The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has found an unlikely new career in Texas. The Department of Public Safety is bringing a 710-horsepower SUV into its North Texas Region fleet, and nobody in the Lone Star State seems surprised.
Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Goes Pursuit Ready
Official details are thin. The DPS offered a single line: “All that horsepower. One mission: Public Safety.” Beneath the bodywork sits a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with a claimed top speed of 180 mph.
Weight is the real question. At roughly 5,600 pounds, the Durango is a heavy tool for a fast chase. Even so, its all-wheel-drive grip and Dodge engineering give patrol drivers a stable platform on wide Texas highways.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | 6.2L Supercharged HEMI V8 |
| 🐎Power Output | 710 HP |
| ⚡Peak Torque | 875 Nm (645 lb-ft) |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | 0-60 mph in 3.5s (est.) |
| 🚀Top Speed | 180 mph (290 km/h) |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | 8-Speed Automatic / AWD |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | $80,000 |
Fans of the Custom Dodge Durango Hellcat already know the formula. On paper, a police SUV with this output is a rolling deterrent. In reality, the Durango SRT Hellcat must survive sustained full-throttle duty without overheating or wearing out its brakes.
Where Budget Meets the Brake Pedal
Economics will decide this experiment. At around $80,000, the SUV costs far more than a standard patrol Tahoe or Charger. Fuel is the second headwind, since the EPA rates the Durango at just 14 mpg combined, and a V8 in attack mode will drink faster.
Meanwhile, PIT maneuvers on pickup trucks raise a different risk. Ramming a Texas-sized truck with a 710-horsepower SUV could bend bodywork quickly. Ultimately, the department must weigh that exposure against the value of its interceptor.
A Speculative Future for Interceptor Icons
Here is our bold call. Once decommissioned, these ex-police Durangos could become collectible curiosities, much like the cult police Crown Vics of the past. Surplus Hellcat SUVs will likely find buyers among enthusiasts who want a fast, rare, and very Texan piece of history.
Ultimately, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat proves that Texas does not do modest. Whether it chases bad guys or cruises community parades, it will attract plenty of attention.
Liam Campbell
Industry Intelligence & News Editor at Auto News Magazine. Tracking prototype spy shots, Nürburgring development mules, automaker corporate moves, and breaking global automotive scoops.
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