Chrysler Canada: Mopar® Marks 75th Anniversary: Unveils Four Custom Vehicles
Today at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, Mopar showed four custom vehicles, including the Mopar ’12 300, Fiat 500 “Stinger,” Mopar Jeep® Compass “True North” and Dodge Dart “GTS 220 Tribute.” Mopar ’12 will be available this summer straight from the factory, while Fiat 500, Jeep Compass and Dodge Dart custom configurations will be available in the fall as stage kits or á la carte from the Mopar catalog.
“Customization is king,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “These head-turning ‘Moparized’ vehicles show how we can go to the next level of personalization. With our best-in-class offerings of parts and accessories, we give our customers every opportunity to further enhance the appearance and performance of their vehicles.”
Last month, at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, the brand kicked off its year-long 75th anniversary celebration with the introduction of the Chrysler 200 Super S by Mopar and the Dodge Charger Redline. Mopar, a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts, was trademarked in 1937.
The following “Moparized” vehicles are on display at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show from Feb. 10-19.
Mopar ’12
Building on the success of Mopar versions of the 2010 Dodge Challenger and 2011 Dodge Charger, the new Mopar ’12 transforms the Chrysler 300 flagship sedan into a performance tribute to celebrate Mopar’s 75th anniversary with unique appointments, select high-performance parts and appearance items straight from the Mopar parts catalog.
Power and performance
Mopar earned its factory-designed performance reputation with enthusiasts and the most discerning racing drivers for the past 75 years – and the new Mopar ’12 is designed to showcase the brand’s prowess.
When looking under the hood of the Mopar ’12, an exclusive Mopar engine cover in HEMI® Orange hints at the 363 horsepower 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine with innovative four-cylinder mode Fuel Saver Technology beneath. Backed with a proven five-speed W5A580 automatic transmission, Mopar aficionados will appreciate the unique Mopar shifter combined with Auto Stick. With Auto Stick, drivers may select a higher or lower gear while the transmission controller helps prevent the possibility of an over-rev condition.
At the rear, the differential has been boosted from 2.65:1 to a 3.91:1 final-drive ratio for enhanced acceleration – unique to the Mopar ’12 – enabling 0-to-97 km/h blasts in the low 5-second range.
Track-tuned suspension delivers precision handling
The new Mopar ’12 features the second-generation architecture’s performance-tuned suspension with 42 per cent stiffer front and 23 per cent stiffer rear spring rates compared to the Chrysler 300 models with touring-tuned suspension. For improved braking, high-performance brake linings mounted to dual-piston front and single-piston rear calipers deliver fade-resistant stopping performance.
Unique Mopar 300 ‘Street Machine’
Similar to the new Chrysler 300S models, Mopar ’12 adds even more street credibility with its blacked-out appearance and unique Mopar appointments. A Mopar Black Chrome seven-bar grille and grille-surround matches the black-accented headlamp bezels and fascia accents for a low-key presence.
Highlighting the Gloss Black exterior contours of the Mopar ’12 are a Mopar Blue hood and A-line body-side stripes. Commemorating the brand’s 75th year, “Mopar 75” fender badges features the Mopar Blue “omega” logo. On the deck lid, a “Mopar Design” badge hints at the select Mopar parts and accessories that have been infused to enhance performance and distinguish the Mopar ’12 from any other Chrysler 300.
Inside, Mopar ’12 features a monotone black interior environment with Mopar Blue accents throughout. Mopar’s Katzkin perforated leather wraps the large-bolstered 12-way power driver and passenger heated-front sport seats, and includes Mopar Blue accent stitching on the seating surface, along with French-seamed stitching at the perimeter and a black/blue two-tone leather combination. Rear heated seats feature the same perforated leather and corresponding Mopar Blue stitching treatment.
A thick-rimmed steering wheel with die-cast paddle shifters (for Auto Stick) and a unique Mopar shifter handle are wrapped in black leather and stitched with matching Mopar Blue thread. Mopar sill plates and a serialized “Mopar ’12 Limited Edition” badge complete the list of unique appointments.
