Mopar Unveils Trio of Concept Vehicles
Mopar has unveiled three new concept vehicles that will be featured at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the company announced.
“With a spotlight on electrification, Mopar is in a great position to fully enhance the customer experience with quality-tested, factory-backed parts and accessories,” said Mark Bosanac, North America senior vice president, Mopar service, parts and customer care. “The Jeep CJ Surge concept explores a future zero-emission propulsion system kit and supports the Jeep brand’s mission to become the leading electrified SUV brand in the world. Separately, our Ram 1500 Backcountry X and TRX Gold Shot concepts showcase a truckload of innovative Mopar accessories for our award-winning full-size trucks.”
Jeep CJ Surge Concept
Custom designed and engineered to explore an efficient battery-electric propulsion system for classic Jeep models, the Jeep CJ Surge electromod concept allows Mopar designers and engineers to gain a better understanding of potential battery-electric vehicle (BEV) parts kit applications, the company said. Its aim is to lead to a future propulsion-system offering for enthusiasts to build or convert classic and current cars and trucks into zero-emission vehicles.
A true Jeep 4×4, the CJ Surge concept is powered by a custom propulsion system. Under the hood, a scalable 400-volt, 200-kW Electric Drive Module mounts to the frame with custom-designed solid motor mounts. Power to all four wheels is supplied by 24 lithium-ion battery modules and torque runs through a two-speed Jeep transfer case with selectable gearing. Battery modules are enclosed in a custom shell mounted in the rear of the passenger cabin.
Riding on 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires paired with a 2-inch lift kit, the Copper Canyon body features gloss black and Surf Blue Surge graphics and bodyside striping. The concept hood and bezel are painted gloss black, along with the seven-slot Jeep grille.
The CJ Surge concept rolls on matte black 18-by-9-inch Black Rhino Solid wheels that carry Surf Blue accents on the rim beads and ride below the oversized concept fender flares. Front and rear Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) Dana 44 Crate axles help the CJ Surge concept easily crawl over rocks and boulders.
A JPP Wrangler JK Rubicon Bumper Kit carries a JPP Rubicon Warn winch up front and is flanked on both sides by Surf Blue tow hooks and amber LED fog lamps. Underbody protection is provided by JPP Rubicon skid and front-bumper plates and concept JPP rock rails. A custom BEV charge port is located just behind the driver-side door opening.
Looking out from the 2-inch cropped windshield, the driver and passenger are perched in custom seats installed with concept seat risers. Both seats feature Surf Blue stitching on the black Sedoso cloth and houndstooth fabric inserts. A Wrangler JK center console features a rotary shifter knob, while Mopar instrument-panel gauges include a charge indicator to let the driver know how much battery life remains.
The cockpit of the CJ Surge concept features a custom-built roll cage, and a custom-shaped bikini top, as well as a set of Mopar all-weather floor mats and a custom steering wheel with a JPP horn pad badge.
Ram 1500 TRX Gold Shot Concept
The Ram 1500 TRX Gold Shot concept is a custom high-performance toy hauler for the motocross enthusiast, the company said.
Built upon the 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX, the Satin Bitter Yellow/Satin Black concept carries TRX side graphics, along with custom-designed, Vintage Bronze 18-by-9.5-inch Black Rhino Chamber wheels riding on 37-inch BFGoodrich tires. Providing easy access to a pair of motorcycles in the truck bed is a Mopar bed step.
Behind the cab, a RamBar accessory bar features a pair of concept 14-inch TYRI rectangular LED lights. The truck-bed surface is protected by a black, Mopar spray-in textured bedliner.
Protecting the front and rear underside areas of the TRX Gold Shot concept are custom metal skid plates that feature laser-etched Mopar lettering. Use of the front skid plate helps to increase the approach angle by 2.3 degrees up to 32.5 degrees. Mopar rock rails also help protect the side sills from any damage, and just below the rear bumper, a pair of 5-inch black Mopar exhaust tips round out the build.
