Mopar®
Will Blaze a Brand New 'Trail'
at the 2007 SEMA Show
Center Line, Mich.,
Oct 30, 2007 - Mopar®, Chrysler
LLC's original equipment parts manufacturer, embarks on a new frontier
with its new 'Trail' product segment initiative. Mopar will offer
authentic performance parts to Jeep® and Dodge enthusiasts who want
to
go anywhere and do anything. For years, Mopar set the standard in the
'Muscle,' 'Street' and 'Speed' scenes. The next logical step was to add
'Trail' to the Mopar portfolio and go off-road.
To be authentic
in this market segment means having the right
combination of durable and reliable high-performance parts. For
development and testing, Mopar will dive into off-road competition with
a new Mopar-sponsored team set to debut at the SCORE International Baja
1000 on Nov. 10.
Mopar
introduces Jeep Performance Parts for new 'Trail' product
segment
initiative
Off-road enthusiasts
will be able to rely on genuine Jeep parts and
accessories from Mopar when performance and the off-road experience
matter. Modified beyond factory specifications, the initial line up of
Jeep Performance Parts will include:
- Long-Arm Suspension Kit - 4.5-in. lift kit for the Jeep Wrangler
- A comprehensive kit that delivers the highest ride quality of any
comparable height lift kit for the Wrangler. Featuring revised,
long-arm control arms, retuned coil springs, tuned shocks, front and
rear track bar relocation brackets, drive shafts and more. Engineered
to package massive 37-in. tires underneath a 2007 Wrangler two- or
four-door
- Two-wheel drive low-range kits for Jeep and Dodge transfer cases
- Jeep and Dodge owners with vehicles fitted with new process gear
241OR, 242 or 231 transfer cases can enjoy even more rugged aspects of
the great outdoors. Uses a new "low" range in two-wheel-drive mode with
these transfer case upgrade kits
- Lowering Kit, 2006-2007 Dodge Ram 1500 lowering kit (5.7-liter
HEMI, two-wheel-drive, Regular Cab Short Bed) front drop: 1.5-in. rear
drop: 4.3-in. This comprehensive lowering kit includes: front springs,
rear flip kit, new bump stops, new shocks tuned for ride and handling
- Dana 44 Axle Assemblies - locking and limited slip axles with
4.10:1 ring & pinion gear sets installed. Front and rear assemblies
allow enthusiasts to upgrade the entire rolling stock of their classic
Jeep with all-new hardware
A
new team to play key role in new Mopar 'Trail' initiative
Two new key Mopar
team members, Steve Houtman, Jeep Performance/Dodge -
Off-Road Powertrain Manager, and Keith Montone, Jeep Performance/Dodge
- Off-Road Suspension/Steering Manager, will work to expand Mopar's
line up of "Trail" performance parts.
Houtman will
develop a full line of products for Jeep and Dodge truck
off-road enthusiasts. His previous role was as development engineer for
Jeep Vehicle Development. Houtman was responsible for drivetrain,
chassis and off-road performance on the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep
Commander models. A Jeep and Dodge truck owner himself, Houtman attends
Camp Jeep® and Easter Jeep Safari [Moab, Utah] events as part of
the
informal "Jeep Lunatic Fringe" group.
Montone will
also focus on creating a line of products tailored to the
off-road market for both past and current vehicles. Another recruit
from Jeep Vehicle Development, Montone concentrated on powertrain
matters. His area of focus included working to ensure that the 2007
Jeep Wrangler met customer needs for off-road and performance. Montone
is no stranger to the "Trail" - he served as engineering team leader
for the 2007 Jeep Rubicon® press event in Africa which covered
1,600
miles in four weeks across South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.
Mopar returns to
off-road competition with Collins Motorsports team
Mopar will look
to extend its motorsports dominance from the circle
track and drag strip to the off-road course with a return to off-road
competition. Collins Motorsports will field a Mopar-sponsored Dodge Ram
Off-Road Trophy Truck in the SCORE International Off-Road Racing Series.
Brian Collins,
Larry Ragland and Chuck Hovey will share driving duties
on the off-road truck. The trio will add to Mopar's off-road heritage
that includes legendary names and champions such as Rod Hall and Walker
Evans, who competed under the Mopar and Dodge banners in the 1980s.
The Mopar Dodge
Ram Off-Road Trophy Truck takes to the desert and
rigors of off-road racing in the upcoming 40th annual Tecate Score Baja
1000 that is scheduled for Nov. 10 - 16, 2007.