The enthusiast-designed interior of the Mopar ’12 is enhanced further with matte carbon hydrographic accents on the instrument panel and centre console areas, while Piano Black is used on the interior centre stack, instrument panel, steering wheel, gauge cluster and door panel elements to provide a unique lacquered appearance.
World-class connectivity with segment’s largest touchscreen display
State-of-the-art Uconnect™ Touch 8.4 provides Mopar ’12 passengers with the segment’s largest touchscreen display (8.4-inches) and next-generation mobile infotainment, connectivity and multimedia features. In addition, the Mopar ’12 features a unique “Mopar” start-up screen.
Uconnect Touch also controls Mopar ’12’s 506-watt Alpine nine-speaker premium audio system with subwoofer 12-channel amplifier with 506 watts of power and digital signal processing (DSP) for 7.1-adapted surround sound.
SafetyTec Group: Advanced Active-safety features for 360-degree perspective
The new Mopar ’12 provides customers the latest in accident-avoidance features with its standard SafetyTec Group, combining advanced active- and passive-safety technologies for enhanced driver confidence.
The SafetyTec Group includes Adaptive-Forward Lighting (AFL), High-Intensity Discharge (HID) projector high and low-beams with automatic headlamp leveling, Forward Collision Warning (FCW) with Adaptive-Cruise Control (ACC), Blind-Spot Monitoring (BSM) with Rear Cross Path (RCP) detection, ParkSense® front and rear park assist system, LED-illuminated rear fog lamps, exterior mirrors with supplemental turn signals and approach lamp. Additional safety features include a HomeLink universal transceiver, rain-sensing wipers and SmartBeam® headlamps.
Available this summer
The Mopar ’12 will be built in Brampton, Ontario. Pricing for the Canadian market will be announced at a later date.
Customers who purchase one of these limited-edition Chrysler 300 models will receive a personalized owner kit in a customized Mopar ’12 box, Mopar-branded key fobs and Mopar ’12 merchandise. The kit will include a certificate with the vehicle identification number (VIN), exact date of manufacture and the number of the vehicle. The kit also will include an original sketch of the car signed by the designer and a brochure highlighting the unique features of the vehicle.
2013 Dodge Dart ‘GTS 210 Tribute’
For the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart, Mopar will offer more than 150 accessories, the most in the compact-car segment.
Hot off the heels of its worldwide production debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, Mopar wasted no time giving the 2013 Dodge Dart even more sporting pretensions both inside and out. The all-new Dodge Dart embodies class-leading and class-exclusive features in many areas including aerodynamics, technology and safety, and the stage kits by Mopar enhance these attributes. The Alfa Romeo-based Dodge Dart already has sporty driving dynamics baked into its DNA, and Team Mopar added even more distinction to reinforce the car’s fun-to-drive nature.
Stage 1 appearance package
The exterior picks up several matte-black trim pieces, including a lower chin spoiler, side sills, rear spoiler and rear-diffuser panel. A lightweight carbon-fibre body-colour hood with large air scoop and 18-inch, 10-spoke forged alloy titanium-coloured wheels finish off exterior modifications.
Red and black is carried over into the interior, which has been refined beyond the 14 interior colour and trim options available in the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart. Ruby Red is the dominant colour used on Katzkin leather seat fronts, door panels, centre armrest and map-pocket inserts. Black accent stitching is used in the seats and armrest, as well. Black chrome trim is used on the shifter bezel, cup holder bezel and the dash-vent bezels. Final interior touches include a black suede instrument cluster brow with red accent stitching, a Piano Black accented floating island bezel, Ruby Red and black leather-wrapped steering-wheel with gloss black spokes and red accent stitching, bright pedal covers and premium carpeted floor mats.
Stage 2 performance package
Mopar enhances performance for the Dodge Dart with a cold-air intake and a cat-back exhaust kit, as well as more aggressive rotors and pads for increased stopping power. A larger, adjustable anti-sway bar system improves handling by decreasing body roll. This unique show vehicle is tuned to 220 horsepower.
2012 Fiat 500 ‘Stinger’
Building on the Fiat 500’s “Hottest Sports Compact Car” award by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) this past November, the new Fiat 500 “Stinger” integrates two Mopar stage kits that deliver bold styling appointments and select high-performance parts from the Mopar catalog.
