As if the SEMA show wasn’t enough, Chrysler Group decided to show one more special edition model this year, the beautiful, for lack of a better word, 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Yellow Jacket, which will debut at next week’s 2011 Los Angeles International Auto Show.

The most striking feature on the car is the paintjob, which combines Stinger Yellow body color with a black grille surround and black profile stripes highlighted by the Yellow Jacket logo on the rear panel. To set it off, you also have a new 20-inch five-spoke cast-aluminum wheel set.

Step inside the Yellow Jacket, and you are greeted by Stinger Yellow accent band with Yellow Jacket logos and silver accent stitching. Read more!

• Newly formed SRT® brand sticks to successful vehicle development formula using five proven hallmarks, including awe-inspiring powertrains; outstanding ride, handling and capability; benchmark braking; aggressive and functional exteriors; and race-inspired and high-performance interiors to remain true to its performance roots
• Expansion of SRT vehicle lineup in 2012 includes four new vehicles that are world-class performance contenders and deliver latest in safety technologies and creature comforts
• Common 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8 powertrain has latest advance technologies for best-ever horsepower, torque and fuel efficiency ratings

Chrysler Group Announces Management Changes

June 7, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chrysler Group LLC today announced the following management team changes.

Fred Diaz is appointed President and CEO of Chrysler de Mexico, which includes responsibility for Latin America. Diaz continues in his current role as the President and CEO of the Ram Truck Brand.

Reid Bigland is named President and CEO of the Dodge Car Brand and head of U.S. Sales. Bigland continues as President and CEO of Chrysler Canada. In addition, the Company appointed David Buckingham to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer of Chrysler Canada, reporting to Bigland. Previously, Buckingham was Vice President – Sales, Chrysler Canada. Read more!

Just How Good Were the Good Ol’ Days? To find out, we’ve gathered three modern high-spec ponycars and matched them with their glory days ancestors. We’re pitting a 2011 Camaro SS against the ’69 Camaro SS396 that inspired its design; a 2011 Challenger SRT8 meets the ’70 Challenger it so faithfully resembles; and a freshly minted Shelby Mustang GT500 convertible meets its ’69 forebear.  ~ Motor Trend.

Shot by: Jim Gleason and Gordon Green
Edited by: Jim Gleason

Watch it on Read more!

• Mopar HEMI Challenge one-race shootout at Mac Tools U.S Nationals to feature $15,000 winner’s purse
• $18,000 total purse up for grabs at Mopar HEMI Challenge event
• Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) Mopar HEMI Challenge drivers to do battle for 11th-consecutive year at Indy

May 16, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Mopar® announced today that the 11th Annual Mopar HEMI® Challenge will feature Mopar-powered Super Stock/A-HEMI (SS/AH) competitors battling it out in a one-race shootout at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind., Sept. 1–2. Drivers competing in the popular National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Sportsman event will vie for the $15,000 winner’s purse and a total event purse of $18,000, both the largest in the history of the Mopar HEMI Challenge.

“Grassroots racers who compete in the Mopar HEMI Challenge are the foundation of drag racing, and the reason why Mopar is involved in the NHRA,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “These enthusiast drivers spend a great deal of time and money preparing their Mopar HEMI-powered race cars for battle, and purchase many Mopar parts from their local Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, or Ram dealerships. They have a passion for the Mopar brand that reflects positively throughout the drag-racing world. This is why we recognize this passion supporting the HEMI Challenge.” Read more!

• Mopar® parts enhance performance and distinguish all-new 2011 Dodge Charger with limited-edition Mopar ’11 model
• HEMI®-powered, high-speed engine controller and 3.92 final-drive drop 0-to-100 km/h times to low five seconds
• Chassis features front and rear strut tower bars

May 3, 2011 , Windsor, Ontario – Building on the success of last year’s Mopar® version of the Dodge Challenger, Chrysler Group LLC’s Mopar Division will launch a limited-edition Dodge Charger outfitted with select high-performance parts and appearance items straight from the Mopar parts catalog.

Powered by the legendary 5.7-litre HEMI® V8 with 370 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque, the specially equipped Charger includes the “Super Track Pak” option that pushes the capabilities of the Mopar Charger in acceleration, handling and braking. Read more!

Mopar® Previews Customized Vehicles for 2010 SEMA Show

Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep® and Ram Truck Vehicles Get Mopar® Treatment

October 25, 2010 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – It’s SEMA season.

