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.

Editors' Recommendations

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more