2011 Durango First Drive

[P71_CrownVic]

Again...this thing is STUNNING. Great to see...:

 

* ABT

* AC Schnitzer

* Acura

* Alfa Romeo

* Alpina

* Artega

* Ascari

* Aston Martin

* Audi

* BMW

* Bentley

* Brabus

* Breckland

* Bugatti

* Buick

* Cadillac

* Caparo

* Carlsson

* Caterham

* Chevrolet

* Chrysler

* Citroen

* Covini

* Dacia

* Daewoo

* Daihatsu

* Daimler

* Devon

* Dodge

* Donkervoort

* EDAG

* Edo

* Elfin

* FM Auto

* FPV

* Farbio

* Ferrari

* Fiat

* Fisker

* Ford

* GM

* GMC

* Gordon Murray

* Gumpert

* HSV

* Hamann

* Holden

* Honda

* Hummer

* Hyundai

* Infiniti

* Isuzu

* Italdesign

* Iveco

* Jaguar

* Jeep

* KTM

* Kia

* Kleemann

* Koenigsegg

* LCC

* Lada

* Lamborghini

* Lancia

* Land Rover

* Leblanc

* Lexus

* Lincoln

* Lobini

* Loremo

* Lotus

* MG

* Mansory

* Marcos

* Maserati

* Maybach

* Mazda

* Mazel

* McLaren

* Mercedes-Benz

* Mercury

* Mindset

* Mini

* Mitsubishi

* Mitsuoka

* Morgan

* Nismo

* Nissan

* Noble

* ORCA

* Oldsmobile

* Opel

* PGO

* Pagani

* Panoz

* Peugeot

* Pininfarina

* Plymouth

* Pontiac

* Porsche

* Proton

* Renault

* Rinspeed

* Rolls-Royce

* Rover

* Saab

* Saleen

* Saturn

* Scion

* Seat

* Skoda

* Smart

* Spyker

* SsangYong

* Startech

* Stola

* Strosek

* StudioTorino

* Subaru

* Suzuki

* TVR

* TechArt

* Tesla

* Think

* Toyota

* Tramontana

* Valmet

* Vauxhall

* Venturi

* Volkswagen

* Volvo

* Wald

* Wiesmann

* Yes

* Zagato

* Zenvo

 

...hitting on all 8 lately.

 

 

Inside, the changes are more pronounced. Tired of taking heat for kid-friendly all-plastic interiors (pre-2011 Grand Caravan and Journey), Dodge stylists upped their interior design goals to eclipse even their own well-regarded Ram 1500. The change is dramatic. While not the equal of industry leaders like Audi, the 2011 Durango features large swaths of seamless soft-touch trim panels and cushy surfaces everywhere you're likely to lay a finger.

 

When the hell was the last time a Chrysler interior was mentioned in the same sentence as an Audi?

 

LINK

 

EDIT: I had to add a few more manufactures to my list of companies I think are hitting on all 8. God forbid I leave anyone out.

[truckofwinandawesome]

Hmmm, I think Dodge Durango SRT8 Has a VERY Nice Ring to it!

[cc1999]

I agree it looks pretty sharp, also nice to see a crossover unibody with a V8 still offered too.

 

I suspect once they get that 8 speed auto behind that Hemi, that it might get decent mileage as well. It is stated to be launching with the old 5 speed auto.

 

I noticed the new Durango was rated something like 13/20 or 14/20. Having had pretty much that same powertrain in a AWD LTD Comander. I have to think its going to average closer to the 13 to 14 numbers untill they get that 8 speed in there .

 

I normally only averaged 11city15hwy with that 06' Commander LTD AWD Hemi with the same 5 speed auto they are going to launch this Durango with.

 

I swapped over to an 07 Suburban Z71 4x4 that got about 20-30% better mileage and had a whole lot more room.

 

I always thought it had something to do with the AWD vs part time 4wd, so I have to say that is one thing I sure wish they would have done on the this durango, and gone with a part time 4wd like the Tahoe/Suburbans. Most people know how to push a 4x4 button or if they don't they can leave it in auto 4x4 for the winter like you can on a Tahoe/Suburban.

[P71_CrownVic]

Hmmm, I think Dodge Durango SRT8 Has a VERY Nice Ring to it!

 

Can you imagine that black, sinister looking Durango with the 6.4???

[gmowner4life]

That looks sharp. I just showed it to my wife. I think she wants one now. WTH?

[Stevens03]

Again...this thing is STUNNING. Great to see GM and Chrysler hitting on all 8 lately.

 

 

I believe it's the same thing as the Jeep, so I don't see much exciting about it. I actually think the jeep looks better.

[P71_CrownVic]

I believe it's the same thing as the Jeep, so I don't see much exciting about it. I actually think the jeep looks better.

