The latest offering is the Mopar Ram Runner Kit which in brief turns your Ram truck into a full-on off-road racer inspired by Baja cars. The Mopar Ram Runner Kit, developed with successful Baja off-road racer Kent Kroeker, includes the following: Pre-Runner Stage II Lift Kit, off-road front bumper, off-road front and rear fenders, off-road rear-tire carrier, sport performance hood and cat-back exhaust. Each element of the kit may also be purchased separately. The street-legal kit may be installed by do-it-yourselfers or in a Ram dealership.

Here’s more information on the Mopar Ram Runner kit, which is available for owners of 2009 to 2011 model-year Ram 1500 models:
Pre-Runner Stage II Lift Kit: 5-link coil-spring rear suspension, 4130 chrome moly lower control arms, upper control arms, rebuildable high-angle ball joints and forged steel, high-angle tie rods. Fourteen inches of suspension travel in front and rear, 3-inch internal bypass Fox shocks. (MSRP: $13,270, Part No. P5155662)

Off-Road Front Bumper: Steel construction with integrated aluminum skid plate, high approach angle of 41 degrees provides greater clearance over off-road obstacles. (MSRP: $1,250, Part No. P5155663)

Off-Road Rear Tire Carrier: Rear placement allows for easier access and ability to carry larger tires needed for the off-road. (MSRP: $1,010, Part No. P5155664)

Off-Road Front Fenders: Tough, durable fenders feature wider wheel wells allowing for tremendous suspension articulation, zero tire-to-body interference, and provide an imposing, aggressive look. (MSRP: $1,020, Part No. P5155665)

Off-Road Rear Fenders (6’4″ bed): Tough, durable fenders feature wider wheel wells allowing for tremendous suspension articulation, zero tire-to-body interference, and provide an imposing, aggressive appearance. (MSRP: $1,350, Part No. P5155666)

Sport Performance Hood: Stamped aluminum, dual-scooped hood with molded bezels adds to the forceful appearance of the Ram Runner Kit. (MSRP: $978, Part No. 82211065AD)

5.7L Cat-back Exhaust: Dual exhaust with chromed tips for bumper with cut-outs. (MSRP: $1,135, Part No. P5155280)

Check out the new XPLORE Adventure Series Jeep Wrangler by Venchurs. It is apparently a one-off and will soon be auctioned-off to benefit the National Park Foundation. But you can order the package form Chrysler dealerships, and it includes four stages of upgrades fro your Wrangler.

Visually, it features matte dark green paint and Mopar and ARB accessories.The options depending on the stage include Xplore/Method Racing aluminum wheels in black or machined-finish, Bilstein 5100 Series shocks, Mopar cat-back exhaust and Xplore aluminum badges and floormats, BF Goodrich off-road tires, expedition quality ARB roof racks, rock-rails, roof-top tents, bumpers, tire carriers, Warn winches and IPF lighting; all available as mix-and-match accessories.

Renegade is a familiar name  for Jeep fans, and here’s the latest 2011 version of this awesome 4×4 vehicle. Well, in concept form!

This new  Wrangler Renegade is the all-new 475 horsepower, 6.4-liter HEMI™ V-8 from Chrysler Group LLC’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) engineering team.

Just like the old Jeep Renegade of 1972, which was offered with a V-8, Jeep and Mopar mated the HEMI to a 6-speed manual transmission feeding a Dynatrac prepped ProRock 44 front axle and ProRock 60 rear axle, both equipped with ARB air lockers and 4.10 gears. To clear the 35-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Claw radials mounted on AEV Pintler wheels, an AEV/Nth Degree 4-inch suspension lift was installed.

Mopar added a heat dissipating hood and a new winch-mount front bumper. Other Mopar accessories include: fuel door, sill guards, bikini top, rock rails, slush mats and a half-door kit. Interior  modifications include Katzkin seat trim kit sourced from the Mopar catalog and the exterior was finished in a black and gold paint scheme that recalls the early 1970’s CJ5 Renegade model.

The next Moad Safari Concept Jeep is based on the mighty Cherokee. This car is built for adventures and is inspired by wildlife in design. The template is a built-for-export 2011 Jeep Cherokee (Jeep Liberty in the U.S.) equipped with a 2.8-liter CRD 4-cylinder turbo diesel and Selec-Trac II 4×4 system.

