Mopar and Dodge unveiled the new 2015 Charger R/T drag racing vehicle at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, with the new race car being built for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

The new car will debut in Funny Car competition at the 2015 season-opening Winternationals event at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California, on February 5-9.

Designed and developed on a virtual platform, using the same production-based technology and tools applied to the street vehicles, the drag racer is the result of a collaboration between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles production and race engineers and the Don Schumacher Racing team.

Although Mopar says the race car’s looks reflect the styling of the 2015 Dodge Charger production vehicle, it’s hard to find similarities between them other than the scaled down, stickered front end.

The Funny Car features a one-piece body, with composite materials including Kevlar and carbon being used. Capable of reaching 300 mph (483 km/h) or more, the 2015 Charger R/T Funny Car features improved visibility for the driver and safety levels thanks to the fact that the windshield and greenhouse have been pushed back.

The vehicle has been developed by the same team of engineers who worked on the 2014 Mopar Dodge Dart Pro Stock vehicle introduced earlier this year. Aerodynamic wind tunnel tests were carried out at the FCA’s facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The 2015 Charger R/T Funny Car replaces the car introduced in 2006, winner of two consecutive NHRA Funny Car World Championships with Matt Hagan in 2011 and Jack Beckman in 2012.

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