Jeep announces new Wrangler Unlimited Pickup… in kit form
July 14, 2011 by Dodge Blogger · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Aftermarket , SUV , Truck , Jeep , Off-Road Jeep JK-8 Independence Kit – Click above for high-res image gallery Chrysler has finally released a few more details on its Mopar Jeep JK-8 pickup conversion. Wrangler Unlimited owners can purchase the kit for a $5,499, though installation by the dealer will set you back additional coin. Fortunately, the automaker says that any skilled do-it-yourselfer can stitch the pieces onto their vehicle with a little patience. The conversion includes a steel bed, inner and outer bed sides, sport bar extensions and a fiberglass half-top and bulkhead among other necessary pieces. Jeep says that the kit should help satiate brand loyalists who also want a pickup truck. Considering that a base Wrangler Unlimited will set you back $25,545, those customers will likely also find themselves wanting a winning lottery ticket. All told, buyers are staring down the barrel of a $31,044 entry price – if they do the work themselves. It’s fairly clear that the JK-8 is meant to share more blood with the CJ-8 Scrambler than a legitimate mid-size pickup, but that doesn’t stop it from being pretty cool in our book. Maybe Chrysler will let us help put one together sometime. Hit the jump for the full press release. Continue reading Jeep announces new Wrangler Unlimited Pickup… in kit form Jeep announces new Wrangler Unlimited Pickup… in kit form originally appeared on Autoblog 5.0 on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
South Africa gets Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition. Lucky them.
June 19, 2011 by Dodge Blogger · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Hatchback , Chrysler , Dodge Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery South African Chrysler fans has a new special edition vehicle coming their way. Described by Chrysler as a way to “satisfy the boy racer in all of us,” the Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition is a blacked-out hatchback rolling on 18-inch powdercoated alloy wheels. Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s been juiced up courtesy of a cold-air induction kit and an upgraded manifold and exhaust system, and the mill is paired with a manual transmission. The Caliber Mopar Edition is dropped two inches, wears Mopar decals and gets a unique hood as well. Priced at 259,990.00 Rand, the Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition will set you back a bit over $37,000 at current exchange rates. We understand that car cost is a hard thing to directly translate, and if you ditch the stripes it’s not half bad looking, but that’s still a ton of money for a tarted up Caliber… and it’s a far cry from the long-lost turbocharged SRT4 . Check out the South African press release after the break . Continue reading South Africa gets Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition. Lucky them. South Africa gets Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition. Lucky them. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
2011 Mopar Charger ready to rumble [w/burnout video]
![2011 Mopar Charger ready to rumble [w/burnout video]](http://larsonautomotiveblog.com/wp-content/themes/agentpress_1.02/tools/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5c2963341302715867-150x150.jpg&h=150&w=225&zc=1)
April 14, 2011 by paramopgi · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Sedan , Videos , Chrysler , Dodge Mopar 2011 Charger – Click above for high-res image gallery In 2010, Chrysler released the 2010 Mopar Challenger with a 500-unit production run. Chrysler tells us the gussied-up pony car was so popular with the die-hard Mopar faithful that the entire production run was sold out in three days. Team Pentastar is looking to make similar headlines for 2011 with the official introduction of the 2011 Mopar Charger . The sedan comes only in Pitch Black with a Mopar Blue stripe that stretches across the top of the entire body, and a rear spoiler is standard fare on this limited production model. Inside, this special edition Charger features Mopar-branded Katzkin leather seats with contrasting Mopar Blue stitching that also appears on the steering wheel. The Mopar Charger also features the next-generation Pistol Grip combined with Auto Stick, which enables the driver to select a higher or lower gear while a transmission controller ensures that you’re not over-revving. Further differentiation comes courtesy of special instrument bezels and an identifying plaque on the instrument panel. The Mopar name again appears on the floor mats and door sills. Continue reading: 2011 Mopar Charger ready to rumble Gallery: Mopar 2011 Charger Photos copyright 2011 Chris Shunk/AOL Continue reading 2011 Mopar Charger ready to rumble [w/burnout video] 2011 Mopar Charger ready to rumble [w/burnout video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Mopar Avenger Rally Car: More power, less pork… and not for production [w/video]
![Mopar Avenger Rally Car: More power, less pork… and not for production [w/video]](http://larsonautomotiveblog.com/wp-content/themes/agentpress_1.02/tools/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/6de5a32ally-car-opt-150x150.jpg&h=150&w=225&zc=1)
