Speedfactory has become well known for their high performance late model Mopars, and at the 2008 SEMA Show the Vortech display featured a blown 6.1L Speedfactory Challenger. Earlier this week, news surfaced about the debut of a new, more powerful Speedfactory '440 Hemi' Challenger.
That's right - 440 cubic inches of SRT-Hemi muscle, and with the help of a Vortech centrifugal supercharger this nasty Challenger makes 700 horsepower on 91 octane gasoline. This 440 is created by taking a 6.1L Hemi, boring and stroking it to 7.2L, and adding a fully forged rotating assembly. A set of worked Mopar Performance cylinder heads helps move all of the forced air needed for the 440 Hemi.
This is announced as the debut of the car, but I thought that I recognized it, so I checked with the guys at Speedfactory. Yesterday evening, Speedfactory contacted me and confirmed that I have indeed seen this Challenger before, and based on my first sighting of it...it is one great looking Challenger. This will be the debut of the 440 Hemi Challenger in this form, although this car has been displayed before. In August of 2009, this Speedfactory Challenger was displayed alongside a wicked 10 second Speedfactory Charger at the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.
The 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas is only 18 days away, and today the
Mopar camp offered their first teasers of what to expect in their
display. Not surprisingly, the first four announced vehicles for the
SEMA Show include a Dodge Ram and a Dodge Challenger, along with a pair
of wild Jeep concepts.
The two Jeeps to be featured at
the Mopar SEMA Show display, the Jeep Wrangler Overland and Jeep Lower
Forty are both based on the popular Wrangler. The Mopar Dodge Ram
Bianco is based on a production Dodge Ram 1500 Sport, and the Mopar
Dodge Challenger 1320 (the first of many Challengers I expect to see at
SEMA) is actually based on the Dodge Challenger Track Pak rather than a
production model.
The most exciting (to me) concept of the 2009 SEMA Show Mopar
display to be announced so far is the Mopar Dodge Challenger 1320. The
base vehicle of this concept was not a production vehicle, but rather
the track-only Dodge Challenger Track Pak and in the artist's rendering
the Challenger 1320 shows off a yellow (they call is Acidic Hue) and
flat black scheme. A large hood scoop, widened police style wheels
wrapped in Nitto drag radials, and special graphics help to define the
exterior but the real news about the Dodge Challenger 1320 is the
drivetrain. Mopar began with an all-aluminum 426 cubic inch Hemi crate
motor decorated with Mopar valve covers.
The
Mopar Dodge Ram Bianco is the most practical vehicle of this first
batch of teasers, and this concept began its life as a 2009 Dodge Ram
1500 Sport quad cab powered by a 5.7L Hemi. The goal of the Mopar
designers was to emphasize luxury and high class, shown by the included
artist's rendering. A hard tonneau cover, Mopar body kit, Mopar fender
flares, and Mopar 22-inch wheels help this Arctic Ice pearl Ram stand
out in a crowd, and a Mopar cold air intake and dual exhaust system
give the Ram a little more bark and bite. Inside, the luxury feel is
obvious with white and black Kaztkin leather seats and a matching color
theme is echoed throughout the interior. This vehicle doesn't offer
any ridiculous modifications to prevent it from seeing production, and
this could make for a great competitor to Ford's F150 Platinum. I
can't wait to get a good look at this Ram at SEMA...and while there is
only this one drawing right now, expect plenty of pictures of this cool
new Ram concept.
Stay tuned to the Detroit Autos Examiner for
complete 2009 SEMA Show coverage, including high resolution images of
this awesome concept the day that it is introduced to the world!
Subscribe now to the Detroit Autos Examiner column and don't miss any of the coverage from the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas!
Mopar Dodge Ram Bianco Image Vehicle: A Stylish, Luxury Pickup Truck The
Dodge Ram Bianco started life as a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport with a
5.7-liter HEMI V-8. The Dodge Ram is modified to reflect an upscale
feel and appearance with the aid of Mopar performance parts and
accessories. Colors, textures and accessories are combined in a manner
that showcases the sophisticated side of the Dodge Ram 1500. Exterior
modifications include a Mopar hard tonneau that adds a classic, sporty
appearance. The inside of the truck bed features Mopar's bed rug--a
plush, yet washable carpet. For the exterior, a Mopar body kit and
modified Mopar fender flares give a unique, sophisticated look. The
stance is aided by a Ground Force lowering kit that not only lowers the
vehicle, but also provides excellent ride and handling. The Dodge Ram
Bianco is layered in several coats of Arctic Ice pearl paint that give
it a rich appearance. Holding true to the upscale theme, Mopar's
22-inch wheels are painted in a matching, high-contrast design.
Performance upgrades include a Mopar cold-air intake and a throaty
Mopar dual exhaust with just enough growl to let you know there is
something powerful under the hood. The exterior theme continues
through the interior. White and black Katzkin seats with matching door
trim set the stage for a high-class ride. Piano Black and Arctic Ice
accents add to the luxurious theme. For sound, Mopar contributed a
Kicker audio system consisting of an audio amplifier, a powerful
subwoofer and upgraded speakers.
The vintage styled reintroduction of the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro exemplified the retro jump undergone by the American auto market. Both of those models followed the trend set by the 2005 Ford Mustang. Along the same train of thought, the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 brought back popular names with a lesser degree of retro styling. But before the Mustang went retro and the Charger returned, Dodge brought back a lesser known vintage name with the Dodge Magnum.
On October 5, 2009, Chrysler Corporation issued a press release announcing a handful of new corporate positions throughout Chrysler Group LLC, as well as the introduction of the new Dodge RAM brand. The previous CEO/President positions of the Dodge and Chrysler brand, held by Michael Accavitti (left to pursue other interests) and Peter Fong ("personal reasons") respectively were suddenly vacated when the two left the company. The top position in the Chrysler brand has been filled by Olivier Francois, who is the acting CEO of Lancia, and has been a member of the Fiat management team for almost 5 years.
The announcement of the new head of the Dodge brand, came with an interesting twist. Chrysler Group LLC has decided to split the Dodge brand into the Dodge cars brand - which will contain all of the cars, crossovers, and the minivans; and the new Dodge RAM brand.
The Dodge RAM will offer the Dodge Ram pickups and the commercial vehicles previously offered from Dodge. The press release fails to mention where the Dodge Dakota will land, and with no mention of the mid sized pickup, the future of the model could be up in the air, although we can assume for now that it will fall under the Dodge RAM brand. Hopefully Chrysler will have more information soon as to the exact model layout of the Dodge RAM and Dodge car brands. The creation of this new group includes a new CEO, and Fred Diaz Jr. will take that position, previously having run the Denver Business Center. The Dodge car group will be headed by long time Chrysler designer Ralph Gilles.
Speedfactory has become well known for their high performance late model Mopars, and at the 2008 SEMA Show the Vortech display featured a blown 6.1L Speedfactory Challenger. Earlier this week, news surfaced about the debut of a new, more powerful Speedfactory '440 Hemi' Challenger. 
