[dakrt99]

V8 - 14/23 is good. I wonder when we will see more stop-start systems added to other vehicles? Can't wait to see what the diesel is going to get - 30HWY?

 

[SUNBURNTsnype]

wonder how much more they could eke out of it if they brought over some of the Ram tech to the Durango like the air suspension and active grill shutters. Then trow in some nice lightweight rims, full synthetic fluids all around and you might see 25 HWY out of the 5.7!

 

[marlon_jbt]

It was never designed for the air suspension. I'm looking at a bare WD floor pan right now and I can't see where the air tank would go...

 

[MoparNorm]

wonder how much more they could eke out of it if they brought over some of the Ram tech to the Durango like the air suspension and active grill shutters. Then trow in some nice lightweight rims, full synthetic fluids all around and you might see 25 HWY out of the 5.7!

Since the Durango is built upon the Grand Cherokee platform, it's not going to be able to use the air springs from the Ram, but it can use the air springs from the Grand Cherokee.

 

[Mike V.]

wonder how much more they could eke out of it if they brought over some of the Ram tech to the Durango like the air suspension and active grill shutters. Then trow in some nice lightweight rims, full synthetic fluids all around and you might see 25 HWY out of the 5.7!

And how does Chrysler pay for all of that. The Ram was significantly redesigned for all that cool aero tech. The Durango was just a mild refresh.

Would have been nice, but it wasn't in the cards.

Mike

 

[SUNBURNTsnype]

obviously its not financially feasible, just thinking out loud what else could be done to make the efficiency even better. Do you guys know how much of a difference in EPA numbers or real world economy numbers those two features(grill shutters and air suspension) make on the ram in hwy driving? 1-2 mpg or is that being overly optimistic?

 

[Dave Z]

I suspect the active shutters and underbody trim will have rather different effects on different vehicles and that Chrysler does try all of them.

 

[MoparMantis]

How likely are we to see the diesel in this generation of Durango? I kind of doubt it, but maybe in the next generation or the Wagoneer of they make it. I'd like the acceleration of the Hemi, but 30ish mpg would be hard to turn down.

 

[Miles11]

For what its worth: We were at the local country fair yesterday and the local dealer had their usual display of various Mopars. My wife and I were checking out both the Durango and the GC and my wife mentioned she strongly preferred the GC over the Durango, which she felt was "too big" compared to the GC. When I explained its basically the same vehicle, the salesman stepped in to say the 2014 Durango will essentially be a re-badged GC, with even less differentiation that the present models.

I doubt this is true, but there could be a couple of reasons for this happening. First, the GC sells in much greater numbers than the Durango and perhaps Chrysler's research shows that a lot of buyers that cross-shop the two feel the same way my wife does. Or, the Durango is being down-sized slightly so it won't step on the upcoming Wagoneer.

I realize this is all speculation on my part, but maybe someone in the know could shed a little light?

BTW, our trip to the fair resulted in a disagreement over whether she gets a GC next, or I get a Charger RT.

 

[dodgeatheart]

For what its worth: We were at the local country fair yesterday and the local dealer had their usual display of various Mopars. My wife and I were checking out both the Durango and the GC and my wife mentioned she strongly preferred the GC over the Durango, which she felt was "too big" compared to the GC. When I explained its basically the same vehicle, the salesman stepped in to say the 2014 Durango will essentially be a re-badged GC, with even less differentiation that the present models.

I doubt this is true, but there could be a couple of reasons for this happening. First, the GC sells in much greater numbers than the Durango and perhaps Chrysler's research shows that a lot of buyers that cross-shop the two feel the same way my wife does. Or, the Durango is being down-sized slightly so it won't step on the upcoming Wagoneer.

I realize this is all speculation on my part, but maybe someone in the know could shed a little light?

BTW, our trip to the fair resulted in a disagreement over whether she gets a GC next, or I get a Charger RT.

The only thing changing on the 2014 Durango is the front clip, rear clip, and dash. Size, and the difference between the Durango and JGC, has not changed. The Durango is larger, it was meant to be, even though it is on the same platform as the JGC. You can see it most in side profile pictures where the rear of the Durango has been stretched by several inches to make room for a third row.

The salesman, well, was just being a salesman.

 

[marlon_jbt]

Don't forget that the Durango is also taller.

The salesguy is full of it. For 2014, they are even MORE differentiated now.

 

[Dave Z]

Agreed. The idea of reduced differentiation is absurd. I suspect the visual changes were done mainly to emphasize the new transmission.

 

[dodgeatheart]

Agreed. The idea of reduced differentiation is absurd. I suspect the visual changes were done mainly to emphasize the new transmission.

Not to mention, it looks better

 

[vipergg]

wonder how much more they could eke out of it if they brought over some of the Ram tech to the Durango like the air suspension and active grill shutters. Then trow in some nice lightweight rims, full synthetic fluids all around and you might see 25 HWY out of the 5.7!

I wouldn't want air suspension, just something else expensive to go wrong , give me a standard shock, strut setup please...

 

[dodgeatheart]

Odd, but the EPA only lists the 4x4 V6 (the only one omitted in the article originally cited) and it's 17/24.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=34305

 

[AC TC]

" I wouldn't want air suspension, just something else expensive to go wrong , give me a standard shock, strut setup please..."
- so true, this setup is good for the first owner under warranty.
If they want to have these functions look at citroen and their gashydraulic suspension. ( but look only at the suspension the rest is crap! )

 

[oh2o]

1. I wonder when we will see more stop-start systems added to other vehicles?

2. Can't wait to see what the diesel is going to get - 30HWY?

1. Oh, I would probably venture to say "very soon" .

2. Not aware of any plans for a diesel in the current Durango, don't think you'll see it. Chrysler has its hands full launching the GC diesel, after months and months of delays. The expected take rate for the GC diesel, at least initially, is around 10%. Apply a similar take rate to the Durango and you'd be looking at maybe 500-600 units/month, not enough I believe to justify/offset the development costs.

 

[Mike V.]

1. Oh, I would probably venture to say "very soon" .

2. Not aware of any plans for a diesel in the current Durango, don't think you'll see it. Chrysler has its hands full launching the GC diesel, after months and months of delays. The expected take rate for the GC diesel, at least initially, is around 10%. Apply a similar take rate to the Durango and you'd be looking at maybe 500-600 units/month, not enough I believe to justify/offset the development costs.

I'm hoping the demand will be better than that for the GC... Pushing the Durango to happen too.

Mike

 

[JRS200x]

I'm hoping the demand will be better than that for the GC... Pushing the Durango to happen too.

Mike

It will be, the diesel is going to have a 15% production mix and early interest/demand on it has been pretty high. I have a number of customers who are waiting on it. I expect the take rate to be closer to 15/20%.