The interior of the TRX Gold Shot concept comes straight from Ram 1500 TRX production model with center stack, instrument cluster, flat-bottom steering wheel with prominent paddle shifters and center-console-mounted floor shifter. Alaska Gold stitching and accents throughout the interior cabin match the exterior look.
Aggressive sport seats are premium wrapped with Capri leather and perforated Alcantara suede inner bolsters. Gold Spinneybeck leather chaser stripes provide exterior-matching contrast color to the black front and rear seats. Both front seats feature embroidered TRX logos on the upper back panels and Mopar logos on the outboard shoulder bolster. A vinyl floor from the Ram 1500 Tradesman model allows for quick and easy interior cleaning.
Ram 1500 Backcountry X Concept
The Ram 1500 Backcountry X concept builds upon the RamBox cargo management system with custom-designed RamPack and RamRack features, Ram said.
Designed for an integrated fit on both sides of the truck bed, the conceptual RamPack storage compartments – located above the standard RamBox on each bed side – open via a single, carbon-fiber, hatch-type panel. Storage space is expanded by more than 68% (up to 12.3 cubic feet) with the custom RamPack system. Custom rectangular shelves run the full length of the vast compartments and a pair of tie-down loops provide secure mounting locations. Mopar RamBox vertical bin dividers also help to keep stored gear organized.
The custom RamRack on the Ram 1500 Backcountry X continues the design investigation of the telescoping storage-rack system first shown on the Ram 1500 Outdoorsman concept at the 2021 SEMA Show, the company said. The RamRack uses additional Thule cross rails above the bed for mounting gear and accessories. Attached in each corner of the RamRack are 2-inch TYRI LED lights, while a Center High Mount Stop Light adds a third brake light to the rear crossbar.
On the inside panel of the tailgate, a custom Mopar RamGate task-bench insert features various conversion charts and an angle finder coupled with an array of Rockler woodworking hardware. A durable Mopar spray-in bedliner protects the floor of the truck bed.
The Ram 1500 Backcountry X concept rides on a Mopar 2-inch lift kit with FOX shocks, matte-black 20-by-9-inch Fuel Heater wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich tires. The two-tone Matte Iced Silver Titanium and matte-black exterior features contrasting anodized orange bodyside stripes and accents on the hood, tow hooks (front and rear) and grille badge.
Up front, a Mopar tubular grille guard has four Mopar 5-inch LED off-road lights to provide enhanced forward lighting. Black-painted Mopar tube steps, located on both side rails, provide easy entry and exit from the elevated cabin. A Mopar rear bed step uses an articulating arm that lowers down for easy access to the truck bed and retracts back to a stored position.
Inside, tone-on-tone neutral green front and second-row bucket seats feature contrasting orange accent stitching that carries throughout the cabin on the steering wheel, door panels and armrests. Contrasting anodized orange air vent controls also provide a custom look and feel.
Front bucket seats wear custom embroidered Backcountry X and Mopar logos. Between the front seats, a custom, deployable work surface with an integrated measuring system slides out from the soft center armrest and provides 12 by 14 inches of additional workspace.
Unique interior A-pillar handles and exterior C-pillar handles are wrapped with a stylish black Gode-Tex vinyl.
Floor protection is provided by Mopar all-weather mats, while under the second-row bench seat, a concept RamVac on-board vacuum makes cleaning the cabin area easy after coming back from the trail or the worksite.
Even More Mopar Concepts
Making their SEMA debuts are additional custom vehicles from Jeep including:
- Jeep Gladiator D-Coder Concept
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe Concept
- Jeep ’41 Concept
- Jeep Wrangler 4xe Birdcage Concept
- Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 Concept
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 – 20th Anniversary Concept
In addition, two new customized vehicles from Mark Worman, Mopar enthusiast and star of Motor Trend’s Graveyard Carz, will also be making their debuts at the 2022 SEMA Show:
- 1970 Dodge Challenger TA, painted Vitamin C Orange and powered by a Hellcrate Redeye 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 crate engine
- 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, painted factory B5 Blue and powered by a 426-cubic-inch HEMI V8
