The upcoming generation of the Dodge Durango appears to be progressing once again.
According to a memo first identified by Automotive News, Stellantis reaffirmed its commitment to constructing a revamped Durango at the Detroit Assembly Complex, which currently produces the existing Durango model. This was later echoed in a press release from the UAW, which also confirmed Stellantis’ plans to produce a new midsize pickup truck at an inactive facility in Illinois.
Details of both the midsize pickup and the redesigned Durango were laid out in a 2023 agreement with the UAW that includes plans for various new models. The agreement specified that a revised Durango, known by the codename D6U, is expected to go into production in 2026.
However, in September 2024, Automotive News Canada reported that the Durango might be replaced by a slightly smaller SUV called the Stealth, a name that previously belonged to Dodge’s rebadged Mitsubishi 3000GT sports car in the 1990s.
The 2024 report indicated that the Dodge Stealth SUV is set to be a five-passenger vehicle that will utilize the STLA Large platform, the same architecture that supports the redesigned Dodge Charger. This new model is anticipated to begin production in 2026 at Stellantis’ Ontario plant in Windsor, Canada. Additionally, the report suggested that the production of the current-generation Durango would conclude in July 2027.
Nevertheless, this situation could illustrate Stellantis’ potential attempt to retract commitments made in its 2023 contract with the UAW. The same memo from Stellantis regarding the midsize pickup truck, discussed alongside the Durango, reportedly faced delays until the UAW exerted pressure on Stellantis to fulfill its promises.
A new Dodge Durango would likely be significantly different from the current iteration, which is a long-wheelbase version of the previous-generation (WK2) Grand Cherokee. This model currently holds the distinction of being the only Dodge vehicle available with a V-8 engine and stands as the last Stellantis product to feature the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V-8.
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