2011 Dodge Durango R/T

[psntomaz]

http://www.ridelust.com/ridelust-exclusive-2011-dodge-durango-rt-first-pics

 

[Tornado]

But, wait, I thought the Durango was dead? This is certainly a surprise. Is it Grand Cherokee based, since the Dakota is being killed off next year without replacement?

 

[JCE]

Looks ok, but I smell a Cherokee underneath. Which would be a significant improvement over the Durango.

Hope the interior isn't too horrible...

 

[Northstar]

But, wait, I thought the Durango was dead? This is certainly a surprise. Is it Grand Cherokee based, since the Dakota is being killed off next year without replacement?

It's Grand Cherokee based, it's even going to be built in the same factory.

Anyways, what's up with there basically being no badges(Yes, I see the tiny "Dodge" on the grill), are they that embarrassed they don't even want people to know it's a Chrysler product?

 

[SuperShouden]

I've got mixed fillings about this one. From the front it looks sweet, but from the side it looks...ugly. I don't know. I still say the original '98 Durango was still the best design, and, if I were to buy one, that's the body style I'd get.

 

[Crash]

I agree with SuperShouden, the original Durangos still look the best. This one just looked like a tarted up and bigger Toyota Highlander, especially from the side. Oh and the front is too frilly with those headlights and the lower bumper.

 

[psntomaz]

This is the only site where people don't know the details of this SUV/CUV lol....

Anyway yea its on the JGC platform but its streched to seat 7 instead of 5 like the Jeep. Its not really your typical SUV since it isn't a 4X4.. what's suprising is that this isn't aimed at tahos, yukons or exibition. It target is the traverse, explores, and equinox. Selling point of this will be that it can Tow somthing, its RWD standard!, V6 has more power than the compeition and on top of that it has a optional Hemi!

 

[SuperShouden]

This is the only site where people don't know the details of this SUV/CUV lol....

Anyway yea its on the JGC platform but its stretched to seat 7 instead of 5 like the Jeep. Its not really your typical SUV since it isn't a 4X4.. what's surprising is that this isn't aimed at Tahoe, Yukon or expedition. It target is the traverse, explores, and equinox. Selling point of this will be that it can Tow something, its RWD standard!, V6 has more power than the competition and on top of that it has a optional Hemi!

So, it's a full sized SUV aimed at mid-size SUVs? Although, the Durango DID start out as a Mid-size SUV targeted at the Expedition and others. However, the second-gen was full size, as is this beast. I don't understand why they're trying to use it to attack the mid-size class when the Nitro is perfectly capable of doing that. Or do they intend to have the mid-sized Nitro attack the full-sized Explorers, Exquinox and such?

 

[homeforsummer]

This is the only site where people don't know the details of this SUV/CUV lol....

Perhaps unsurprising in a site full of people more likely to be interested in sports cars...

Anyways, what's up with there basically being no badges(Yes, I see the tiny "Dodge" on the grill), are they that embarrassed they don't even want people to know it's a Chrysler product?

To be fair, the grille itself is fairly distinctive. Had there been no badge at all I'd have not had any trouble realising it was a Dodge, and I don't even live in the U.S.

 

[Gunma36]

Isn't there enough cr*p in the world?

 

[Joey D]

So that's what these things are that are running around here, I've seen the regular Durango's but then there was a Durango with an area kit running around and I was confused.

It'll be awful though. I can't honestly think what this even competes with other then the Jeep Cherokee SRT-8. GM realised that performance SUV's are a thing of the past and to some extent Ford did the same thing. There are sporty SUV's out there but they are all for luxury manufactures as far as I know and Dodge is about as far from luxury as it gets.

 

[psntomaz]

Perhaps unsurprising in a site full of people more likely to be interested in sports cars...


To be fair, the grille itself is fairly distinctive. Had there been no badge at all I'd have not had any trouble realising it was a Dodge, and I don't even live in the U.S.

