The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has been revived for the 2023 model year on the back of strong demand for the vehicle.
Dodge first introduced the Durango SRT Hellcat for the 2021 model year but made the peculiar decision to produce it for just one year. Now it’s back and has been showcased at the three-day Dodge Speed Week event for the very first time.
Much like the original, the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is powered by the automaker’s beloved 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 churning out 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. This engine sports a forged-steel crankshaft, forged-alloy pistons, powder-forged connecting rods, and is coupled to a TorqueFlite 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission with seven available Drive modes.
In a straight line, the Durango SRT Hellcat can sprint to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and storm down the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. It tops out at 180 mph.
As with the 2021 model, the 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat is immediately distinguished from lesser variants thanks to a host of visual and aerodynamic modifications. Among the most obvious alterations is a revised front fascia with a chin splitter, a snorkel for the cold-air intake, and a rear spoiler that produces 140 lbs of downforce at the SUV’s top speed.
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Various other upgrades have been made. These include the fitment of Brembo brakes with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, clamping down on 15.75-inch front and 13.8-inch rear vented rotors. Dodge has also equipped the ultimate Durango with a Launch Control system and a Launch Assist program that uses wheel speed sensors to watch for wheel hop at launch and adjusts engine torque to maximize grip.
Customers will be able to order their 2023 Durango SRT Hellcat with one of two available Plus and Premium packages. The first of these adds high-performance Laguna leather seats, the trailer tow group, a power sunroof, and various adaptive and advanced safety features. The Premium package adds to the Plus and includes red seat belts, a leather-wrapped instrument panel, carbon fiber interior accents, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
“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,” Dodge brand chief executive Tim Kuniskis said. “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.”
Orders for the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat will open in September 2022 with the first dealer deliveries penciled in for early 2023.
