2018 Dodge Durango SRT: Because Chevrolet Never Made Another Trailblazer SS
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Dodge has unleashed its latest in a series of high-power, V8 all the things agenda. This morning, Fiat Chrysler Authority reports the brand revealed the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT, the epitome of “sport” in “sport utility vehicle.”
And with its reveal, the SUV will largely go unchecked. However, that wasn’t always the case. Ten years ago, General Motors had the same idea: take a bread and butter SUV nameplate and cram a big V8 under the hood. That vehicle was the Chevrolet Trailblazer SS.
Since its inception and death, the Trailblazer SS has become a cult classic, and for good reason too. The Trailblazer SS debuted with a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 engine, the same engine powering the C6 Corvette. Chevrolet even went as far as redesigning the intake, exhaust and tweaking the suspension for greater handling prowess. It also came in both rear-wheel drive and 4×4 flavors.
But, flash forward to present day, and there is no Trailblazer. Only the Chevrolet Tahoe remains to fulfill SUV desires in a behemoth of a package.
With a 485 horsepower 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine, intelligent AWD, Pirelli rubber and estimated 12.9-second quarter-mile time, you could say Dodge has picked up where the Trailblazer SS left off.
And with that, we can only hope GM has a surprise of its sleeve as the SUV once again finds its footing in America.
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“For all those who have spent the past few years questioning what Dodge stands for, the answer is power and performance.” – I am one of the ones who have been questioning where and how the Dodge brand fits within the FCA future plans and portfolio. Hopefully Dodge fleshes out this idea of “standing for performance and power” more with their future vehicles. With the HellCat models and this new Durango SRT, they’re definitely making a bold statement! I respect what their engineers are doing in maximizing the capabilities of these old, heavy platformed vehicles. Beefing up the suspension and adding ridiculous power does boost appeal. However, we all agree it’s time for Dodge to start utilizing lighter platforms. The competition may not be outgunning them on the drag strips, but they are in terms of innovation and efficiency! I’m dying to see what Dodge does with the Giorgio platform….
In many regards Chevrolet seems to have lost its way here. Dodge and Ram seem laser focused on product. Last month after months of comparison shopping I bought a 2017 Ram Crew Cab 4×4. Got it for thousands less than I could have gotten a comparable Chevy or GMC for and I much prefer the truck even at equal price. I am just LOVING that 5.7 Hemi. I had a GMC crew cab for a GM vehicle for a week and just could not warm up to the 5.3 and current trans combo. That 5.7 and ZF 8 speed are just awesome as is the Uconnect infotainment. Some things I have been begging GM online for years to have you still cannot get such as rear seat HVAC and a 32 gallon fuel tank. It was a tough decision as a GM employee to go with another FCA product(I was a FCA IT contractor for 12 years before joining GM) but so far I am really happy. I want to see GM get up on it here, FCA has many flaws but I will have to say they are much more product focused and seem to respond very quickly to the market and consumer demand.
Laser focused on product?..unfortunately FCA is falling to pieces. log onto Chrysler.com and look at Chrysler’s automobile line up.
Then move along to Dodge….the Dart disappears after model year 2017 and the mid size Avenger has been gone. the Challenger and Charger are ancient.
I don’t want to see FCA lose a division but Sergio has neglected those 2 brands.
This “18 Durango SRT is more smoke & mirrors like the Hellcat.
I almost can see this as being their swan song.
UConnect is great, I loved the outgoing 200 as the poor man’s Regal, enjoyed Dart handling, and even had fun with 500X.
Unfortunately, FCA is low quality, starved for new product and the 15 year old 300 is the company’s best product.
FCA with soon be Ram & Jeep with post bankruptcy or after a merger with either PSA or Nissan.
A significant portion of shoppers don’t care about platform weight when you have cheaper gas.
Dodge will never get Gorgio. Dodge never gets new product & will keep selling Journey for years.
FCA will either be sold or bankrupted like AMC at which point Dodge is done.
Well it is what it is. I had a 2012 Dodge Journey, bare bones with the 2.4. It was without a doubt the most trouble free and reliable car I have ever owned.
First let. Me state I an all about performance as I make my living in this area.
But here is the problem here. While it is cool to. Make this vehicle today’s market demands volume for a mfg to remain alive and viable.
While this vehicle and the hell cat are fun they do not provide valuable volume.
What supports mfg today hand provides a lot of valuable income is volume for new platforms and models.
GM went broke while building the Trailblazer SS because it was the regular volume models that support the company were lacking to find buyers to support the company.
Sergio today banked the future on Alfa and now failed to reach the volumes a Dodge with Jeep like investment could have reached.
These performance models are the sweet frosting on a stake cake.
I really fear for the future. Sergio has now finally turned to Dodge but the 300 has gone from respectable luxury car to a model now discounted to the price of a Malibu. The Dodge LX models are now reported to be pushed back to 2021 and may lack a V8.
