Mopar’s lineup of performance SUVs just doubled. Earlier today, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles revealed the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT, a three-row sport-ute that can blast from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds and knock out the quarter-mile in less than 13 seconds.
Sadly for all those Hellcat-obsessed muscle car fanatics out there, the Dodge Durango SRT doesn’t come packing Mopar’s supercharged 6.2-liter engine beneath its broad hood. Instead, the new Dodge uses the same naturally-aspirated 6.4-liter Hemi V8 found in everything from the Charger Scat Pack to the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. For Durango duty, the engine makes 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque; routing that to all four wheels via a rev-matching eight-speed torque converter automatic.
Performance is the Dodge Durango SRT’s mission
Much like other SRT models, the new Dodge Durango packs a bevy of performance-minded modes, settings, and configurations, enabling drivers to tweak the SUV as they see fit for a given task. Sport Mode and Track Mode deliver increasing faster shifts and push the power bias towards the rear wheels. The valves for the active dampers open and close at different frequencies, depending on which mode the Dodge is in, while the springs and rear sway bar have all been stiffened for better handling overall. And since this ain’t no featherweight, this SRT comes with Brembo brakes all around—six-piston calipers and 15-inch rotors up front, four-pistons and 13.8-inchers in back. Pirelli rubber sized 295/25/20 sits on all four corners; all-seasons are standard, while P Zeroes come as an option.
But this Dodge values style, too
The Dodge Durango was always one of the most handsome members in the SUV field, so it’s not surprising that the SRT version is easy on the eyes. There’s a scoop and heat extractors atop the hood, an aggressive new front fascia hiding the SUV’s cold-air intake, and flared fenders for a little more tough-guy swagger. And since it’s an SRT product, you can bet there are plenty of badges: “392” ones on the flanks, and one announcing the performance AWD system on the back.
Inside, Dodge decked out the SRT Durango with “performance” leather (maybe it breathes better?) and real carbon fiber trim, a flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters, optional “suede” headliner and A-pillars (we’re guessing Mopar means Alcantara, but hey, who knows), and a speedo that climbs to an ambitious-but-potentially-attainable 180 miles per hour. Interestingly enough, the Durango SRT packs second-row captain’s chairs, so here’s hoping you weren’t planning on taking more than five pals on that top speed run.
Dodge’s press release runs several thousand words long, so we don’t have time to run down the whole thing here. But if you want to dive into greater detail on the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT, you can read the whole thing here.
