Upgrades galore for your local Dodge dealership
by Mark McNabb, onFiat Chrysler Automobiles is ramping up its parts division to provide customers with tons of vehicle accessory choices. We’ve seen it with the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL, but now at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, both the 2019 Ram 1500 pickup and 2018 Dodge Durango are getting “Moparized.”
Mopar, the iconic parts and accessories division of Chrysler, is doing big things these days. For the 2018 Dodge Durango, Mopar has developed parts for four areas of the three-row SUV. Some are cosmetic while other add performance. So, here’s what you need to know about Mopar’s available upgrades for the 2018 Dodge Durango R/T and SRT trims.
Continue reading for the full list.
4. Interior Appearance Enhancements
For $2,495, Dodge adds premium leather, a Dinamica soft-touch headliner, accent paint on the speaker grille trim rings, and real carbon fiber trim on the dash and door panels.
it’s called the SRT Interior Appearance Group and it’s available only on the Durango SRT as a factory option. For $2,495, Dodge adds premium leather to the entire dashboard held together with contrast stitching, a Dinamica soft-touch headliner, accent paint on the speaker grille trim rings, and real carbon fiber trim on the dash and door panels.
The package is designed to add more luxury to the Durango SRT’s interior. Durango SRT customers can choose between black and red leather seating, too, giving them the choice between dark and subtle and bright and racy.
3. Exterior Appearance Enhancements
Mopar is offering a graphics package that brings dual racing stripes to the performance-oriented Durangos.
The Durango R/T might have 360 horsepower from a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and the Durango SRT might have 475 horsepower form a massive 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, but the average onlooker might not see the performance that lurks under the hood. As such, Mopar is offering a graphics package that brings dual racing stripes to the performance-oriented Durangos.
The stripes run along the hood, roof, rear hatch, and bumpers to give a more menacing appearance to the SUV. Five colors are offered and include Bright Blue, Flame Red, Gunmetal Low Gloss, Low Gloss Black and Sterling Silver. The graphics package retails for $1,195 and will arrive at dealerships in March of 2018.
2. A Lowered Suspension
Mopar now has a performance lowering spring kit that drops the Durango SRT by 0.6 inches
Dodge made a splash with its 2018 Durango SRT when it debuted in late 2017. The family-friendly SUV turned street machine uses a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 to crank out 475 horses and 470 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time AWD system. And while the four-wheel independent suspension is tuned to handle far better than the standard Durango, more improvements can be made for those wanting next-level handling.
Mopar now has a performance lowering spring kit that drops the Durango SRT by 0.6 inches. The kit was developed by Durango’s engineers for the best factory-fit and factory-tuned performance. Dodge says the suspension kit reduces rear-end squat under heavy acceleration, less nose dive under heavy braking, and keeps body roll to an absolute minimum when deep into a corner. As with any such system, the trade-off is generally ride quality, so those regularly hauling grandma or cartons of nitroglycerine might want to stick with the factory suspension. For those who don’t mind a stiffer ride, the suspension kit only costs $325 and is will become available in March.
1. A Performance Exhaust
Both the Dodge Durango R/T and Durango SRT come with more aggressive exhausts than the standard model
Both the Dodge Durango R/T and Durango SRT come with more aggressive exhausts than the standard model, but folks who want even more can order this kit. It’s available for both Durangos and gives each a throatier bark with improved flow. The pipes are made from chromium 304 stainless steel and use stainless steel band clamps. Welded-on, four-inch tips snuggly fit in the Durango’s rear bumper cutouts, too.
Dodge didn’t make any claims about horsepower or torque improvements, but with any added airflow into or out of an engine, the performance specs generally grow. The performance exhaust kit for the Durango R/T and its5.7-liter Hemi costs $1,595 and is already available at Dodge showrooms. Those with the Durango SRT and its 6.4-lite Hemi will have to wait until the second quarter of 2018 for the upgraded pipes. The SRT’s performance exhaust will cost $1,850.
References
Dodge Durango
Read our full review on the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT.
Read more Dodge news.
Read more Chicago Auto Show news.
