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2018 Dodge Durango GT Rallye gets Charger and Viper-inspired styling

The third-generation Dodge Durango has been on sale since 2011. Essentially a long-wheelbase Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango's styling draws a lot of influence from cars like the Dodge Charger and Challenger. For 2018, the three-row SUV will be available with an optional GT Rallye appearance package. Think of this as a V6 model with the face from the more powerful Durango R/T. The appearance package is a $1,495 option on the mid-range Durango GT and is only available for a limited time. Like the R/T, the GT Rallye's front fascia is heavily inspired by the Dodge Charger Daytona. It ditches the standard crosshair design for a slim mesh grille, and adds a Viper-inspired hood scoop and vent. It also gets LED fog lights. The GT Rallye is available in both rear- and all-wheel drive. Customers can also add the Blacktop package and Brass Monkey wheels. Mechanically, nothing changes. The Durango GT Rallye is still powered by the 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6. The Durango GT starts at $38,990. Related Video: Design/Style Dodge SUV

California Highway Patrol powers up with Charger Pursuits

Residents of California, you'll want to adjust your rear-view mirrors and remain vigilant for the menacing maw of the Dodge Charger. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) ordered 580 Dodge Charger Pursuit cars to start replacing the organization's oldest vehicles. According to the CHP's director of communications, Fran Clader, these old cars are patrol versions of the Ford Crown Victoria, Ford Explorer and Dodge Charger. The cars will be delivered over the next two years with the majority equipped with Fiat Chrysler's 3.6-liter V6 engine. The unit makes 292 horsepower in the Charger and is found in everything from the Jeep Wrangler to the Chrysler 200. There will be a handful of Chargers with the 5.7-liter V8 found in the Charger R/T, but Dodge and Clader said they will just be used for training. Bick Pratt, head of FCA US government sales and operations, said the order represents a move back toward four-door police cars. "The CHP is ordering our Charger Pursuit vehicle to reintroduce the sedan into their patrol vehicle fleet," Pratt said. "That's important to us because it reflects a shift back to sedans by a progressive agency like the CHP." Chargers may show up in local law enforcement fleets. Pratt said departments will have the opportunity to also order Charger Pursuits through the CHP's contract. So wherever you are in California, if you see that famous crosshair grille in your rear-view mirror, be ready to pull over. Related video:

2019 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Octane Edition fuels your dreams for a limited time

Few automakers love special-edition models quite as much as FCA. It's particularly prevalent in the Jeep and Ram lineups, but other makes get some love, too. Take a look at the new 2019 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Octane Edition, a special blacked-out model that's set to arrive at dealerships this fall. The car is available to order now, but Dodge says the books will only be open for a limited amount of time. The Octane Edition is available in two appropriately named colors: Pitch Black and White Knuckle. A pair of matte black stripes run down the middle of the car, flanked on both sides by a thin Octane Red stripe. The 20-inch wheels are painted gloss black and have a knurled bead to keep the tire from slipping on the rim. The Brembo brake package is included, with the six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers painted Octane Red to match the stripes. Inside, the Octane Edition gets houndstooth inserts in the SRT sport seats. There are red Hellcat logos, red seat belts and red stitching on the doors, seats, dash center console and steering wheel. The Octane Package adds $1,495 to the $68,740 base MSRP of a 2019 Charger Hellcat. Like all Hellcat models, the Charger comes with a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 making 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic. Changes for '19 include a new grille with two inlets to feed more air under the hood. The cars also get launch control, line lock, a cooler for the supercharger as well as a torque reserve system that preloads the supercharger for better launches.