August 15, 2022 , Windsor, Ontario – The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is back for 2023 model year and ready to reclaim its rightful mantle as the most powerful SUV on the planet.
The 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat loses nothing in its rebirth, once again fueled by the supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI® Hellcat V-8 engine producing 710 horsepower and 645 lb.-ft. of torque. The Durango SRT Hellcat, first introduced as a one-year only model for 2021, storms back to life thanks to enthusiast demand and remains the perfect choice for SUV muscle enthusiasts with families.
“The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has generated a crazy amount of enthusiasm and demand since it was introduced in 2020 — we even extended its initial production run — so it seemed appropriate to bring back the most powerful SUV ever as part of our historic 2023 model year Dodge lineup,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “Muscle enthusiasts also have families, and the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat can get those families where they want to go and has the ability to tow 8,700 pounds.”
The 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat was revealed at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, during the first day of the three-day Dodge Speed Week event, featuring announcements on current Dodge products. Dodge Speed Week will include additional announcements on Dodge Gateway and Future Muscle products on August 16 and August 17, respectively.
The 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has numbers to back up its performance claims: the Hellcat can move from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, click off a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)–certified quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph).
Dodge Durango once again joins Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger in offering SRT Hellcat models. The Durango SRT Hellcat also expands the Durango lineup to six models, joining the Durango SXT, GT, R/T, Citadel and SRT 392.
Production for the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat will begin in Q4 2022, with the Hellcat scheduled to arrive in dealerships in early 2023.
Heart of a Hellcat — Revived
The 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat remains Dodge to its core, starting under the hood where the heart of a Hellcat continues to beat. SRT engineers developed and tested the supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V-8 Hellcat engine to optimize it for the Durango. As with the previous Durango SRT Hellcat, key engine performance features and components include:
- Dedicated cooling circuit for the charge air coolers integrated in the supercharger housing, including a pump, coolant reservoir and heat exchanger, designed to keep air flowing into the engine cooler than 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Twin-screw rotors in the supercharger set close to minimize air leakage and ensure maximum performance
- Integrated electronic bypass valve regulates boost pressure to a maximum of 11.6 psi (80 kPa); the 2.38-litre supercharger uses a drive ratio of 2.36:1 and has a maximum speed of 14,600 rpm
- Cast-iron engine block with water jackets between the cylinders for optimal cooling
- Forged-steel crankshaft with induction-hardened bearing surfaces
- Specially tuned crankshaft damper, burst tested to 13,000 rpm
- High-strength, forged-alloy pistons
- Powder-forged connecting rods with high-load-capacity bushings and diamond-like, carbon-coated piston pins
- Piston-cooling oil jets
- Heat-treated aluminum-alloy cylinder heads
- Sodium-cooled exhaust valves, hollow-stem intake valves and steel-alloy heads that stand up to temperatures as high as 900 degrees Celsius (1,652 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Cold-air scoop in lower front fascia helps feed the supercharger and the Hellcat engine’s 92-mm throttle body
- Exhaust system tuned to deliver a throaty Dodge DNA sound
- TorqueFlite 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission includes steering-wheel-mounted paddles for manual-style shifting and has seven available Drive modes – Auto, Sport, Track, Snow, Tow, Eco and Valet.
The Durango SRT Hellcat inherits distinct Dodge DNA, with bold styling including a front fascia featuring a chin splitter, engine oil cooler duct, air guide and snorkel for cold air induction. The rear spoiler provides aerodynamic balance and a significant measure of rear downforce of 140 lbs. @ 290 km/h (180 mph).
Durango’s forward-leaning profile includes LED low/high headlamps, LED daytime running lamp (DRL) signatures and a sculpted hood and grille. The front end creates a wide cross-car read. SRT Hellcat fender badges stamp the Durango as a Hellcat.
Inside, the driver-oriented cockpit is refined, upscale and high-tech throughout, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen angled 7 degrees toward the driver. Unique to the SRT Hellcat are red-accented gauges and standard heated and ventilated Nappa leather and suede front seats with an embroidered SRT logo.
Additional Durango SRT Hellcat model highlights include:
- Standard electric power steering (EPS) with selectable steering tuning for increased grip
- EPS and SRT drive modes accessible via the 10.1-inch Uconnect infotainment screen, allowing drivers to choose their behind-the-wheel experience by controlling inputs such as shift speeds, steering, paddle shifters, traction, all-wheel drive (AWD) and suspension
- Unique Uconnect features for Durango SRT models include
- “Smoke Show” start-up animation
- Climate control page features Dodge stripe adjustable climate control icon and “Mode person” with race helmet
- Unique Serpentine font used throughout the Durango display system
- Vehicle icon on the home page “category bar” features Durango graphic with SRT logo
- SRT Drive modes with settings for Street (Auto), Sport and Track, and a Custom setting so drivers can choose individual preferences
- Launch Control feature is easily accessed from a toggle switch in the cockpit, managing 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 adjust engine torque to regain full grip
- Excellent braking performance thanks to 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
Customize the Cat
Enthusiasts will have more options to personalize the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat with available Plus and Premium packages that deliver even more content. The Plus package for the Durango SRT Hellcat includes high-performance Laguna leather seats, trailer tow group, a power sunroof and adaptive and advanced safety features.
The Premium package adds to the Plus features with red seatbelts, a leather-wrapped instrument panel, carbon fibre interior accents and a Harman Kardon 19-speaker sound system.
The Durango SRT Hellcat revealed at M1 Concourse showcases the available SRT Black package, which includes Eclipse Black exhaust tips, Midnight Grey Metallic exterior badging and 20×10-inch “Lights Out” aluminum wheels.
Dodge//SRT
For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.
Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2022 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the Dodge Durango SRT 392, North America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry’s most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other North American brand across its entire lineup.
In 2020, Dodge was named the “#1 Brand in Initial Quality,” making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). In 2021, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so two years in a row.
Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.