SEMA 2009

[ErikStenger]

Living vicariously through Ken Block and his Subaru TRAX STI

Way back in April, we got tipped off to a video of a lifted and tracked Subaru WRX STI conquering the snowy climes of... somewhere. Before we caught a glimpse of the graphics and competition number, we knew who was behind it: Ken Block. Now, over six months later, the driving deity and snowboard virtuoso has unleashed his latest creation onto the masses in Las Vegas.

Created by the rally experts at Vermont SportsCar, the TRAX STI has been fitted with a set of EXE-TC Group N competition dampers, the aforementioned tank tracks and a modified 2.5-liter boxer four putting out around 400 hp through a KAPS five-speed dog 'box. Despite it's towering presence, it's a relatively mild tune, but it's thoroughly awesome in person, particularly with the four-person sleigh in tow. The only question now is: When will we see a video of Block being pulled behind the TRAX through the backcountry? We'll gladly volunteer to man the helm.

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[ErikStenger]

A quintet of concept Scions leaves us hungry for more

Just like last year, Scion had a group of tuners develop a whole range of models for SEMA 2009. Clustered in one corner of the Central Hall, the group included the Brandon Leung pickup and 0-60 Rally xD we showed you earlier, as well as another handful of tricked out Toyota lites.

First up was the Epic Cartel tC, the only tC in the group and a unique take on open-air motoring and completes what they are calling the Trilogy/Cartel Open Air Collection.

Next up was the xB DJ 2.0 by Five Axis (above). With its widened track and massive contrasting wheel arches it looked like it was ready for some Touring Car duty, but the real purpose was what lay inside: A full mobile DJ set-up. Sadly, it was locked up when we went by for a peek.

Eneri Abillar did up an xB for the xB Tuner Challenge, with a fairly straightforward tuner look and some blazing red-orange paint. Suspension, brakes and engine upgrades made this a runner too.

It was similar to the xB done by Peter Colello, although his was blue, didn't have the Greddy turbo, opting for a BullsEye Power T04B instead. The inside was a wild mix of alcantara, speakers, roll cage and gauges.

The one we had wanted to see the most, however, was the Scion xD by MV Designz. When we saw the name of it in the preview, we had hoped we'd finally get to taste the elusive, underground, Korean BBQ from Kogi. When closed up, the xD looks a lot like any other Scion runabout. When opened, it transforms into a mobile kitchen, complete with fridge, sink, cutting board and grill! Sadly, it was closed for business when we stopped by so no Kogi once again. We promise to check back regularly though.

 

[ErikStenger]

Ford EcoBoost '34 Hot Rod rocks a V6 in style

Putting modern engines into old cars isn't anything new, but this '34 3-window coupe in the Ford display isn't like anything we've ever seen before. Detroit Street Rods has wedged the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 underneath the hood, making it the first rear-drive application for the twin-turbocharged engine. Packing 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft torque, this little coupe has the potential to surprise quite a few people at stoplights.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the car is how the engine is packaged. The dual Honeywell turbochargers have been moved to the front of the motor among various aluminum tubing routing air and exhaust gases, and a single, large exhaust cone exits above the front fender on each side of the car. It's not a rumbling V8, but it looks just as good and is just as fast too.

 

[ErikStenger]

Handful of Chevy Camaro concepts preview new options

While GM didn't bring a production Chevrolet Camaro convertible to SEMA, it did bring a handful of Camaro Coupe Concepts that offer a preview of things to come for the recently resurrected pony car. Besides the twin-turbo V6 Jay Leno Camaro we profiled earlier, we got to see Snergy, Chroma, Dusk and Graphics.

Those are the names given to the show cars, each highlighting a different element that should make it to production Camaros in the near future. There's a full presser after the jump and some galleries below, but basically, each has a different set of genuine GM accessories bolted on.

Synergy shows off a new limited-production exterior color (and we thought &quot;Chroma&quot; would be the color car) that has us thinking of a bottle of Scope and a slew of currently available boy-racer accessories.

Chroma kicks the SS Camaro up a notch with genuine Bowtie accessories like a body kit and graphics pack, plus some future products like 21-inch wheels, rear Blade spoiler and new grille. The whiteout monochrome paint scheme makes it look race-ready, just waiting for someone to slap on NASCAR decals.

