The all-new 2011 Durango shares nothing with the old model. Therefore, forget everything you know about the old model and take a look at the new one! Read more and check out more photos after the jump…

The result is a three-row, seven-passenger unibody SUV riding on a 119.8-inch wheelbase with four-wheel independent suspension powered by Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. Properly equipped, the 290-horsepower V6 tows 6,200 pounds and the 360-hp Hemi, 7,400 pounds. Rear-wheel drive is standard, while full-time all-wheel drive an option.

The general package is wrapped in a modern shape that appears athletic, strong and modern. The body sits low over the wheels, and the greenhouse-to-body ratio lowers the roofline further. Inside, the changes are more pronounced. Dodge stylists upped their interior and the change is dramatic. The 2011 Durango features large swaths of seamless soft-touch trim panels and cushy surfaces everywhere you’re likely to lay a finger. Attention to detail is especially evident in the gauge cluster and door panels. Glints of chrome highlight the easy-to-read twin-pod gauges. The sweeping shapes on the door panel are accented (depending on model) by various contrasting inserts and deftly molded-in details. We especially appreciated the remote release for the spring-loaded third-row headrests, as the press of that button dramatically improves rear visibility. The large rear doors make for easy access to both rear rows. One-touch action on the second-row seat opens a path to the third-row where there’s room for a sub-six-foot adult.

The 2011 Durango is no old-school dinosaur, but a new-and-improved breed that Dodge hopes will be the most extinct-proof model to date.

For more info on the 2011 Durango, click here