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2023 Dodge Durango Hellcat - A Last Hurrah?

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84K views 397 replies 59 participants last post by  Vice-White  
#1 ·
Most of you are in one of the four Durango Hellcat groups on Facebook so this isn't new, but I wanted to start a thread to hopefully keep updated with any relevant information.

Let me add to the rumor mill a bit with a discovery over the weekend. While checking a VIN for a DDHC being parted out by Schram Auto Parts I noticed it was actually a 2023 model. Naturally, I dug a bit deeper and found at least 14 2023 Dodge Durango Hellcats that Dodge produced as "vehicle development pilots." Why would Dodge build pilot vehicles with 2023 VIN numbers? Was 2023 the original model year planned for the DDHC and Dodge pivoted and pulled it forward to 2021 and as such all other pilot vehicle VINs are 2021s as they were produced after the 2023s?
Who knows, but here is a little bit more about how these 2023 pilots were configured...
  • All of them list Rear Seat Reminder Alert as standard (new feature)
  • Half were White Knuckle while the other half were DB Black
  • All but one was built with Demonic Red Leather
  • The only option on the one with Black interior was the Lightweight Package
  • All of them had Blind Spot / Cross Path as standard (similar to 2022)
  • All but the one with zero options were built with sunroofs, roof rails, roof cross bars, cargo compartment shade, and the Trailer Tow IV group.
  • Some were built with Forged Carbon Fiber Interior Accents but not the rest of the Premium Interior Group features
  • All of them had a "Restricted Models/Options" line item
  • No differences listed for engine, transmission, driveline, etc. (same as 2021 build sheets)
  • These will not be saleable units as Dodge has several rounds of pre-production builds, with the last round usually having some saleable units closer to production (similar to the 2021 DDHC pre-production units that have been hitting the auto auction scene with 500XXX VINs).
I wouldn't get too excited about this discovery, but it may be another small hint of a last hurrah for the DDHC in 2023. I guess we will have to see what they announce in the middle of August when they talk more about future models.

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#191 ·
The other colors are for late availability as they have stated.
 
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#193 ·
Yeah I guess I only have my Demon order experience to go on… my bad…. With that it did not matter that plum crazy was a late availability, you were still able to order it when the orders opened up, you just waited way longer than others to get your ‘late availability’ color car to get built, but your build was in the system.
 
#192 ·
LOL. They also stated they would make as many as ordered. They also stated there would not be allocations. They also stated it was a 21 only car... We could continue all day with that..

In reality it appears there are 1600 available (from 2 different dealers including the one I ordered it through). My dealer who normally sells loads of HCs, got DDHC 2 allocations.

So... If you have the stones to wait for "late availability" you might get blessed with a rare car, you might get bupkis.
 
#195 ·
Had been calling around dealers almost daily looking for an allocation. Was finally able to find one with 2 allocations. Dealer was happy to send screenshots of the allocation screen showing they had 2 DDHCs for Jan. So wife and I went directly to dealer late same day, Nov 17th, to put in the order. Snagged one of the allocations because another person hadn't called them back and ordered a DB Black, Premium (2XY), Black Package. I originally wanted to downgrade the seats to all black but this wasn't an option it appeared unless I was willing to start from the bottom and option up. That spooked me a bit as I felt like they would build those last, or if at all. So I kept the Laguna Seats. I will learn to love red!

This dealer doesn't do markups so I was very happy to get it for MSRP. This is DFW area so total price, with taxes and fees, was $115K, before fees $105,675. Hopefully this gives an idea of what to expect. Once I get the build acceptance emails and VIN I will try to give some lead time info.
 
#196 ·
Oh I ordered mine earlier this week, already have Vin. Same msrp, I’m paying a little less than msrp but then after adding tax its 107,xxx out the door. The only option I didn’t want was the black package. But I too am stuck with Red seats, even though I wanted black.

oh well, no clue how quickly these will be built, but my order is in, I went with Red w/silver stripes.
 
#205 ·
no one will be confiscating.....but you may get into it with your kids when they do cut you off....but that is their job...;)
we all get used to the power but for me I usually drive in auto so that when I go to say track the full beans everything still excites...going in for the 12k service tomorrow
 
#207 ·
Well I don't have any kids to deal with and that's a good thing. I had to take my mother's keys when she was 90 and that was a nightmare. Just turned over 10,000 in mine this past weekend but that's after a little over 15 months and I'm currently having to make 3 extra trips to town every week to do cardiac rehab so it's getting a little more use than normal. But I don't complain, it lets me drive it a little more.
 
D
#215 ·
Can confirm myself. Dealer said they only had the regular colors to choose from: black, destroyer gray, octane red, and white. By "late availability" for the other colors, do they mean literally they'll only be available for orders later, so sometime next year?
durangopath said:
Was just told by high volume dealership on the east coast that their 2 Durango hellcats in transit are 80k over sticker.
Click to expand...
Update: I found a local, smaller dealer with 1 Durango hellcat allocation at MSRP.
 
#213 ·
Will the dealer help subsidize the added 80k in markup for insurance reasons in case the HC get stolen or totaled? Anyone and I mean anyone who buys a currrent day Mopar for that kind of money is off their rocker!

