Jeep's Wrangler is the hot ticket SUV at the SEMA show that kicked off on Tuesday, and its maker is doing its own part to make it so. Jeep brought these three modified examples to the show, starting off with the Mopar Apache first shown to Jeep faithful at the Easter Jeep Safari earlier this year, the Sand Trooper, and the JK-8 pick-up truck conversion.
Up first, the Mopar Apache sports Mopar's 6.4-liter HEMI ATX Conversion Kit, which requires no modifications to the truck's sheet metal or frame. The plug-and-play install brings 470 horsepower and 470lb-ft to the Wrangler, along with some one-off components to make it work and wow showgoers. These include a 4.5-inch Stage III Long Arm Lift Kit, Mopar Pro 60 5.13 front and rear axles, and bespoke front and rear bumpers.
The numerous body parts adorning the Apache are available from the Mopar catalog, other than the hood.
The Wrangler Sand Trooper concept sports a smaller V8 from Chrysler's parts bin, the 5.7-liter HEMI, also part of a Mopar conversion kit. The concept is covered in Dune-in-Matte paint and also gets Portal Axles for five extra inches of ground clearance. It rides on 42-inch tires surrounding 8-lug beadlock wheels. The underbody is covered by a long skid plate to protect major components.
Nearly all of the other bits and pieces added to the interior and exterior are available from Mopar's catalog.
Finally, the JK-8 pick-up conversion introduced last year was likewise on-hand. It turns a Wrangler Unlimited into a pick-up, with a 50- by 44-inch bed with an 800lb payload capacity. This vehicle retains its standard V6 engine but is otherwise outfitted with many Mopar parts.
