Four Mopar-customized vehicles will be on Chrysler's stand ar at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. The image vehicles were created by the Mopar design team led by Mark Allen, Head of Jeep Design, Chrysler Group LLC.
The Dodge Challenger 1320 began life as a Mopar Drag Pak Dodge Challenger. The current Drag Pak option is a light-weight, stripped-down, race-only, special-order version of the Dodge Challenger designed for competitive drag racing.
For the street-legal design, Mopar’s design team took the vehicle back to its roots with styling reminiscent of vintage Mopar muscle.
The Dodge Challenger 1320 image vehicle, named for the 1,320 feet on a quarter-mile drag strip, features Mopar’s 426 cubic-inch, all-aluminum, HEMI® V-8 crate engine that generates 556 horsepower.
The engine is equipped with unique Mopar-designed valve covers and a dress-up kit. Mopar’s long-tube headers and exhaust system allow the cubic inches to breathe. Electric cutouts allow the exhaust to bypass the muffler system, which exits through custom side pipes for added rumble at the dragstrip.
Power is put to the ground via a six-speed manual transmission through a custom Dynatrac rear housing with Mopar Dana 60 internals and a selectable, ARB locking differential. Mopar police wheels, widened in the rear, are strapped with Nitto street-legal drag radials to provide extra grip at launch. A four-corner, adjustable coil-over kit is provided by Mopar as an option for the Dodge Challenger. This system improves the handling of the vehicle under extreme loads of 556 horsepower and 540 lb.-ft. of torque.
Following Mopar’s high-impact color heritage, the design team layered the 1320 in Acidic Hue, a non-metallic yellow paint and added matte black graphics. The body is lightened with carbon-fiber components: Bulged hood with HEMI scoop, front spoiler, grille panel/headlamp surround.
The interior is equipped with Dodge Viper seats, a sport steering wheel and a Hurst shifter. The rear seat, center console and radio have been removed in order to reduce vehicle weight and maintain the 1320’s no-nonsense theme.
The Dodge Ram Bianco is based on a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8. The Dodge Ram is modified to reflect an upscale feel and appearance with the aid of Mopar performance parts and accessories.
Exterior modifications include a Mopar hard tonneau that adds a classic, sporty appearance. The inside of the truck bed features Mopar’s bed rug--a plush, yet washable carpet.
For the exterior, a Mopar body kit and modified Mopar fender flares give a unique, sophisticated look. The stance is aided by a Ground Force lowering kit that not only lowers the vehicle, but also provides excellent ride and handling.
The Dodge Ram Bianco is layered in several coats of Arctic Ice pearl paint that give it a rich appearance. Holding true to the upscale theme, Mopar’s 22-inch wheels are painted in a matching, high-contrast design. Performance upgrades include a Mopar cold-air intake and a throaty Mopar dual exhaust with just enough growl to let you know there is something powerful under the hood.
The exterior theme continues through the interior. White and black Katzkin seats with matching door trim set the stage for a high-class ride. Piano Black and Arctic Ice accents add to the luxurious theme. For sound, Mopar contributed a Kicker audio system consisting of an audio amplifier, a powerful subwoofer and upgraded speakers.
The Jeep Wrangler Overland is targeted to those craving travel and adventure.
The Mopar design team took a 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon and turned it into a mobile “on-the-go” self-contained campsite.
To increase cargo capacity for hauling gear, the Jeep Wrangler Overland’s rear seats are replaced with a large, flat, rubberized utility floor.
Mounted to the cargo rack is an all-new ARB two-person Simpson II rooftop-mounted tent and touring awning.
The interior of the Jeep Wrangler Overland features water-resistant Mopar front-seat covers, rugged Mopar slush mats, a Daystar dash bin and lower switch panel that powers added accessories.
Enhancing off-road travel is an American Expedition Vehicles’ (AEV), Nth Degree, 3-inch suspension lift and a Full Traction rear sway bar.
The lift allows aggressive 35-inch tires mounted on 17-inch steel Mopar winter/off-road wheels to fit under the Jeep. Additional off-road protection at the front and rear is provided by AEV steel bumpers and for added security, a Warn 9.5ti winch.
In order to prepare the Jeep Wrangler Overland for desert duty, an AEV Jeep Wrangler heat-reduction hood and snorkel kit is fitted to the vehicle. Mopar windshield-mounted off-road lights and Daystar bumper-mounted lights provide additional lighting for nighttime and off-road driving.
The Jeep “Lower Forty” takes the Jeep Wrangler platform to a new extreme. The vehicle is equipped with massive 40-inch x 13.5-inch tires mounted on Mopar’s 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels.
Mopar added aggressive wheels and tires to a stock, two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon without the use of a suspension lift. The team’s goal was to achieve added ground clearance without dramatically altering the vehicle’s center of gravity.
The team removed copious amounts of body metal in order to provide room for 40-inch meats. Three inches are chopped from the windshield frame and a 10-degree rake is added.
Custom front and rear fender flares are 1-inch wider and are located 4 inches higher than a stock Jeep Wrangler.
A new one-piece carbon-fiber hood with a Jeep CJ-like power dome and an all-new drop-down tailgate stamped with the “Jeep” logo are added to complete the exterior design.
On the interior, an all-new roll cage is neatly integrated into the body tub and tied directly into the frame rails.
The spare tire is relocated to the cargo floor and a custom cargo rack, supplied by Poly Performance, holds extra gear.
Once all body modifications were completed, the exterior received a fresh coat of Red Eye No. 3 paint, a custom color developed by Mopar.
Custom touches throughout the interior include a color-matched center console and instrument panel. Seats are re-covered with Mopar’s Katzkin leather package in a two-tone scheme. Replacing the carpet is a durable, spray-in truck-bed liner. Rugged Mopar floor mats complete the theme.
Mechanical upgrades came directly out of the Mopar catalog. The Jeep “Lower Forty” features an all-new 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine and a Getrag 238 six-speed manual transmission. Powertrain installations were handled by Burnsville Off-Road using an AEV 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 conversion kit.
The Mopar-supplied Dana 44 front axle and a Dana 60 rear axle, fitted with 5.38 gears and ARB air lockers, were assembled by Dynatrac.
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.
Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 components in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles.
(Source: Chrysler)