Bergey's Chrysler Jeep Dodge

Buckle in and hold tight. Dodge is jumping back into the sport utility segment with the 2011 Dodge Durango, a three-row vehicle spacious enough to carry the entire crew and performance-tuned to thrill anyone who truly loves to drive.

Durango will lead the Dodge brand's new product onslaught for 2011. From its sleek exterior design to its modern, spacious interior, and intelligent, fuel-efficient and powerful powertrain options, the 2011 Dodge Durango is all-new from the inside out. And the changes are more than skin deep. The Durango's unibody structure is more than 25 percent stiffer than its predecessor. The end result is a vehicle with crossover versatility, SUV capability and performance in a different league than its competitive class.

"Dodge Durango appeals to customers who need the versatility of a crossover and capability of an SUV, but want the refinement and characteristics of a premium performance vehicle," said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand and Senior Vice President, Design - Chrysler Group LLC. "Durango owners love to drive and relish the feelings it evokes, but also want a vehicle that stands out from the crowd and expresses their individuality."  Durango customers live busy lives. They need a vehicle that is spacious and flexible enough to haul three rows of passengers and their gear, but powerful and agile enough to keep it fun. Durango customers are looking for the perfect balance of functional versatility and luxury at an outstanding value. Durango is the only vehicle in the segment that will meet their needs.

The all-new 2011 Durango delivers excitement and refinement with world-class suspension and performance. It's a driver's SUV that delivers impressive on-road performance and capability with the flexibility of a three-row SUV. Benchmarked against premium performance SUV's in the market, Durango delivers modernized refinement with electronics, suspension and structural characteristics that are usually found at much higher price points. The unibody structure is built with a selection of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels that improve driving dynamics by integrating the suspension with the body - reducing flex when compared with the previous body-on-frame design. In fact, 52 percent of the Durango's structure is made from these advanced steels. More than 5,500 welds and more than 4,100 mm of arc welding contribute to torsional stiffness levels greater than the Mercedes-Benz GL.

The all-new short/long arm front suspension and isolated multi-link rear suspension features isolated front and rear cradles for improved on-road handling and comfort. The all-new Durango delivers on the pavement with aggressive shock and spring rates and large sway bars to handle body roll in hard turning maneuvers. Available electro-hydraulic performance steering, along with standard electronic stability control also contribute to maintain tire grip and vehicle stability.

A robust structure, impressive braking and unexpected stability contribute to the Durango's best-in-class trailer tow capability. On models equipped with the Pentastar V-6 engine, the Durango can tow up to 6,200 pounds-more than the V-6 and small V-8 that were available in the previous Durango. When coupled with the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine, the all-new Dodge Durango offers trailer-tow capability of up to 7,400 pounds-more weight than a 24-foot boat and trailer.

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 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. Durango features a double wall separating the engine compartment and the vehicle cabin to limit the amount of under-hood engine noise to occupants.

The all-new 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 Durango can drive more than 500 miles on a tank of gas.

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 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.

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.



Arriving at Bergey's Chrysler Jeep Dodge in early 2011.