Here are the first real life photos of some of the Mopar-tuned Chrysler Group products that were introduced at the SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas. If you follow the break, you can find photos of the customized Fiat 500, Dodge Redline Charger, Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee, plus a video with Mark Allen, head of Jeep Product Design, showing off three new Jeep studies.
Most likely, you have read our preview on Mopar's SEMA-bound tuned vehicles. If that's the case, then you may also be interested in the video after the break, as Jeep's Chief Designer, Mark Allen, does a show and tell on three Jeep and Ram concept vehicles.
First up is the Jeep Wrangler J7 Stripper that was enhanced by removing several parts, as Mark Allen's team decided to follow the "less is more approach". Amenities like carpets and fog lights are gone, in come 35-inch Mickey Thompson tires and a two-inch lift, which promise to make this Wrangler even more capable off-road.
Next up is the Jeep NuKaiser 715, which borrows most of its components from the J8 military truck. It relies on a 2.8-liter diesel engine to get it through rough terrain, as well as Dynatrac heavy-duty axles with air-lockers and 38-inch BF Goodrich tires. Also, to further resemble the original Kaiser truck, Jeep's designers chopped the top and added the bed of an AEV (American Expedition Vehicle).
For the grand finale we have the Ram Power Wagon, based on the most capable off-road truck that the Chrysler Groups sells today. The SEMA version has a 120 inch (3,05 meters) wheelbase, monstrous 40-inch tires and a 5.7-liter HEMI V8. It has "sort of a desert off-road flavor", as Mr. Allen puts it. Scroll down to watch the video.
For many, the world's most iconic automobile is not the Ford Model T or the Volkswagen Beetle. For them, it's the humble Willys Jeep. Serving in three wars, the Jeep (or MB) was built to fulfill a 1930s War Department requirement for a light 4x4 utility vehicle that was both simple and reliable.
Everything the army uses is built on this philosophy – simple and reliable – and the Jeep was both. In this video, seven soldiers break a Jeep down into its component pieces (bodywork, chassis, engine / transmission, driveshaft, axles and wheels) and put it back together again, all in under four minutes.
Being one of the most important launches of the year for the Chrysler Group and the first to come during the newly-formed alliance with Fiat SpA, the Detroit automaker is working hard to spread the word about the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee as well as the change of philosophy in the company.
The first TV spot for Jeep's flagship model is centered around the tagline "The things we make, make us" and according to the Detroit firm, it's supposed to represent the return of American craftsmanship and quality that goes into each new vehicle of the brand.
"The new Grand Cherokee marketing and advertising campaign has been carefully designed to communicate the Jeep brand's commitment to American craftsmanship, the return of personal pride and dedication to producing a vehicle that is truly well-made and beautifully designed," said Mike Manley, President and CEO of the Jeep Brand.
The Chrysler LLC group has rolled out fresh pictures and a new video with some B-Roll footage of its all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee a couple of weeks ahead of the SUV's U.S. market launch in early June.
The 2011 Grand Cherokee will be offered with a choice of two engines including the Chrysler Group's all-new 290HP 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that delivers up to 23 mpg, and a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 360-horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque.
In its latest press release, the company revealed prices for the entry-level 4x2 Laredo model that starts from $30,995, while the 4x4 version of the Laredo will start at $32,995. The new Grand Cherokee is built at the Chrysler group's Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) in Detroit.
