Post by Kasey Kagawa

When you think of the great small two-seater convertibles of history, a few names come to mind. MG, Austin-Healy, Triumph, Lotus, and more recently, Mazda. Dodge isn’t on that list, mostly because the only two-seater droptop they’ve ever built is the Viper, which is not exactly in the same league as a TR6. They’re hoping to make their way onto that list, however, with the new Dodge Demon. It’s just a concept, but this one’s already got enough technical specs listed to see that it might be a pretty damn good car if they decide to build it. Dodge says that they’ve got their sights on the Mazda MX-5, and I think that there’s a good chance that they could find a place in the market for the Demon.

Press release and more of my nonsense after the jump.

The majority of the press release concerns the exterior and interior design. Yes, it looks good on the outside, like a Viper that was washed in too hot a cycle. The Viper’s always had something of a generic aggressiveness. It looked angry, but you couldn’t put your finger on what exactly made it that way. This one has no such problem, with the inward slant of the headlights and the placement of the HID lamps. The side continues to echo the Viper, but the rear end actually looks like a more angular version of the backside of the Mercedes-McLaren SLR. It all comes together very nicely, even if the steering wheel is lifted straight from a Mustang GT.

Don’t expect the design to change too much between this concept and the eventual production car, and that includes the drivetrain. Daimler-Chrysler’s 2.4L straight-4 is the heart of this angry little imp, putting out 172 HP at 6000 RPM and 165 lb-ft. of torque from 4400 RPM. That’s 6 HP, and more importantly, 25 more lb-ft. of torque than the 2.0L in the MX-5, which would allow the car to pull harder through the six gears in the manual ‘box.

While the looks might be a big part of the attributes that bring people into the dealerships to buy this car, I think that the drivetrain and suspension tuning will really be what could put this car in the same league as the MX-5. Aiming for the same niche that the MX-5 inhabits, with its razor-sharp handling and frantic engine character, would be a mistake. I’m sure Dodge could pull it off, but we don’t need another MX-5 on the market. Instead of trying to be as honed and tack-sharp as the MX-5, the Demon should be more of a brute, something that you steer with your foot as much as with your hands, similar to the difference between a Porsche Boxster S and a BMW Z4 M. It certainly has the looks to back up that kind of handling behavior. If they make the Demon more lairy-scary and eager to oversteer than the Mazda, but still easy to control when the back end steps out, I think that they could be a genuine competitor in this tough segment.

Dubspeed Driven Photo Gallery - Dodge Demon Concept [Dubspeed Driven]

Dodge Demon Roadster Concept –
Simple Soul, Artful Attitude Make for Radical Results

Geneva – The Dodge Demon concept is a compact, nimble “roadster with an attitude,” a perfect balance of classic sports car proportion and simplicity blended with modern design and performance.

“While the iconic Dodge Viper is a dream car for many, the Dodge Demon is designed to be an attainable dream car,” said Jae Chung – Dodge Demon Principal Exterior Designer, Chrysler Group. “The exterior design is simple yet bold, featuring an energetic combination of curves and intersecting planes.”

The bodyside of the Dodge Demon main character line flows up and over the front wheel, then drops diagonally to an angular color-keyed vent on the rear fender that directs cooling air to the rear brakes. In similar fashion, the compound rear fender surface curves up and over the rear wheel, sweeping into a broad diagonal plane extending to the taillamp. The resulting muscular fender form projects boldly beyond the main body, underscoring that the Dodge Demon concept is a rear-wheel-drive machine.

The rear surface of the body is divided into three planes with two chamfered outboard planes, dominated by long, tapering trapezoidal taillamps. The taillamps sport translucent red inset lenses that surround LED back-up lamps.

Up front, the signature Dodge crosshair grille is stuffed into an aggressive, menacing, trapezoidal opening that thrusts boldly forward.

Set into elongated angled triangles, the projector headlamps, delineated by bright rings, are set into black chrome bezels, giving the front end mean-looking “eyes” that accentuate the grille opening. Encompassing the upper portions of the front fenders and sporting two recessed air outlets, the Dodge Demon’s hood is hinged at the front, adding a just-for-fun performance-car look and feel.

