Mopar Blends Old School With New School in Las Vegas

Mopar has outfitted several FCA models with unique, personalized goods for the 2016 SEMA Show.

Headlining the company’s 15,345-square-foot exhibit at the Las Vegas Convention Center this year is the Dodge Shakedown Challenger, which features design cues from the past and present, resulting in a uniquely original Mopar creation. Although FCA hasn’t announced what lurks under the hood of the Shakedown Challenger, it did say it will “administer a jolt to the heart of the classic 1971 Challenger.” Expect more details on the 485-horsepower engine on Tuesday during the company’s SEMA press event. Along with some engine performance bolt-on parts like a cold-air intake and dual exhaust, the Challenger also received custom front and rear lowering suspension and a Brembo brake upgrade for the front and rear. Helping merge old-school muscle with the 21st century is the “Bitchin’ Black” exterior, hung on a unique hand-built, one-off frame with a removable body. Up front are concept SRT Hellcat Slingshot-designed 19×9.5-inch wheels while the rear gets a larger 20×9.5-inch setup.

On the front of the custom Challenger is a heritage-inspired 1971 Shaker hood scoop, further accented on top with a black “Shakedown” badge outlined in red. The entire body has also been shaved, incorporating concept front headlights and tail lights from the 2017 Dodge Challenger. The lighting components have been “massaged” to mesh seamlessly with the ’71 Challenger proportions and the result is truly a one-of-a-kind sports car.

Joining the Dodge Challenger Shakedown in Las Vegas is the Jeep CJ66, a unique cocktail of three Jeep vehicle generations. Mopar took a Jeep Wrangler TJ frame and hung a 1966 Jeep Wrangler CJ universal Tuxedo Park body on it, before adding Wrangler JK elements and Mopar-powered products to create the narrow-bodied CJ66.

2016 SEMA Show Coverage

There is also the Dodge Durango Shaker, boasting a B5 Blue exterior and a custom-fabricated, functional Shaker Hood up front, which is the first ever for a Dodge Durango. The SUV is also dropped three inches closer to the ground while riding on Satin Black 22×10.5-inch Mopar wheels protected by custom fender flares.

Even Chrysler’s Pacifica minivan has received some goods from Mopar, with the styling tweaked by custom Mopar graphics, wrapped on the quarter panel and rear to express the vehicle’s active lifestyle, paddleboarding theme. Production Mopar 20-inch wheels can be found on all four corners while a Mopar running board provides a lift into the Pacifica. On the inside of the Pacifica Cadence is a pet kennel that safely allows four-legged family friends to join in on the fun.

Truck enthusiasts can check out the Ram Macho Power Wagon that pays homage to the popular Power Wagon trim level from the 1970s. The six-foot by four-inch bed houses a Mopar concept Satin Black accessory sliding RamRack that securely stores toys to fit a variety of lifestyles. The Ram Macho Power Wagon has also been elevated four inches thanks to a custom lift kit, while it’s ready to take on all sorts of terrain with concept 18-inch beadlock wheels paired to 37-inch by 12.5-inch Nitto Trail Grappler MT tires.

Lastly, Mopar continues its tradition of offering “beverages” at its SEMA booth with the Ram ProMaster Pit Stop that takes the company’s commercial class 2 full-size van and outfits it with numerous accessories, but most importantly, four on-board taps. The ProMaster has been modified with keg refrigeration capacity to serve cold, thirst-quenching beverages, a welcomed sight if you’re covering the massive Las Vegas Convention Center like AutoGuide.com is this week.

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