Up Front

Over the years, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show has been an important stage for Mopar® product announcements—the 2009 SEMA Show held on Nov. 3–6, 2009, in Las Vegas was no exception.

First and foremost, the all-new 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Mopar Dodge Avenger body was introduced to the drag racing world. Approved for competition by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), the Mopar Dodge Avenger, to be piloted by Allen Johnson, is slated to compete in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Several new Mopar parts and accessories were also showcased at SEMA, including new engine blocks, crate engines, seven “Moparized” vehicles, four “Mopar Image Vehicles” (given makeovers by Mopar’s design team) and much more. Turn to pages 10–14 and spread the word.

In our General Feature story, on pages 8–9, we’ll recap Chrysler’s 5-year business plan presentation given by CEO Sergio Marchionne and his team at Chrysler’s Auburn Hills, Mich., headquarters on Nov. 4, 2009. The plans include over 50 percent of Chrysler Group platforms to be Fiat-based by 2014.

Online shoppers will be excited to know, Mopar has launched an all-new eStore to allow consumers to shop online—for over 100,000 Mopar parts and accessories. The Mopar eStore is convenient, open 24 hours a day, offers quick, click-through browsing of the Mopar parts catalog, and saves consumers time and money, while providing the convenience of buying parts right in their own home.

And if you’re looking to modify your Jeep® or Ram’s suspension during the winter months, turn to pages 40–42 for our Tech Insider, Larry Shepard’s thoughts on off-road suspension upgrades.

From all of us at Mopar Magazine, we hope you had an enjoyable holiday season and we wish you a very prosperous new year.