The Dusk (above) is the car that departs most from the typical Camaro mold. Chevy describes it as being &quot;Inspired by the style of young, urban professionals... It is a very tailored look that is stylish and sophisticated, but with a distinct American accent.&quot; The Dusk shows a number of possible future options and features, like BBS wheels, a unique ground effects package, new bezels for the lamps front and rear, Brembo brakes and a tech package that includes a Boston Acoustics sound system, WiFi connectivity and an iPhone dock. Done up in a dark Berlin Blue, it makes the Camaro look sophisticated and, dare we say, almost European.

The Graphics Camaro is actually a series of four looks for the Camaro that will rotate through the GM booth each of the show days. After displaying each on a Silver Ice Metallic Camaro, attendees can vote for their favorite look, with the winner possibly going into production. You can vote for your favorite on the Camaro's Facebook page.

There are seemingly thousands of other custom Camaros here at SEMA 2009, but this handful shows where Chevy envisions the Camaro heading in the future.

 

[ErikStenger]

Jeep Lower Forty a favorite in the Mopar display

Our SEMA coverage generally doesn't include too much from the off-road segment, but the Jeep Lower Forty concept in the Mopar booth was too good to pass up. Sporting 40-inch Mickey Thompson tires, this Jeep can pretty much go wherever it wants without the help of a suspension lift. Granted, plenty of bodywork was removed to make the new rubber fit, but impressive nonetheless. A 5.7-liter Hemi V8 sends grunt to a six-speed manual transmission before hitting all four wheels via a Dana 44 front axle and a Dana 60 rear axle fitted with 5.38 gears.

Additional features include a carbon fiber hood, custom bikini top, a chopped windshield, and a color-matched interior with Katzkin leather seating.

 

[ErikStenger]

Lingenfelter T/A Concept a throwback to the 455 Super Duty

We can't come to a consensus about the Lingenfelter T/A Concept. Half of us are bathing in the warm glow of the '70s when the Trans-Am was the car to have, while the rest of us see a mix-and-mash of different cars of different generations and an overall design disconnect. Either way, the car is an attention-grabber at the Nitto tire booth.

The transformation from 2010 Camaro to Trans-Am began with an all-new front fascia and custom headlights, grille and turn signals. The front fenders were modified to include functional heat extractors, and the rear of the car has been extended four inches. Completing the look is a new hood with a shaker hood scoop and blue striping.

The Lingenfelter T/A isn't just about looks though. Underneath the hood is genuine 455ci V8 with CNC ported and polished LS7 heads good for 655 horsepower and 610 lb-ft torque.

 

[ErikStenger]

0-60 takes the Scion xD rallying

Screw convention! Why do you have to build a rally car out of something sporty? Or powerful? Or off-road-worthy? According to 0-60 magazine at least, you don't have to. You can build a rally car out of just about anything. Take this Scion xD for instance. It's probably among the last cars you'd picture taking off-road, but seeing what it looks like after 0-60 and Sparco got their mitts on it, you might want to reconsider. They added a ton of safety gear, enough lights to rival the nearby Luxor's candlepower, and basically just butched it up enough to make it look less like... well, an econobox. It should be a blast to drive. Maybe we'll try to find ourselves an Irish copilot and take it out for a spin.

 

[ErikStenger]

Dodge Challenger 1320, living life a 1/4 mile at a time

t's always somewhat dark and murky down at the Mopar booth at SEMA, but this year Chrysler managed to bring out some pretty cool concepts. One of our favorites is this Dodge Challenger 1320 (if you don't know the reference, channel you inner Vin Diesel), which started as a Drag Pak Challenger and even has a cool Christmas tree lights logo on the front fender.

The heart of the Challenger 1320 is an all-aluminum Gen III 426ci crate engine putting out 556 horsepower and 540 lb-ft torque. The folks at Mopar gave the engine bay a few unique touches including custom valve covers, intake manifold, fuel rails, and long tube headers. The body, although it looks relatively stock, has been upgraded too and features a carbon fiber hood, front spoiler, and headlight surround. If you look closely you can see that the inside headlights have been removed and ducted to the cold air intake system. Other upgrades include a Dynatrac rear end, ARB locking differential, Mopar police wheels, adjustable coilover suspension system and Mickey Thompson street-legal drag radials on all four corners.

