Dodge Concept Cars

When you think of iconic, classic American cars, Cadillac Coupe DeVille, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, and Dodge Challenger are, often, some of the first to come to mind. And while each of them has had their fair share of special editions, we can’t help but wonder what classic American cars can be like, with a European twist. Whether it’s their design or an unusual engineering solution, these are the most obscure American classic cars ever to exist.

Unveiled in 1967, the Dodge Deora is one of the craziest concept cars of the 1960s. Based on the Dodge A100 pickup, the Deora was built by brothers Mike and Larry Alexander and showcased at the 1967 Detroit Autorama, where it won no fewer than nine awards. Chrysler liked the design so much that it leased the truck for two years to display alongside its factory concept cars. The Deora inspired a Hot Wheels model car and resurfaced in the early 2000s when it was restored. The Deora was auctioned off for $324,500 in 2009. More than ten years later, the Deora was reimagined as a modern concept car.

Thanks to shows like SEMA, aftermarket companies are able to exercise their creative sides in bringing out the funkiest concepts which, otherwise, wouldn’t have garnered a lot of attention. And, when the products are from brands like Mopar, you know that you’re in for a treat. Mopar will be bringing two concept trucks to the SEMA – a Dodge D200-series ‘Lowliner’ pickup truck and a 1500 Rebel-based concept. We’ll be talking about the former one here, and to say the least, Dodge sure had fun reimagining this truck from the 1960s.

By his own admission, the start of 2018 wasn’t a good time for Santa Claus. He had just finished his 2017 holiday delivery schedule and found himself more exhausted than he usually was. His back was screaming, his knees hurt, and he was, in his own words, growing a “bowl of jelly” in his stomach. Six months passed and Santa was still stuck in a rut. He knew he needed to work out. He just wasn’t inspired to do it. Then, in one fateful night in June, Santa visited his favorite auto website — we think it’s Topspeed — and saw the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. The very next day, Santa called up his local Dodge dealer in the North Pole and asked to test drive the 797-horsepower monster.

We jump to the present day, and Santa’s a completely different man. His “bowl of jelly” is gone, replaced by muscles that sat on top of muscles. He credits his physical makeover to the test-drive he had back in June, saying that it transformed his outlook in life. That same test drive also inspired him to transform his old ride to match his new “shredded bod.” And so, the Dodge Redeye Express was born.

One of the great things about car renderings is the ability to let your imagination go crazy. You can use an existing car model and re-imagine it without a roof, or you can get really creative and redesign it in a different body type altogether. There’s something to be said, then, for renderings that take two models from two different automakers and combine them to create an entirely new model. It’s the kind of Transformers-like job that we should be seeing more often in the real world. Or should we? The truth is, BudgetsDirect undertook this very exercise, and the results are all “interesting,” to say the least. As an added bonus, we’re doing our own part and renaming these creations in the best way we can.

The 2016 SEMA Show is upon us and the Las Vegas event is once again packed with hot cars and aftermarket parts. Nearly all major automakers brought at least one new product or concept to SEMA. Mopar is once again among the brands that have set up a booth at the event and, as usual, the

owned company has plenty of concept cars on display. They all have all sort of exciting features to brag about, but none is as spectacular as the Shakedown Challenger.

Although the name suggests we’re looking at a modern Challenger loaded with concept and aftermarket accessories, the vehicle is actually based on a first-generation car. Specifically, Mopar used a 1971 Challenger body and interior for this build. Pretty much a restomod as far as styling goes, the Shakedown rides on modern underpinning and features a large number of parts borrowed from the 2017 Challenger. On top of that, it showcases some of Mopar’s newest concept parts, some of which will be offered as production accessories starting 2017.

Find out what makes the Shakedown Challenger special in our review below and don’t forget to check out other Mopar builds from this year’s SEMA Show, including the Dodge Durango Shaker or the Jeep CJ66.

Continue reading to learn more about the Dodge Shakedown Challenger.

