Thursday, April 28, 2011

2011 Dodge Charger Mopar Special Edition

2011 Dodge Charger Mopar Special Edition

2011 Dodge Charger Mopar Special Edition

Hot on the heels of a special-edition 2010 Dodge Challenger, Mopar -- Chrysler's aftermarket and performance accessory division -- revealed today it's planning yet another limited-edition muscle machine for 2011. There's a twist, however -- this time, the Mopar-tuned ride is based upon the four-door 2011 Dodge Charger.
"After the success of our Mopar '10 Challenger, we moved on to the iconic Dodge Charger and added even more performance," said Mopar President and CEO Pietro Gorlier. "As a new company, we will continue to leverage the heritage of the Mopar brand at every turn."
So, what does Mopar have in store for the refreshed '11 Charger? The exact details have yet to be released (same goes for mechanical specifications), but the preview sketch suggests the Mopar '11 Charger follows the same recipe used for last year's special-edition Mopar '10 Challenger.
The car -- apparently based off the Charger R/T -- receives metallic black paint, along with an asymmetrical blue racing stripe running down the length of the car (if, like the Challenger, that stripe may also be offered in red and silver). Bespoke five-spoke rollers will likely measure 20 inches in diameter, and feature Mopar center caps. Katzkin leather seating is expected to grace the interior, with stitching matching that of the exterior stripe color, and Mopar embroidery found on the headrests. Customers may also find a Hurst T-handle gear selector for the standard automatic transmission.
If consistent with the special-edition Challenger, power upgrades will be relegated to a cold-air intake from the Mopar parts catalog, which should provide a 15-horsepower bump in power over the stock unit's 370-horsepower figure. We wouldn't be surprised, however, to see an upgraded exhaust to further improve respiration. Shock-tower bars and beefed-up stabilizer bars may also be included, along with improved brake pads, but at this stage, the Mopar folks are mum on the issue.
They're also mum on pricing. If the Mopar '10 Challenger is any baseline, the special Mopar treatment could add $3500 over a stock model. If that holds true for the Mopar '11 Charger, that could potentially bump its base price just below the $40,000 mark. We wouldn't be surprised if, like Mopar's custom Challenger, volume will be limited to a scant 500 examples. Expect full details later this month, as the car is expected to be unveiled at the 2011 New York auto show.

2011 Dodge Charger Mopar Special Edition
2011 Dodge Charger Mopar Special Edition