Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

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

Add as a preferred source on Google

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.

Recommended Videos

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…
Hyundai Ioniq 3 EV hits the roads at just over $24,000 while missing the US streets
The Ioniq 3 is bringing affordable EVs to Britain while America watches
Hyundai Ioniq 3 EV

Hyundai is bringing a new affordable electric car to UK roads, and the Ioniq 3 looks like the sort of EV the market could use more of. It is compact, practical, relatively affordable and, in its bigger-battery version, can travel up to 308 miles on a charge.

UK orders are now open, with prices starting at £18,495 after the government’s £3,750 Electric Car Grant. That works out to just over $24,000 at a rough exchange rate. There is, however, one slightly frustrating detail for American EV shoppers: Hyundai’s announcement is for the UK, and there is no US launch.

Read more
Mazda’s latest EV will shout at pedestrians and even cuss on your behalf
Road rage just found a loudspeaker in this Mazda EV
Mazda CX-6e E-SUV

Blaring your car's horn at distracted pedestrians crossing the road is a universal experience. Mazda, though, wants to make it a lot more direct. The new Mazda CX-6e comes with an External Announcement feature that uses a speaker mounted outside the vehicle to communicate with pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users.

Drivers can select prewritten safety messages, type their own announcements on the enormous infotainment display, or broadcast their voice directly outside the car. If you don't already see the potential, let's just say you're better than most drivers out there. Still, electric cars, by nature, are pretty quiet at low speeds, and Mazda's system gives drivers a more descriptive alternative to simply leaning on the horn.

Read more
Nearly 20 EVs are disappearing from US showrooms this year, but the next generation could be better
America's EV shake-up is painful, but it could pave the way for better cars.
Hyundai Kona EV.

I have bad news first and slightly good news later. Nearly 20 EVs from different brands have either left or are leaving the US market this year. My first reaction to this was a groan. However, after looking at why each car got cut, the story became more interesting. 

First, Business Insider counts nearly 20 US EVs canceled, paused, or delayed this year, with demand taking a major hit after the $7,500 federal tax credit ended in September 2025. However, the replacements for the outgoing models could be cheaper and might go farther on a single charge. 

Read more