You can always depend on Mopar’s SEMA display to pay homage to the company’s storied past and 2015 was no exception. The Jeep Chief concept—unveiled earlier this year at the Moab Easter Jeep Safari—was a beacon for the faithful, harkening back to the full-size Cherokee. The SEMA crowd ate up its Wagoneer-esque grill, modest two-inch chop, slotted mag wheels, throwback open sides, and bright Ocean Blue and French Bread white paint. The Chief’s interior plays up the surfer theme with leather-trimmed upholstery featuring Hawaiian print cloth inserts, a rosewood grab handle, tiki-shifter, and a smattering of vintage surf stickers.
(Jeep Chief photos by Christine O’Connell)
The retro 4×4 is motivated by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 mated to a six-speed manual. Fox shocks and Dana 44 axles with lockers ensure that this little buggy will make it through the dunes.
Dodge Challenger GT AWD Concept.
The Dodge Challenger GT AWD Concept’s teaser shot got the enthusiast world talking in the run up to the SEMA show. There was no disappointment when Mopar pulled off the tarp this week. With a Scat Pack 3-equipped 5.7-liter HEMI mated to an eight-speed automatic, this bad boy delivers roughly 75 more horsepower and 44 more foot-pounds of torque than the stock engine. Could this beast see production? Fans saddened by the AWD Charger’s demise should make some noise.
Dodge Dart GLH Concept.
The Dodge Dart GLH Concept is a tribute to one of Carol Shelby’s least appreciated cars: the Dodge Omni GLH. The original GLH (Goes Like Hell) was conceived as an import fighter and achieved cult status for packing a ton of performance into an affordable hatchback platform. The Dart GLH is purely a design exercise utilizing a host of Mopar cosmetic exterior and interior pieces, and custom black Katzkin leather and red mesh seats. We can only hope that a screaming turbocharged engine finds its way under the Dart’s hood before long.
Fiat 500X Chicane.
Fiat 500X Mobe.
A pair of Fiat 500X—the Chicane and Mobe—put different faces on Fiat’s latest offering. The Chicane tackles the city streets on 20-inch two-tone alloys wheels and features Competition Blue paint with a bodyside stripe and a Gloss Black roof. A lowering kit and cat-back exhaust set the tone. The Mobe heads to the beach with a roof rack, a slew of Mopar interior pieces, and a contemporary European design that’s 180 degrees from the Jeep Chief.
Ram ProMaster City DiveMaster van.
The Ram ProMaster City DiveMaster van is all about the Scuba, with a gradient livery, “diver down” side mirrors, two rows of Katzkin leather upholstery, and custom racks and shelving in the cargo area. The rear doors provide storage space for scuba gear along with a flat screen mounting point. LED rear lighting and spray-on floor liner complete the all-weather interior.
