Up Front

Inspired by Baja-style desert racing, the Mopar® Ram Runner was revealed at the 44th annual Easter Jeep® Safari in Moab, Utah, and briefly introduced in MM’s May/June Cover Feature story. In this issue, MM digs deeper to give an in-depth report on this rugged off-road beast.

The rigors of off-road racing require large tires, plenty of ground clearance, extreme durability and a sophisticated suspension system capable of withstanding tremendous impact. These features are combined into a package that is stable at speed and rock-solid in the corners. To achieve this kind of handling, a low center of gravity and long wheel travel are paramount.

Ram Runner has the look and feel of a thoroughbred desert racer. Inspired by trophy trucks, steel front fenders and rear bed-sides are replaced with fiberglass, allowing tremendous suspension articulation with zero interference. A six-point roll cage finalizes the package while a special tubular tire carrier keeps a spare handy in the bed while maximizing load space.

You’ll have to read the Cover Feature for the rest of the story—to see a behind-the-scenes look on how the Ram Runner came to life. As always, you can be sure that there is plenty of feedback from experienced Chrysler engineers and design teams that contribute to our showcased vehicles.

And, be sure to visit a Chrysler Group LLC dealer in November as Ram Runner style off-road suspension kits are coming for 2009–2011 Ram 1500 (DS body) trucks.

Need more performance parts and accessories for your customer’s pride and joy? Turn to Mopar Originals, on pages 26–31, for the latest lineup of Mopar performance parts and accessories available for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles.

From all of us at Mopar Magazine, thanks for your interest in Mopar and we hope you enjoy this issue.