2018 DODGE DURANGO SRT FIRST LOOK

2018 DODGE DURANGO SRT FIRST LOOK BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES

Who else but Dodge would do something so marvelously naughty? Only they would take a mainstream 3-row family hauler and turn it into an SRT-badged drag racer.

Certified by the NHRA to turn in a ¼ mile time of 12.9 seconds and a 0-to-60mph time of 4.4 seconds, the new 2018 Durango SRT is one of the fastest most powerful vehicles of its kind.  Of course the power comes from one of their 392 HEMI V8s, generating an absurd 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

When you buy one, you receive one full-day session at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.  And hey, it even tows a best-in-class 8,600 pounds.  With its wide body exterior, SRT hood and massive Brembo brakes, there’s no mistaking this Durango for any of its little siblings.

There’s a new 7-mode drive system to tailor the experience including Sport and Track settings, a performance-tuned AWD system, active dampers, a stiffer suspension, a new exhaust system modeled after the Charger SRT, and 20” Pirelli tires, 3-season rubber if preferred.  Laguna leather and carbon fiber trim are offered, there’s an SRT steering wheel and a new 180-mph speedometer.

The 8-speed automatic transmission has been specifically calibrated to optimize shift points and includes rev match downshifts.  And to track your heroics, the big 8.4” Uconnect system houses the new SRT Performance Pages and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Available in 11 exterior colors, the newest SRT model arrives later this year.  As Dodge would say, welcome to the brotherhood of muscle.