April 14, 2011 by paramopgi · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Motorsports , Sedan , Videos , Chrysler , Dodge Mopar Avenger Rally Car – Click above for high-res image gallery When we think of rally cars, the Subaru Impreza and Ford Focus immediately come to mind. At no point does the Dodge Avenger enter our thoughts, but that didn’t stop Team Pentastar from building its own dirt-ready rally sedan. Chrysler wanted to celebrate a new business partnership with Fiat subsidiary Magneti Marelli by building a collaborative vehicle that combines the talents of the Italian components maker and Chrysler’s iconic Mopar team. The result is an Avenger that can handle more than America’s urban jungle. Magneti Marelli and Mopar spent a few weeks modifying a stock Avenger Heat with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 underhood. The Avenger chassis remains intact, but a Magneti Marelli suspension was added for improved handling, lowering the Avenger by 1.5 inches. Brakes were upgraded to include 14.25-inch front rotors and 13.5-inch rear rotors, and a rear brake rally package with a hand-operated brake was included. Continue Reading: Mopar Avenger Rally Car: More Power, Less Pork … Gallery: Mopar Avenger Rally Car Photos copyright 2011 Chris Shunk/AOL Continue reading Mopar Avenger Rally Car: More power, less pork… and not for production [w/video] Mopar Avenger Rally Car: More power, less pork… and not for production [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak sets NHRA AA/SA records
April 11, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Motorsports , Coupe , Dodge , Specialty , Racing 2011 Mopar Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pak – Click above for larger image The Mopar Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pak debuted just shy of a month ago and has already stormed its way into the NHRA record books. Driver Dave Thomas laid down a 9.43-second pass at 143.90 mph at a test session April 7, simultaneously setting the elapsed time and mile-per-hour records for the AA/SA class. Thomas’ record is all the more impressive when you consider that he made his first-ever passes in the car the Sunday before the record run. With capabilities in the nine-second range almost as soon as it comes out of the box, we expect there are quicker times to be pulled out of the only V10-powered factory dragster. As a refresher, the V10 Drag Pak carries a slightly modified version of the 500 cubic-inch mill from the Viper mated to a two-speed race-only transmission and a Mopar solid-axle rear end. The car comes ready to race, with an NHRA-approved roll cage, fuel system and racing wheels and tires. Full press release after the jump . Gallery: 2011 Mopar Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pak [Source: Mopar] Continue reading Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak sets NHRA AA/SA records Mopar Challenger V-10 Drag Pak sets NHRA AA/SA records originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Jeep JK-8 Independence kit finally turns your Wrangler into a pickup truck
April 10, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Truck , Chrysler , Jeep Jeep Wrangler JK-8 Independence pickup truck – Click above for high-res image gallery We’ve seen Jeep Wrangler pickup trucks before that never had a chance at production. They’re the kind of teasing that many die-hard Wrangler lovers just can’t handle, so the folks at Mopar are giving owners of the four-door Unlimited a chance to make their own Jeep pickup. The Wrangler JK-8 Independence is a new Mopar kit that provides a 50-inch pickup truck bed with 44 inches of width between the wheel wells. The folks at Mopar aren’t ready to talk price just yet, but they promised two variants of the kit. One is a weld-free bolt-on setup that mechanically inclined Jeep owners can put together “over a weekend.” The second is a show-ready kit that can be fitted at the dealership or a specialty body shop. The parts for both kits will reportedly cost about the same, but labor costs for the show truck version will cost extra. The kit will reportedly be available in every color that you can currently get the Wrangler Unlimited. In all, Mopar tells us the kit includes a bed floor, all the necessary body panels, the fiberglass cap and a new bulkhead. To build your own JK-8 Independence, you’ll need to remove all the interior parts behind the front seats. The new body panels will cover the second row entrance, and a short fiberglass cap provides enough covered space for your gear. The bright yellow JK-8 show truck, which is based off of a 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, features a Mopar/Dynatrac ProRock 44 front axle and a stock 44 rear axle with 4.88 gears. Thirty-seven inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2 tires and a 4.5-inch long-arm suspension kit make sure this makeshift truck doesn’t get stuck even in the most inhospitable terrain. Special off-road capable bumpers round out the modifications, and all of the above modifications are available straight from the Mopar catalog. Click on the gallery below to check out the official Jeep Wrangler pickup truck that you’ve all been waiting for. Gallery: Jeep Wrangler JK-8 Independence pickup truck kit Photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Shunk / AOL [Source: Chrysler] Continue reading Jeep JK-8 Independence kit finally turns your Wrangler into a pickup truck Jeep JK-8 Independence kit finally turns your Wrangler into a pickup truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Report: Jeep still considering diesels for North American market
April 9, 2011 by paramopgi · Leave a Comment
