There’s a lot of 4X4/SUV talent at the Chrysler Group, and shortly after they unveiled the handsome new Jeep Grand Cherokee, comes this equally good looking 2011 Dodge Durango, which they call a “Performance SUV with a Soul”.

We won’t be betting on it against the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5, although Dodge makes a lot of enthusiast noise – lines like “performance-tuned to thrill anyone who truly loves to drive” and “the Durango’s stiffened unibody structure is engineered with the driving enthusiast in mind” for instance. But from the looks of it, this black and blinged “rapper spec” car looks like its targetting the hip hop circle.

The big SUV has a monocoque body and three rows of seats for seven occupants. Dodge says that the Durango’s cabin is one of its main selling points – it’s a place where you’d want to “jump in, hunker down and thoroughly enjoy even the longest drive”. It’s flexible too, with a staggering 22 different seating configurations and “crossover versatility” for the family.

The Durango is powered by a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 or a 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine with fuel-saving, Multi-displacement system (MDS) four-cylinder mode. Both engines feature variable-valve timing and can be paired to AWD.

Towing capacity is important in the US and the V8 can pull 7,400 lbs while the V6 does a best in class 6,200 lbs. The example given is that the Durango V8 can tow more weight than a 24-foot boat plus trailer. Fuel efficiency must be factored in these days, even in this segment, and the Dodge can go past 800 km before needing a refill.

More pics after the jump.

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