Chrysler SkunkWerks Team at SEMA

Press Release

Tuning for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep

• The SkunkWerks Project Vehicles
• The SkunkWerks Team

The annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show has witnessed the debut of a number of cutting-edge vehicles from Chrysler Group's SkunkWerks team in the past few years. This year will be no different, as Mopar® and the SkunkWerks team will debut new custom vehicles at SEMA.

5.7L HEMI Dodge Nitro

• Builders: DaimlerChrysler Dealer Technical Operations and Vehicle Build Shops
• 5.7L HEMI Crate Engine by Mopar
• 360 horsepower @ 5,400 rpm and 360 lbs.-ft. of torque @ 4,200 rpm

This Dodge Nitro rolls on custom 22-inch Alcoa rims with 14-inch Brembos behind them. With custom body panels including carbon fiber hood, front and rear fascias are covered in a one-of-a-kind blackberry pearl paint accented by the custom purple rain glass supplied by Solutia.
But this Nitro isn't just about looks. The team stuffed a Mopar Performance 5.7L HEMI under the hood. Gear slamming is done through a Tremec 5-speed transmission via a Hurst pistol grip.

The interior continues the no-nonsense approach with four Viper buckets wrapped in black carbon fiber leather by Katzkin.
Sure to turn heads - leaving lots of long black strips on the pavement.

Dodge Nitro Panel Wagon

• Builders: DaimlerChrysler Vehicle Build Shops
• 3.7L, 12-valve, SOHC V-6
• 210 horsepower and 235 lbs.-ft. of torque

With hot rod flavor, this retro 2-door Dodge Nitro Panel Wagon also has modern flair. The Nitro Panel Wagon began as a statement about traditional hot rodding. It not only had to be a styling statement, it had to be functional, just as the speed shops did it the '50s and '60s. Modifying a standard Dodge Nitro by hand, the same way a custom car builder would. It's Mopar-themed throughout - accessory, performance, and replacement parts.

The metal shop welded the rear doors shut and hand-formed the panel to fill in where the quarter and rear door glass once resided. The unique body kit accentuates its modern, masculine and athletic shape by lowering the sills and fascia. The beefy flares are one inch wider per side to cover the one-off Alcoa forged 20 x 9 wheels wrapped in sticky BF Goodrich g-Force 265/50VR20s. The suspension was lowered 2 inches to lower the center of gravity and improve the handling. Mopar's signature blue and white was laid on the classic panel wagon two-tone scheme. The big blue space on the panel where the glass once lived begged for the Mopar Authentic Performance logo.

Exterior attributes set the tone for the real story: inside. Panel vans carry cargo, and this one does it in style. Deleting the rear doors and seats creates an opportunity for unique storage systems. When the rear door is opened, the cargo floor appears to be a nice, flat area with a textured material. Upon closer inspection, a set of handles, borrowed from the production version of the Nitro, unlatch and release the 400-lb.-capacity load floor that extends a whopping 36 inches (which was created by our vehicle mock-up area). Cargo is kept from going into the front compartment by an aviation-inspired cargo net. Where the glass and quarter trim once lived, there are a set of custom panels designed to hold smaller stuff: tools, oil, filters, everything a hot rodder might need on the road. The front compartment remains in basically stock trim with the exception of the custom seats done by Katzkin, which include smooth polyurethane bolsters with a gray textured insert that mimics the cargo mat. The seats carry an embroidered Mopar logo with matching blue accent stitching.

The Dodge Nitro Panel Wagon combines the essence of a classic panel van with the modern, aggressive style of today's Dodge. With its appearance and speed shop utility, this vehicle will be greatly appreciated by any gearhead. No surfboards, flats of flowers or groceries in here.

Chrysler Sebring Tuner

• Builders: DaimlerChrysler vehicle build shops
• 4.0L
• 285 horsepower and 295 lbs.-ft. of torque

Mission: Take the Chrysler Sebring and exaggerate its existing elements to create an even more dynamic and eye-catching tuner. Mission Accomplished.

