2014 Dodge Durango to Launch Early With 8-Speed Automatic

Colum Wood
by Colum Wood

The Durango has been a hit for Dodge, bringing back SUV buyers to a brand that has shed numerous products over the past few years.

While equipped with a standard (and efficient) 3.6-liter V6 engine, as a truck (and a sizable one at that), rising gas prices could send potential buyers away from the Durango and into something smaller. In order to keep pace with such changes Dodge is moving up the introduction of the 2014 model, which will see a several mile per gallon improvement thanks to a transmission with two extra gears.

According to one source the 2014 Durango will launch in May of 2013, sporting the same 8-speed automatic transmission that is already being used in the Chrysler 300 and which is expected to make its way under the hood of the Jeep Grand Cherokee soon.

In addition to that update, also look for the addition of the Chrysler brand’s larger 8.4-inch LCD screen as a part of the Uconnect system.

[Source: JeepGarage.org]

Colum Wood
Colum Wood

With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.

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  • Aboone27 Aboone27 on Jan 20, 2013

    Will the police SS w/8-spd.be availablefor specialorder?

  • Big B Big B on Jan 27, 2013

    The only thing that kept me from getting a Hemi Durango was the transmission, my brother has it in his 2012 Dodge RAM and althoughthe shifts are fast and smooth it has VERY tall gearing, holding the Hemi back. I mean mid 15s in the quarter is kinda slow by today's standards, hopefully the new 8 speed will fix that.

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