To blend in with the wildlife,  the car gets a unique classic zebra safari pattern paint scheme.

ARB offered their steel roof rack, awning, compact refrigerator and prototype rock rails to set the Overland’s mood.  To increase off-road capability, an ARB 3-inch suspension lift and Old Man Emu shocks clear the way for Mickey Thompson 265/75-R16 MTZ tires mounted on steel wheels. Traction is increased with the addition of an ARB air locker in the rear differential and on-board air compressor.

Mopar provided a host of underbody protection including skid plates for the front suspension, transmission and transfer case. Additional items from the Mopar catalog include front and rear tow hooks, slush mats, cargo tray liner, sill guards and sport pedal kit.

This concept Jeep unveiled at the Moab Easter event might have a silly name, but what they’ve done to it actually makes a lot of sense. To increase the car’s fun factor they decided to make it lighter so to begin with they’ve removed doors, top, tailgate, bumpers, carpet and sway bars! It is 850 lbs lighter than normal models.

It’s a bit unpractical to be honest, but huge fun.

Body modifications began with removing the rear tailgate hinges and latches and creating a custom surround. The inner fender panels were reshaped and the taillamps relocated closer together. A custom roll cage was crafted and the windshield height was reduced two inches. Hanson Bumpers provided a set of unique aluminum bumpers and QMC contributed their prototype aluminum/carbon fiber hood, held in place with Drake aluminum hood latches.  Mopar added an aluminum cold-air intake kit, lightweight fender-flares, slush mats and mirror re-location brackets.

A smaller evaporation canister for the emissions system was borrowed from a 2012 Fiat 500. The massive weight savings actually lifted the suspension, which was combined with a moderate Mopar lift to clear Mickey Thompson 35-inch Baja Claw radials mounted on lightweight 17×8 E-T Vintage V wheels. The suspension includes Bilstein 2-inch shocks with reservoirs and TeraFlex air bumps at all four corners. Dynatrac Axles designed lightweight ProRock 44 front & rear axles fitted with 4.88 gears, ARB air lockers and prototype aluminum differential covers. The axles are located with unique aluminum control arms provided by Full Traction.

The Octavia Scout 4×4 with DSG transmission improves the car’s fuel efficiency, comfort, versatility. The combination of 103TDI engine with an automatic, twin-clutch, six-speed DSG transmission, a clever all-wheel drive system, and an extensive list of standard features makes the new Scout even more interesting for customers looking for an affordable but refined crossover.

Standard safety features on the Octavia Scout 4×4 include six airbags and ESP including ABS, EBD, ASR and Hill Hold Control. The all-wheel drive system, Škoda’s fourth-generation Haldex clutch, represents the best in modern all-wheel drive technology. It works with other onboard electronic systems and has an exceptionally fast response time.

Equipment Highlights

In 2010 they produced 437,792 automobiles with quattro drive.

What’s more astonishing is that the fact that most of their quattro cars are indeed sedans and sports coupes! They do have a range of SUVs too, like the Q5 which is the most popular of the pack, but the best versions are are 4×4 high performance sedans. In the year in which Audi celebrated “30 years of quattro,” around 38 percent of all cars produced worldwide were equipped with the all-wheel drive technology. With 74,262 new car registrations for all-wheel drive models, Audi also topped the competition in Germany.

The most popular Audi model with quattro drive in 2010 was the Audi Q5, 155,025 units of which were built. In the months ahead, the brand will further expand its all-wheel drive lineup in the SUV segment with the Audi Q5 hybrid quattro and the compact Q3. But it is not just SUV drivers who are turning to quattro; the all-wheel drive technology is a popular choice of Audi customers for all other model lines as well. From the Audi A3 to the A8, nearly one quarter of the automobiles produced in 2010 had quattro on board.

“quattro is one of the Audi brand’s greatest success stories, and today we are writing what may well be its most exciting chapter,” says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG. “As we move down the road toward electric mobility, we see entirely new possibilities for quattro technology. The electric quattro of the future will be even more agile, safer and – above all – more efficient,” adds Schwarzenbauer.

