Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

We have to imagine that Chrysler is pretty upset with the 2011 Ford Explorer. After all, when it came time to name the 2011 North American Truck of the Year, both of the Pentastar's latest offerings – the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee – held two of the final three finalist spots, only to be beaten out by Ford's new seven-passenger crossover.

Dodge, for one, isn't going down without a fight.

This latest set of Michael C. Hall-voiced advertisements puts the 2011 Durango head-to-head with the new Explorer, showing off the Dodge's best-in-class towing and more powerful powertrain options. Be sure to note the fine print in the first ad where it says, "2011 Dodge Durango Citadel and 2011 Ford Explorer Limited equipped with their most powerful engines available." In defense of the Explorer, it's perhaps unfair to compare top-end powertrains when you're putting a 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8 up against a 290-hp 3.5-liter V6, but, hey... Ford doesn't offer anything more powerful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXFV6...layer_embedded

Second Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=XOBRLZjOz2E

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/05/d...latest-tv-ads/

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

All I have to say is watch Ford drop an EcoBoost 3.5 in the Explorer like in the Flex and I'll enjoy watching Dodge scratch their heads lol

trukn1

Desperate move by Dodge, especially since the Explorer is not even truck based anymore; is based off the new Taurus platform. New Durango is a powerful beast, indeed and looks are definately attractive, just wish that it wasn't a clone of the Jeep Cherokee with a longer wheelbase. New Explorer, is also attractive, but less oriented towards the power side of the spectrum rather than towards the utility. Dodge STILL has ALOT more work to do to sway buyers their way.

<VENOM>

Wonder what the sales of the 2 look like, I have seen a bunch of new Durangos on the road, not as many Explorers but Explorers have cheaper leases

J.P.

Durango looks like a minivan from behind, hate it

LexBob2

Here's the current sales July/YTD

Explorer 9,897/75,720
Durango 5,364/28,935

<VENOM>

Not compared to the original Durango with a Caravan rear

RX_330

The Durango is unibody too now.

FrankReynoldsCPA

Too bad the commercial doesn't feature a loud BANG as the Durango's transmission scatters...............

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

durango ad does a nice job helping ford.

Sandhopper

I still think I would be more likely to venture off the beaten path in the Durango (Grand Cherokee twin) than the Explorer. Jeep has been refining the uni-body off road design since the early 90's. Not so much with Ford who is a custom to frame on chassis. I am sure Ford will continue to hold the lead in this segment since they are the 800 lb gorilla in the room and most folks just use the explorer for the urban jungle.

FrankReynoldsCPA

The Durango is not a 100% clone of the Cherokee though. Even Chrysler admits that the Durango is only for light 4x4 work, and doesn't have as good of a transfer case and other 4x4 stuff as the Jeep.

<VENOM>

Most 4x4 components are generic, 4Runners and Explorers have the same basic borg warner 4x4 parts, not identical but take one apart and see how easy stuff swaps between the 2, do you have the link with Chrysler saying this, I want to know who is making the trans and other 4x4 components.

Did you know, when the original Ram came out, it was a show truck, you could not plow with it, you could not convert it into a box truck or flatbed, people still bought and converted them.

Did you also know it was referred to as a POS compared to GM and Ford, but those POS went the distance if not more, especially with a diesel under the hood.

The Durango is a modern day station wagon, the Explorer same thing, my buddy was a Ford tech, besides the no resale value of Explorers, the number one problem they fixed on the Explorers was the transfer case not shifting, amazing how 4x4 are driving around for 4-5 years and 60k or more before the 2nd or 3rd owner decides to shift it into 4wheel drive

Kira X

iTrader: (24)

They both look pretty nice in that first video. I'd rather have the Explorer since I've seen it in person. I've never seen the new Durango driving around