The American Muscle SUV: 2003 Dodge Durango HEMI(R) RT Concept
DETROIT, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bigger, bolder and faster, the
2003 Dodge Durango HEMI(R) RT Concept separates itself from the sport utility
pack with big power and a broad shouldered presence that could only come from
Dodge. With more style, more cargo room and more capability, the Dodge
Durango Concept delivers on all fronts, including the type of muscle that only
a Dodge can deliver: HEMI power.
"The Dodge Durango Concept is a new generation of sport-utility vehicle
that could only wear the Dodge name," said Richard Schaum, Executive Vice
President, Product Development. "With its bold cross-hair grille, innovative
interior and a big HEMI rumbling under its hood, the Durango Concept
exemplifies the in-your-face styling and sheer capability that is Dodge."
The Dodge Durango Concept design provides a strong hint of the next
generation Durango that will appear in late 2003 as a 2004 model. The Durango
Concept is approximately 85-percent of the production level exterior design.
The Dodge Durango Concept features a bold and powerful presence that is
three inches longer, more than three inches taller and four and a half inches
wider than the current generation Durango. The enlarged exterior results in a
roomier all-new interior that provides increased head, shoulder and hip room
and available seating for seven. Interior capacity is increased by 15 percent
and is enhanced by Durango's fold-flat cargo floor. As shown in the concept,
Durango now has the capability to carry 48-inch wide sheets of plywood between
the wheel wells.
With 345 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque, the 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum-
powered Dodge Durango Concept delivers blistering acceleration while improving
fuel efficiency by more than 10 percent, when compared to the current
generation Durango. A new heavy-duty five-speed automatic transmission is
behind the 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum. The full-time four-wheel drive Dodge
Durango Concept also features a standard electronic transfer case with low
range.
"All that HEMI power needs a suspension to match and we set out to create
one of the best handling SUVs ever made," said Frank Klegon, Vice President of
the Dodge Truck Product Team. "We developed an all-new 100-percent
hydroformed frame that provides increased torsional stiffness and improved
ride quality, but not at the expense of the towing, hauling and off-road
capability that Durango is known for."
The Durango Concept features an all-new independent front suspension with
a rack-and-pinion steering system for an even more precise feel. An all-new
rear suspension with coil springs and a solid rear axle delivers a smooth
ride, yet maintains durability, payload and towing capability. A Watt link
system is fitted to the rear axle, centering the axle and reducing rear-end
skate over rough surfaces.
Safety features include available side curtain air bags for all three rows
of seating, a tire-pressure monitoring system, adjustable pedals and standard
four-wheel disc ABS brakes. A center mounted, three-point shoulder belt is
incorporated into the second row seating area. Driver enhancements include a
navigational system, and a hands-free cellular phone system utilizing
Bluetooth technology.
"With this Durango Concept, we have taken many of the lessons learned on
the design of our new Dodge Ram pickups in the areas of hydroforming and
suspension tuning and applied them to the Durango," Klegon said. "What we
have delivered is an exceptional handling SUV that breaks away from the ever-
crowded look-alike pack in a way that only Dodge could."
SOURCE Chrysler Group