And I bet that dealer can't even fix the Hellcat if it breaks.
 
#222 ·
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#223 ·
For those of you with 2023's on order...here is the updated SRT Performance Features Guide, which your dealer will know nothing about and can only be downloaded online. It has the engine break-in process, service schedule, track tips and other SRT specific information.
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Always fun looking through the build sheets, especially the progression from pre-production to fast feedback to customer units... a few things I took away from the most recent ones...
  1. Rear Seat Reminder Alert made it to production as a new standard feature for 2023 and is explained in the owners manual.
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  2. Gloss black mirror caps are standard across the board on SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat. They are no longer body colored if you don't order the Black Package. Same holds true for lower trims with the exception of the Citadel, which gets platinum (chrome) mirror caps.
  3. Build sheets confirm that the roof rack and integrated cross rails will not be offered on the Hellcat, but are available on the SRT 392. This is the same as 2021, but was hoping they would offer the roof rails on the Hellcat for 2023. I only used them but twice a year but they were a feat of engineering.
  4. Spare tire delete is carrying over from 2022 on SRTs or R/T Tow and Go with run flat tires as standard even if you have the Tow Package ordered (compact spare tire was included with the Tow Package previously and is listed in the '23 features, but must still be on supplier constraint)
 
#224 ·
didn't know this bit...

"
BATTERY S TORAGE M ODE
With the ignition in the ON position, engine not
running, navigate to the battery gauge page on the
instrument cluster display, then press and hold the
OK button. The vehicle will be put into battery
storage mode, which will greatly increase the
amount of time the vehicle can sit and restart
without needing to disconnect the battery. Going
into battery storage mode will increase the amount
of time between starts to about 60 days."
 
A
#225 ·
rich! said:
didn't know this bit...

"
BATTERY S TORAGE M ODE
With the ignition in the ON position, engine not
running, navigate to the battery gauge page on the
instrument cluster display, then press and hold the
OK button. The vehicle will be put into battery
storage mode, which will greatly increase the
amount of time the vehicle can sit and restart
without needing to disconnect the battery. Going
into battery storage mode will increase the amount
of time between starts to about 60 days."
Click to expand...
New to me too…should this mode be used when using a trickle charger (connected to the terminals under the hood via clips)? Curious what folks think
 
#231 · (Edited)
Along with the $10K increase in price along with previously mentioned removal of HC logos (front and rear seats). I just read headliner will no longer be offered in suede but only cloth, what a disappointment.

It makes you ponder, did Dodge actually plan to roll out more DDSRTHC in 2023 back in 2021? Offering a higher price point, with less options than in 2021. My gut tells me they figured out the emission thing after the fact, saw how people were paying way over MSRP with dealer markups and figured lets add the average markup cost to MSRP and clear out our inventory parts. Lets sell am inferior car with less upscale options, charge more, and laugh to the bank. Why should dealers take all this extra markup, let them make less so we can make more.
 
C
#233 ·
I think you hit the nail right on the head.
They know people will go out and pay a premium for an SRT/HC. Their parts inventory was dwindling. No need to ramp up production for a vehicle on its last year. Package what we got and offer a "take it or leave it" deal. It's the unfortunate side of the business. Instead of giving me a reason to upgrade my '21 they gave me a reason to look elsewhere.
 
#234 ·
It's not showing on build sheets or on the first window sticker for any Durango Hellcats that have been built so far. It has been listed on window stickers and build sheets for lower Durango trims that include it in an option package (Hemi Orange Plus Package as an example). Time will tell, but it is not looking good. Just stupid if the SRT 392/Hellcat for 2023 doesn't include the suede headliner on the Premium Trim level.
 
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#236 ·
It would be listed on the build sheet as SUEDE HEADLINER if that was the case, but it's not. It was included in the Premium Interior Group in 2021/2022 which previously bundled the PUR wrapped instrument panel with stitching, forged carbon fiber inserts, suede headliner and A-post covers but they seemed to have pulled it out in 2023 for some stupid reason.
 
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#241 ·
2023 Durango Hellcat Delivered!
Once again...good news bad news I am afraid. Here are the first posted pictures of a delivered 2023 Durango Hellcat at Sam Leman CJDR in Morton, IL. This is a sold vehicle but it was listed on CarGurus for $15K over sticker. I am sure it is just dealership clickbait. Now for the bad news. This is a Premium Trim spec. SRT only embossment on the seatbacks and no suede (Dinamica) headliner or A-post covers. But nice to see Dodge maintained the Demonic Red bolsters on the dash and center console. Would be curious if these remain on the Plus trim as well as the Plus trim does not receive the PUR wrapped instrument panel with stitching.
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#242 ·
Seems we have confirmed HC logo has been removed from seats and headliner seems to be cloth!:ROFLMAO:
Seems our 2021's will remain more special. With the price increase, almost all used 2021 samples will sell for MSRP or more. We should thank Dodge for making our 21s more desirable and retain there value,
What a nice parting gift they gave us.
 
#243 ·
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