Auto Industry News: Mopar Hits 80, Hypertech Project BlueChip and More

It’s a serious week in auto industry news. A big anniversary combined with even bigger builds and the biggest, most influential shows across the industry. Throw Daytona 500, NHRA racing and Camp RZR in the mix and you have a recipe for passion and success.

BIG Anniversary – Mopar Turns 80

It’s an exciting year for Mopar fans, as they celebrate 80 years of Hemi-driven power. So the company decided to ring in its anniversary year with a classic two-tone limited edition Dodge Challenger.

“Only 160 of these Challengers will be built, with 80 in each paint scheme. Buyers can choose between either Billet Silver or the slightly painful sounding Contusion Blue. Each of which gets a hand-painted Pitch Black top half. These Challengers are based on the existing 392 Shaker package, but come with an array of upgrades and tweaks,” commented Autoblog. “The cars come with 20″ wheels and hand-painted 392 logos on the fenders. The 392 cu. in., or 6.4L if you prefer, engine produces the same 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque as its normal counterpart,” continued Autoblog.

Unlike other models, this Mopar Challenger will have increased access to cold air because of both the shaker scoop and the headlamp intake from the Challenger Hellcat. “At the back, there’s also exhaust tips borrowed from the most hellish of Challengers. Or at least the most hellish, so far,” said Autoblog. Vroom on, Mopar lovers.

BIGGER Builds

Hypertech unleashed Project BlueChip, and the response is just wild. Anyone can register via projectbluechip.com, purchase a qualifying tuning product until June 30, 2017 and have a chance to win the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4×4 edition. Parts and accessories are provided by name brands like Pro Comp, Bushwacker, Line-X, Hellwig Products, BDS Suspension, Vision-X, Roadwire Automotive Innovation, MagnaFlow, Airaid, Carolina Kustoms, AMP Research, Anzo, Bolt, Wizards Products and Axalta. Purchase and earn! The drawing will be held on July 10, 2017.

Want to snag a peek at this cool blue beauty? Retailers, restylers and installers attending the Keystone BIG Show this weekend in Washington, DC will have an opportunity to see it LIVE in the Hypertech booth.

Go Big Truck Performance

Ahh Diesel World, you always deliver the most behemoth of builds for our entertainment. Meet Tiger Garcia of Go Big Truck Performance who somehow managed to turn his customer’s already-large truck into monster eye candy. Skillful fabrication coupled with dependable brand names turned this 2016 Ford F-450 into a highly-customized rig. “Our goal was to build a truck that you wouldn’t typically run across in your daily commute,” said Garcia. Well, mission accomplished.

Performance Packed

This baby is stacked with better airflow throughout, including an intake from No Limit Fabrication and a FLO-PRO 5″ turbo-back exhaust and muffler. Go Big Truck Performance finished it off with a 6″ tip from our friends at MBRP. “Optimizing the engine management is a programmer from SCT, which can go from econo to tow mode to a full race tune for competition use,” said Diesel World. “An Edge Insight CTS2 monitors vitals such as EGT, boost, trans temp, and other engine data,” continued Diesel World.

The truck owner hasn’t formally hit the track with that setting. But dyno testing indicates an output of well over 520 horsepower and 1000 lb-ft of torque.

Custom Fabrication

“Unaware of any bolt-on 8-inch kits for a F450, Tiger decided to do things a bit differently with this Ford. Since suspension is his specialty he decided to use multiple parts from different kits in order to get the 8-inches of lift he was after. A sort of best-of-the-best collection,” said Diesel World.

Custom traction bars and U-shaped bolts were added, among many other things. Like American Force rims (24 x 8.25 inches) wrapped with Toyo Open Country M/T tires (35 x 13.50R24) and then gas powder coating. “We wanted to black out the wheels but leave the edges and windows polished,” said Garcia. “It’s rare to find certain sections powder coated next to polished aluminum edges,” he added. But boy did it turn out sweet!

BIGGEST Shows

The Chicago Auto Show may have come to a close, but Autorama in Detroit, the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto and the Keystone BIG Show in Washington, DC are well underway. Attendees are pumped to browse the show floor to shake hands with fellow industry professionals, view new products, snap pics of hot rides and rub shoulders with celebrity appearances. We’ll have highlights from the shows in T-7.

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