Like Rexy from the original Jurassic Park, this beautiful, lovable, battle scarred Hero of a veteran is truly showing its age. Anemic and archaic powertrains (3.6L & 5.7L Hemi) do little to nothing in the face of modern-day powertrains. Both being bested by the 2.0L 4Xe powertrain that puts out 375hp and 470tq and that's with the older 8-speed hybrid and the non-EVO version of the 2.0L Turbo engine. I'm willing to bet the next-gen Hurricane-4 hybrid will put out closer to 400-405hp and 500lb-ft of torque, slotting it just below the Hurricane-6 Standard output in terms of horsepower (420hp) but with more torque (500lb-ft vs 469lb-ft). The vehicle desperately needs to be put on the STLA: Large platform with the Hurricane-4 Hybrid as the base GT trim, the 420hp/469tq Hurricane-6 S/O as the R/T package, the 550hp/531tq Hurricane-6 H/O as the "Outlaw" trim, a 600hp EV Citadel trim (Wagoneer S) and a 670hp EV SRT trim package, Same as the Charger. The interior Design needs to be switched up as well to something more modern and up to date but still giving nods to the Durango styling, same as the outside. A clean widebody coke-bottle styling, Racetrack taillamps, Floating rear spoiler design like the Wagoneer-S along with the mid-gate lip spoiler with more of that SRT type styling, "Evolved" Durango front end styling and some new wheel designs like the ones on the new Charger, would definitely work well for the Durango.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Hemi V8 engines, especially the 6.1L and the 6.4L Hemi engines, so yes, I am truly a fan of Mopar's magnificent N/A Hemi V8s. But, the problem with the 5.7L Hemi engine is that it's not competitive as a performance engine in nearly anything. Yes, they sound good, but they're not fast and can be outpaced by most nearly all of the turbocharged and twin turbocharged mid-sized modern SUVs. A Dodge Trailduster SUV (since Ramcharger is being used by Ram on the hybrid Pickup) designed to compete with something like a Chevy Tahoe or Suburban would have been a great vehicle for the 5.7L Hemi engine to continue on in. Nostalgic, classic and more focused on utility than performance, this would be a perfect match for the 5.7L Hemi to continue it's life in and still be a part of the Dodge lineup. A Dodge SUV on a truck platform with optional 4x4 packages from the Warlock and Rebel and powered by the 5.7L V8 makes way more sense than having a "performance oriented" SUV with an embarrassing anemic 360hp from an almost 6-liter V8. My point is, the 5.7L Hemi engine is better suited for utility than performance. The 5.7L Hemi in an SUV like a Dodge Trailduster would fare favorably against the Tahoe with the 355hp 5.3L Chevy Small block that also makes 383hp in comparison to the 390hp of the 5.7L. Throw in an optional Trailduster R/T with a 510hp/500tq Hurricane 3.0TT to compete with the 420hp/460tq 6.2L Chevy Tahoe RST and the 450hp/510tq Expedition Stealth Performance SUVs and now Dodge has a proper home for the 5.7L Hemi V8 along with an expanded lineup that makes sense. To me, taking the Hornet and putting on the STLA Large frame with a hybrid powertrain consisting of the new Hurricane-4 EVO engine, a 9-speed transmission and an electric rear EDM as a two-row 5-seater SUV slotted below the Durango along with the "Trailduster" full size SUV would be a great SUV lineup for Dodge.
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