Filed under: SUV , Jeep , Diesel Jeep Cherokee Overland – Click above for high-res image gallery On Thursday, Jeep unveiled a Mopar-modified Cherokee Overland . The safari-ready ute is actually a European market Jeep Liberty , right down to its 2.8-liter turbo diesel four-cylinder engine. The vehicle is only here for promotional purposes, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a diesel option for Jeep buyers on this side of The Pond? The Detroit Free Press reports that Jeep President and CEO Michael Manley couldn’t agree more, but he’ll need to provide a rock-solid business case to move forward with oil burners in the States. The Jeep CEO said diesels could enter the U.S. market in two or three years if that business case is made, adding “diesel applications in the larger vehicles probably make more sense then they do in the smaller ones, purely because of the cost of the powertrains and the treatments that are required.” Chrysler’s off-road brand already features diesel powertrains in Europe, and 80 percent of all Jeeps sold there are of the oil-burning variety. Those engines are becoming cleaner all the time as well, and the newest Euro diesels could soon also meet emissions standards in the U.S. and Canada. We’re all for diesel-powered Jeeps, especially since the diesels tend to have similar fuel economy to a hybrid SUV, but with additional capability. And, hey… a Grand Cherokee with a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy doesn’t sound like a bad thing, either. Gallery: Jeep Cherokee Overland Photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Shunk / AOL [Source: Detroit Free Press ] Report: Jeep still considering diesels for North American market originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read
Six Jeep models get the Mopar Makeover for 2011 Safari in Moab
April 7, 2011 by paramopgi · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Performance , SUV , Crossover , Jeep , Off-Road , Racing Six Mopar-tuned Jeep models – Click above for high-res image galleries Jeep has a big year ahead of it. After finishing 2010 with a 24-percent increase in global sales versus 2009, Chrysler’s off-road capable brand is looking for even more in 2011. To make Jeep even more motivated, the brand is also celebrating its 70th anniversary later this year, and it unveiled an entire lineup of new Special Edition models at the Detroit Auto Show back in January. Jeep also plans to show six new Mopar-tuned models at the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, from April 16 – 24, and we have the full monty from every model. There’s a ‘pork chop’ that went on an 850-pound diet, a 6.4-liter Hemi V8-packing Rambler, a diesel-packing Cherokee Overland and more. We’ve got detailed descriptions along with full image galleries of each Mopar-tuned Jeep after the break for your viewing pleasure. So what are you waiting for? Continue Reading Six Jeep models get the Mopar Makeover… Photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Shunk / AOL Continue reading Six Jeep models get the Mopar Makeover for 2011 Safari in Moab Six Jeep models get the Mopar Makeover for 2011 Safari in Moab originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Video: Mopar explains why Ram Runner is better than Raptor, do you agree?
April 7, 2011 by paramopgi · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Performance , Truck , Videos , Chrysler , Dodge , Off-Road Mopar Ram Runner Stage II Short Cuts video – Click above to watch after the jump The Ram Runner Stage II kit makes for one very impressive Ram 1500 . Performance modifications like beefed-up control arms, Fox shocks and 14 inches of wheel travel make us want to pit the modified Ram against the 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in a high-speed dirt race to the death finish line. We’re not the only ones eager to compare the Ram Runner Stage II to the Raptor. Follow the jump to watch an Autoblog Short Cuts video of Jim Sassorossi, Director of Mopar Parts, as he explained to us why Chrysler believes the Ram Runner is better than the Raptor. In fact, Sassorossi brings up the Raptor no less than four times, and throws in “best in class” for the Ram Runner’s specs another another four times. This will be a thrilling battle when Ford’s ready-made race truck gets pitted against Ram’s D.I.Y. wonder. To see what we mean, watch the video and then answer our poll below. View Poll Continue reading Video: Mopar explains why Ram Runner is better than Raptor, do you agree? Video: Mopar explains why Ram Runner is better than Raptor, do you agree? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Report: Dodge Ram Runner kit will be street legal
February 27, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Aftermarket , Performance , Truck , Etc. , Chrysler , Off-Road Dodge Ram Runner Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery There’s some big news buzzing around the Ram Runner Concept at the moment. We’ve known for a good while now that Chrysler is planning to offer a kit to convert any Ram 1500 pickup into the desert raiding beast seen above, but according to PickupTrucks.com, the company’s engineers have managed to pull a few stunts to make the vehicle completely street legal. The biggest hangup was that the conversion kit widens the vehicle’s track from 68.2 inches up front and 67.5 inches out back to 77.5 and 74.5 inches respectively. In order to make everything right as rain with Jonny Law, Chrysler had to throw in a couple of illuminated fender markers in the name of safety. That’s great news and all, but there’s more. It turns out Chrysler is mulling the notion of selling the Ram Runner as a turn-key vehicle instead of as a pile of parts available from your local dealer. If the automaker decides to go that route, you can expect the company to turn to an outside builder to convert standard Ram 1500 models into a full-blooded Ford F-150 SVT Raptor fighter. Gallery: SEMA 2010: Ram Runner Gallery: 2011 Ram Runner Live photos copyright (C)2010 Jonathon Ramsey / AOL [Source: PickupTrucks.com ] Report: Dodge Ram Runner kit will be street legal originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
