Here we go again… rumors have again surfaced that the Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology division is working on a high performance variant of the new Dodge Durango. Ever since the latest generation of the Durango was introduced, we have been hoping for an SRT8 version and according to an inside source who spoke with Allpar – work on such a vehicle is current in progress.
It is expected that if Chrysler does issue an SRT Durango, it will feature the same basic drivetrain components as the current Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. This means that it would likely pack the 392 cubic inch Hemi with 470 horsepower and 470lb-ft of torque, an 8-speed automatic transmission and an advanced all wheel drive system. The SRT Durango would also likely feature some sort of adjustable sport suspension that would afford it the ability to offer race-inspired road handling capabilities without compromising its ability to do things like tow and haul.
While the SRT variants of the Dodge Durango and the Jeep Grand Cherokee would technically compete, the proportions and design of the two big SUVs are unique enough that these two high performance haulers would each offer their own advantages. The Durango has been marketed as a street performance vehicle with a lower, sportier stance while the Grand Cherokee sits higher with a design that looks more capable racing off road. While the exterior additions of the SRT Jeep make it very clear that it is a performance vehicle – the Durango SRT design naturally offers a much sportier design that could be even more aggressive with the SRT touch. Basing the SRT Durango on the current R/T package but with more aggressive angles, wheels and a redesigned hood would make this high performance Dodge SUV one of the baddest looking SUVs on the planet.
The other possibility is that the SRT Durango being developed could be one of the vehicles to feature the upcoming “Hellcat Hemi”. There have long been rumors that the company is designing a 6.2L supercharged engine with somewhere in the range of 550-640 horsepower and that mill would make the SRT Durango real competition for the highest performance sport utility vehicles in the world.
"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.
