2018 Dodge Durango SRT offers speed for the whole family

The performance SUV class is cluttered with European SUVs from Mercedes-AMG, BMW M Division, Porsche and Audi. The list even includes new entrants like the Nissan Patrol Nismo from Japan, say. But what if you wanted a fire-breathing SUV from the other side of the Atlantic? The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT was the only American option in the list, but not anymore. Dodge has plonked in a bomb of an engine under the hood of their Durango SUV to produce the 2018 Durango SRT, a 2.5-ton SUV with a quarter mile time of 12.9 seconds.

Pop the hood of the new 2018 Durango SRT and you’ll be able to find Dodge’s SRT-specific 6.4-litre Hemi V8 that is good for 475 hp and 637 Nm of torque. The 8-speed automatic transmission and the standard all-wheel-drive work together to produce some numbers that launch it right into sports car territory. The 0-100 kph blast will be dealt with in just a whisker more than 4.5 seconds and the quarter mile time is 12.9 seconds. Cylinder deactivation enables the Durango SRT to run on four cylinders when the full muscle is not required.

The changes in the aesthetics of the SRT is made to aid the performance that it is capable of. More air intakes in the hood and front fascia feed air into the engine. The cold-air inlet right above the fog light alone reduces engine temperature by 18 degrees. The large exhausts are tuned to sound like a 392 Charger.

Dodge has worked on the practicality part as well. The towing capacity of the Durango SRT has been hiked to 3900 kg which is about 544 kg more than what the current range topper, the 5.7-litre Durango R/T, can haul. Active noise cancellation is also available and it kicks in when the SRT is running on four cylinders and in tow mode to ease off the aural drama.

The 2018 Dodge Durango SRT will be showcased at the 2017 Chicago Motor Show. It may show up in UAE, KSA and GCC showrooms by summer next year if there is demand.