Last week we looked at a Dodge Durango and Ram 1500 that were all duded up for the 2013 SEMA Show and with the launch of the show and a Mopar press conference just over a day away – we look at three non-Dodge or Ram products that the Chrysler Group showed off ahead of the show.
First up, the 2014 Jeep Cherokee has caused quite a stir with its unique exterior styling but this far more muscular Moparized SUV looks the part of a proper Trail Rated model. The Jeep Cherokee Trail Carver is based on a Trailhawk 4×4 package, powered by the 3.2L V6 and mated to the 9-speed automatic transmission so this is already one of the most capable options in the Cherokee lineup but to make this SUV even better in the worst conditions, Mopar has added a set of beefy offroading tires, rock rails, a concept roof basket with a Mopar wind deflector, tow hooks, a cold air intake, an exhaust system, a unique paint scheme with a topographical map design and a leather Katzkin interior.
Next up is the Fiat 500L Adventurer which takes a sporty, offroading approach to the roomy and efficient larger Fiat. To show that you don’t to do all that much to make the 500L look like an rally ready SUV, Mopar simply added some unique dark graphics around the wheel openings, a body length orange stripe, a Mopar roof basket and a set of custom 18 inch wheels wrapped in performance rubber to give this large Fiat a great sporty look. There is a Katzkin leather interior dressup package as well but the real story on this SEMA show car is how much sportier the 500L can be with just a few very simple mods.
Finally, we have the gorgeous 2014 Chrysler 300S shown here. This model doesn’t get a sporty name like Adventurer or Trail Carver but the mods make this one great looking sport luxury sedan. Mopar began by adding Phantom Black Tri-coat exterior paint, a blacked out grille, tinted headlights, tinted taillights, John Varvatos Limited Edition with 20 x 8-inch wheels finished Mopar bronze, the SRT rear spoiler, a sport suspension package and yet another Katzkin leather interior package to give this big sedan a sinister, aggressive look.
The Mopar press conference is scheduled for late Tuesday evening (for east coast folks) and we expect that there will be more exciting news from the Chrysler Group during their presentation. In addition to the three vehicles shown here and the two we looked at last week, there will be somewhere in the area of 15 more Moparized Chrysler Group vehicles that should stir things up in the Mopar world.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
