boast yet, but it almost certainly won’t top The Exorcist’s output.

Stuffing 1,000 horsepower under the hood of a Camaro ZL1 yields an impressive 0-to-60 time of under three seconds, and a quarter-mile time of less than 10 seconds. We’re anxiously waiting for Dodge to finally show us the Demon to find out how it stacks up to the coupe developed specifically to cast it out.

The mechanical modifications are accompanied by red decals that stretch from the front wheel wells to the trunk lid, and a discreet Hennessey emblem on the right side of the rear bumper. Both can be removed for the ultimate wolf-in-sheep’s clothing look.

Enthusiasts worried about being possessed by Dodge’s high-octane Challenger Demon need to act fast, because Hennessey will build just 100 examples of The Exorcist per model year. The conversion costs $55,000 — a figure that includes the graphics and the upgraded drivetrain — and the Camaro ZL1 carries a base price of $62,135.

Buyers can order The Exorcist directly from Hennessey, or from participating Chevrolet dealers around the nation. Alternatively, those who already have a ZL1 in their garage can send it to Hennessey headquarters in Texas to have it transformed into the muscle car to rule them all.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
These new NASA EVs will drive astronauts part way to the moon (sort of)
NASA's new crew transportation electric vehicles.

Three specially designed, fully electric, environmentally friendly crew transportation vehicles for Artemis missions arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week. The zero-emission vehicles, which will carry astronauts to Launch Complex 39B for Artemis missions, were delivered by Canoo Technologies of Torrance, California. NASA/Isaac Watson

NASA has shown off a trio of new all-electric vehicles that will shuttle the next generation of lunar astronauts to the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center.

Read more
5 upcoming EVs I’m excited for, from luxury SUVs to budget champions
Lotus Eletre

Almost every major automaker has released an EV by now -- or plans to soon -- and makers like Ford and Kia already have a variety to choose from. But if you haven't found one that's right for you yet, hang tight. There are dozens of announced electric car models that have yet to come out, and it's clear that the future of EVs is bright.

From longer range to lower prices, the next batch of EVs gives us plenty to get excited about. Here are five upcoming EVs that we can't wait to drive.
Volvo EX30

Read more
Tesla shows off first Cybertruck after two years of delays
The first Cybertruck built at Tesla's Giga Texas facility.

The first Cybertruck built at Tesla's Giga Texas facility. Tesla

Tesla has shown off the first Cybertruck to roll off the production line at its new Gigafactory plant in Austin, Texas.

Read more