Chrysler's SEMA freak show out in force

By Phil McNamara

First Official Pictures

02 November 2006 10:00

Speciality Chryslers out in force

Chrysler has unveiled a host of slammed, tuned and beefed up models for this year's Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas. Leading the charge is this dazzling drag racing take on the forthcoming Dodge Challenger, the Super Stock Concept. Click next to see more jaw-slackening takes on the Dodge Nitro and Chrysler Sebring. The SEMA show is the world's biggest automotive trade event, where tuners peddle their latest wheels, exhausts, body kits, brakes and turbos. It's Max Power heaven, in the nation where the performance tuning market is worth in excess of $30 billion a year. And as Chrysler's line up shows, car makers take SEMA very seriously too. It's a great opportunity to generate a buzz about new models, and Volkswagen and Volvo are muscling in on the act this year, too.

Dodge Challenger Super Stock

That paint job makes it look like Evel Knievel's wheels, and the Super Stock harks back to the early '70s, when the Challenger muscle car campaigned in Trans-am, Pro Stock racing and the Indy 500. Under that massive nose shaker is a 392 cubic inch HEMI engine, which is in its most potent form and kicks out 525hp. Tuners can buy the crated V8 engine to drop into their cars. With the Challenger not yet in production, Chrysler's Skunkwerks team – which created the entire SEMA line up – took the related Dodge Magnum chassis, and added the Challenger bodyshell. Designer Steve Meloche alone had to create around 100 new parts to bring the Super Stock to life.

By Phil McNamara