 

[ErikStenger]

Brandon Leung's Scion xB channels Bonneville circa 1955

hen we look at a Scion xB we tend to think of a lot of things, few of which are very flattering. One thing we definitely don't think of is a Bonneville Salt Flats bike hauler from the '50s, until now. That's probably why we're bloggers and not designers. Fortunately for us there is Brandon Leung, who transformed this second gen. xBox into a super sweet retro ride, complete with custom matching BOWLS bike in the bed.

That's right, this former hatchback now has a bed. A wood-lined bed at that. It has a great low stance, low and wide, a perfectly nostalgic green and cream paint scheme, and full-on Moonie-like billet aero wheels to complete the look. The changes are more than skin deep too, with engine, suspension and brake upgrades to complete the package.

 

[ErikStenger]

Breaker, breaker, we got ourselves a Bandit

Last year in Las Vegas, graphic designer Kevin Morgan showed off the first Trans Am rebody of the new Camaro at SEMA 2008. This year he is back with T/A version 2.0 for SEMA 2009. While the original &quot;Phoenix&quot; T/A 1.0 had the Bandit color combo we know and love, a few of the details were off in making it a true '77-'78 Trans Am redo.

For this year's show he's rectified that situation with a new quad-headlight front fascia and a few other changes that bring it more in line with the uber Firebirds we remember from our misspent youths. Slip into one of these black and gold Trans Ams and before you know it you'll be East Bound and Down, calling for the Snowman on your CB to help you stay one step ahead of Smokey. Built in conjunction with fabricator Todd Otto, one-off versions can be ordered to spec, and a kit version will also be made available through Trans Am Depot starting in early 2010.

 

[ErikStenger]

Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 isn't a Raptor wrangler... yet

hat rumored Ford Raptor fighter from General Motors? Not quite. The Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Concept (it's only a concept, but some of the components could be available on future pickups) is a reasonable attempt to bring the off-road fight back to Ford, with a four-inch lift, 20-inch BBS RD wheels, BDS shocks and a 550-hp supercharged version of GM's LS crate V8. But the real work is hidden beneath the clear coat, with carbon fiber body panels replacing the steel hood and fenders. And that new fascia? Don't be surpised to see a modified version affixed to future Silverados.

 

[ErikStenger]

Jay Leno Camaro a pre-emptive strike against EcoBoost 'Stang

What do you get the guy who has everything? For SEMA 2009, GM decided to go with the less-is-more approach and built Jay Leno his own special Camaro... with less. Less cylinders at any rate, as this V6 special more than makes up for its lack of firing pots by adding a pair of turbochargers.

The 3.6-liter direct-injected V6 is otherwise similar to the unit that resides in run-of-the-mill Camaro LS and LT models, but with the dual huffers helping it, it produces the same 425 horsepower as its V8-propelled SS brother. And in a playful EcoBoasting slap, Chevy points out that they get the extra performance with virtually no penalty in fuel economy. Take that, rumored EcoBoost Mustang!

Besides the power upgrades, the Leno Camaro also gets a beefed up clutch for its six-speed transmission, an upgraded radiator, Brembo brakes, a Pedders coil-over kit, and a bodykit that includes a new rear diffuser as well as a revised front fascia and hood with additional venting for brakes and engine. It's one of a handful of Camaros in the GM booth, but it's the only one sticking its chin out, egging on the Ford boys.

 

[ErikStenger]

Pagani Zonda R is a great way to start your day

t's the first day of the 2009 SEMA Show and we made sure to get up bright and early to bring you the latest and greatest from the show floor here in Las Vegas. Often our week starts with a reminder that there is a lot of bad design and poor taste in the automotive aftermarket industry, from over-sized wheels to gaudy paint jobs.

However, this year we started off on the right foot with a wonderful and rare Pagani Zonda R. We hadn't walked more than a few feet past the entrance when we spotted the carbon-clad supercar in the Pirelli booth, and it reminded us of the good old days when another tire manufacturer used to bring out a collection of the world's fastest cars. Our thanks go out to Pirelli for picking up the slack, although a few more supercars to keep the Zonda R company wouldn't have hurt.

