Chrysler’s Mopar divison will return to off-road competition in the famous SCORE International Baja 1000 off-road race on Nov. 10, 2007 as the sponsor of the Collins Motorsports Dodge Ram Off-Road Trophy Truck, supporting the launch of a new line of off-road performance parts.

The moniker for the Chrysler parts division that originated in the 1920s, Mopar became synonymous with Chrysler performance parts and accessories in the 1960s muscle car era and will now offer genuine performance parts for Jeep and Dodge.

With the new series of parts and accessories, Mopar will focus on “Trail” as a way to connect with off-road enthusiasts, adding to the earlier emphasis on “Muscle,” “Street” and “Speed” to reach enthusiasts.

The program will begin by offering a lift-kit for the Jeep Wrangler, transfer case upgrades for Wrangler and Dodge trucks and Dana 44 axle assemblies for Jeeps. Eventually Mopar will develop a full line of products for Jeep and Dodge off-road enthusiasts.

Dodge Challenger “Package” Car Program

Chrysler also announced a new “package” car program starting with the 2009 Dodge Challenger. The program provides parts specifically for racing and would be available directly from the dealership.

The “package” car program represents a significant piece of Mopar history, beginning with the 1968 HEMI Dart and HEMI Barracuda “package” cars that were purpose-built vehicles designed for drag racers running factory-built cars and eventually lead to the development of the NHRA Pro Stock division.

The current package car will be a HEMI-powered Dodge Challenger Drag Racing Package, powered by a competition version of the third-generation HEMI engine. However, the original 1968 “package” cars continue to be so popular that there is a Mopar HEMI Challenge series for them, which is operated in conjunction with NHRA.

Mopar Underground Design Team

Specially customized cars are fully expected at the SEMA show, and Chrysler did not disappoint. On display at the Mopar stand were eight ”tricked, tuned and customized” Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles conceived and designed for SEMA by the Mopar Underground design team, a group of in-house automotive enthusiasts who donate their time to the SEMA project vehicles.

Overseen by Ralph Gilles, vice president of Jeep/Truck & CFM Design, Chrysler LLC, the Mopar Underground design team, formerly known as Skunkwerks, has created vehicle concepts meant to showcase performance parts, accessories and customization as well as new vehicle concepts. In fact, the first-generation SRT4 was born from this team’s style initiative.

“Our diverse team which changes frequently has been developing SEMA concepts for more than five years. It’s the usual ‘enthusiast’ suspects from our union shops (plastic, paint, metal and wood), Product Design Office, SRT and Mopar Performance Parts and engineering,” said Gilles.

Project vehicles for 2007 include Jeep Wrangler JT with a 5-foot pickup bed; Jeep Wrangler Ultimate with a 392 HEMI, 3-inch lift, 35-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrrain tires and custom 18-inch polished Alcoa Forged wheels; and Jeep Wrangler All-access with premium materials, “Surf Blue” paint, 4-inch lift, cold-air intake and Warn 9500ti winch.

The Dodge Ram BFT is described as the ultimate tow or hauling vehicle and the 10-foot box will accommodate a 9.4-foot chopper motorcycle, while the Dodge Avenger Tuner — Stormtrooper — is designed to appeal to an adult tuner and features a tuned 4.0-liter V6, all-wheel drive, Borla custom exhaust and 20-inch custom Alcoa Forged rims with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires.

The Dodge Dakota MX Warrior, quite noticeable with its bold O21orange and battleship gray vinyl wrap was conceived with Scott Waraniak, a design student at College for Creative Studies in Detroit who also happens to be an AMA District 14 motocross racer #936 who races for KTM North America and Seattle-based Jones Soda.

More than just your common family haulers, two custom minivans were also on display. The Dodge Caravan R/T featured a fully customized exterior finished in Fire Red Pearl while the Chrysler Town & Country Black Jack is inspired by the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas and features Amber-Black Pearl Paint, 20-inch Alcoa Forged wheels, and an after-hours lounge bar interior with LED lighting and KICKER audio system.