Today Stellantis, which has its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, begins production of the new 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat at the 3 million-square-foot Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit.
Approximately 2,000 2021 Durango SRT Hellcats will be produced for the U.S. market. The plant is part of an expanding manufacturing footprint with $900 million in new investment. It joins $1.6 billion in new funds to convert and expand the neighboring Mack Avenue Engine Plant.
Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat models are scheduled to begin arriving at dealerships this spring. The powerful SUV is available for the 2021 model year only and comes with a starting U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $80,995, excluding $1,495 destination.
Dodge states the Durango SRT Hellcat is the most powerful SUV ever, delivering 710 horsepower and 645 lb.-ft. of torque from a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine paired with the quick-shifting TorqueFlite 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Durango SRT Hellcat has a 0-60 mile-per-hour (mph) time of 3.5 seconds, a quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.5 seconds as certified by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), and a top speed of 180 mph.
“Like welcoming a new member to the family, today’s launch of the Durango SRT Hellcat celebrates the newest addition to the ‘Brotherhood of Muscle,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand and Interim Chrysler Brand CEO — Stellantis. “The Dodge Durango Hellcat joins Charger and Challenger at the pinnacle of performance, and today’s start of production in Detroit deserves a spot on every enthusiast’s calendar.”
Dodge states the Durango has best-in-class towing capacity across its lineup. The supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V-8, legendary 392-cubic-inch HEMI V-8 and classic 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with the Tow N Go Package outhaul every full-size, three-row SUV on the road, with a towing capability of 8,700 lbs. The award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine has a towing capability of 6,200 lbs.
Customers who buy a new SRT model, including the new Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, receive one full-day session as part of the Dodge//SRT Package, and have the opportunity to learn how to get the optimum performance from their new vehicles in a controlled environment.
Dodge is the official sponsor of the Bondurant High Performance Driving School in Chandler, Ariz., where guests get behind the wheels of the fastest street-legal cars in the world with professional instruction and time on the track. For more information, visit here.
Stellantis, which resulted from a merger of FCA and Peugeot, is converting its Mack Avenue Engine Complex into the future assembly site for its next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee and an all-new, three-row full-size Jeep SUV, along with plug-in hybrid models. The project will generate a total investment of $1.6 billion and create 3,850 new jobs in Detroit. The new facility will be the first new assembly plant to be built in Detroit in nearly 30 years.
The company also is investing $900 million in its Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit to modernize it for continued production of the Dodge Durango and next generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, creating an additional 1,100 new jobs in the city.
The company decided to locate these two facilities in Michigan after considering production plans at its existing locations in Michigan, Illinois, and Mexico.
In addition, $3.9 million is being invested to transform Conner Avenue on the east side of the Jefferson North plant to add widened lanes, new bike lanes, and bus stops.
For the 2020 DBusiness list of 200-plus dealerships in metro Detroit arranged alphabetically by county and city, and then by dealer, click here.
Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com.
