Dodge’s Flagship SUV Just Resurrected One of the Brand’s Most Eye-Catching 1960s Upgrades

Although Dodge’s aging Durango SUV is rumored to be in the process of getting an overhaul, the refresh isn’t slated to arrive for a few years.

Accordingly, the brand has been keen to try to improve interest in the model in the meantime, first by making the Hemi V8 the standard engine and subsequently by expanding the Jailbreak customization program and adding distinctive special editions.

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But now Dodge has looked to its back catalog to revive one of its most eye-catching upgrades, and it’s infused the Durango with an extra dose of 1960s muscle.

A high-impact visual option

That option being B5 Blue. In 1969 then-parent company Chrysler introduced the color as part of Dodge’s ‘High Impact’ range, and it’s only since revived the hue for a brief period in 2009.

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As such, this will be the first time that the Durango gets to wear the color — a significant milestone considering that the Charger Daytona doesn’t even get it. Instead, it shares its ‘Bludicrous’ variation with Jeep’s ‘Hydro Blue.’

Beyond the obvious effect that the B5 color has on the SUV’s visuals, it also makes for a significant upgrade in the context of the brand’s history. When Dodge initially offered the option in the 1960s and 1970s, it was on legendary muscle cars like the Coronet, the Charger and the OG Daytona.

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Between their lengthy sheet metal and their fire-breathing V8 engines, these vehicles were the cream of the crop. As such, at the time, the move inspired a sea of imitators from the competition. 

AMC offered its various ‘Big Bad’ colorways, while General Motors fielded a range of bright reds and oranges on its Chevys and Pontiacs and even yellows on its Oldsmobiles. Not wanting to be left out of the fun, Ford also answered with a series of day-glow ‘Grabber’ colors that made its muscle cars equally eye-catching. 

In any case, vehicles bearing High Impact paint make for an integral part of muscle car culture, and those examples that still wear their original pigment can command high values on the secondhand market today. The addition of B5 Blue won’t turn the Durango into a collectible overnight, but it does mean that the SUV joins an important legacy.

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Coloring outside the lines

While B5 Blue might seem like an unusual option for an SUV, Dodge’s Durango is every bit a muscle car in spirit. The hue is right at home on the rowdy family-hauler.

After all, the Durango can be had with one of two V8 options under the hood. In GT trim, it comes with a 5.7-liter Hemi good for 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque — enough grunt to move the SUV from 0-60 mph in just over six seconds.

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As impressive as that is, though, the Durango SRT Hellcat takes things to the next level.

Thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8, the SUV makes an authoritative 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. When mated to an eight-speed automatic and an all-wheel drive system, that’s enough to hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, run the quarter-mile in the mid-elevens and hit a top speed of 180 mph.

For context, the most powerful Dodge Charger R/T 426 Hemi from back in the day took a full second longer to sprint from 0-60 mph, and its quarter-mile time fell around 12 to 13 seconds depending on gearing and tire selection.

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Pricing and availability

B5 Blue is available to order on 2026 Durango models now for an extra $595. You can learn more about the SUV and the color selection over on the Dodge website.

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