The 2014 Dodge Durango Special Service SUV comes with various improvements and updates from the prior model-year, the most significant of which is a standard eight-speed transmission that Chrysler says will deliver up to a 15% improvement in fuel economy. Vehicle range is increased to 600 miles, from 550 miles the prior model-year.

Durango’s standard 3.6L Pentastar V-6 engine is paired with the eight-speed transmission and generates 290 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. The vehicle can tow up to a best-in-class 6,200 lbs. The V-6 Durango also features a best-in-class driving range of more than 600 miles on a tank and up to 25 miles per gallon.

The available 5.7L HEMI V-8 engine produces a best-in-class 360 hp and 390 lb.-ft. of torque with a best-in-class tow rating of 7,400 lbs. The engine’s Fuel Saver Technology with cylinder-deactivation alternates between smooth, high-fuel-economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is in demand. Models with the HEMI V-8 engine achieve up to 23 miles per gallon.

The Special Service Durango also features a heavy-duty brake package, heavy-duty battery, 220-amp alternator, heavy-duty water pump and engine oil cooler, and a load leveling suspension.

The customizable rear cargo area has under-floor storage compartments and additional storage in the side compartments. The Durango’s third-row of seats is removed to provide fleet customers more cargo capacity.

The new instrument panel features a redesigned center stack that houses the new 5-inch and 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreens. The bottom of the center stack houses a new media hub with an SD card slot, USB outlet and auxiliary jacks, as well as a storage bin. The new center console features a segment-first rotary shifter. Manual shift functions have moved to paddle shifters on the back of the Durango’s new steering wheel.

The instrument cluster now includes a full-color 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) screen. Standard on all models, this screen allows for drivers to customize more than 100 ways how information is presented.

The vehicle comes with a 5-year/100,000-mile fully transferrable powertrain warranty.

The Dodge Durango Special Service will be built at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. Chrysler Group fleet operations will start taking orders now, with production expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2013.