If you've got a hint of hotrod about you, want to binge on bling or have a hankering for horsepower then you just have to make it to Las Vegas this time next year.
The start of November heralds the arrival of the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show and with it the best modified cars in the world -- from tuners and manufacturers alike.
CarPoint showed off Volvo's trio of C30-based 'hotties' last week. Now it's the turn of the Chrysler Group. Longtime supporters of the SEMA exhibition, in 2006 Chrysler had modified models from its Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler nameplates and all the cars featured below are on their way Down Under -- albeit in somewhat tamer trim.
The work of the company's 'SkunkWerks' team, Chrysler's performance parts arm, Mopar, was instrumental in building the cars. Here's a quick rundown of what was on show.
5.7L HEMI Dodge Nitro
>> Builders: DaimlerChrysler Dealer Technical Operations and Vehicle Build Shops
>> 5.7L HEMI Crate Engine by Mopar rated at 265kW/489 Nm
This Dodge Nitro rolls on custom 22-inch Alcoa rims with 350mm Brembo brakes behind them. With custom body panels including carbon-fibre bonnet, front and rear fascias are covered in a one-of-a-kind blackberry pearl paint accented by the custom purple rain glass supplied by Solutia.
In the engine bay is a Mopar Performance 5.7L HEMI matched to a five-speed Tremec manual transmission.
The interior of the SkunkWerks Nitro continues the no-nonsense approach with four Viper buckets wrapped in black carbon-fibre leather by Katzkin.
Dodge Nitro Panel Wagon
>> Builders: DaimlerChrysler Vehicle Build Shops
>> 3.7L, 12-valve, SOHC V6 rated at 155kW/319Nm
Retro looks and modern flair, says Chrysler about the Dodge Nitro Panel Wagon. It's Mopar-themed throughout featuring the parts specialist's accessory, performance, and replacement parts
Lowered 50mm and riding on 20-inch rims the panel van carries cargo in style via a 180kg-capable sliding rear floor. Cargo is kept from going into the front compartment by an aviation-inspired cargo net. And where the glass and quarter trim once lived, there are a set of custom panels designed to hold smaller stuff: tools, oil, filters, everything a hot rodder might need on the road.
Chrysler Sebring Tuner
>> Builders: DaimlerChrysler vehicle build shops
>> 4.0L 24-valve, SOHC V6 rated at 210kW/400Nm
According to Chrysler, this car's task was to take the Chrysler Sebring and "exaggerate its existing elements to create an even more dynamic and eye-catching tuner."
The Chrysler Sebring Tuner's exterior features an aggressive body and lamp kit, 50mm lower ride height and big wheels (20-inch) and brakes.
The engine is a larger 4.0-litre V6 which features a custome dual exhaust with 100mm pipes. Transmission is a fettled six-speed auto.
Inside the Tuner "SRT-style" an uprated Boston Acoustics stereo and more.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
>> Builders: Jeep Truck Engineering-Design Aid Build Shops
>> 3.0L Common Rail Diesel rated at 170kW/529Nm
Jeep says this five-door Wrangler flagship "takes the already off-road benchmark Jeep Wrangler to a whole new level."
The Unlimited gets a lift kit Tru-Lok-equipped Dana 44 axles, 35-inch BFG Mud Terrain tyres and custom 18-inch alloys supplied by Taneisya.
The exterior features a Warn 9.5 winch mounted on American Expedition Vehicles new front bumper.
Jeep Patriot
>> Builders: Chrysler Tech Centre Vehicle Build Shops
Trail-rated and designed to maximize the capability of what Jeep claims is "the most off-road worthy vehicle in its class", this show vehicle previews the new smaller Jeep arriving to take on the likes of Toyota's RAV4 and Honda CRV.
The show car's custom suspension lifts it 65mmm over standard providing a claimed 275mm of ground clearance. Big wheels and tyres complete the running gear makeover.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon King
Jeep terms this SEMA favourite an "amplification of Jeep's most capable off-road machine."
The upgrading is largely under the skin here and includes a 4:1 ratio Rock-Trac transfer case and Tru-Lok equipped Dana 44 axles. The Rubicon King gets massive BF Goodrich 37 x 12.50-17 TA Krawler tires mounted on Mopar/Hutchinson beadlock wheels. Superlift Suspension supplied the 100mm liftkit for extra ground clearance and Warn-supplied new 9.0 RC Rock Crawling Winch.
Custom features include relocation of the spare tyre where the back seat used to reside, fender flares and grille trimmed for extreme clearance, trick lighting, military spec tow shackles and radio delete plate. Other features include American Expedition Vehicle's new heat-reduction hood and rear corner guards.
Coming here soon
Chrysler is at pains to point out the customs detailed hereabouts are on their way to Oz. The original vehicles upon which these are based will arrive for sale locally within the next 12 months. Stay 'tuned' into CarPoint for more details but below are approximate arrival dates.
- Chrysler Sebring - mid 2007 (For more click here)
- Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited - second quarter 2007 (For more click here)
- Jeep Compass - second quarter 200 (For more click here)
- Jeep Patriot - third quarter 2007 (For more click here)
- Dodge Nitro - third quarter 2007 (For more click here)