 

The Durango is 10" longer...5" longer in the wheelbase...and there's this:

 

"While the Dodge and the Jeep were developed together and share much of the same body structure forward of the C-pillar, their characters are much different. At every major juncture, engineers took the Jeep in the direction that maximized off-road capabilities. We optimized the Dodge for the street and meeting the demands of today's SUV buyer," said Dolan. And what does that buyer want? They want the capabilities of a truck-based SUV in terms of towing and cargo hauling in a package that delivers the car-like driving capabilities of a modern crossover.

[Stevens03]

I believe it's the same thing as the Jeep, so I don't see much exciting about it. I actually think the jeep looks better.

 

The Durango is 10" longer...5" longer in the wheelbase...and there's this:

 

"While the Dodge and the Jeep were developed together and share much of the same body structure forward of the C-pillar, their characters are much different. At every major juncture, engineers took the Jeep in the direction that maximized off-road capabilities. We optimized the Dodge for the street and meeting the demands of today's SUV buyer," said Dolan. And what does that buyer want? They want the capabilities of a truck-based SUV in terms of towing and cargo hauling in a package that delivers the car-like driving capabilities of a modern crossover.

 

 

Cool, didn't know that. From the photos, they obviously look similar.

[P71_CrownVic]

I believe it's the same thing as the Jeep, so I don't see much exciting about it. I actually think the jeep looks better.

 

The Durango is 10" longer...5" longer in the wheelbase...and there's this:

 

"While the Dodge and the Jeep were developed together and share much of the same body structure forward of the C-pillar, their characters are much different. At every major juncture, engineers took the Jeep in the direction that maximized off-road capabilities. We optimized the Dodge for the street and meeting the demands of today's SUV buyer," said Dolan. And what does that buyer want? They want the capabilities of a truck-based SUV in terms of towing and cargo hauling in a package that delivers the car-like driving capabilities of a modern crossover.

 

 

Cool, didn't know that. From the photos, they obviously look similar.

 

 

They do...they share a lot of design ques...but where the Jeep looks somewhat soft and gentle...the Durango looks like it snacks on school children.....at least in black.

 

This, however, is disgusting:

 

 

Stupid, green hippies.

[truckofwinandawesome]

I believe it's the same thing as the Jeep, so I don't see much exciting about it. I actually think the jeep looks better.

 

The Durango is 10" longer...5" longer in the wheelbase...and there's this:

 

"While the Dodge and the Jeep were developed together and share much of the same body structure forward of the C-pillar, their characters are much different. At every major juncture, engineers took the Jeep in the direction that maximized off-road capabilities. We optimized the Dodge for the street and meeting the demands of today's SUV buyer," said Dolan. And what does that buyer want? They want the capabilities of a truck-based SUV in terms of towing and cargo hauling in a package that delivers the car-like driving capabilities of a modern crossover.

 

 

Cool, didn't know that. From the photos, they obviously look similar.

 

 

They do...they share a lot of design ques...but where the Jeep looks somewhat soft and gentle...the Durango looks like it snacks on school children.....at least in black.

 

This, however, is disgusting:

 

 

Stupid, green hippies.

 

 

if I were to have a 2011 durango, the Needle would go into the green stripe, through the green stripe, out of the green stripe and towards the Red Stripe!

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

The Grand Cherokee is a re-badged Durango. At least the Durango looks better than the Grand Cherokee and 10 times better then the body style it replaces.

[truckofwinandawesome]

The Grand Cherokee is a re-badged Durango. At least the Durango looks better than the Grand Cherokee and 10 times better then the body style it replaces.

 

the 2004-2009 Durango Sucked BALLS compared to the 1st Gen Durango and the new Durango. the 2nd gen durango sucked SO BAD, there WAS NO 2010 Model.

[P71_CrownVic]

The Grand Cherokee is a re-badged Durango. At least the Durango looks better than the Grand Cherokee and 10 times better then the body style it replaces.

 

Not it's not...not even close.

 

The Durango is 10" longer overall, 5" longer in the wheel base. Then there's this:

 

"While the Dodge and the Jeep were developed together and share much of the same body structure forward of the C-pillar, their characters are much different. At every major juncture, engineers took the Jeep in the direction that maximized off-road capabilities. We optimized the Dodge for the street and meeting the demands of today's SUV buyer," said Dolan. And what does that buyer want? They want the capabilities of a truck-based SUV in terms of towing and cargo hauling in a package that delivers the car-like driving capabilities of a modern crossover.

[ColoradoSkiCountry]

It looks the same to me, only the Durango hints at being a bit more interesting unlike the boring Grand Cherokee. I'll leave it at that.

[cc1999]

To me the new grand looks really chopped off at the back. I think the Durango looks much more balanced in its overall proportional design. The Body lines of the new Durango seem to be more in line with the original durango design rather then the last couple snub nosed angular minivan looking designs. I think this new one will likley sell well for them. But I think they need to get a move on with putting that new 8 speed auto behind that Hemi, I know that is pretty much the only way I would be interested in buying one.