Want a sneak peek at the 2018 North American International Auto Show before the doors open to the public? While there’s chatter among the motoring press regarding a world filled with self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles, the future can wait for now. High-octane fuel runs through our veins when we get behind the wheel of machines motivated by the legendary HEMI^® engine and plant our right foot.

This yearly event, known as NAIAS among the folks in the industry, is held at Cobo Center, located in the heart of Detroit, just a burnout away from the iconic Woodward Avenue. In this city, one’s reputation is built on how fast their car runs. Remember, it’s not called the Motor City for nothing. It’s been known for cranking out affordable muscle cars for many decades to the masses. High-horsepower engines neatly packaged between the fenders and under the hoods of cars blazoned in wild colors, stripes and scoops rule in Detroit and all across the USA.

The Dodge/SRT^® brand has more horsepower per square-foot at Cobo than any other manufacturer. The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, yanking the front wheels, takes center stage. This hellraising muscle car, packing 840 horses under its satin black aluminum hood, is a beacon drawing enthusiasts from all over the world into the Dodge display to show them how we roll. During the media preview days, some had a chance to try their hand in cutting a reaction time and putting down a quick ET in the SRT Demon Simulators.

Surrounding the Demon is a slew of HEMI^®-powered cousins, including the supercharged, 707-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody, Dodge Challenger T/A (wearing the all-new F8 Green paint), and the Dodge Charger Scat Pack in Destroyer Grey. The all-new Dodge Durango SRT is also on the show floor giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “family hauler”.

Be sure to check out the 6.2L supercharged HEMI engine that powers the Demon. It’s proudly on display and close enough to see the inner-workings of this engineering marvel that set new records and created quite a reputation among enthusiasts and competition. Take a peek inside the SRT Demon Crate that includes all the goodies for you to attack the drag strip at will.

The North American International Auto Show public days run from Saturday, January 20 through Sunday, January 28. Head down to Cobo Center and check out the Dodge muscle machines, they’re guaranteed to heat things up this winter and give the Motor City an early thaw.