2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat comes roaring back to SUV lineup

MANILA: Dodge has unveiled the 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat during the Dodge Speed Week event held at M1 Concourse in Michigan, USA.

Named as “the most powerful SUV on the planet,” the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is powered by the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V8 engine that churns out 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque.

There is a dedicated cooling circuit for the charge air coolers integrated into the supercharger housing to keep the air flowing into the engine cooler than 60 degrees Celsius. The supercharger also comes with twin-screw rotors to reduce air leakage and deliver optimal performance. The 2.38-liter supercharger has a drive ratio of 2.36:1 and a maximum speed of 14,600 rpm.

Between the cylinders, there is a cast-iron engine block with water jackets for optimal cooling. Sodium-cooled exhaust valves, hollow-stem intake valves, and steel-alloy heads that can endure as high as 900 degrees Celsius are also included. The exhaust system was also tuned to produce the growling Dodge DNA sound.

In the lower part of the front fascia, there is a cold air scoop to help feed the supercharger and the engine’s 92-millimeter throttle body.

Other key engine performance features include forged-steel crankshaft with induction-hardened bearing surfaces, specially tuned crankshaft damper, high-strength forged-alloy pistons, powder-forged connecting rods with high-load-capacity bushings, and diamond-like carbon-coated piston pins, piston-cooling oil jets, and heat-treated aluminum-alloy cylinder heads.

The Hellcat engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddles and seven drive modes: Auto, Sport, Track, Snow, Tow, Eco, and Valet.

“The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has generated a crazy amount of enthusiasm and demand since it was introduced in 2020 — we even extended its initial production run — so it seemed appropriate to bring back the most powerful SUV ever as part of our historic 2023 model-year Dodge lineup. Muscle enthusiasts also have families, and the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat can get those families where they want to go and has the ability to tow 8,700 pounds,” Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer Tim Kuniskis stated.

The 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 290 kph.

With the introduction of the Durango SRT Hellcat, the Dodge Durango now comes in six variants, including Durango SXT, GT, R/T, Citadel, and SRT 392.

As a pure performance brand, Dodge offers SRT variants of every model across the lineup. For the 2022 model year, Dodge offers the 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock; the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the world’s fastest mass-produced sedan; and the Dodge Durango SRT 932, America’s fastest three-row SUV.

Carrying the signature Dodge DNA, the Durango SRT Hellcat features a bold styling. Its front fascia has a chin splitter, engine oil cooler duct, air guide, and snorkel for cold air induction. The rear spoiler, on the other hand, maintains aerodynamic balance and generates 140 lbs of rear downforce at 290 kph.

The Durango is equipped with LED low/high headlamps and signature LED daytime running lamps (DRL). The front end produces a wide-cross car read. SRT Hellcat badges identify the Durango as a Hellcat.

The Durango SRT Hellcat features a high-end and futuristic cockpit with an available 10.1-inch Uconnect infotainment touchscreen angled seven degrees toward the driver. It also comes with red-accented gauges and heated and ventilated Nappa leather with suede front seats with an embroidered SRT logo.

Among the Uconnect features of the Durango SRT are “Smoke Show” start-up animation, a climate control page with Dodge stripe adjustable climate control icon, and “Mode person” with race helmet, unique Serpentine font, and a vehicle icon that features Durango graphic with SRT logo on the home page “category bar.”

The 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat also comes standard with electric power steering (EPS) with selectable steering tuning, Brembo high-performance six-piston two-piece (front) and four-piston (rear) calipers, and Durango-specific tuning.

Dodge offers available Plus and Premium packages for the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat.

The Plus package comes with high-performance Laguna leather seats, a trailer tow group, power sunroof, and adaptive and advanced safety features. Meanwhile, the Premium package also includes red seatbelts, a leather-wrapped instrument panel, carbon fiber interior accents, and a Harman Kardon 19-speaker sound system.

The Durango SRT Hellcat presented at M1 Concourse came with the available Blacktop package that includes Gloss black badging, Gloss Black mirror caps, and 20-inch Black Noise wheels.

Dodge will begin accepting orders for the 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat in September. Deliveries will start in early 2023.

Photos from Dodge

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