The Hellcat series is a sensitive topic for Dodge, as the automaker is currently preparing to pull the plug on the fabulous 6.2-liter supercharged V8 for good. On top of that, the aging Challenger and Charger duo will leave production at the end of the year. We've also seen the next-gen Ram 1500 TRX testing, though it won't feature a whining eight-cylinder engine under the hood anymore.
Are you curious about the Durango, which is also available in the range-topping Hellcat configuration? Well, it still has some life left in it, so the Stellantis-owned marque will keep it around through 2025. Subsequently, it will be replaced by an entirely new generation in 2026.
The rumor mill speaks about the next-gen Dodge Durango going down the obvious electric route with an all-quiet powertrain (or perhaps more). However, that doesn't mean it's the end of the line for the ICE-powered variants, which will also hit the assembly line next to the EV – this is what certain outlets believe anyway.
Discontinuing the current Durango is anything but surprising. You see, the third generation is very old by today's standards, and despite being constantly upgraded over the years, it has started losing its appeal. It came out in 2010, with production taking place at the company's Detroit factory, which is also where the next one is said to come to life, and it builds on the same platform as the old Jeep Grand Cherokee and the ML and GL duo from Mercedes.
Photo: Screenshot Youtube | Digimods Design
Paying just over $40,000 before destination will get you the base SXT with two-wheel drive and a 293 hp 3.6-liter V6 engine. The most affordable V8 is the R/T, which starts at over $54,000, featuring a 360 hp 5.7-liter V8. The SRT 392 brings a 6.4-liter V8 with 475 hp to the party, carrying a $73,715 MSRP, and the SRT Hellcat tops the family, priced from $94,605.
In case you forgot, it takes as little as 3.5 seconds to sprint to sixty miles an hour (97 kph), with a 180 mph (290 kph) top speed. Thus, it can take a swing at the exotic crossover establishment. The quarter-mile is dealt with in 11.5 seconds, and under the hood lies the Hellcat motor, a 6.2-liter V8 with supercharging making 710 hp (720 ps/530 kW) and 645 lb-ft (875 Nm) of torque.
While we're still a couple of years away from reportedly seeing the next-gen Dodge Durango, the model already exists in the rendering world, with Digimods Design on YouTube imagining it in the top-of-the-line configuration. It draws its styling from some of the brand's existing models, hence the familiar approach, and we wouldn't be upset if the car manufacturer decides to use this design. Would you?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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