Featuring an open-spoke design, the wheels are pushed to the corners of the body for a dramatic stance and capable performance. The 19-inch brushed aluminum wheels are set into assertive, asymmetrical openings that reprise the body’s playful combination of curves and planes.

The beltline kicks up at the rear and into the higher deck lid contour, giving the lucky occupants an encapsulated, protective feeling.

“In the manner of timeless British sports cars, the interior of the Dodge Demon is purposely functional, not frivolous,” said Dan Zimmermann – Dodge Demon Principal Interior Designer. “Everything relating to the driving experience is emphasized, while that which is not is made visually secondary.

“The well laid out instrument panel, for example, is familiar, yet modern. Everything you really need – the gauges, circular AC outlets, radio – is encapsulated in a cross-car brushed aluminum bezel that also accentuates the width of the cabin. Secondary controls and features, such as the HVAC knobs and the passenger-side glove box, are located below this bezel,” Zimmerman added.

In a similar functional manner, the floor console is deliberately not a part of, or attached to, the instrument panel. The console is dominated by the squat ready-at-hand silver and black manual shift knob, and its leather boot is set into a bright trim ring. The wide, brushed aluminum console bezel also incorporates the recessed emergency brake handle, with the window switch gear, softly lit cup holders and 12V power outlet organized into a graphically unified shape. The upper portion of the instrument panel, including the cluster brow, is accented by a stitched seam with contrasting silver thread.

“Each of these features is set flush, or nearly flush, with the bezel surface so as to establish a ‘clear zone’ for the driver’s shift arm in all seating positions, with nothing in the way of the driving experience,” Zimmerman said.

The raised plateau at the rear of the console incorporates a covered storage bin – with a lid that serves as an armrest between shifts – while the portion of the console extending under the instrument panel has an open bin handy for incidentals.

The steering wheel employs an aluminum open-spoke design with each of the three spokes intersecting the small circular hub for a timeless sports car look. The wheel rim itself is brushed aluminum on the inside, complemented with stitched vinyl on the outer rim. Immediately forward of the wheel, the four-gauge cluster features classic white-on-black dials with graphics inspired by sports watches. Each circular gauge is set handsomely inside a finely detailed silver and chrome bezel ring, while gauge pointers are colored to match the exterior.

The doors feature durable, vertical grab handles, each anchored to a silver bezel housing the chrome door remote handle. The lower portion of each door features a stylish brushed aluminum bezel that encapsulates the large circular speaker grille and then drops sharply as it moves rearward to form the map pocket outer panel, mimicking a feature line on the car’s exterior.

The Dodge Demon’s seats feature contoured bolsters that are just high enough to provide support when cornering, yet do not hinder ingress or egress. Set in exposed low-gloss carbon fiber shells, the black seats with integral head restraints feature inserts of textured “Momentum” fabric mated to fabric bolsters, with specific sew lines accented by silver thread. Individual brushed aluminum and carbon fiber roll bars are positioned directly behind the bucket seats. With long seat tracks, there is ample storage behind the seats. Additional covered storage is provided in the bulkhead between the seats.

The Dodge Demon concept is an affordable Dodge sports car which merges brand cues of bold design and powerful performance with an open-air “fun-to-drive” attitude.

PRELIMINARY TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions are in inches (millimeters) unless otherwise noted.

Engine: 2.4-liter petrol World Engine
Maximum Power: 172 hp SAE (128 kW) @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 165 lb.-ft. (224 Nm) @ 4400 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
Overall Length: 156.5 (3974)
Overall Width (max. @ body): 68.3 (1736)
Overall Height: 51.8 (1315)
Wheelbase: 95.6 (2429)
Overhang, Front: 30.6 (777)
Overhang, Rear: 30.3 (769)
Curb Weight (estimated): 2600 lbs. (1179 kg)
Tire Size, Front/Rear: 58.7 (1491)
Wheel Size: 19 x 8 in.
Outer Diameter: 25.2 (640)
Exterior Color: Bright Amber Pearl
Interior Color: Carbon Black