Dodge just couldn’t wait with this one (and thank you for that), which is why they pulled off the covers from their fastest ever full-size SUV – the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT just ahead of its Chicago Auto Show debut.
One thing might disappoint, though, and that is the lack of the brand’s 707 HP Hellcat engine. But what it has received is the 392 cubic-inch Hemi V8 that is capable of delivering 475 HP and 470 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to make this full-sized SUV run from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in a snappy 4.4 seconds and down the quarter mile in just 12.9 seconds. That is not something to neglect. But this SUV is not all about its V8 engine, it also has an abundant of impressive features as well.
First of those is the new cold-air intake that keeps feeding the powerplant with brisk cold air no matter what the driving scenario is. Then there is TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission which has been purposely calibrated for the Durango SRT, and when determining the appropriate shift map, it takes into account variables such as tire slip, engine torque gradients and longitudinal and lateral acceleration. To tie this all together the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT has two special driving regimes – a Sport Mode and a Track Mode. While in Sport Mode the transmission reduces shift times by 50% compared to Auto Mode while sending 65% of torque to the rear wheels. The Track Mode makes that figure rise to 70% while shift times drop to just 160 milliseconds. Other driving modes include Snow, Tow, Valet, and ECO.
Regarding the ride comfort and stability, it is our special privilege to inform you that the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT has Bilstein adaptive damping suspension combined with 3% stiffer front springs and 16% stiffer rear springs at all four of its corners. The rear sway bar has also been stiffened by 18% and stopping power of this sporty SUV are six-piston Brembo front calipers and four-piston rear calipers that are found peeking behind the large wheels. The orders for this SUV are not still active, but when the company starts taking them, customers will have 11 different exterior colors to choose from, and some of them include Ocean Blue Clear Coat, Sangria Metallica Clear Coat, and Vice White.
Interior will be featuring a flat-bottom performance steering wheel, heated and vented front and second-row seats, a 7-inch personally adaptable gauge cluster and an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system that includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a 5 year trial of SiriusXM.
Tim Kuniskis, head of passenger cars brands Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and Fiat for FCA North America when asked about this model said “The new 2018 Dodge Durango SRT is America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV. This is what you get, when you take everything great about the Durango and combine it with the performance of the Charger SRT: a 12-second quarter mile, toy-hauling, three-row muscle car”.
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