I didn't know the focus, Ranger, and mini car topics were about sport cars lol jk[

 

[psntomaz]

So, it's a full sized SUV aimed at mid-size SUVs? Although, the Durango DID start out as a Mid-size SUV targeted at the Expedition and others. However, the second-gen was full size, as is this beast. I don't understand why they're trying to use it to attack the mid-size class when the Nitro is perfectly capable of doing that. Or do they intend to have the mid-sized Nitro attack the full-sized Explorers, Exquinox and such?

Explorers were never full sized, you got your classes totally mixed up

...full size=Expedition suburban, yukon tahoe, sequoia land crusier

Mid size=Explorers trailblazer durango,GJ cherokee, hightlander

mini ute=escape, librety, nitro rav 4

The last gen durango was still the same size as the exploer just with a useless 3 row seat.

So that's what these things are that are running around here, I've seen the regular Durango's but then there was a Durango with an area kit running around and I was confused.

It'll be awful though. I can't honestly think what this even competes with other then the Jeep Cherokee SRT-8. GM realised that performance SUV's are a thing of the past and to some extent Ford did the same thing. There are sporty SUV's out there but they are all for luxury manufactures as far as I know and Dodge is about as far from luxury as it gets.

1. GM whimped out and canned the trailblazer and bassically thier SS program for the "crossover".
2. Ford was never successfull with a performance SUV
3 Dodge never had a performance SUV and still doesn't today. The RT is just a sportier trim level of the "citadale" model which is full of chorme both has the Hemi for better towin compacity?.... why in the world would you think a 360hp Durango RT would compete with a 426hp SRT8 Cherokee?

 

[Omnis]

Exterior pics of Dodges are irrelevant and useless.

 

[Joey D]

1. GM whimped out and canned the trailblazer and bassically thier SS program for the "crossover".
2. Ford was never successfull with a performance SUV
3 Dodge never had a performance SUV and still doesn't today. The RT is just a sportier trim level of the "citadale" model which is full of chorme both has the Hemi for better towin compacity?.... why in the world would you think a 360hp Durango RT would compete with a 426hp SRT8 Cherokee?

1.) The Trailblazer SS didn't sell well and had fuel economy figures that were downright laughable even for an SUV. I mean it was rated at 12mpg. Yes they scraped the Trailblazer project but body on frame SUV's are the thing of the past, it's time to move on and GM saw the light thankfully.

2. You'll see Ford start putting EcoBoost in things but they may not really be consider "sports SUV's", although under Ford's ownership we did see some hopped up Land Rovers. You also have the Mazda SUV things which are fairly sporty.

3. The first generation Durango had an R/T trim level with the 5.9L V8 and AWD, so yes they have had had performance SUV in the past. There was also the modified Shelby version of Durango as well...which is cool in a god awful sort of a way.

The new Durango R/T is a performance SUV and really the only other performance SUV on the market that isn't luxury is the SRT-8 Jeep...which they don't even sell at the current moment (although judging by the vehicles driving around here, it's coming). Everything else is in the luxury segment.

This is just Chrysler doing what Chrysler does best, building vehicles that aren't relevant any more in the market.

 

[Tornado]

The new Durango R/T is a performance SUV and really the only other performance SUV on the market that isn't luxury is the SRT-8 Jeep

Why are you saying that this is a performance SUV?

 

[homeforsummer]

I didn't know the focus, Ranger, and mini car topics were about sport cars lol jk[

True enough. But the ones you didn't mention pretty much all are

 

[psntomaz]

Why are you saying that this is a performance SUV?

I have no idea also. If that's the case, the base 98 5.9 V8 durango without the R/T package is also the performance SUV.

 

[Jondot]

Why are you saying that this is a performance SUV?

Presumably because it looks like one.

 

[Joey D]

R/T tends to designate "performance" from the Dodge brand. Would you prefer if I used the term "sporty SUV"?

 

[Keef]

Right, R/T is Dodge's performance designation. I personally think its almost laughable that they'd bother putting it on this presumably body-on-frame truck. What's next, a Tahoe SS? A Shelby Expedition GT500? There's a reason Dodge's competition quit on the "sports" SUVs idea, as Joey already outlined.