Launched in 2010 for the 2011 model year, the third-generation Durango arrived in showrooms a full year after Dodge discontinued the nameplate. The relaunch brought a significantly redesigned SUV with a more upscale interior. While the 5.7-liter V-8 soldiered on with updates, the 3.7-liter V-6 was replaced by the 3.6-liter Pentastar, and the 4.7-liter V-8 was dropped from the lineup. The SUV received its mid-cycle facelift for the 2014 model year, when it gained sportier features, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and redesigned taillights.

Praised for its spacious third-row seats, reliable infotainment system, solid performance of the V-8, and strong towing capacity, the third-gen Durango has been doing quite well sales-wise since the facelift. Although figures aren’t as good as the early 2000s, the Durango sold more than 60,000 units a year in 2014 and 2015, prompting Dodge to add more features with each model year. More recently, rumors of a high-performance version surfaced the Interwebz, backed by spy shots of a more aggressive looking SUV. The production model has yet to be unveiled as of November 2016, but Dodge showcased a higher-performance Durango concept at the 2016 SEMA Show.

Dubbed Durango Shaker concept, it features an array of Mopar accessories, as well as elements usually offered on muscle cars, including the Shaker hood. Dodge didn’t say whether the concept previews an actual road-going SUV, but it’s presence in Las Vegas will definitely get Mopar fans excited. Let’s find out more about it in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Dodge Durango Shaker concept.

The Dodge Omni first broke into the auto scene back in 1977 but it wasn’t until 1984 when the performance-oriented Omni GLH (Goes Like Hell) was unleashed to the public. In its short lifespan - it only lasted until 1986 - the Omni GLH was able to create a loyal fan base that included no less than Carroll Shelby himself. In fact, the final 500 units of the 1985 Omni GLH-T were all sold to Shelby, who in turn, modified them to become the 1986 Shelby GLHS (Goes Like Hell S’More).

It’s an incredible history for a car that lasted only a few years. That history has remained untouched, at least until now. Yes, Dodge is bringing back the classic GLH name at the 2015 SEMA Auto Show in the form of the Dodge Dart GLH Concept.

For all intents and purposes, the Dart GLH Concept is a tribute car to the original Omni GLH, a cult classic that has somehow never received its just due. It’s a fitting homage to one of Dodge’s most underrated classics and it shows throughout the Dart GLH Concept’s dramatic styling. The original Omni GLH may have been lost to history and the occasional wall posters hanging on someone’s room, but its memory now lives on through the Dart GLH Concept.

Work on the Dart GLH Concept was done with the help of Mopar as shown by the extensive amount of new components and accessories from Chrysler’s in-house performance division.

Continue reading to learn more about the Dodge Dart GLH Concept.

Dodge would like you to remember, as you look through the countless aftermarket examples of its cars that will turn up to SEMA, that there are also quite a few Mopar options for customizing your Charger. Even though an argument could be made that optioning your Charger with Mopar accessories doesn’t really make it aftermarket, this kind of thing is always common at SEMA, and from more manufacturers than just Dodge. There are a number of Mopar cars at this year’s show, and for the Charger, the in-house tuner has a concept called the Dodge Charger Deep Stage 3.

The car is tame by SEMA standards, but is a realistic approximation of what most people who wish to tune their Charger will probably be looking to do. Most of the modifications are existing products that are available right now from Mopar, but not quite everything. Hopefully this is one of those situations where Mopar is using the concept as a way of gauging the public’s reaction to the car, and future offerings will be based on that reaction. But, even if that isn’t the purpose, and Mopar just wants to remind everyone that you can buy go-fast parts right from the dealership, it’s still a good looking car.

Click past the jump to read more about the Dodge Charger Deep Stage 3.

Mopar, Chrysler’s parts, service and customer care division, has been using the SEMA Show to display numerous wild concept cars for quite a few years now, and the 2015 edition is no exception. This year’s display was a bit more special, however, as alongside the visually-enhanced Chryslers, Dodges, Rams and Fiats, Mopar also showcased an all-wheel drive Challenger.

Yes, you read that right! Mopar just built a V-8-powered muscle car that combines power and performance with the confidence of increased traction that comes with an AWD system. Most old-school enthusiasts might find it profane, but to others the Challenger GT AWD Concept may be like a dream come true.

