While the COVID-19 (or Coronavirus) pandemic has pushed back several of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) future production lineup back a few months, it hasn’t stopped SRT engineering from continuing testing of the upcoming 2021 Dodge Durango SRT HELLCAT. Our spy photographers have caught the new HELLCAT-powered Durango out tow testing for the first time on public roads. Its load was quite interesting in itself as it consisted of a current Dodge Durango on a U-Haul car trailer.
While Dodge//SRT has yet to formally announce the vehicle despite it being teased a recent commercial, the current Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT and Trackhawk models (which the Durango shares its architecture with) are giving us a little hindsight into the upcoming Durango SRT HELLCAT.
When it comes to towing, currently the Durango SRT with its 6.4-liter (392) HEMI V8 offers a best-in-class towing capability of 8,700 pounds. While the Grand Cherokee SRT and the HELLCAT-powered Trackhawk share the same towing capability of 7,200 pounds, we can assume that the Durango SRT HELLCAT will probably feature the same towing capability as its SRT sibling.
When it comes to the Dodge Durango SRT HELLCAT suspension, we expect that the HELLCAT-model to get the same suspension setup as its SRT counterpart. In the front, we can expect the SRT-tuned short and long-arm independent (SLA) with an aluminum lower control arm, aluminum knuckle, aluminum clevis, coil springs, Bilstein adaptive damping suspension (ADS), upper and lower control arms (“A” arms) and a hollow stabilizer bar. For the rear, the Durango SRT HELLCAT will more than likely feature an SRT-tuned multi-link rear suspension, coil spring, Bilstein ADS suspension, aluminum lower control arm, independent upper links (tension and camber) with a separate toe link, and a hollow stabilizer bar.
The Durango SRT HELLCAT will also feature the 8-speed 8HP95 TorqueFlite automatic transmission, rather than the 8HP70 equipped on the rest of the Durango lineup. The 8HP95 offers adaptive electronic control with driver-interactive manual control thanks to an electronically modulated torque converter clutch with several available drive modes (Auto, Sport, Track, Snow, Tow, Eco, and Valet).
We also expect that the Durango SRT HELLCAT will share the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk’s MP 3015C transfer case offering full-time four-wheel-drive. The system can split torque between the front and rear wheels differently depending on which drive mode has been activated on the all-new 10.1-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system. That system allows a 40/60 split in Auto, 50/50 in Snow, 60/40 in Tow, 35/65 in Sport, and a 30/70 in Track mode.
This particular prototype is using the same set of 20-Inch x 10-Inch Brass Monkey bronze wheels that are available on the 2020 Dodge Durango SRT models. We can also see that the Durango SRT HELLCAT Prototype is wearing a set of three-season run-flat Pirelli P-Zero P295/45ZR20 tires. This leads us to think, that the HELLCAT-model will share most of its SRT counterpart’s parts helping to keep cost low and offering a lower Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) than the Trackhawk.
Stay tuned to MoparInsiders.com for the latest news and information surrounding the upcoming 2021 Dodge Durango SRT HELLCAT.
2020 Dodge Durango SRT HELLCAT Prototype Towing Image Gallery:
