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THE ALL-NEW 2004 DODGE DURANGO: THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF SPACE, POWER AND COMFORT

All-new Design with Unmistakable Dodge DNA

Two New Engines Deliver Improved Fuel Efficiency and Performance

More Spacious Interior with 15 Percent More Cargo Capacity

Improved Ride and Handling

Advanced Safety Systems

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The all-new 2004 Dodge Durango breaks free from the sport-utility pack with best-in-class power and a broad-shouldered presence that could only come from Dodge. With more style, more cargo room and more capability, the 2004 Dodge Durango has the perfect combination of interior space, all-new safety features and a best-in-class towing capability of 8,900 lbs. With a standard V-6, available 4.7-liter V-8, and now the all-new 5.7-liter HEMI® Magnum V-8, Durango has a full-range of powertrains providing improved fuel efficiency across the board.

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“The new Dodge Durango offers increased levels of refinement, safety and interior room wrapped in a bold new design brimming with Dodge DNA,” said Darryl Jackson, Vice President — Dodge Marketing, DaimlerChrysler Corporation. “With the market growing for sport-utilities with three rows of seating, Dodge has worked to improve the overall packaging of Durango, and we delivered. The new Durango has all the room you really need, with increased head, hip and leg dimensions, 101 cu. ft. of cargo space and a third-row seat that allows seating for seven.”

The all-new Dodge Durango has the interior room, towing and hauling capability of its large sport-utility vehicle (SUV) competition, yet provides the fuel efficiency, performance and handling of the smaller full-size SUVs. The 2004 Dodge Durango is larger than its predecessor — seven inches longer, two inches wider and more than three inches taller. With its third row seat folded and middle row up, the way the majority of three-row seat SUVs are driven, the 2004 Dodge Durango has more cargo room than Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition or Toyota Sequoia.

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The 2004 Dodge Durango is available in three trim levels: ST, SLT and a new Limited package.

ENGINE LINE-UP

DURANGO EXPANDS ENGINE LINEUP WITH FIRST EVER V-6 POWER AND HEMI MAGNUM V-8

For 2004, Dodge Durango offers a new 210 horsepower (157 kW) 3.7-liter V-6 as standard and the award-winning 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum V-8 as an option. The 4.7-liter Magnum V-8 returns to round out an impressive powertrain lineup. Both V-8s deliver improved fuel efficiency compared with the previous model Durango, and the HEMI Magnum offers a full 100 horsepower improvement over the 5.9-liter Magnum that it replaces, all while also achieving a 10 percent fuel economy improvement.

“The new Magnum V-6 powertrain allows Durango to compete directly against other full-size SUVs on price and fuel efficiency,” said Jackson. “And with the addition of the all-new HEMI Magnum V-8, which debuted on the tough Dodge Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups, this all-new SUV has a lineup of engines that’s hard to match for versatility, power and capability.”

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With 345 horsepower (257 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. (509 N•m) at 4,400 rpm, the new HEMI Magnum also delivers a 40-percent improvement in horsepower and a 12-percent improvement in torque versus its predecessor. Equipped with HEMI, Durango easily sets acceleration and towing class records.

The 2004 Durango is also available with the 230 horsepower (175 kW ) 4.7-liter Magnum V-8 engine. With

290 lb.-ft. of torque (393 N•m) at 3,600 rpm, the 4.7-liter provides smooth and responsive performance and is mated to the 5-45RFE automatic transmission. The 5-45RFE also features a unique alternate second gear ratio for use in difficult passing and grade-climbing situations.

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Durangos equipped with V-8 engines feature a “Tow/Haul” transmission feature that provides crisper shifts, and reduces gear searching when towing by holding the lower gear longer. The system will also select a lower gear under downhill conditions to use the engine’s braking capability.

New to the Dodge Durango lineup is the 3.7-liter Magnum V-6, standard on two-wheel drive Durangos and delivering 210 horsepower (157 kW) at 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. of torque (319 N•m) at 4,000 rpm.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: REFINED YET FUN TO DRIVE

The 2004 Dodge Durango features a refined and quiet ride but with a handling edge not normally associated with sport-utility vehicles. An all-new and torsionally stiff fully-hydroformed frame is linked to an independent front suspension with rack and pinion steering. Thanks to the consistency of the frame dynamics, the suspension and steering can be finely tuned to deliver superior ride and improved steering feel. A new traction control system and available full-time four-wheel drive improve Durango’s on-and off-road capability.

“The Dodge Durango is all-new from the ground up with a fully hydroformed frame and chassis that is unique to Durango,” said Frank Klegon, Vice President — Truck Product Team. “With the Durango, we have taken many of the lessons learned on the design and construction of our new Dodge Ram pickup frames in the areas of hydroforming and suspension tuning. What we have delivered is an exceptional handling SUV that literally leaves the ever-crowded look-alike SUV pack in our dust.”

Greatly improving the ride of the Durango is an all-new rear suspension with coil springs and a solid rear axle that delivers a smooth ride, yet improves durability, payload and best-in-class towing capability. A Watt linkage system is fitted to the rear axle, centering the axle and reducing rear-end skate over rough surfaces. The result: a smooth ride and a best-in-class Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 6,600 lbs. and class-leading towing capacity of 8,900 lbs.

“SUVs were built with a purpose in mind, and the Dodge Durango delivers the utility that our customers want,” added Klegon. “The Watt linkage design not only helps to improve the new Durango’s ride, but it also let us lower and widen the rear cargo floor, enabling Durango to carry a 48-inch sheet of plywood — an industry benchmark.”