The Chrysler Sebring Tuner's exterior features new fascias with floating PIAA fog lamps, sill extensions, hood with air extractors, deck lid spoiler and HID headlamps. All front openings have been fitted with custom-stamped stainless-steel mesh accented with chrome bezels. To achieve the proper stance, the vehicle was lowered approximately 2 inches and fitted with larger "one-off" 20-inch wheels machined by Alcoa. Through the mesh wheels, one sees larger 13.5-inch cross-drilled rotors all the way around with Stoptech 4-piston calipers in the front and 2 piston in the rear.

To enhance the vroom factor, it's fitted with a 4.0-liter engine mated to an automatic 6-speed transmission. The exhaust system was custom bent with components supplied by CORSA, finished off with dual 4-inch tips.

The interior features a unique combination of black with starbright silver accents creating a sophisticated and sporty environment. The more aggressively bolstered "SRT-style" seats have been leather wrapped by Katzkin and feature silver contrast stitching. The sound system has been upgraded by Boston Acoustics, with higher-output amplifier, broad-range frequency speakers, custom 10-inch sub enclosures and "My-gig" radio head unit. Driver interface has also been improved with leather-wrapped steering wheel, milled aluminum racing pedals and custom stainless steel cluster and clock supplied by US Speedo.

Dodge Targa Newfoundland Caliber

When it was first unveiled, Dodge Caliber redefined the entry-level vehicle by combining high value with bold styling. The Caliber appealed to owners around the world who wanted Dodge attitude packaged with the capability and versatility of a sport-utility vehicle and the affordability and fuel-efficiency of an entry-level compact car.

Now, the Dodge Caliber seeks to conquer a new world - the five-day Targa Newfoundland event - where a vehicle's durability is put to the test. The Targa race is not for the faint of heart, and Dodge Caliber is ready to prove that affordability and performance can go hand-in-hand.

Engine
Type and Description: ........... 2.4-Liter DOHC I4 Turbo
Displacement: ...................... 144 cu. in.
Bore x Stroke: ...................... 3.46" x 3.82"
Valve System: ....................... Chain-driven DOHC, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
Fuel Injection: ...................... Sequential, multi-point injection fuel system
Compression Ratio: ............... 8.6:1
Fuel Requirement: ................ Premium fuel 93 octane
Fuel Capacity: ...................... 13.6 gallon
Oil Capacity: ........................ 5.0 qt.
Coolant Capacity: ................. 7.2 qt.
Power: ................................ 300 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: ................................ 260 lb.-ft. @ 2,000-6,000 rpm

Suspension
Front: .................................. KW coilover independent McPherson strut with stabilizer bar
Rear: ................................... Multi-link independent rear suspension with KW coilover shock absorbers with stabilizer bar

Exterior
Overall Length: ..................... 173.8"
Overall Width: ...................... 68.8"
Overall Height: ..................... 60.4"
Wheelbase: .......................... 103.7"
Front Track: ......................... 59.8"
Rear Track: .......................... 59.8"
Curb-to-Curb Circle: .............. 35.5"
Ground Clearance: ................ 4.0"
Drag Coefficient: ................... 0.375
Curb Weight: ........................ 2,760 lbs.

Brakes
Front: ............................. 340 x 28 mm ventilated discs with dual piston calipers
Rear: .............................. 302 x 10 mm discs with single piston calipers

Interior
Front Head Room: ................ 40"
Rear Head Room: ................. 38.9"
Front Hip Room: ................... 52.2"
Rear Hip Room: ................... 49.6"
Front Leg Room: ................... 41.8"
Rear Leg Room: ................... 35.6"
Front Shoulder Room: ........... 54.2"
Rear Shoulder Room: ............ 53.4"
Interior Volume: .................... 95.2"

Steering
Rack and pinion with hydraulic power assist

Tires
Michelin Pilot® Sport Cup
265/35ZR18

• Vehicle specifications shown do not represent current production Dodge Caliber specifications.