These two special editions celebrate 20 years of the Hemi V8-powered Dodge Durango

It’s been 20 whole years since Dodge stuck a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 in the Durango, and to mark the occasion, it’s celebrating with a pair of special editions: the ‘SRT Hellcat Silver Bullet’ and the ‘R/T 20th Anniversary’. Let’s get down to it by starting with the shoutier one.

The SRT’s exterior is now coated with a layer of triple nickel paint, the bonnet sports a satin black look and there's corresponding grey badging loaded across the body. There’s also a choice of 20 or 21in ‘Lights Out’ alloys to sit ahead of the very red Brembo stoppers.

Inside you’ll find Red Nappa leather seats, much suede in places like the steering wheel and headliner. These changes build on the standard interior options, which include a 10.1in infotainment touchscreen, a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio unit and many safety systems, like Trailer Detect and Forward Collision Warning.

Oh, there’s even more Hellcat badging inside to nod towards its rumbly power plant too: a 6.2-litre V8. That’s good for a 3.5s run to 60 if your gear changes with its eight-speed transmission are snappy enough, before this leviathan plateaus at 180.

Strong numbers when pitted up against the mellower R/T, we’d say, since the latter’s engine is still the same 5.7-litre V8 which kick-started the whole Durango Hemi story. Here, it puts out 365bhp and 390lb ft which, paired with the juvenile bonnet/wheel arch decor, Brass Monkey 20in Y-spoke alloys and darkened badging, does still make it a tasty proposition.

The R/T also comes with Dodge’s ‘Tow N Go’ package, which brings sharper steering, adaptive suspension damping and an active exhaust. Oh, it can also tow a payload of nearly four tonnes. Anyone fancy an expensive, likely calamitous game of tug of war?

Like the SRT, the R/T also comes with a few cockpit garnishes. The main acts include rebadged Alcantara seats with bronze stitching and forged carbon accents. That’ll be on top of the nine-speaker Alpine audio system and many servings of suede throughout.

Both Durangos are now available for order, with the SRT coming in at $113,325 and the R/T setting you back $70,470.