And that’s what makes it popular. It is also what won it the 2011 2011 Four-Wheel Drive Car of the Year title, awarded to the Bavarian car by readers of the magazine “Off Road”. With this double success, the new BMW X3 is quick in following the traces of its predecessor, which, in 2006 and 2007, was able to secure the readers’ vote of both periodicals twice in succession.

So if you decided you can live with its design, let us talk you through some of the technical features of the BMW X3.

Compared to the predecessor model, with which BMW established the concept of the Sports Activity Vehicle in this segment, it offers a noticeable increase in space, even more efficient engines, optimum motoring comfort and a widened choice of innovative equipment features. Both at the front and at the rear the new BMW X3 convinces through outstanding travel comfort and a high-class ambience. With a 550-litre loading capacity, which can be increased to 1,600 litres, and 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats, the vehicle’s carrying capacities also set new benchmarks for the segment. In the spring of 2011, the engine portfolio for the new BMW X3 will comprise two petrol engines and two diesel engines with a power output ranging from 135 kW/184 bhp to 225 kW/306 bhp. Depending on the engine variant, the new BMW X3 features an eight-speed automatic transmission either as standard or as an option. The still unique, intelligent four-wheel drive system xDrive has been optimised even further. Electronically controlled power distribution ensures not only supreme traction and maximum road stability on slippery surfaces, but also superior dynamics on the road, thus providing that unmistakable driving pleasure that is so typical of BMW.

Another new feature for the 2011 model is the BMW ConnectedDrive system which includes amazing options like in-car Internet access and Head Up Display. They are not cheap though!

Yes, this Zetros is that capable.

Based on the Actros platform, Zetros 2733 is powered by by the OM 926 LA 7.2-litre 6-cylinder in-line engine developing an output of 240 kW (326 hp) and an impressive maximum torque of 1300 Nm from 1200 to 1600 rpm. A choice of two transmissions is available: the standard unit is the hydraulically/pneumatically shifted G 131-9 nine-speed transmission (eight forward gears + crawler) with a direct-ratio top gear, with a six-speed Allison 3000 SP/PR fully-automatic transmission available as an option.

Before we get to the luxury features, let’s see what are the standard stuff you get with a Zetros inside the cabin which is basically a house! it comes with a padded sleeping berth for the driver, an air conditioning system, a 24 V audio system with CD player, a CD changer, a Bluetooth hands-free system and a 7-inch touch­screen to which a reversing camera is connected. A carrier system with a load capacity of up to 100 kg is installed on the cab roof. Four auxiliary spotlights and a twin air horn are mounted on this carrier, and the radiator grille houses four flashlights in red and blue. At the rear there is a carrier for two spare wheels, with a dedicated lifting system which also enables cargo to be hoisted onto the cab roof. The reversing camera is able to activate additional spotlights at the rear for safe manoevring at night. An adequate operating range in remote areas is provided by diesel tanks holding 300 and 200 litres.

Based on customers order, the car has been fitted with separate bedrooms, Luxurious bathroom with marble floor and underfloor heating, a galley featuring a ceramic hob, microwave with grill, refrigerator/freezer, bar and coffee machine. The sink has a hot and cold water supply, and a precisely fitted dinner set for eight people is also on board. For entertainment you get integrated flatscreen TV monitors (40-inch and 46-inch, one each facing the bedroom and seating group), a SAT receiver with an electrically self-aligning SAT dish, a DVD/CD player, an MP3 player, a Bose hi-fi sound system and a Mac Mini plus W-LAN router.

The “Jeep Rocks & Road Tour” provides the ultimate off-road driving course for attendees at air shows, auto shows, fairs and festivals all over the country. The program is free for those attending the San Diego Auto Show and is designed for the public to get acclimated with the 4×4 capabilities of the Cherokee and the Wrangler.

The “Jeep Rocks & Road Tour” courses consist of several obstacles that simulate some of the rigorous testing that Jeep vehicles endure before customers get behind the wheel. Courses include elements that demonstrate the Trail Rated capabilities of Jeep vehicles for articulation, ground clearance, maneuverability and traction.