Mopar is a magical name, especially for those of us who grew up in the Detroit area. The company makes aftermarket products for Chrysler vehicles; it celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary earlier this year. Mopar had a strong presence at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas, and we enjoyed looking at the aftermarket products it has come up with for several Chrysler products. We'll start here with the Fiat 500.
It’s only logical that Mopar extends its hand to the trendissimo Fiat 500, in view of the Chrysler/Fiat connection. For such a small car, you certainly can add a lot of aftermarket swag under factory warranty. The good part is that you can order these things right from the dealer: it's customization without a lot of running around. The young, trend-oriented buyers the Fiat 500 is targeting should love the Mopar-supplied opportunity to make theirs one of a kind.
Here are a few of the goodies. Prices may vary by dealer, but these are estimates from Mopar.
• Body-side and roof graphics: checkered, striped, and our favorite, the red, white, and green Italian flag theme which, Mopar points out, can also be interpreted as a Mexico flag (around $500)
• Flag fender badges: Italy or Mexico, Mopar, Canada, and USA ($19)
• Key covers in wild designs in the mode of iPod covers: leopard, checker, granite and lightning graphics ($49.45)
• Roof and rear window carriers for bikes, skis, even snowboards ($81.40 to $200)
• A windscreen for the Cabrio model ($220)
• Mopar Web module kit for in-car WiFi ($412)
• Chrome shift knob ($51.65)
• LED ambient lighting ($319)
• Stainless pedal covers with rubber dots for traction ($89)
Appearance
• A chrome “hood spear” that bisects the tiny car’s hood, in the style of the original 500 ($93.65)• Body-side and roof graphics: checkered, striped, and our favorite, the red, white, and green Italian flag theme which, Mopar points out, can also be interpreted as a Mexico flag (around $500)
• Flag fender badges: Italy or Mexico, Mopar, Canada, and USA ($19)
• Key covers in wild designs in the mode of iPod covers: leopard, checker, granite and lightning graphics ($49.45)
Functionality
• Custom wheels and wheel pocket inserts in black, chrome, white, and red ($215 for sixteen-inch wheels)• Roof and rear window carriers for bikes, skis, even snowboards ($81.40 to $200)
• A windscreen for the Cabrio model ($220)
Electronics
• Park distance sensors (about $350)• Mopar Web module kit for in-car WiFi ($412)
Interior Goodies
• Katzkin leather seating ($1,735)• Chrome shift knob ($51.65)
• LED ambient lighting ($319)
• Stainless pedal covers with rubber dots for traction ($89)