If gas or should I say when gas goes up again they have no real small cars to turn to the deliver needed volumes.
Finally FCA really is hurting globally volume wise since they lack much in China.
GM just passes 10 million units sold for the first time in history wit a modern and record profitable lines. Even then they have room for improvmry yet FCA still sleeping all of this.
Unless Sergio is shown the door FCA is one global economic down turn away from sale or failure. Ram and Jeep would live but not much else.
Thes performance models from a viable and economically strong company are fun things but from a weak and struggling company they are signs of desperation.
Do not get fooled here. FCA is like looking into a well. The surface may be smooth and clear but that is only covering a rocky financial bottom.
We have already lost too many American brands and I fear we have yet to see the last of the loses
God that Durango is ugly.
Unless you want Chevrolet to make a Traverse SS which would probably be the RS package with lower springs and either get a twin turbo V6 or a corvette 6.2 V8 mated to all four wheels
I bought an ’06 TBSS new in July 2006. As I recall the MSRP was about $39700 (about $48500 today) it was far from perfect, but it was fun to drive! There were quite a few small suspension tweaks, the LS2 and a 14 bolt 9.5″ rear end stuffed with 4.10 gears. Thirsty? Oh yeah, 14.5 mpg was all she would do. Damn shame GM has eliminated all performance trucks and SUV’s. There is still an audience out there.
Chevy needs the trailblazer… nice and simple and smooth lines… good visibility out the back… bells and whistles..
Well guys, the girls at GM keep making the same mistake over and over. The other competitors (Ford and Chrysler) will keep eating their patee when they leave the door open, so to speak. In case you don’t get it, GM’s motto, for the last few years, has been” females designing autos/trucks for females!!!!
You need to dig dealer into the economics here.
Toyota got to the top as did VW with the basics not the specialty models.
Companies are build on the volume models and models like this are just add on sales. In this cases they have neglected the base.
When the dust settles GM may be boring but they will be stronger and mor financially stable.
I hate to say this but that is how the market is working today.
Same with luxury cars as they are very profitable but the volume is what still carries a company.
Scott3, some of these folks are not paying attention to the auto news.
FCA is a wreck. what Doug is missing is that the Malibu sold over 200,000 units in the US in 2016 (how is that missing the mark??) The Dodge Dart and the midsize sedan by Chryselr (the 200) will be gone after this model year.
That leaves FCA with the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and the Chrysler 300 as their only cars. And we know that platform is very old.
I do miss GM not having a few more performance cars in the Chevy Brand, but overall GM has been doing good.
Dodge needs and is FCA’s volume brand and they do not even have a subcompact car, a compact car (after 2017 dart is gone) or a mid size car….then the Chrysler line is damn joke. the 200 which is done, the 300 and the Pacifica….even though CUV’s are selling there is still a decent demand for compact and mid size cars.
Sergio inherited Dodge & Chrysler and at the time those 2 brands were in good shape.
New vehicle generations were to be out around 2018 for The FCA divisions (I thought) and it looks like those have been postponed until 2021. Oh and the Chrysler 100 was going to be the compact car added to the Chrysler vehicle line.
btw Fiat is ridiculous. it has the 500 and the SPider roadster ( which is the Miata MX5).
It appears that FCA has abandoned the Compact and mid size market here in the US….It is a very competitive market with not as much profit as CUVS.
That sector is pretty much battled out now between Toyota, Ford, Honda, and GM, with Mazda to a lesser extent.
I may be biased here (proud owner of an ’06 SS) but that trailblazer ss still looks better than the Dodge! I drive the wheels off my SS and she’s still kicking as hard as the first day I got her(122k & counting).
I agree 100%, I have an 08 Trailblazer SS kicking at 128K and It looks better than that Dodge and the only way I will part with her is if GM makes another mid size SUV with the SS BADGE….. Rest assured GM has something up there sleeve…..
Doug, you hit the nail right on the head!! Mary B is more interested in taking care of the family woman. Build too many boring CUVs with useless third row seats. Builds Corvettes and Camaros because she knows she has to and throw in the token CTS-V that mainstream buyers can’t afford and tell loyal consumers that’s all you are getting….what arrogance! This kind of foresight will drive us to buy vehicles like Durangos and Jeep GCs. If I only knew that GM was disregard the specialty SUV market, I would have kept my TBSS and bought five more.
Why not pick up a yukon denali on sale with the 6.2 L and be paying the same price or less than this durango? Ill take resale and comfort over a little bit of speed. People just dont buy niche – look at the dead ss sedan. GM has been burned too many times. If you want a really fast GM get a ZO6 or ZL1 – heck even an ss or stingray will satisfy most. I just wish they made a denali avalanche (landslide?) as the only thing mine is missing is that tasty 6.2…
WE NEED A TAHOE /YUKON SS SOMETHING THEY TALKED ABOUT BUT NEVER DELIVERED I HAD A TRAILBLAZER SS GREAT TRUCK PROBERLY SHOULD HAVE KEPT IT