The new 2018 Dodge Durango SRT is here with sportier bodywork, more power, better acceleration and best-in-class tow capability in the 3-row SUV segment and is claimed to be the fastest SUV in its class.
The transformation from family hauler to performance SUV begins with exteriors. The 2018 Dodge Durango SRT carries a SRT hood with functional center air-inlet ducts flanked by heat extractors. A new front fascia and lower valence house the new cold-air duct and LED fog lamps. There is also a new SRT-inspired grille mesh pattern finish. New integrated pronounced wheel flares and body-color side rocker panels help provide an aggressive stance. The “392” badges flanking each fender with Bright Chrome and Metallic Grey accents differentiate this ultimate performance Durango. The SRT rolls on standard 5-spoke 20-inch “Goliath” wheels with a new “Black Noise” finish ride on Pirelli 295/45ZR20 Scorpion Verde all-season tires or available Pirelli P Zero three-season tires. Similar sized wheels with split-spoke design is also available. At the rear, a new SRT rear body-color lower fascia with Gloss Black accent surrounds the 4-inch dual round exhaust tips finished in Nickel Chrome. The Durango SRT is also distinguished by new badging on the rear liftgate that denotes the new performance AWD system.
Under the hood is a 392-cubic-inch HEMI® V-8 Fuel Saver Technology that delivers 475 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 470 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm of torque allowing it to race from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.4 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds as certified by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
The 2018 Dodge Durango SRT is claimed to take only 115 feet to come to a full stop from 96 km/h (60 mph) thanks to new Brembo high-performance 6-piston clamping 15-inch vented rotors upfront and 13.8-inch dia. rear rotors clamped by 4-piston calipers.
Mated to this engine is a TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission controlled by a new driver-oriented electronic T-shifter. The transmission comes with a “rev match” function uses the engine controller to blip the throttle, to improves transition smoothness and launch control.
There new SRT has seven-mode drives. The Sport Mode reduces shift times by up to 50 percent and delivers up to 65 percent of the torque to the rear wheels. New Track Mode reduces it to 160-millisecond shifts and up to 70 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels. The Snow mode uses second gear AWD is set to 50/50 distribution. The Tow mode by using full stability control; AWD is set to 50/50 distribution and trailer sway control is enabled in the ESC system. There is even a Valet mode that remaps the engine to match a Charger V-6 engine’s output; transmission locks out access to first gear and upshifts earlier than normal; traction, steering and suspension are set to their Auto settings; steering wheel paddle shifters are disabled; ESC is enabled to Full-on and launch control is disabled. Finally, the ECO mode second-gear starts and revised shift schedule.
The Dodge Durango SRT rides on independent front suspension with coil springs and in the rear, a specially tuned multi-link suspension design at the rear; with Bilstein adaptive damping suspension (ADS) on both ends of the 120-inch wheelbase.
Inside the refreshed cabin is a hand-wrapped dashboard with live silver accent stitch, SRT flat-bottom SRT steering wheel with standard paddle shift, heated and ventilated front and heated second-row captain’s chairs with embossed SRT logos. Nappa leather with suede inserts and silver-stitched SRT logos are standard, while Demonic Red Laguna leather interior with embossed SRT logos is optional.
For the first time in the SRT model include new Light Black Chrome center stack, HVAC, full console and door handle bezels and for the first time on Durango a true carbon-fibre instrument panel and door bezels will be offered. The SUV s also equipped with velour bound floor mats and Dynamica suede on the headliner and A pillars; with plenty of SRT logo plastered around.
A newly designed 7-inch, thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable digital instrument gauge cluster with 180-mph. The Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen media center houses the new SRT Performance Pages along with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD radio, downloadable apps and 5-year trial of SiriusXM Travel Link and Traffic. The standard BeatsAudio premium sound system features nine speakers, subwoofer and 506-Watt amplifier.
The 2018 Dodge Durango SRT is available in 11 exterior colors. There are 60 available safety and security features, including standard all-speed traction control, ESC, a standard trailer-sway control, forward collision warning with crash mitigation, adaptive cruise control with stop, Uconnect Access, Blind-spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Path (RCP) detection, standard front-row active head restraints and seven standard airbags.
The Durango SRT is built at the 3-million-square-foot Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) in Detroit, which has been the site of Durango production since its introduction in the 2011 model year.
The 2018 Dodge Durango SRT will make its debut at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show and will be available global dealerships in the fourth quarter of 2017. We expect here in the GCC in the early part of 2018.