 

[ErikStenger]

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2 packs 411 HP

When Ford first revealed the new F-150 SVT Raptor a year ago, the initial powerplant was the same 5.4-liter V8 found in more pedestrian F-series trucks. At the launch, however, Ford officials promised that an all-new 6.2-liter V8 would become available right about ... now!. Well a month from now. The order books for the Raptor 6.2 officially open on December 1. Ford has already taken 3,000 orders for the 5.4-liter Raptor and 700 have gone to customers.

Last year, Ford told us the 6.2 would crank out at least 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of twist. Now that the engine has been certified and the final numbers are in, the targets have been exceeded. The 6.2-liter for the Raptor has been officially rated at 411 hp at 5,500 rpm and 434 pound-feet at 4,500 rpm.

According to F-150 Marketing Manager Mark Grueber, the Raptor 6.2 will get to 60 mph 1.5 seconds faster than the 5.4 while matching its fuel economy (as though anyone buying a Raptor will car about MPGs). That should put the 6.2 somewhere in the upper six- to low seven-range for a 0-60 mph run (Mike Levine at PickupTrucks.com clocked a Raptor at 8.8 seconds with a brake torque). But take heed, with more power comes a higher MSRP: the new engine will cost $3,000 more than the carryover 5.4, starting at $41,995 delivered.

 

[ErikStenger]

Ford unveils 2010 Mustang Cobra Jet, now with optional aluminum block

When Ford built a 50-unit run of the 2008 Mustang Cobra Jet last year, the program was a huge success with all the cars selling out well before production started. With the factory-built drag racing cars easily proving their worth at the nation's 1/4 mile tracks this year, doing a follow-up was a no brainer. After teasing the new car with testing photos and videos for the last several months, the 2010 FR500CJ is having its coming out party in Las Vegas for the 2009 SEMA Show.

The next 50-unit run will again be built on the regular Mustang assembly line at the Auto Alliance plant in Flat Rock, MI with the engines being bolted together at the Romeo engine plant. The 2010 model is more than just bolting the same hardware into an updated body shell. A year's worth of experience with the '08 Cobra Jet has allowed current owners to share feedback with Ford Racing that has been fed into the updated car.

We managed to grab some photos of the 2010 Cobra Jet on the show floor just ahead of its official live debut tomorrow, so check out both the official and live photos below or read on to learn about the updates for the new model.

 

[ErikStenger]

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor XT, $100K off-road race truck

Does the idea of a $100,000 pickup truck give you heart palpitations? If so, you might want to skip over the rest of this text. For the past year Ford has been using off-road races like the Baja 500 and 1000 as real world test tracks to prove out the performance and durability of the new F-150 SVT Raptor pickup. The Raptor R that Ford has been racing is actually pretty close to the production truck, although it does have more power and suspension travel.

Now the Ford Racing crew is following in the footsteps of the various FR500 Mustangs of the last five years and offering a factory-built race truck. Called the Raptor XT, it features the same 500-hp 6.2-liter V8 found in the latest edition of the Raptor R. The Raptor XT also gets all the interior amenities of a standard road going Raptor while adding the chrome-moly roll cage and tubular bumpers of the R. The XT even gets the 15-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel travel of the race truck.

Only 50 units of the Raptor XT will be built for the 2011 model year and only the most extreme off-roaders will be willing to pay the $99,950 price tag. Like the FR500 race Mustangs, the Raptor XT is off-road only, but in this case it's really off the road.

 

[ErikStenger]

Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s Mustang RTR

This year's SEMA Show promises to be an aftermarket Camaro orgy that would make Caligula blush. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But, as you know, there are Chevy guys and there are Ford guys and never the two shall meet (unless they're making fun of Dodge guys). So, here's one for you Ford heads – Vaughn Gitten Jr.'s RTR Mustang. Here's what Vaughn has to say about his car:

&quot;There is no question that Mustang's performance, quality and looks have evolved straight from the factory. However, the majority of the Mustang aftermarket has not fully followed the progression with regards to aesthetics. I saw the need to get something out there that was different from traditional Mustang styling. Something that could open up a new set of eyes to the already-incredible Ford Mustang, while keeping the current Mustang enthusiast smiling.&quot;

And now, the skinny. First of all, the RTR package will be available as a dealer-installed option. At first it will only be available for the V8-powered Mustang GT, but after a while you'll be able to get the RTR package on a V6 Mustang, too. Gittin's RTR is both a show and go package. There's a slight horsepower bump (9 hp) from a K&N air filter and a teeny bit of tuning, Ford racing shocks and cut springs, a fatter rear sway bar, cross drilled and slotted brake rotors and finally Falken FK452 performance tires on 19x9.5 inch wheels.

