It is also significant that the images shown today, which are most heavily photo-shopped, also present a peek at a revised Dodge badge that has had the traditional ‘ram’s head’ logo removed, as Chrysler Group continues to work on the separation of its Dodge and Ram brands. The shape of the new badge will allow the new emblem to be retrofitted to existing models without any tooling changes. Chrysler Group has no current plans to add a Chrysler-branded ‘Aspen’ derivative to its range.

Based on the same platform, shared with Mercedes-Benz, which underpins the new Grand Cherokee, the Durango will thus receive the same engines as the Grand Cherokee: the new Pentastar 3.6-litre V6, and the 5.7-litre VVT HEMI engine with fuel-saving, Multi-Displacement System (MDS) four-cylinder mode. Both engines feature variable valve timing (VVT) and are available with all-wheel drive. In addition to improvements in efficiency, the engines provide impressive V6 and V8 towing capability with standard trailer sway control (7,400 lbs for the V8 and 6,200 lbs for the V6). When equipped with the HEMI V8, the all-new Durango can tow more weight than a 24-foot boat and trailer. The Pentastar is attached to Mercedes’ W5A580 five-speed automatic, while the HEMI uses the 545RFE automatic transmission.

The Durango is the first vehicle out of the blocks in Dodge's scheduled new product roll-out for the 2011 model year. Visually the new SUV is somewhat less-thought-out than the Grand Cherokee, reflecting the need for cosmetic differentiation as a primary design objective. The new rear three-quarter treatment appears awkward and much of the Durango's design language is "busy". Only two of the touch-up shots issued by Chrysler Group today, which concentrate on the SUV's exterior, show the rear end, and none present a side-on view.

The new interior is created by the same interior design studio that designed the interior in the Ram trucks and the Grand Cherokee. Emphasis has been placed on ensuring that materials passengers will feel are more refined and soft to the touch than is usually associated with the brand, as well as providing functionality across the trim levels. The Durango’s interior aims to provide comfort for all three rows of passengers, and there has, says Chrysler, been thought put into improving interior flexibility: with 22 different seating configurations, there is sufficient room to store and move plenty of people and their baggage.

The new Durango also offers consumers 45 safety and security features, including standard front seat-mounted side airbags and standard side-curtain airbags that cover passengers in all three rows, as well as standard active head restraints. Electronic Stability Control also is standard. Other available safety and security technologies include blind-spot monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and Keyless Enter ‘n’ Go.