DESIGN

BOLD DESIGN ELEVATES THE SUV PLATFORM

Breaking away from a conformist crowd, the all-new 2004 Dodge Durango elevates the form of the SUV from utilitarian tool to machined elegance. Its unmistakable Dodge DNA courses through its design, from its bold cross-hair grille to the HEMI rumble from the exhaust.

“The Dodge Durango is not a ‘me too’ design,” said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President — Design. “Our goal was to create something more architectural than agricultural, but a vehicle that still delivers power on every front, from its dramatic design to its HEMI engine and off-road capability.”

The 2004 Dodge Durango has a muscular definition and taut lines without the boxiness normally associated with SUV designs. The silhouette is unique among SUVs, with short front and rear overhangs, powerful wheel arches and a dramatically sloping windshield for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.

The grille conveys a powerful and prominent Dodge signature, with the large cross-hair as the focal point. Single headlamp covers hiding dual lights add a contemporary look. The rear of the Durango is clean, functional and features “afterburner” taillamps.

STYLE, COMFORT AND CAPABILITY

The design philosophy behind the interior of the 2004 Dodge Durango is a surface structure that suggests pure geometry. Surface sections are made up of more constant radii, delivering a cleaner and simpler overall form resulting in a functional and elegant inside appearance.

“An SUV has certain interior requirements, and space, storage and driving position are paramount,” said Creed. “The goal was to accomplish this with a clean and precise design; simple yet elegant and upscale. We started with a clean slate to create an interior that is simple and crisp, with highly legible instruments and upscale materials.”

“Utility is also very important in this market,” added Creed. “Our owners spend more and more time in their vehicles, so we really focused on the detail work. For instance, we added a large and usable ‘fast food’ bin at the base of the center stack for extra storage room.”

The new instrument panel cluster features a large, centrally located speedometer and white-faced gauges that provide a connection to other Dodge performance vehicles. Available on Limited models, a redesigned HVAC control panel features the new Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) climate control system. The ATC unit uses a dedicated microprocessor and an infrared sensor mounted in the overhead console to measure the temperature of the driver and the cabin. The new system measures ambient temperature and the engine cooling system, delaying the flow of air in cold conditions until warm air is available. The unit also has controls for the rear air conditioning system. A redesigned manual control unit is standard.

The steering wheel features a new four-spoke shield design and the vertical edges of the dash drop down to the center stack to divide the driver and passenger seating areas. “Venetian Blind” style air vents close flush and provide a cleaner appearance.

THE PERFECT BALANCE

The all-new 2004 Dodge Durango packages the type of generous interior space and abundant storage usually found on larger SUVs. The 2004 Dodge Durango has a class-leading of interior cargo volume in an SUV package that is smaller and offers better handling than the large SUV behemoths.

With an innovative split folding third-row seat design, Durango improves flexibility without losing capability.

For 2004, second-row rear seat passengers get their own climate controls and a DVD entertainment system. The second- and third-row rear seats feature more leg, shoulder and hip room than the current-generation Durango. The second-row seats also have a new recline feature. The all-new 2004 Durango is also available with a sunroof for the first time.

CLASS-LEADING CARGO CAPACITY

The 2004 Dodge Durango delivers best-in-class cargo capacity, offering a best-in-class 67.3 cu. ft. of cargo room behind the second row. Durango easily surpasses other full-size SUVs, with more than a 20 cu. ft. advantage over Ford Explorer behind the second row and has more space than Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition.

With the third- and second-row seats folded, the Durango’s flat load floor provides an enormous 101 cu. ft. of cargo room, a 15-percent improvement over the current-generation Durango. The distance between the wheelhouses in the rear cargo area has been increased by more than three inches to 48 inches for added carrying capacity.

Also for 2004, UConnect™ hands-free communications system with Bluetooth™ technology is available. The system can recognize up to seven different Bluetooth-equipped cellular phones and responds to voice commands, using a microphone in the rearview mirror and the stereo system’s speakers for hands-free conversations.

A new nine-speaker, 384-watt Infinity® sound system with Ceramic Metal Matrix speakers and a subwoofer that delivers booming sound for CDs and DVDs is optional, as is SIRIUS Satellite Digital Radio.

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SAFETY

NEW SAFETY ADVANCEMENTS

The 2004 Dodge Durango features a new advanced air bag system that includes dual stage front air bags and an occupant-sensing system for the passenger-side front air bag. The new system can detect the presence of a child seat and automatically deactivate the air bag. Other safety features available on the new Dodge Durango include available side curtain air bags for all three rows of seating, adjustable pedals and standard four-wheel disc ABS brakes.

All seats in the Durango feature three-point shoulder belts, including a new center-mounted, three-point shoulder belt incorporated into the second-row seating area.

A new fully hydroformed frame was designed to improve not only handling and accident avoidance, but excellent crash protection as well. New octagonal front frame rail tips with patent pending crush initiators are designed to absorb frontal impacts more consistently. The bumper height of the new 2004 Dodge Durango is within the bumper height zone of passenger cars and engages the structures of vehicles in the event of an impact.

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In addition to its excellent handling and steering capabilities, the Durango features the largest brakes in its class and standard 17-inch wheels. The standard ABS braking system, shared with the larger Dodge Ram trucks, features disc brakes with 13.1-inch front rotors and 13.8-inch rear rotors increasing the total swept area by 30 percent. The new braking system also features a twin-stage booster and electronic brakes distribution for better panic stops.

The all-new 2004 Dodge Durango will be built at the Newark Assembly Plant in Newark, Del.
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I just don't think that this looks as good as it's predecessor. I'd like to see it fully dresesed with brush guards and such, but I don't think that will help at all.