The Dodge Challenger T/A concept is a 485-horsepower beast that the maker is displaying at the SEMA show.
It’s a beautiful autumn morning as Mark Trostle leads a group of journalists out to the design department courtyard behind the Chrysler Technology Center. “It’s like Candyland out here,” says the chief designer for Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s Mopar division, as he surveys an assortment of concept vehicles that will soon head to Las Vegas for the annual SEMA Show.
That’s the yearly gathering of the automotive parts and accessories world, a fast-growing industry that generates more than $30 billion in business annually. Not surprisingly, makers like Fiat Chrysler have been increasing their presence at SEMA each year hoping not only to put a halo around their brands, but also to help sell more of their own parts and accessories.
Mopar, in fact, has been generating double-digit growth in recent years, in part by coming up with striking concept vehicles that illustrate ways to use products from its own parts catalogue. But it’s also going to be showing several special concepts that could soon be put, in whole, into production by various Fiat Chrysler brands.
The Dodge Challenger T/A would bring back the once-popular Track Attack nameplate for the familiar muscle car. The Challenger concept features such track-ready upgrades as six-piston Brembo brakes, 20-inch x 9.5-inch wheels, a modified rear spoiler with a “Gurney Blip,” and custom Viper seats, the rear seat removed to lighten the vehicle.
The Dodge Viper ACR concept features air exhausters over the front wheels that help reduce turbulence and boost downforce.
To enhance breathing, the 485-horsepower engine can draw air through a modified shaker hood and the Hellcatcher air intakes developed for the Challenger SRT Hellcat model.
Also clearly intended for those who want to spend some of their spare time racing is the Viper ACR, which brings back another badge long associated with the Dodge two-seater. The concept features air exhausters over the front wheels that help reduce turbulence and boost downforce. There’s a massive front splitter, a large rear wing, and carbon-ceramic six-piston brakes.
The Viper ACR concept also features a distinctive, offset black and red hood stripe, and a few luxury touches, including Alcantar trim and door panels with laser-etched checkered flags.
(Pumped up Mustangs roaring into SEMA show. For more, Click Here.)
The SEMA Dodge Dart features a matte-black hood and orange metallic body, a unique front fascia with a new lower splitter and side sills from the Mopar catalogue.
The third potentially production-ready concept gives a makeover to the Dodge Dart. It starts with a matte-black hood and orange metallic body, a unique front fascia with a new lower splitter and side sills lifted from the Mopar catalogue. Add 18-inch lightweight, anodized wheels, a three-piece spoiler, a lower suspension and ground effects. It also gets Katzkin seat covers, like many of the other SEMA models.
While Fiat Chrysler officials will be closely monitoring the response to these three models to see if they can add them to the line-up, the rest of the SEMA show cars are designed to give customers an idea of ways to customize their own vehicles.
(Click Here for details about Chevy’s plans for SEMA.)
Just barely out of the gate, the all-new Jeep Renegade gets the Mopar treatment for SEMA.
The list includes special versions of the newly updated 2015 Dodge Charger, the Chrysler 200 sedan, the soon-to-come Jeep Renegade, as well as both the Fiat 500 Abarth minicar and the new Fiat 500L people-mover.
(To see more SEMA news, Click Here.)
Mopar also took a brush to the Ram 2500 pickup – quite literally, giving it an unusual “Swamp Thing” camouflage paint job, as well as special wheels, a 2-inch boost in ride height, a special roof rack and a bench built into the tailgate – complete with two cupholders.
To wrap things up, Mopar rolled out a version of the big ProMaster van, here outfitted with twin kegger taps – serving root beer for the media preview, with Mopar boss Pietro Gorlier doing double-duty as bartender.
“SEMA is extremely important for us,” he explained, noting the show is a “great opportunity” to build buzz for both Fiat Chrysler products and Mopar accessories.