If there’s one thing Oscar Abimelec (@AbimelecDesign) is known for, it’s bringing bold, nostalgic ideas to life through pixel-perfect design—and his latest creation might be one of his most inspired yet. Rather than just slapping the new HURRICANE engine into the modern Dodge Charger like everyone else is talking about, Oscar went in a different direction entirely. He asked: what if Dodge dropped their latest twin-turbocharged I6 into one of their most underrated cars of the 1980s—the Conquest?
For those who might not remember, the Conquest was a rebadged Mitsubishi Starion sold by Chrysler Corporation from 1984 through 1989 under the Dodge, Plymouth, and eventually Chrysler nameplates. It was one of the few rear-wheel-drive turbocharged coupes of its time—a true gem for enthusiasts in the know. Under the hood sat a 2.6-liter turbocharged I4 making a respectable 188 horsepower and 234 lb.-ft. of torque in its final form. Not bad for its day, but definitely ripe for modern muscle revival.
Enter the Direct Connection HURRICANE Cat3 High-Output (H/O) crate engine—Dodge’s new 3.0-liter twin-turbo I6 that puts down a monstrous 550 horsepower and 531 lb.-ft. of torque. Stuffing that into the nose of a Conquest, which tips the scales at just over 3,000 lbs (1,400 kg), turns this ’80s fastback into a serious performance machine. And in Abimelec’s rendering, this isn’t just some slapped-together sleeper—it’s a full-blown Direct Connection tribute with attitude.
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Oscar gave the car a striking retro-themed racing livery inspired by Mopar’s factory performance arm, complete with Weld Racing drag wheels in the rear, Mickey Thompson meats, and a “who-needs-a-hood” look that proudly shows off the boosted I6 in all its glory. It’s a perfect mashup of old-school import flair and modern Mopar muscle.
This isn’t just some fantasy car either—everything you see could technically be built, minus maybe the custom rear wheels. The HURRICANE crate motor is real, and Conquests, while rare, are still floating around in project-ready condition. With the current trend toward lightweight, rear-drive performance cars, a build like this could be a major hit.
So props to Abimelec for taking a deep-cut ’80s Mopar and giving it a modern-day shot of adrenaline. We can only hope someone takes this blueprint and brings it to the dragstrip in real life.
