2010 Dodge Demon: Concept Beauty Comes To Reality

Check out our New Dodge Inventory!!

Introduction

Chrysler exhibited the all-new Dodge roadster concept, called the Demon, at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The vehicle is designed to compete with the popular Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, as well as the Mazda MX-5.

The 2010 Dodge Demon is scheduled to hit showrooms in late 2009, one in the latest in front wheel drive production vehicles coming out in the next few years from Chrysler. This is compact, nimble little roadster with attitude and is a totally attainable dream car for everyone, according to Dodge.

This is Chryslers answer to the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Honda S2000 and Mazda MX-5. The Styling of the 2010 Dodge Demon comes from the V-10 Dodge Viper and will likely carry over with little change from the Demon. Amazingly the dimensions are very close to the Pontiac Solstice.

Known Information

 The Dodge Demon Concept is a "compact, nimble 'roadster with attitude'" and "an attainable dream car," according to its maker. To us, it was Chrysler's answer to the Honda S2000, Mazda MX-5, Pontiac

Solstice, and Saturn Sky. In early 2008, Chrysler announced the production version will use a front-wheel-drive chassis sourced from Chinese automaker Chery, so the Demon's sporting pretensions may be in question.

Former owner Mercedes-Benz sold a majority in Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management. Assuming a best-case outcome, the general view is that your local Dodge Boys could be selling Demons by model-year 2010.

The 2010 Dodge Demon bowed in concept-car form at the 2007 Geneva Auto Salon in Switzerland, which observers took as a sign that the Demon would spearhead a major Dodge sales push into overseas markets, where the brand is largely unknown. It's not hard to imagine the Demon introducing Dodge as a sporty "performance" brand to Europe, as well as to fast-growing markets like China.

The 2010 Dodge Demon would be a "halo" vehicle to spark sales of mainstream fare like the compact Caliber hatchback and Avenger sedan. Styling of the 2010 Dodge Demon borrows cues from the hulking V-10 Dodge Viper and would likely carry over with little change from the Demon concept. The Dodge Demon Concept used a 172-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. The Dodge Demon Concept sported 19-inch wheels, which could be a bit much for a showroom model.

Other concept features would likely survive with little or no alteration. These include the semi-retro cockpit design heavy on brushed-metal trim (or facsimiles); a manual-folding cloth top that hides beneath a hard cover just behind the cockpit; and a stubby roll bar behind each seat to protect occupants in case of a flip.

Market Based Decision Making

The rest of the 2010 Dodge Demon package will hinge on marketing decisions based heavily on competitors' pricing, but standards should include modern must-haves such as antilock disc brakes, traction control, and seat-mounted torso side airbags. We also wouldn't rule out a turbocharged Demon as a year-two addition with standard stability control, performance-tuned suspension and special trim.

It was all innocent fun, Dodge thought, but some people thought otherwise and wrote nasty letters, enough that Dodge adopted the prosaic Dart Sport handle. "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 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.

Functional Interior

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.

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 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.

Seating Comfort 

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. Read another overview on the Dodge Demon for more details.  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. Check out Edmunds' Inside Line about the manufacturing of the Demon.