Adding even more style to the new 2012 Fiat 500 Sport, the Fiat 500 Stinger features Giallo (yellow) exterior paint combined with unique blackened exterior and interior appointments – all designed to amplify the hatchback’s athletic Italian styling.
Stage 1: athletic and purposeful styling enhancements
For a more aggressive appearance, the Fiat 500 Stinger’s signature “whiskers and logo” face and circular projector headlamps are finished in Black Chrome. Accenting the Giallo body-side are exterior door handles and mirror caps finished in Black Chrome, while larger 17-inch by 7-inch Dark Hyper Black aluminum wheels with wider 205/40 R 17 performance tires provide the hatchback with a menacing stance below. Black Chrome taillamp bezels, license-plate brow and Mopar’s vinyl roof graphic in black add to the Fiat 500 Stinger’s serious look.
The interior of the Fiat 500 Stinger continues the duality of Giallo and black with Mopar’s Katzkin leather seats. Based on the Fiat 500 Sport’s athletic-styled seats, the 500 Stinger’s seats feature Alcantara seat centres sandwiched by smooth black leather bolsters and Giallo accent stitching. A unique flat-bottom performance steering wheel and instrument cluster brow are wrapped in smooth black leather and feature Giallo accent stitching for a highly detailed look. Below, a Mopar carbon-fibre instrument panel decal provides this Cinquecento’s interior with a technical appearance. A Mopar shifter ball is finished in Gloss Black and highlighted by a chromed Mopar omega-style “M” to complete the appearance.
Stage 2: track-tested performance upgrades
Delivering factory-designed performance, Mopar’s new Stage 2 kit ensures that the Fiat 500 Stinger delivers improved power and braking capabilities to match its aggressive styling upgrades.
Mopar’s cold-air intake and free-flowing cat-back exhaust enable the Fiat 500 Stinger’s fuel-efficient 1.4-litre 16-valve MultiAir™ engine to deliver even more power and torque.
And to make sure this Cinquecento delivers track-ready brake performance, the Fiat 500 Stinger features single-piston Brembo front brake calipers with larger 282 mm (11.1-inch) (up from 257 mm; 10.1-inches) diameter cross-drilled rotors for additional surface-heat dissipation. The 240 mm (9.4-inch) rear disc-brake system also features cross-drilled rotors. Both front- and rear-brake calipers feature Mopar’s semi-metallic brake linings to mitigate brake fade and are lacquered in Giallo paint for an athletic look.
2012 Mopar Jeep Compass ‘True North’
Like all Trail Rated® Jeep models, the Jeep Compass is a capable off-road machine. With the Mopar Jeep Compass “True North” model, Mopar further improves its off-road form and function.
The exterior features dark charcoal front and rear wheel flares, lower fascia and door cladding, dark charcoal grille with Redline inserts, Redline mirror caps, black-headlamp and fog-lamp surrounds, custom front brush bars, custom rear rock rails, and a matte black roof. Matte black 16-inch alloy wheels and a 51 mm (2-inch) lift kit from Rocky Road Suspensions add some additional off-road go over the standard Compass.
The interior received lots of attention from Mopar and renowned audio component manufacturer Kicker. The entire audio system, including front and rear speakers, amplifier, sub-woofer and lift gate speakers are provided by Kicker, and transform Jeep Compass into a rolling high-end sound studio. A custom centre stack gauge pod that houses inclinometer gauges, add to the vehicle’s off-road credentials. A Mopar bright pedal kit, door-sill guards, rear-cargo tray, shift knob and neoprene seats complement each other while enhancing the quality feel of the cabin.
About the Mopar Brand
Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand and distributes 280,000 parts and accessories. With the creation of the Chrysler Group and Fiat S.p.A. partnership, Mopar is extending its global reach, integrating service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance dealer and customer support worldwide. Combined with Fiat S.p.A., Mopar’s global portfolio includes more than 500,000 parts and accessories which are distributed in more than 120 countries. Mopar is the source for all genuine parts and accessories for Chrysler Group and Fiat S.p.A. brands.
Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler Group and Fiat S.p.A.vehicles — a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at http://www.mopar.ca.
75 Years of Mopar
Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for antifreeze in 1937. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s — the muscle-car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.
