Besides perhaps its price, it’s hard to find faults with the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S. Especially when it comes to straight-line speed. But there’s one car that still makes waves at the dragstrip: the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. So, what happens when these two super-speeders go head-to-head? Carwow decided to find out.

The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is still, well, a speed demon

Although the latest Challenger Drag Pak race car can out-pace it, the Dodge Demon commands a healthy amount of respect. That’s because of the numbers it can put down.

Under the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon’s hood is a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8. However, it has stronger internals, a performance air filter, a larger supercharger, and several software tweaks, Car and Driver reports. As a result, on 93-octane gas, the engine makes 808 hp and 770 lb-ft, Road & Track reports. But those software tweaks let it run on 104-octane racing fuel instead, which bumps the output up to 840 hp. And all that power goes to the rear wheels.

The extra output, though, is just the start of the Dodge Demon’s drag-racing modifications. It has standard drag-radial tires, a beefed-up eight-speed automatic with a trans brake, and re-tuned adaptive Bilstein dampers, Top Gear and The Drive report. The Demon also uses its air-conditioning system to ‘power-chill’ the supercharger and intercooler, Roadshow reports. Plus, it has optional super-skinny front drag-racing wheels.

With all of this, the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon accelerates so fast it can lift its front wheels in the air, MotorTrend reports. On a dragstrip, Dodge claims it goes 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds and runs the ¼-mile in 9.65 seconds, Autotrader reports. At least one owner has confirmed the latter, Motor1 reports, as has the NHRA. This is why the Demon was officially banned from competition, as such speeds require roll cages.

But the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S is also freakishly fast

Compared to the Dodge Demon, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S can seem almost tame. It has AWD instead of RWD, and a smaller-capacity engine. But even so, on paper, it can match the Demon’s speed.

Like the ‘base’ Turbo, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S has a rear-mounted 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine. But instead of 572 hp and 553 lb-ft, it makes 640 hp and 590 lb-ft, Roadshow reports. Combined with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic and launch control, it’s enough to make it the second-fastest car MT and Car and Driver have ever tested.

In MT’s hands, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S went 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds. Car and Driver managed a 2.2-second run. And as for the ¼-mile, MT ran it in 10.3 seconds, while Car and Driver did it in 10.1 seconds. All of which was on conventional Pirelli P Zero road tires.

How Carwow tested them

Carwow’s tests were relatively straightforward.

The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S and 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon ran in two sets of ¼-mile drag races: several from a standing start, and several from a 50-mph start. The former tested the cars’ launch control systems, while the latter was purely about transmission and engine tuning. And after racing, the two cars did a 70-mph brake test.

On paper, it seems like the Dodge Demon has a slight edge. However, it’s worth pointing out that it performs best on a prepped dragstrip with racing fuel. And Carwow used neither. But the Porsche 911 Turbo S can lay down sub-2.5 seconds outside of a dragstrip. And it has AWD.

Also, ¼-mile and 0-60 mph tests are condition-dependent. Carwow’s testing site was cold and rain-soaked; that’s not good for generating impressive acceleration figures. Though, to be fair, that impacts both the Demon and the 911.

Which is faster: the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon or the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S?

Ultimately, Carwow ran the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and Porsche 911 Turbo S through three standing-start and two rolling-start races. And unfortunately for the Demon, it lost all but the last rolling race.

Despite having the trans brake and its tire-warming line-lock feature, it simply couldn’t keep its power down. Host Mat Watson had to struggle to maintain traction. As a result, it finished the standing ¼-mile 1.1 seconds behind the 911 Turbo S. And the only reason the Dodge Demon won the last rolling race is because it started in fourth gear—it spun its wheels even in third.

However, despite being heavier, the Dodge Demon nearly matched the Porsche 911 Turbo S’s braking performance. The 911 finished a nose behind the Demon, even with carbon-ceramic brakes.

Still, in a straight line on the street, the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S can smoke the Demon.

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