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Fresh Mopar style

Posted on 29 October, 2014

Mopar – the accessories, parts and performance equipment division of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – is out in force at this week’s at SEMA in Las Vegas.

It’s showing a fleet of modified vehicles and products at the world’s premier automotive products trade event. “Each creation represents an interpretation of how customers can personalise and transform their vehicles,” says says Pietro Gorlier, president of Mopar’s service, parts and customer care division. Among the cars unveiled was the Dodge Challenger T/A, which is a modern interpretation of the T/A package available in the 1970s for the Challenger. The concept draws on heritage-inspired cues, but also calls on present-day performance modifications and new prototype products designed with an eye toward the future. The Viper-inspired centre scoop hood with black hood pins has been adapted to accommodate a Mopar induction system. The air box chills it en-route to the 6.4-litre 392 HEMIengine via the scoop. Air Catcher headlamps on the driver and passenger sides add a distinctive appearance with hidden LED lights creating a glow. Underneath the extra wide lightweight forged aluminum wheels are Brembo six-piston calipers with two-piece slotted and vented rotors for handling and stopping performance. Rear-seat delete with brushed aluminum close-out panels achieve additional weight reduction. A pistol grip shifter is another heritage-influenced touch and speedometer stands out with white face gauges and platinum metallic trim ring. Accents include gloss black trim ring bezels and door release handles. The rear roll-bar is designed for enhanced chassis rigidity. A selection of parts and accessories has been used to creating the Dodge Charger R/T Mopar concept. The current Charger’s update is further enhanced by plugging in unique products, including a front splitter, and side sills and sill extensions that boost handling and aerodynamic characteristics. At the rear, a Mopar valance frames the exhaust tips. A one-piece rear spoiler rises high, resulting in extra downforce and a more dynamic rear profile. A cold-air intake adds a jolt of horsepower to the concept’s 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine from the Dodge. The Dodge Viper ACR concept aims to improve “the ultimate hand-built American exotic supercar”. It sports an aggressive carbon-fibre front splitter and a competition rear wing anchored to the steel skin by sculpted aluminum stanchions. Many development hours in the wind tunnel achieved balance between the wing and stanchions, and how these elements work in conjunction with the front splitter to maximise downforce. Three utility hoops used on past SEMA show vehicles as ladder or surfboard racks are reinvented as a camouflaged bed tent. Elements from the Ram Sun Chaser 2013 SEMA show vehicle include a concept Mopar roof rack and the concept “flip-op” seatback tailgate, which converts into a two-seat bench by folding back toward the cab. The Jeep Cherokee Dakar is the most extreme Cherokee ever. The silver satin-gloss exterior is set off with red graphics that encircle the window and wrap around the black hood graphic. The Trailhawk 17-inch polished clear-coat wheels feature two large red pockets. Front-end features are enhanced by two prototype inserts on the traditional Jeep seven-slot grille, as well as through a prototype lower-fascia trim. The Dakar is fortified for off-road action with Jeep Performance Parts rock rails, an oil-pan skid plate, front suspension skid plate, two-piece fuel tank and underbody skid plates. Its wheel openings have been modified for the larger 33-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tyres. Additional suspension modifications help to make it the most extreme Cherokee yet. Prototype wider fender flares with riveted bolts give a tougher appearance and also accommodate the wider track and larger tires. A prototype rear fascia allows for more aggressive departure angle and enhances the higher ride height. The Dakar’s crawl ratio is 48:1, and estimated approach and departure angles are 32 and 39 degrees respectively. The Ram ProMaster hospitality van is based on the North American version of New Zealand’s Fiat Ducato, and is described as the perfect vehicle for business owners looking to customise fleets. Modified for EMA, it has been converted into a mobile lounge and equipped with refrigeration to serve ice-cold beverages from a large swing-open side panel. Interior cabinets, counter displays and merchandise displays are installed in the cargo area of the vehicle boasting the most vertically oriented side walls of any entry in the cargo van category. The Chrysler 200S Mopar has upgraded the production 200S with parts and accessories. Additions include a body kit with a unique front splitter, side sills, rear-side sill extensions and rear valance. A coil-over lowering kit and 19-inch wheels with a unique bronze finish round off the visual cues. Customers will be able to order a version of the Chrysler 200S Mopar show vehicle in the first half of 2015. Combining West Coast culture with Italian design, the Fiat 500L Custom provides a unique mix of colour. It has been lowered and rides on Mopar prototype lightweight wheels. A functional splitter, also a prototype, provides downforce and adds to the stylish look. The 500L Custom also is outfitted with a Mopar cat-back exhaust. The Fiat 500 Abarth Scorpion has forged lightweight wheels and a cat-back exhaust system to create a deep, rumbling note from the sport coupe. The exterior colour pattern follows the two-tone theme of the Fiat 500L Custom. A red-painted upper portion and white-trimmed lower half accentuate the logo, which is enlarged and appears as if it’s crawling up the front fascia and hood.