What do you call a 2012 Dodge Challenger capable of owning the desert, or pretty much any landscape it encounters? Two names actually, according to Daystar Products. The company’s four-wheel drive rally muscle car is known as Cactus Runner in captivity; but goes by a Latin “scientific” name—Carnegiea Gigantea Zoomitus—in the wild.
The beast’s landscape-chewing appetite is powered by a 392 Vortech Supercharged HEMI equipped with 4-wheel low, 4-wheel high, and 2-wheel high transfer case. A widened body flexes the Challenger’s naturally muscular build, but also provides room for 35-inch tires. Rocks, pits and any other desert obstacles are no match for the lifted suspension softened by Daystar Kevlar-infused polyurethane bushings.
Tom Woods drive shafts serve as the Challenger’s spine, Baja Designs LP9 lights are its eyes at night with Daystar polyurethane mounts, while the Raceline beadlock wheels keep the tires clamped in place.
The car was brought to life by Terry Young and the team in Daystar’s Engineering & Applied Sciences division.
Meet Young and see the car for yourself in the above video.
Fast Facts
- Cactus Runner (i.e. Carnegiea Gigantea Zoomitus)
- 4WD Rally Car
- 392 Vortech Supercharged HEMI equipped with 4-wheel low, 4-wheel high, and 2-wheel high transfer case
- Daystar Kevlar-infused polyurethane bushings & lift kit connect the power to the ground via BF Goodrich KM3 35-inch tires
- Raceline beadlock wheels keep the KM3 tires clamped in place
- Baja Designs LP9 on Daystar polyurethane mounts for long night runs
- Tom Woods Drive Shafts
- VooDoo Offroad rope
- Daystar hood pins