Unfortunately, since this show car isn’t likely to become a production vehicle, chances of seeing it in showrooms anytime soon are rather slim. It remains to be seen whether the next-generation Challenger will get an AWD option or not, but until then all we can do is have a closer look at this unique concept car.

Continue reading to learn more about the Dodge Challenger GT AWD Concept.

The list of Dodge vehicles prepped for SEMA keeps growing. This one is the Dart R/T Concept and combines quite a few exterior modifications to strengthen the Dart’s street cred.

Most noticeable is the matte-black hood, roof, and rear decklid combined with matching 18-inch wheels. That’s contrasted by Dodge’s O-So-Orange paint that really makes the Dart stand out.

Besides the color combination, this Dart sports a new front fascia with an enlarged grille opening that provides extra airflow to the engine’s intercooler. The grille features new textures and LED fog-lamp surrounds. Also feeding more air into the car is that updated hood. The all aluminum piece has a large intake that forces air directly into the turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-four’s air intake. Further back, a heat extractor helps remove hot air and positive pressure from the engine bay.

Dodge added several Mopar parts to this concept that dress it up even more, including a front chin splitter, side-sill accents, and a rear fascia diffuser. That rear diffuser molds itself around some bold, 3.5-inch exhaust tips that let everyone know the Dart is coming. On the decklid, a large three-piece spoiler adds some downforce and sport.

Last but certainly not least are some actual mechanical modifications. A Mopar big-brake kit brings the whole operation to a halt and adjustable coil-over shocks help the Dart feel more darty.

Click past the jump to read more about the Dodge Dart R/T Concept.

The Viper ACR (American Club Racing) model was introduced in 1999, three years into the second generation of the sports car. Available only as a coupe, the ACR received a host of aerodynamic and mechanical enhancements developed for the track. A revised front bumper, a vented hood and a fixed rear wing were the main body highlights, while a stiffer, adjustable suspension improved its handling. Likewise, the 8.0-liter V-10 of the second-gen Viper had its output increased by 10 ponies to 460 horsepower for the ACR. Curb weight was reduced by more than 50 pounds. The third-gen Viper didn’t offer an ACR version, but the track-ready sports car returned in 2008 with even more updates. But unlike its predecessor, the new ACR didn’t have any engine modifications as the 8.4-liter V-10 kept its stock 600 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. In 2011, a 2010 Viper ACR lapped the Nurburgring track in 7 minutes, 12.13 seconds. The sports car remains the sixth fastest production car on the "Green Hell" as of 2014. The 2010 model year was the last year for the ACR, but as we approach 2015, Dodge is showcasing an ACR Concept based on the fifth-generation model at the SEMA Show.

Could this mean the track-spec Viper is returning after a four-year absence? Dodge has yet to confirm it, but the concept car looks very familiar and ready to hit the assembly line. Check out the details after the jump as we wait for Chrysler to release more photos of the new ACR.

Click past the jump to read more about the Dodge Viper ACR Concept.

The 2014 SEMA Auto Show is just around the corner so Mopar’s been extremely busy these days with plenty of products headed to Las Vegas. Two, in particular, are of the Dodge Charger variety, one of which is the Charger R/T Mopar Concept. The conceptual preview version may not have the dealership immediacy another SEMA-bound Charger, the Charger Scat Pack, but it does provide a good indication on what the meaty, four-door muscle car could look after spending some time on Mopar’s operating table.

The Charger R/T Mopar Concept isn’t meant to dramatically alter our perception of the Charger. Instead, Mopar opted for more subtle improvements, enough at least to give the Charger a little more pep in its step. It’s debatable if the Charger really does need one, but for the sake of the R/T Mopar Concept, let’s just say that it does.

It features a healthy dose of Mopar products, carefully added for both aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons. It even gets a fancy, new exterior paint, a set of massive wheels, and engine modifications that gives the four-door muscle car a “jolt” of added power. That’s a nice way of putting it, although it would have been really nice if Dodge and/or Mopar actually revealed how much “jolt” the Charger really got.

