It wasn’t long ago that Stellantis held its annual dealer meeting in Las Vegas, revealing several exciting concepts that showcase the future of the company’s products, including what’s next for Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Chrysler. A vast number of impressive vehicles were showcased, but one in particular, carrying the name “Stealth” stood out in the crowd. Based on earlier reports, it was believed that this new Stealth SUV would share an architecture with the new WL Jeep Grand Cherokee, while the Dodge Durango would grow into a full-size SUV that utilized the STLA Frame Platform. Alas, no more.
What Happened To The Dodge Stealth SUV?
The upcoming midsize SUV from Dodge will feature a three-row layout on the STLA Large platform. However, this upcoming SUV is expected to revolutionize the SUV segment with its appearance. It’ll feature a sportier, more streamlined appearance as opposed to the boxy design of its predecessor. According to Mopar Insiders, the name “Stealth” for the upcoming SUV shouldn’t cause concern among enthusiasts that remember the sports car from the 1990s.
Chrysler Group has a history of using different names to gauge feedback from its dealer body, and the Durango brand’s strong recognition built over 25 years will be considered. Chances are that this future SUV we’re talking about here will end up being the next-generation Dodge Durango, instead of the Stealth.
Will There Be A Large Dodge Full Size SUV?
Reports indicated that Stellantis had been considering making use of the STLA Frame architecture for the next-generation Durango. This would have had the SUV sharing a common platform with the Jeep Wagoneer and Ram 1500 pickup truck. As such, it would have been produced in the Warren Truck Assembly plant. However, the company is said to have reversed course due to production capacity limits at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant, which is set to shift its focus to producing the new Ram 1500 REV after concluding production of the Ram 1500 Classic later this year.
As a result, the upcoming Dodge Durango will likely use the STLA Large unibody platform instead. This would allow the Durango replacement to continue production at the Detroit Assembly Complex, where the current model has been manufactured alongside the new Grand Cherokee since 2010.
The next-generation Dodge Durango is also expected to incorporate the latest Stellantis technology. That includes the Level 3 self-driving capabilities, promising a leap into semi-autonomous driving. The new Durango is also anticipated to share multiple traits with the Dodge Charger Daytona, which would foster an iconic design language for the brand, like Lexus with their unnecessarily large grills.
Image copyright Steven Pham, Muscle Cars & Trucks### Share this automotive news:
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