Dodge Durango (2011)

A drag coefficient of approximately 0.35 enables an aerodynamic improvement of more than 14 percent compared with its predecessor, contributing to quiet interior and improved fuel efficiency.

Inside, the new Dodge Durango boasts 28 different seating configurations, with as much as 85 cubic feet of cargo and storage areas, leaving plenty of legroom for passengers and gear. With second- and third-row seats folded flat, the Durango can fit a 6-foot couch with room for a coffee table, or for do-it-yourselfers, enough 10-foot 2x4s to build a tree house. Creating versatile and usable cargo space is important to the segment.

Visibility over the third row was critical. Engineering and design worked together to develop a simple solution. When the third row is empty, a single motion actuator can drop the headrests with the push of a button to increase visibility.

Every path that leads to the interior is sealed in one or more ways and joints are made as tight as possible by using sealer between panels, which expands during the paint process. Laminated glass comes standard in all models. Dodge Durango features a double wall separating the engine compartment and the vehicle cabin to limit the amount of under-hood engine noise to occupants.

TWO POWERTRAIN SYSTEMS COMPLEMENT THE DRIVING SPIRIT

The all-new Dodge Durango is available with two powertrains that provide rear-wheel-drive performance and fuel efficiency. Engines available in the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango include the flex-fuel 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 - both engines feature variable valve timing (VVT). When equipped with the Pentastar V-6, the Dodge Durango can drive more than 500 miles on a tank of gas.

3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine

The 3.6-liter V-6 engine is an all-new design, featuring double-overhead camshafts (DOHC) and a high-pressure die-cast aluminum cylinder block in a 60 degree configuration. Contributing to best-in-class V-6 towing for Dodge Durango, the engine delivers 290 horsepower (216 kW) at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. (353 N•m) of torque at 4,800 rpm, providing customers with more than 14 percent improvement in fuel economy, a 38 percent increase in horsepower and 11 percent increase in torque over the engine it replaces. The EPA fuel economy miles per gallon (mpg) (City/Hwy) are 16/23 for rear-wheel-drive models, 16/22 for all-wheel-drive models.

5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine

The all-new 2011 Dodge Durango is also available with the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with fuel-saver mode. The 5.7-liter delivers 360 horsepower (268 kW) and 390 lb.-ft. of torque (520 N•m) at 4,250 rpm and also features VVT. The available V-8 delivers performance, best-in-class 7,400 lbs. of towing capability and fuel efficiency. The EPA fuel economy mpg (City/Hwy) is 14/20 for rear-wheel-drive models and 13/20 for all-wheel-drive models.

The 2011 Dodge Durango features two automatic transmissions and two available full-time all-wheel-drive systems (V-6 and V-8 versions). The drivelines provide smooth operation of the vehicle over a variety of road conditions. Where competitors have switched to car-based platforms, the HEMI-powered, all-wheel-drive Dodge Durango features a low-range transfer case for light off-road recreation and to ease maneuvers while towing, such as pulling a boat out of the water from a high degree launch or backing up with a trailer attached.

A PLANTED PROFILE AND AN UNFORGETTABLE INTERIOR

The all-new Dodge Durango carries the muscular body and confident personality customers expect from Dodge and surprises with all the utility and convenience designed to fulfill the needs of a three-row family or the active individual with plenty of recreational equipment.

"We took the performance car mantra from our own backyard and applied the formula to Durango," said Joe Dehner, Head of Dodge and Ram Design - Chrysler Group LLC. "The Durango and Charger were designed at the same time, allowing the bold styling from the Charger to spill over to our all-new three-row SUV."

In line with Charger, the side profile of the Dodge Durango features a powerful shape, accented by muscular fender arches and curves that flow back in through the doors, resembling the iconic shape of a "coke-bottle." The greenhouse of the car blends seamlessly into the body, completing the "double-diamond" shape. A body-color rear spoiler significantly reduces drag and adds visual drama to the side profile.