Remember, the Charger already packs a 5.7-liter, Hemi, V-8 engine that pumps out 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque on its own.

Hopefully, Mopar spills the beans when the Charger R/T Mopar Concept is unveiled at the 2014 SEMA Auto Show together with the entire Mopar-tuned brood.

Click past the jump to read more about the Dodge Charger R/T Mopar Concept.

With less than a month left until the 2014 SEMA Show opens its doors on November 4th, automakers are starting to preview some of the projects that we’ll get to see in Las Vegas. While Honda is planning to showcase a handful of modified Fit sub-compacts, among other yet-to-be-named cars, Mopar is readying no less than 11 vehicles for the event..

Chrysler’s parts, service and customer care brand didn’t provide any details of its 2014 SEMA lineup, but in traditional fashion, it released teaser sketches for each vehicle that will be displayed in the brand’s 15,345-square-foot exhibit. This year’s lineup is as diverse as it gets, including cars from each brand found under the Chrysler-Fiat umbrella. Read on to find out what Mopar has in store for us at the SEMA Show.

Click past the jump to read more about Mopar’s SEMA projects.

Now that the Hellcat engine and its 707 horsepower has been introduced, it’s safe to say the 2015 Challenger is the most powerful, factory-build muscle car. But while the ink is still wet on the Challenger Hellcat and its outstanding performance figures, a brand-new concept is here to give Chrysler’s muscle car a totally new meaning. Meet the Challenger A/T Concept, the all-terrain pony that could put a Jeep Wrangler to shame.

Created by Joey Ruiter, the man behind several off-road vehicle, bike and even power boat projects, the Challenger A/T is still a concept car. However, the proposition is not just some silly idea thrown around just for kicks, but a highly customized Challenger that’s now capable to run across the desert alongside the Ford SVT Raptor. Will we be able to buy such a contraption at a Chrysler dealership? Not likely, but it’s a great idea to start from if you want to go dirt racing in a massive coupe like Dodge Challenger.

Click past the jump to read more about the Dodge Challenger A/T Concept.

If there is one show that really brings the best out of Chrysler’s MOPAR tuning division, it is SEMA in Las Vegas.

Topping its past SEMA showcar roster, it looks like Mopar is once again pretty busy developing the models it will display in Las Vegas during the 2013 SEMA Show.

This year Mopar will bring no less than 20 heavily modified models, coming from Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Fiat and SRT. Plus a few buyer customers from Chrysler’s Facebook challenge prize-winners.

The first teaser images revealed today show:

an updated Jeep Cherokee in various flavors some hot Fiat 500’s a Mopar Ram 1500 and the latest look for the Mopar Chrysler 300.

Those of you whom will be in Las Vegas this year will also have the chance to take a first look at the latest Jeep Performance Parts, developed by Mopar Off-Road Division and even for sale in many Jeep dealers.

The 2013 SEMA will open its door on November 5th, but stay tuned for all the pre-show news!

Click past the jump to read more about the Dodge Dart Slingshot - the model that made quite a sensation last year at SEMA.

Back in 1978, Dodge rolled out a special edition package for its D150 pickup trucks, which were not yet named “Ram.” This new package was known internally as Package Code YH6 and featured a high-output 360-cubic-inch V-8 engine with a 4-barrel carb pumping in fuel. The engine boasted high-flow cylinder heads and an aggressive cam shave and it all hooked up to a 3.55-to-1 rear end. This package, which we all know as the L’il Red Express, only lasted two years – 1978 and 1979 – and saw only 2,188 units in 1978 and 5,118 units in 1979. This makes it one of the most sought after Dodge pickups ever built.

Well, Ram is rolling out a remake of this classic short-body pickup truck in the form of its SEMA-stationed L’il Red Express Truck. Though it is more modern than the original rendition, it certainly pays it homage rather well. It features the bright-red paint of the original, a side-stack exhaust system, and a wood-trimmed bed.

