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<\/a><\/p>\nFiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)\u2019s Mopar and Dodge brands unveiled a new 2015 Mopar Dodge Charger R\/T drag racing vehicle at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. The new race car is destined to make its official on-track National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series debut in Funny Car competition at the 2015 season-opening Winternationals event on February 5-9 at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California.<\/p>\n
Following the reveal, the new race car will be on display in the brand\u2019s exhibition area for the SEMA Show from Nov. 4\u20137 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.<\/p>\n
The new 2015 Mopar Dodge Charger R\/T Funny Car was designed and developed on a virtual platform, using the same production-based technology and tools applied to the street vehicles, in a collaboration between FCA production and race engineers and the Don Schumacher Racing team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very pleased to further demonstrate Mopar\u2019s commitment to providing quality performance parts and reiterate our dedication to NHRA drag racing and our Mopar fans with the introduction of this new 2015 Mopar Dodge Charger R\/T Funny Car,\u201d said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO\u2014Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care. \u201cThe process of designing and building this new race car has been a true collaborative effort between our own engineering team (the same one that designs our production Charger and Challenger street vehicles) and Don Schumacher Racing, and we are very excited with what we have brought to fruition. It\u2019s just another great example of Mopar\u2019s continuing commitment to provide quality engineering and performance parts, while staying true to our roots of racing innovation in a year that we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic 426 Race HEMI\u00ae engine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Project engineers worked intensely to ensure that styling from the production version of the 2015 Dodge Charger was reflected in the Funny Car with similar design cues like scalloped sides and front and rear ends to make it easily recognizable to fans. Also included in the design process was the conscious decision to add durability and increase strength to the construction of the one-piece body with the use of composite materials including Kevlar and carbon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very excited with the results of our efforts and look forward to seeing the new-look DSR cars make their debut in the 2015 season opening race,\u201d said David Bailey, Senior Manager \u2013 SRT Motorsports Engineering and Design. \u201cA lot of planning and work went into designing and building the 2015 Dodge Charger R\/T NHRA Funny Car. From the first steps of creating Computer Aided Design (CAD) models into a package model by the FCA Engineers, to working with designers from the Product Design Office (PDO) to include proportions and style cues taken from the production version of the 2015 Dodge Charger, it all came together nicely.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough all these design reviews, engineering changes were made to the theme with the primary goal of improving the durability, strength and aerodynamic performance of the new vehicle while maintaining all NHRA dimensional requirements. I think we can all be happy with the results,\u201d said Bailey.<\/p>\n
Not only was the development of the new Funny Car body a result of in-house engineering expertise but the project tapped into top-level academic outside resources as well by working in conjunction with the University of North Carolina on an extensive study to improve the strength and durability of the body composition. The engineering team also was challenged to carryover the aerodynamic properties of the previous version while making the new body more lightweight.<\/p>\n
Sight-line studies contributed to the new design by incorporating geometry changes that moved back the windshield and greenhouse (cockpit area) to provide improvements to visibility for the drivers, which is critical due at the 300 miles per hour (mph) or more speeds that the Funny Cars attain during competition. More than ten added degrees of side visibility and a doubling of upward visibility were gained with that design change alone. Another major benefit of the redesign includes minimized of the effects of potential destructive forces on the car by providing proper clearance for the injectors, blowers and engine, all while maintaining the series\u2019 sanctioning body\u2019s extensive list of guidelines and standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of effort has gone into developing this new body during the past year, and Don Schumacher Racing is blessed to have the kind of wonderful partners we have with Mopar and Dodge to commit internal expertise and invest in this important project,\u201d said Don Schumacher, owner of the Don Schumacher Racing team based in Brownsburg, Indiana. \u201cWe have developed a remarkable relationship over the years. Increased visibility, increased downforce and reduced resistance are key elements of this new Dodge Charger body that will enhance performance of our team in both elapsed time and speed. In nine seasons with the current body, we won 68 national titles and two Funny Car world championships, and we\u2019re looking to excel from there with this exciting new vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new 2015 Mopar Dodge Charger R\/T Funny Car design was developed with the design process and team of engineers who worked on the 2014 Mopar Dodge Dart Pro Stock vehicle introduced earlier this year. It was then validated with aerodynamic wind tunnel testing at the company\u2019s facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan.<\/p>\n
Further confirmation of the data took place with a number of test runs by DSR driver Matt Hagan at NHRA race tracks in Norwalk, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Hagan\u2019s first impressions were overwhelmingly positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opportunity to test drive the 2015 Mopar Dodge Charger R\/T Funny Car has been just phenomenal, and I can\u2019t get in it again soon enough,\u201d said Hagan, winner of the 2011 NHRA Funny Car World Championship and contender for the 2014 title with just one national event left in the season. \u201cThe new Mopar Funny Car designers, engineers and our fabrication shop at DSR did just a phenomenal job on this piece. The car \u2014 how mean it looks, the way it handles, the way it runs on the race track\u2014 is simply amazing.<\/p>\n