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Dodge debuts 2020 Durango SRT Black appearance package

Dodge is going back to the well with yet another round of aesthetic options for the 2020 Durango SUV, focusing yet again on the high-performance SRT model with a new Black package and optional "Redline" stripes.  Like most of FCA's dress-up packages, these are geared toward the sporty crowd. The SRT Black package adds lots of black and dark gray elements, including gray SRT badges on the grille and fenders, gloss black mirror caps, 20-inch matte gray wheels, blacked-out exhaust tips, a satin black "Dodge" logo on the tailgate, and gray "Durango" and "SRT" tailgate badges.  If you want a little color variety, you can swap out the gray alloys for the existing Brass Monkey accessory wheels at no cost. You can also add the Redline stripe package (shown here), which adds matte black full-length stripes with red accent pin-striping on the outer edges.   And while the package may be called the SRT Black, it's actually available in 10 colors: Billet Silver, DB Black, Destroyer Grey, F8 Green, Granite Crystal, Octane Red, Reactor Blue, Redline, White Knuckle and Vice White. Plenty of cars aren't even available in 10 finishes.  The SRT Black package offers a treatment similar to that of the Blacktop package, which is available on lower trims; Black and Redline are both exclusive to the range-topping SRT model.  The Durango SRT Black will run you $1,495; Redline is an extra $1,295. These packages will make their public debuts at the Chicago Auto Show next week alongside some other goodies from FCA. Stay tuned.  Related Video:

Guy trying to sell Challenger Hellcat for $89,000 because VIN ends in '666'

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is undoubtedly one of the baddest cars on the road today. With a 707-horsepower supercharged V8 snarling under the hood, the coupe can go down the road like a bat out of hell. There's not much that could make one of these muscle machines much more menacing, but a seller on Craigslist has one bizarre solution: offering a hellacious Hellcat with a VIN marking the Dodge as the beastly 666. What's the price for such unholy identification? That's a cool $89,000 – around $30,000 more than a brand new, less sacrilegious example. The seller claims that the Challenger's blasphemous number makes the vehicle "one of a kind," which is true only to the extent that VINs ending 665 and 667 would be similarly unique. The seller also says in the Craigslist ad, "This car is sure to become a collector's item and will only increase in value." There's no question that the Hellcat is a special machine, and the models just might be worth something decades into the future. Expecting that a future owner is going to care about the VIN seems pretty optimistic, though, unless this is either the first or last example, which it's not. To the credit of this superstitious seller, the Challenger appears completely untouched with all of the warning stickers, paperwork and even the plastic still covering the seats. So, the new owner is at least getting a practically untouched example. While we applaud audacity here, a roughly $30,000 premium for an unholy VIN seems a bit... devilish.

Chrysler Group moves around execs in wake of recent departure

Chrysler is busy shuffling executives around in the wake of Ram head Fred Diaz's departure. The automaker has named Reid Bigland (pictured, right) as Diaz's successor in the role of president and CEO of Ram, though Bigland will continue his duties as the head of US sales and the president and CEO of Chrysler Canada. Bigland first came to Chrysler in 2006 from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, so the guy knows a thing or two about trucks.
Meanwhile, Timothy Kuniskis will take over as president and CEO of Dodge. Previously, he served as the head of Fiat in North America and has been with Chrysler in one capacity or another since 1992. His old title now falls to Jason Stoicevich, who will also continue to work as the director of the automaker's California Business Center. Finally, Bruno Cattori will take over as the president and CEO of Chrysler Mexico.
Diaz left his position to take over as a divisional vice president of sales and marketing with Nissan. You can read the full press release on the Chrysler personnel changes below for more information.