In addition, this remake of the cult classic pickup features 22-inch Mopar rims with gold inserts, a 5.7-liter HEMI engine that pumps out 390 horsepower and 407 pound-feet of torque, gold accent stripes, “Hyperblack” painted grille inserts, and a custom Katzkin (no, not “cat skin”) interior. Sure, it lacks the flare-side styling and the wood-outlined bed of the original, but it is bad-ass nonetheless.

There is no mention of this special edition ever coming to the Ram lineup, but don’t be too surprised to see it roll out in 2013 and 2014, as Chrysler loves running special-edition Rams – there have been plenty of them. One thing is for sure, it would definitely carry a higher premium than the $1,131 price for the original L’il Red Express package.

Stay tuned to find our of Chrysler plans to launch this model or not.

Just like almost every other automaker, Chrysler has headed into Las Vegas with guns a blazin’. Between Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat, and Ram, there are more custom Chrysler products than you can shake a camshaft at. Another one to just come to light is the Dodge Dart Slingshot — not to be confused with the Dodge Slingshot Concept.

The details on it are still a little scarce, but they are starting to make their way out, along with some images. The Slingshot is no question a hat tip to the SCCA-style racers in Dodge’s fan base. It’s exterior is very near stock, boasting only a Mopar carbon-fiber hood and a set of 17-inch black alloy wheels to help reduce its weight a little. The exterior is, of course, covered in full Mopar livery along with a white base coat and a black grille.

Inside the Dart Slingshot is where its SSCA soul comes out. As required by the racing circuit, the Slingshot features a competition-spec roll cage, racing seats, and six-point harnesses to keep the riders strapped in place.

Under the hood, it appears as if Mopar left the engine as-is. Then again, the 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine that Dodge borrowed from Fiat is rather impressive itself, as it pumps out 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The only modification to the driveline is an aftermarket exhaust system that is more show and sound than it is performance.

Mopar did install a performance suspension system, but we are still awaiting confirmation on what makes up this performance setup.

Stay tuned for more information.

The new Dodge Ram pick-up will also be presented at the upcoming SEMA Show with a very cool Urban Ram concept car specially customized by Mopar. The concept features a very cool Modern Blue paint scheme combined with a Mopar blue stripe - reminder of the limited edition Mopar ’11 Charger.

The new Urban Ram Concept features a very cool sport performance hood, a new set of 22" wheels painted hyperblack and a fiberglass tonneau cover matching the body color.

The standard 2013 Ram 1500 is powered by a 392 HEMI engine, but Mopar decided is time to make it even more aggressive. For this the tuneer added new Mopar headers, a Mopar cold-air intake and Mopar performance dual exhaust with chrome tips. They did not announced how these updates improved the engine’s output, but the package also includes a Mopar performance handling kit and SRT rotors and brake calipers that help rein in all the extra power.

When Dodgeintroduced their new Dart, they also announced that a total of 150 Mopar parts would be available to further customize it. At the 2012 SEMA Auto Show, the company wants to offer their customers an idea of just how much customization can go into this compact hatchback with a demonstration of these accessories in their Carbon Fiber Concept.

As its name suggests, this Dart Concept has received a very cool carbon fiber hood and a carbon fiber, three-piece rear decklid spoiler. It is painted in a very cool charcoal grey combined with a Mopar satin black front chin spoiler and a Mopar satin black body kit. The concept sits on a new set of 19" wheels combined with silver brake calipers.

Dart’s standard grille has been replaced with a new Mopar grille, while the light smoke headlamps and tail lamps accentuate the sleek feel. The interior features the same dark matte finish of the exterior, with the coolest addition being the new Katzkin leather seats.

Have you ever wondered how much power a Dodge Charger can really deliver? Well, it’s definitely not the 292 HP in the standard V6 engine or the 370 HP provided by the muscle car’s current V8 engine. At the 2012 SEMA Auto Show, Mopar is going to show us just how much juice can be pumped from the Charger with a tuning package of their own.