 

[psntomaz]

The cherokee and durango are unibody suvs....

 

[buickgnx88]

Actually a Tahoe SS would be badass. Course it was too bad they didn't make one back when they sold the Silverado SS.

 

[Keef]

The cherokee and durango are unibody suvs....

Ah yes, right you are. That brings us to the problem of who these trucks will compete against. The Grand Cherokee is a luxury offering, and therefore a performance model makes sense in the market, as its competition offers performance versions and they sell.

But the Durango's competition, stuff like the Explorer, Expedition, Traverse, Arcadia, Pilot, RAV4, stuff like that, don't have performance versions because nobody wants performance versions. Maybe they're exploring a niche of HEMI-powered hardass soccer dads or something.

Actually a Tahoe SS would be badass. Course it was too bad they didn't make one back when they sold the Silverado SS.

Right, it was too bad they didn't waste even more money on a Tahoe SS that would have sold just as pitifully as the wholly underwhelming Silverado SS did.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, the R/T really doesn't mean as much as what it used to. The worked-up stuff is the SRT models, and even then, I'm not expecting an SRT Durango. That's what the Cherokee is for, and the Cherokee will likely stand alone in that market until they do a crazy EcoBoost Explorer.

As for the idea of sporting trucks in general, its both good and bad. Between the old 454 SS and Lightning, I think those were done pretty well. The later SRT-10 Ram was pretty bad ass, no matter what you want to think of it. I personally liked the Trailblazer SS mainly because it was actually useful as a truck (unlike the SRT-8 Cherokee), being able to tow and so on. The Silverado SS deserved more power, but GM wouldn't do it.

*sigh*

Remember when people had money?

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> For those who are wondering about the '11 Durango interior pics, here it is:

 

[Jim Prower]

shiiiiinyyyyy

Thought...wouldn't this be the "Ram" Durango now?

 

[psntomaz]

Ah yes, right you are. That brings us to the problem of who these trucks will compete against. The Grand Cherokee is a luxury offering, and therefore a performance model makes sense in the market, as its competition offers performance versions and they sell.

But the Durango's competition, stuff like the Explorer, Expedition, Traverse, Arcadia, Pilot, RAV4, stuff like that, don't have performance versions because nobody wants performance versions. Maybe they're exploring a niche of HEMI-powered hardass soccer dads or something.


Right, it was too bad they didn't waste even more money on a Tahoe SS that would have sold just as pitifully as the wholly underwhelming Silverado SS did.

But people are getting the RT mixed up with a SRT model... this isn't a performance version of the durango since its not a SRT... its just dodges style of everything being "sporty" and "aggressive", the V8 is just for addtional towing compacity that its competiton doesn't have..

 

[psntomaz]

shiiiiinyyyyy

Thought...wouldn't this be the "Ram" Durango now?

No cause this isn't a vehical intended (opps sp?) For "work" especially since it has no 4x4 option. The dakota will be in the Ram brand.

 

[Joey D]

But people are getting the RT mixed up with a SRT model... this isn't a performance version of the durango since its not a SRT... its just dodges style of everything being "sporty" and "aggressive", the V8 is just for addtional towing compacity that its competiton doesn't have..

From the article you posted:

Say hello to the all new 2011 Dodge Durango R/T, an SUV that promises to bring a little sport back into the world of SUV’s.

From a styling perspective the new the R/T gets treated to a new lower and more aggressive front lip spoiler, rear color-keyed deck lid spoiler and special 20-inch wheels. A blacked out honeycomb grill has also found its way onto the big SUV to help round out what is likely to be a very sporty package.

As of right now we don’t have any new details on an updated suspension, brakes and or new exhaust for the new R/T, but as soon as we get some new info we’ll let you guys know. Hopefully fans of Dodge’s R/T line will give the this truck some serious thought, because I’ll be honest, if this thing does everything an SUV should do, plus hauls ass, well then Dodge may just have a real winner here.

It appears it will be more then just a tow rig, Dodge designed this to be sporty and its a market that no longer exists.