As far as the looks go, RMR 'Stangs get a front chin spoiler w/splitter, revised side sills, rear diffuser and aluminum rear spoiler, stripes, decals and an interior flourish or two. There's ten different paint schemes to choose from -- ours has to be the Grabber Blue with the darker blue accents. Also, RTR is promising OEM quality across the board. There's also going to be an all-carbon fiber edition called the RTR Carbon that we'll certainly be seeing at SEMA. Bad news? The full Gittin Jr. RTR will set you back $7,800.

 

[ErikStenger]

Chevrolet Camaro Z28, is that you?

How 2009 is this? Not only are you looking at what we're 99.99% sure is the brand spankin' new Chevrolet Camaro Z28, but we got sent the picture via Facebook. Pretty viral (or whatever), right? Also, that Z28 is sitting on the floor at SEMA, and there's an entire posse of us Autoblog types heading out to Sin City so we will be up close and way too personal with this bad-mutha Chevy shortly.

While no one actually has details yet, we're 99.99% sure again that if this is the Z28, then there's an LSA under yonder hood. To refresh your memory, an LSA is the same engine that powers the very, very mighty Cadillac CTS-V. How mighty? 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torquage. Not quite as brute as the ZR1's LS9 (638 hp, 604 lb-ft of torque), but then what is? Will the Chevy get every one of the Caddy's ponies? Most likely not quite. The Z28 will probably be slightly detuned so as to preserve some sort of outdated, century-old General Motors pecking order that no one outside of Detroit boardrooms has cared about in fifty years. We keep hearing &quot;just&quot; 550 hp. But again, maybe not.

 

[ErikStenger]

Subaru bringing tuned STI, Legacy and 1969 360 van

SEMA is just around the corner and aside from the inevitable Camaro riot that will be taking place in the convention center's parking lot, many auto folks are showing up with tuned rides. Like, for instance, Subaru. SPT is Subaru's in house tuning division and they're cooking up three nifty cars to put on display, each one better than the next.

First up is the WRX STI by SPT designed to demonstrate, &quot;what a WRX STI owner can build at home using just the SPT catalog as a source for bolt-on parts.&quot; It's got ten more ponies (315, up from the stock STI's 305 hp), big old gold wheels, and special springs, sway bars and a lower chassis brace. Surely nice, but nothing new.

In Tokyo, it's all about &quot;bippu,&quot; which is JDM for VIP. As such, Subaru has gone ahead and built a Legacy 2.5GT VIP for big ballers everywhere. What sets it apart? Well, for one thing, bippu means going low. To facilitate this, the top mounted Subaru intercooler is removed and replaced with a Mishimoto front-mounted intercooler to make room for the custom engine bay cover. But you got to go lower than that -- so the Legacy VIP gets air suspension to really kiss the ground. There's a whole bunch more, too, including Shinjuku Black Plum paint and the pleated leather interior.

But, the car we're really excited about is the van. Yeah man, a 1969 Subaru 360 delivery van to be precise. An honest to goodness microcar! Ten feet long. Four feet wide. Two-cylinder, two-stroke 25-hp engine. Suicide front doors -- and it's being fully restored as an SPT parts delivery van. But here's the cool part for those of you not making it out to SEMA -- the SPT parts van will tour the country going from dealership to dealership. Have you ever seen anything so close to perfection in your life? Didn't think so.

 

[ErikStenger]

Grunewald Racing Camaro sets its sights on 2010 Formula Drift season

Conrad Grusewald has been an occasional participant in the Formula Drift series for the past several years with a supercharged C5 Corvette as his vehicle of choice for piloting around clipping points and narrowly missing concrete barriers while in opposite lock. For the 2010 season, however, he plans to step up the efforts with an all new 2010 Camaro built specifically as a drift car with Hancook Tire as the lead sponsor.

In addition to providing the Camaro for Grusewald, Chevrolet also pitched in an LS-A crate motor from GM Performance Parts that should produce more than 600 horsepower at the wheels. The car also features an Eibach suspension, carbon fiber body panels from Seibon, Forgeline aluminum wheels and more. Expect to see more of this car when the Formula Drift season starts in April.