The Dodge Durango's all-new interior is a surprise owners always deserved but never expected. Created by the same interior design studio that designed the much-lauded interior in the Ram trucks and the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango's upscale interior materials and thoughtful design will make owners and their crews want to jump in, hunker down and thoroughly enjoy even the longest drive. Everywhere they touch, from the steering wheel all the way back to the soft third row armrest, Dodge Durango passengers will feel materials that are refined. Not only is it a pleasure to behold, it is extremely functional and gives owners a first-class experience, regardless of the trim level. Durango's interior is also extremely comfortable for all three rows of passengers, and there's a surprising amount of interior flexibility.

The all-new instrument panel features a beautifully crafted monotone or two-tone appearance with a dark upper and lighter lower color and premium soft-touch materials for all price classes. Panel construction also features tighter gaps when compared to its predecessor and almost 50 percent fewer intersections of parts for higher fit and finish levels, giving customers "I can't believe this is mine" looks.

MORE THAN 45 SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES AVAILABLE

The all-new 2011 Dodge Durango offers consumers 45 safety and security features, including standard electronic stability control (ESC) that delivers three security features to improve overall vehicle stability both on- and off-road: electronic roll mitigation (ERM) reacts and applies brakes during extreme situations, while available Hill-start Assist (HSA) works with standard Trailer-sway Control (TSC) to enhance off-road and towing capabilities.

Other safety and security features available on the 2011 Dodge Durango include Blind-spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Path (RCP) detection, which aid drivers when they're changing lanes or in parking lot situations. In addition, Dodge Durango features standard seat-mounted air bags in the front row. A side curtain air bag extends protection to all three rows. Dodge Durango also includes standard front-row active head restraints.

QUALITY IS TESTED WITH A NEW PROCESS

Chrysler Group engineers put the 2011 Dodge Durango to the test, actually thousands of tests, to ensure its performance and reliability for the long haul.

"The Dodge Durango was designed, developed and built with quality as a top priority at every stage of the process," said Doug Betts, Senior Vice President, Quality - Chrysler Group LLC. "For example, we have increased the precision and the number of evaluations of fit-and-finish, making adjustments starting with the early digital design phase. Our engineers benchmark hundreds of criteria to set and achieve aggressive targets for performance against competitors."

Beginning with the all-new models developed for the 2011 model year, Chrysler Group has significantly increased the number of reliability testing miles. Engineers tested the new Dodge Durango for the equivalent of 6 million miles during its reliability and durability evaluation in the company's scientific labs, at the proving grounds and on public roads in various climates. This builds upon the 7.5 million testing miles of the Dodge Durango's platform mate, Jeep Grand Cherokee, for a total of 13.5 million miles for the company's redesigned SUV platform.

Chrysler Group has adopted new manufacturing quality processes from its global alliance partner Fiat as part of the World Class Manufacturing (WCM) initiative. To help consistently execute these standards, the Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) in Detroit, where the Dodge Durango is built, is the first Chrysler Group assembly plant to house a Metrology Center.

The Metrology Center is a new 20,000-square-foot space within the body shop dedicated to verifying the fit of each body component and how well it conforms to the design requirement.

Quality inspections do not end once Dodge Durango SUVs reach the end of the assembly line. During the initial launch, 60 to 100 newly-built vehicles are randomly selected and driven up to 60 miles in a final verification test to make sure the customer receives top notch quality.

HIGH-TECH FEATURES KEEP PASSENGERS ENTERTAINED AND SECURE

From families taking a long road trip and needing to keep the kids entertained, to sports enthusiasts who don't want to miss the game and teens who can't live without on-line gaming, the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango offers the latest high-tech features to keep driver's eyes on the road and passengers connected. Drivers can communicate, navigate and select entertainment options with advanced voice-recognition controls. Passengers can stay entertained with the latest available features, including, SIRIUS Satellite Radio™, SIRIUS Backseat TV™ and Uconnect® Web.