So, as many of you may know, the folks at Chrysler invited me to come out to Las Vegas to check out their Mopar display, which featured a spread of new 2011 models along with a look at some custom Mopars and some of the newest and hottest Mopar-branded aftermarket accessories.

Unlike most companies, who only have one display area, Mopar has one inside and out, and in this first post Ill give you a look at the indoor layout.

While the sexy blue and silver Rich Evans Custom Dodge Challenger adorned the elevated main stage, the big attention-getters were the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392, the 2011 Dodge Durango Citadel Black & Tan and the 2011 Dodge Charger R/T Redline.

Along with those new models, Mopar brought out examples of new Jeeps, Rams and Dodge's (surprisingly, no look at any of the 2011 Chrysler models) packed with new Mopar goodies from dress-up items to performance accessories to the gun/fishing rod racks in the new Ram Outdoorsman.

anyway...enough with the jibber-jabber...on to the pictures!

First, the 2011 Dodge Charger R/T Redline






one of my favorite shots of the 2000+ that I took this past week:

 

Next, the 2011 Dodge Challenger was well represented, first in the form of the custom modified Rich Evans Challenger on the stage and more importantly, the radical 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 - featuring the new 392 cubic inch production engine offering 470 horsepower and 470lb-ft of torque.

The Rich Evans Challenger:













The 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT9 392

 

Next up, the 2011 Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pak, with the first picture featuring Dodge cars brand CEO Ralph Gilles, who was headed to the stage for the debut of the Rich Evans Challenger but he was good enough to pose for a picture with the V10 Challenger.













I have to say, that the area set up for the 2011 Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pak was probably my favorite of the entire SEMA Show. The drag strip backdrop combined with the burnout strips leading up to where the car was parked was brilliant.

Also, when Mopar Preident Pietro Gorlier began the Tuesday press conference to unveil the Rich Evans car, they used the V10 Drag Pak car as the "call to order", by starting the Viper V10 and giving it a couple good hard revs, which THUNDERED through the massive Vegas convention center. There arent many claims of exclusivity that can be claimed at SEMA but the 2011 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak was the most powerful factory-appearing factory-offered package in attendance and it drew a ton of (deserving) attention.

 

Next, to one side of the display, tucked behind the 2011 Dodge Durango, were the Mopar Dodge Challenger Test Lab car featuring a monstrous turbocharged Hemi and a Viper Blue Dodge Viper ACR-X from the Dodge Viper Cup.

The Mopar Test Lab Car:




The Dodge Viper ACR-X

 

The Mopar indoor display was definitely aimed at showing off the performance capabilities of the modern Dodge lineup but the new 2011 Dodge Durango Citadel featured a Mopar upgrade to create the Black and Tan. Ive liked the new Durango since I first saw pictures of it and in person, this is one GREAT looking SUV. This vehicle does proper justice to the Durango name, combining a muscular exterior with a luxurious interior.











From what I saw of this new Sport Ute, the 2011 Durango should help resurrect the model. The designers did a great job with this all-new model.

 

Dodge didnt drop any big news for the 2011 Ram, but they had the Mopar Ram Runner concept that debuted earlier this year, along with the new Ram Outdoorsman to show off the new Ram.

The Ram Runner - i Love this truck.




and the 2011 Ram Outdoorsman, which offers gun and fishing rod racks that fit into the RamBox:

 

..and we cannot forget about the Jeep brand! Mopar brought out their Off Road Edition 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee wearing a unique light gray on dark gray two-tone paint scheme and a Hemi:






Mopar also offered up a 2011 JGC with some Mopar branded accessories..

 

Finally, the indoor Mopar display featured a variety of classic Mopar muscle with a modern touch.

First, Mopar offered up their latest project for country music star Kenny Wayne Shepard, a Dodge 330 powered by a modern Hemi.


Next, a 1970 Plymouth Hemicuda with a 572 Hemi crate motor:




and there was also a 1969 Dodge Super Bee with a fuel injected big block:

 

Coming up...a look at the Mopar Midway - a tunnel of both corporate and privately owned Mopars including a look at some lightly modified 2011 Fiat 500s!

 

So, rather than use the Mopar Midway - a tunnel between the SEMA Show's Central and South hall - to highlight new Dodge, Ram, and Jeep models, they used one half of it to feature a spread of privately owned Mopars new and old and in the second half there was a classy display showing off some Moparized 2011 Fiat 500s.

First, the privately owned Mopars, including a Dodge Challenger sporting the #43 paint scheme of Richard Petty and his Petty Garage theme.








The Petty Garage car...another one that Im in love with:






and a super-modified Dodge Charger SRT8. There wasnt much on this car that was stock: