Among the many high performance vehicles in the Mopar display of the 2016 SEMA Show is the Dodge Durango 392 Shaker Concept. This SUV is a beautiful culmination of “parts bin” components along with a few extra features and a 485 horsepower engine – most of which could easily transition to a wicked production model.
The exterior might be the most noticeable aspect of the Durango 392 Shaker Concept, the look is not the most significant feature. That title goes to the 392 cubic inch SRT V8 tucked under the hood, delivering 485 horsepower and 475lb-ft of torque. It has long been rumored that Dodge will soon be offering a 3-row Durango with the 392 Hemi, and this is our first look at that drivetrain configuration from the automaker – even if only in SEMA concept form.
The production version of an SRT Durango might not look exactly like the 392 Shaker Concept, but it will likely have a similar drivetrain and some other similar components.
Speaking of the exterior, this is, in my opinion, the best looking sport utility vehicle ever. My love for the modern Shaker hood design has caused me to fall head over heels for this B5 beauty and I find every aspect of this concept to be automotive artwork.
The Shaker hood design fits the short (relative to the Challenger) front end nicely and while I miss the crosshairs, the free flowing grille looks good when paired with the aggressive front fascia – which has an integrated splitter design and the air catcher headlights from the Challenger serving as driving lights. The 22 inch Mopar wheels over Hellcat Challenger brakes fit this SUV perfectly, with a performance suspension setup pulling the body down a bit tighter to the high performance tires. Out back, the Durango Shaker Concept has a lower fascia similar to the early SRT8 Jeep, with two huge exhaust tips right in the middle. Finally, Mopar added the B5 Blue and black paint scheme, the black Mopar fuel door and six carbon fiber race buckets from the Dodge Viper.
The result is the best looking modern Durango, one which I believe would be a big hit if it came to market. We aren’t likely to see the Viper seats and I don’t think that the Shaker hood will be standard, but the wheels, the brakes, the front and rear fascia and the 485 horsepower Hemi all seem like perfect attributes for the SRT Durango.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
