The long-awaited 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, is the most powerful SUV ever and while it will only be available for one model year, Dodge//SRT engineers are still hard at work tuning the new supercharged SUV on public roads. Our spy photographers caught the new Durango SRT Hellcat in the beautiful Reactor Blue paint, testing near the historic Woodward Avenue earlier this week.
Designed and engineered to push the boundaries of what an SUV can be, the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat runs 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, has a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)-certified quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.5 seconds, a top speed of 180 mph, and runs 1.5 seconds faster than the Durango SRT392 on a 2.1-mile road course, equal to 9 car lengths after one lap.
Under the hood is the beloved supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V8 engine, delivering 710 horsepower and 645 lb.-ft. of torque. Performance improvements begin with an all-new front fascia design, chin splitter, updated engine oil cooler duct, air guide, and snorkel for cold-air induction. An all-new rear spoiler creates an improved aerodynamic balance with the new front end design, resulting in a massive increase in rear downforce of more than 400% (140 lbs. @ 180 mph).
SRT engineers upgraded the Durango SRT Hellcat to improve handling, including several race-inspired technologies and Brembo brakes, resulting in performance numbers never before seen on a Durango.
The Durango SRT Hellcat comes standard with electric power steering (EPS) with selectable steering tuning to better manage increased grip, both improving handling performance and delivering better steering feel and ease of turning efforts at parking lot speeds.
- With EPS and standard SRT drive modes accessed via the Durango’s new 10.1-inch touchscreen, drivers can tailor their driving experience by controlling transmission shift speeds, steering, paddle shifters, traction, all-wheel drive (AWD), and suspension settings
- SRT Drive modes offer selectable settings for Street (Auto), Sport, and Track, while the Custom setting allows the driver to select individual preferences
Race-inspired technologies that come standard for Durango SRT models also bolster performance:
- Launch Control – easily accessed from a toggle switch in the cockpit, manages tire slip while launching the vehicle to allow the driver to achieve consistent straight-line acceleration
- Launch Assist – uses wheel speed sensors to watch for driveline-damaging wheel hop at launch and, in milliseconds, modifies the engine torque to regain full grip
The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat delivers excellent braking performance, requiring 116 feet to come to a full stop from 60 mph. The credit belongs to the standard massive Brembo high-performance six-piston, two-piece (front) and four-piston (rear) calipers, and vented rotors at all four corners measuring 15.75 inches (front) and 13.8 inches (rear).
Durango-specific tuning, weight distribution, wheelbase, and reduced understeer equals more grip and improved cornering. SRT engineers took the most powerful SUV ever to the track to see what it can do.
The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has a starting U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $80,995. For our Canadian friends, it starts at a Canadian MSRP of $114,345. With around 2,000 or so models being produced during the limited run, the Durango SRT Hellcat will be a rarer model than the legendary 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Production will begin in January.