Technically, Mopar cheated in the sense that they stripped the Charger of its engine and threw in a Viper V-10 Mopar crate engine featuring Mopar cold air intakes and a Mopar cat-back exhaust. This engine delivers an impressive 650 HP, but also tones down the emissions to remain eco-friendly.

The rest of the package consists of some exterior and interior updates, starting with a new front chin spoiler, a new hood with functional forward-facing intake, and a roof carry. The hood and decklid feature matte black graphics, while the cool Metallic "Copperhead" exterior paint is combined with matte black on the grille badge and the exclusive 20" lightweight wheels.

For the interior, Mopar has added black Katzkin leather seats with "Copperhead" stitching, which also transfers to the steering wheel, shifter, and armrest. The "Copperhead" logo is also embroidered on the seatbacks.

Lately it seems like the upcoming Barracuda is taking all of Dodge’s limelight, but we have been missing the fact that the Challenger is coming up on its fifth year in its current body design and is due for a redesign. There have been rumors swirling that the next-gen Challenger could hit showrooms as early as 2014, as either an early-2015 or late-2014 model. What we are still uncertain of is what exactly will change with this redesign.

Rumors began in the Challenger enthusiast world that Dodge would move its full-size coupe to a more compact chassis to help it better handle the likes of the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro. According to a report from Automobile Magazine, the Challenger will continue to share its “DNA” with its 300 and Charger brethren. This leads to either the Challenger remaining a hefty vehicle – much to the chagrin of enthusiasts – or Chrysler completely revamping the chassis that the 300, Challenger, and Charger sit atop. The latter is very unlikely.

What we’ll likely see is a slight revision to the body and lighting, just to give it a new look, and some weight-loss measures. Things like aluminum panels, thinner metals, lighter rims, and so on, will help get the Challenger’s heft in check and maybe make it a more manageable car.

Under the hood, you can expect little change, with the exception of the elimination of the 6.4-liter SRT8 model, as the Pentastar V-6 engine is a serviceable engine relative to the Camaro and Mustang V-6 engines, and the Hemi V-8 lineup is as stout as ever, though it could use some tweaking in the efficiency area with the new CAFÉ standards being passed.

The row-your-own-gears option is a no go on the 2012 model, but with all of the outcry from V-6 buyers wanting a manual option, Dodge will likely comply in the next generation. As for the V-8 models’ transmission, look out for an 8-speed variant with paddle shifters. A dual-clutch system would be nice, but it’s highly unlikely.

For now, we simply have to wait and see. We will update this review as more information becomes available on the next-gen Challenger.

It seems as though the entire Fiat ownership umbrella is undergoing significant lineup changes in the upcoming years and this includes the entire Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep lineups. One rather odd model that we just received confirmation on is the Dodge Journey SRT6. The only car that could have been more awkward of an addition to the SRT lineup would have been if Dodge slapped an SRT badge on the now discontinued Caliber… Oh wait, they tried that.

Regardless of its awkwardness, seeing that “6” on the end of “SRT” is rather intriguing, as that definitely indicates some serious muscle is on the way. The Journey R/T, the likely donor car for the SRT6 model, has a powerful-as-is 3.6-liter V-6 engine that cranks out 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque and pumping more power from that Pentastar is pretty eyebrow raising.

Given the fact that most STR4 and SRT6 models include either a supercharger or a turbocharger, we would expect this Pentastar V-6 engine to crank out upwards of 370 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque with a turbo or 330 horsepower and 325 pound-feet with a supercharger. Regardless of the configuration, this will make this crossover SUV, which looks more like a minivan than an SUV, a real screamer.

We also anticipate the SRT6 model to come standard with all-wheel drive, as anything less than that would be a true disservice to Dodge’s customer base. On top of all of the performance enhancements, expect SRT to inject some appearance items. The likely additions will include 20-inch rims, ground effects, a custom interior, and a lower stance.

While there is no anticipated release date yet, we expect to see the SRT6 as a mid-2013 model or an early 2014 model. We will continue to keep you updated as more details come out, but on the surface, this looks like one crossover not to be messed with. Our hats go off to the Fiat leadership for thinking outside the box, now we just have to see if people actually buy it.