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2003 Durango Concept Sports Muscular Looks, HEMI Punch to Match
By DaimlerChrysler Communications
Jan 15, 2003, 22:57 PST

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The American Muscle SUV: 2003 Dodge Durango HEMI‚ RT Concept

Bigger, bolder and faster, the 2003 Dodge Durango HEMI® 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 it’s 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 Blue Tooth 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.”

Dodge Design DNA - Nothing Like It

Exterior: Bold Design Elevates SUV Platform

Breaking away from a conformist crowd, the 2003 Dodge Durango HEMI® RT Concept elevates the form of the sport utility vehicle from utilitarian tool to machined elegance. Its unmistakable Dodge DNA courses through its design, from its bold cross-hair grille and snorting air intakes up front to the HEMI rumble from it’s dual rear exhausts.

“The Dodge Durango RT HEMI Concept is not a ‘me too’ design - that will not be tolerated,” said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President, Design, Chrysler Group. “Our goal was to create something more architectural than agricultural, yet a vehicle that still delivers power on every front, from its dramatic design to its powerful HEMI engine.”

The 2003 Dodge Durango Concept evokes the look and feel of modern dive watches, with a muscular definition and taut lines. The silhouette is unique among SUVs, with short overhangs, accentuated wheel arches and a dramatically sloping windshield that reinforces the sport in sport utility.

The Durango Concept design has the mechanical presence of the original Dodge Power Wagon but its satin silver accents, body color billet aluminum grille and single headlamp covers hiding dual lights create a contemporary look. The grille is powerful, prominent and a Dodge signature, with the large cross-hair as the focal point.

“The Dodge Durango Concept is all Dodge, its DNA evident from every angle,” said Creed. “The HEMI also inspired us with design cues. The functional dual hood scoops provide a visual connection to the MOPAR muscle cars of the 1960s and hint at the HEMI power that resides beneath the hood. The exposed rivets provide a mechanical connection to the long-standing strength of Dodge trucks.”

Flared wheel arches and drop shoulder fenders provide a visual energy that transitions power from the massive grille to the rear of the vehicle. The strength of the wheel flares and the 21-inch wheels and 50-Series tires add visual heft to the design. The lower side fascia and sills blend the power from the front wheel arches into the rear wheel housings.

The rear design of the Dodge Durango Concept is as distinctive and powerful as its front grille. The power of the silhouette is funneled into the integrated rear optics, with frenched “afterburner” taillamps that recall the 1999 Dodge Power Wagon pickup concept vehicle. The distinctive rear fascia design includes dual rear exhausts tipped in satin finish aluminum.

Interior: Where Geometry Meets Comfort and Capability

The design philosophy behind the 2003 Dodge Durango Concept is a surface structure based on pure geometry. Surface sections are made up of more constant radii delivering a cleaner and simpler overall form.

“An SUV has certain interior requirements, and space, storage and driving position are paramount,” said Creed. “The goal was to accomplish this with a clean and precise design, simple yet elegant and upscale. We started with a clean slate to create an interior design that is uncluttered and crisp, with highly legible instruments and upscale materials. The Dark Slate leather is offset with Adobe accents, providing for a rich interior look.”

Second row rear seats have more leg, shoulder and hip room and a recline feature. A new integrated three-point seat belt system was designed for the middle passenger and allows for safer child-seat installation. Second-row rear seat passengers also get their own climate controls and a DVD entertainment system. Third row seats also feature more leg, shoulder and hip room and the fold-flat load floor provides 101 cu.-ft. of cargo room, a 15-percent improvement over the current-generation Durango. The distance between the wheelhouses in the rear cargo area has been increased to 48 inches for added carrying capacity.

“Utility is very important in this market,” said Creed. “Our owners spend more and more time in their vehicles, so we spent extra time on the detail work. We added a large and usable ‘fast food’ bin at the base of the center stack for extra storage room. The Neoprene-lined cup holders secure drinks while in motion. A depression in front of the armrest houses a cellular phone and its charging cord feeds into the armrest where a power outlet is located. This cleans up the interior, yet provides the convenience our customers expect.”

The clean and elegant look of the interior begins at the top of the door where a continuous line curves to meet the dash, providing a flush, finished look. The new instrument panel cluster features a large, centrally located speedometer and white-faced gauges that provide a connection to Dodge performance vehicles. An all-new navigation unit takes prominence in the stack and also provides stereo controls. A redesigned HVAC control panel includes a new three-zone climate control system.

The steering wheel features a powerful four-spoke shield design, evoking an understated power. The vertical edges of the dash drop down to the center stack to divide the driver and passenger seating areas and “Venetian Blind” style air vents close flush and provide a cleaner appearance.

Roominess is the key element to the Dodge Durango Concept’s interior. Passengers sit one inch higher than in the current Durango. Shoulder, hip, elbow and headroom have all been increased. The all-new driver and passenger seats are heated and power adjustable pedals provide an optimal driving position for a wide array of drivers.

Dodge Adds HEMI‚ Muscle and Brings the “Sport” Back to the Sport-Utility Vehicle Market

Style, power and passion have never been in short supply at Dodge, and the 2003 Dodge Durango HEMI® RT Concept delivers on all counts. Boasting the tire melting, 345 horsepower HEMI Magnum engine and cutting-edge styling, the 2003 Dodge Durango HEMI RT Concept offers a more sporting alternative in a crowded sport utility marketplace.

“Dodge talks the talk and walks the walk,” said Darryl Jackson, Vice President-Dodge Marketing. “The Dodge Durango Concept is all about living large and what better way to ‘Grab Life by the Horns’ than with a HEMI and bold, in-your-face styling. Every Dodge should carry a little bit of Viper and Ram with them; it’s their Dodge DNA. That’s what separates us from the mainstream. Dodge’s leadership in innovation and cutting-edge styling provide Dodge with a competitive advantage. The unique ‘Full of Life’ personality is inherent in all Dodge vehicles. Dodge owners understand the meaning of hard work and want a vehicle that matches their dedication.”

Dodge provides customers with a choice of vehicles ranging from Dodge Vipers to Caravans, not to mention the most exciting lineup of trucks on the market. The Dodge brand offers an alternative to the mainstream with bold styling, powerful engines and fun-to-drive vehicles, from sport compacts to sport utilities.

“Dodge owners, and particularly Dodge Durango owners, are made up of young active families that ‘go’ and ‘do,’ whether it is hauling cargo, off-roading or towing their boat on the weekend,” Jackson added. “Dodge Durango buyers average about seven years younger than Ford Explorer buyers and they want a vehicle that provides room for the family, but one that can get them anywhere they want to be, no excuses. Being Dodge owners, they also don’t want to look like everyone else doing it. So we have an SUV that only Dodge could create, with style, power and passion.”

The Dodge Durango Concept offers more interior and cargo room than Ford Explorer and the current-generation Durango. When it debuted, the 1998 Durango was the first SUV in its class to offer fold-flat third-row seating and easily outclassed the competition in terms of room and power. Dodge Durango Concept delivers more passenger and cargo room than ever before and provides innovative packaging that delivers seating for seven.