Mopar® is preparing 35 vehicles for the upcoming 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, which takes place Nov. 2-5 in Las Vegas. Mopar will fill its 15,300-square-foot space with customized Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep® and Ram Truck vehicles.

“With five exhibits, the Mopar brand will have a major presence at SEMA,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and Chief Executive Officer – Mopar, Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “Mopar will showcase cutting-edge technology, innovative accessories, authentic parts, and new customer-care initiatives. And our Moparized vehicles will be must-see.”

“We created an amazing cast of Mopar image vehicles for SEMA,” said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice President – Product Design. “As all of our new vehicles arrive in dealerships this year, we want to inspire customization and personalization. Our Mopar image vehicles will definitely turn heads.” Read More!

Pentastar V-6 Set to Roll Out Across Broad Range of New Chrysler Vehicles

* New Pentastar is slated to be available across 13 vehicles, including trucks and sport utilities, by 2013
* Significant cost savings realized with shift from seven engines to one V-6 engine
* 2011 V-6 Challenger boosted 55 horsepower to 305 horsepower with new Pentastar V-6
* Introduced in 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, new V-6 engine will soon be available in new Chrysler Town & Country, 300 and 200, and Dodge Charger, Avenger, Durango and Journey
* Designed for a range of specific applications, horsepower and torque are tuned for specific models
* Fuel efficiency improvement will average up to 7 percent across the model range.

October 21, 2010 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Improved fuel efficiency, more power and reduced emissions, all hallmarks of the new Pentastar V-6 engine, will soon be available across 13 models from Chrysler Group LLC.

The Pentastar V-6, the most advanced six cylinder engine ever produced by Chrysler Powertrain group, is slated to be the ‘workhorse’ engine across many models and will eventually replace seven different V-6 engines over the next three years. By 2014, the new V-6 is expected to account for more than a third of the powertrains in the vehicle line-up and substantially contribute to an overall corporate fuel efficiency improvement of more than 25 percent. Read more!

Dodge has prepared an extreme, drag strip-orientated incarnation of the 2011 Challenger.

Dubbed the Challenger Drag Pak, the vehicle drops its 6.1-liter V8 engine in order to use the Viper’s 8.4-liter V10 powerplant, which is mated to a drag racing two-speed automatic transmission. The power is sent to the road via a solid rear axle and a set of special tires. The racer can be ordered in Stock Eliminator or Super Stock versions.

Many systems and parts that added weight to the vehicle have been removed. We are talking about the HVAC system, the windshield wiper assembly, the rear seats, the power steering and the underbody heat shields.

The vehicle has been fitted with special parts such as polycarbonate door windows, lightweight racing seats that are six-point harness-ready, custom drag-race only front brakes, manual rack and pinion steering and others.

Mopar (the Chrysler Group’s parts division) will only build 70 units of the car, each one set to retail for a price of $85,512. Read more!

American manufacturer Chrysler is gearing up its Mopars for the 31st annual Mile-High NHRA Nationals, which will take place on July 23–25 at the Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado. For the opening gala, Chrysler is prepping the recently introduced Mopar ‘10 Challenger.

“We’re looking forward to bringing Mopar Nation to Thunder Mountain,” Pietro Gorlier, MoparCEO said in a statement. “This is a premier stop on the NHRA circuit and a great place to showcase the Mopar brand and reveal our new Mopar ’10 Challenger.”

The Mopar ’10 hides a 5.7 liter Hemi V8 powerplant under its hood and comes with several unique features to set it apart from other Dodges, like black chrome finish for the grille surround and Brilliant Black paint.

As for the technical tweaks which will make the 500 units of the ’10 stand out from the crowd, they comprise hood-venting system and a cold air intake, front strut brace with shock caps and a rear strut tower brace and twenty inch forged rims.

Aside for the ’10, Mopar will display at the event the Ram 3500 Heavy Duty, a “Moparized” Dodge Challenger, Mopar Ram Runner and the Mopar Direct Connection Test Lab Vehicle.

“Bandimere Speedway is proud and honored to have Mopar call our track home,” added John Bandimere Jr., Bandimere Speedway CEO.

“Our unique venue and the forward-thinking people at Mopar make this one of the top fan experiences on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. We are eager to have our friends return to Denver for this long-running partnership.”