Jalopnik: SEMA

On a V8-powered Hyundai Genesis and the essence of SEMA

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EDT

Garishly outfitted cars in brightly-colored, energy drink logo-festooned booths teeming with booth babes, brahs in flat bills and old men in auto-themed Hawaiian shirts inhaling a fragrance of waterless car wash and hepatitis. Yup, it's the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) annual show in Las Vegas. The one time every year when the aftermarket industry gets to shoot a load of carbon fiber and neon into the faces of the Axe-sprayed assembled masses. More »

Mazda gives MX-5 Miata a Porsche-like top for SEMA

Patrick Frawley — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EDT

Compared to the sprawling efforts of Chevrolet and Ford, Mazda is taking a fairly laid-back approach to this year's SEMA show with five cars: two MX-5 Miatas, two Mazda2s, and a Mazda5 sure to inspire lust in suburban dads. More »

Balloon Boy's dad is selling truck parts in Vegas

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EDT

Richard Heene — father of the infamous Balloon Boy — has apparently abandoned his internet wares and is now hawking the Heene Duty, which he describes as a "pick-up truck robot," at the Speciality Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. That's where one Jalopnik reader happened to bump into him and his sad display. More »

It's a Chrysler 800-hp V10 in a box, baby!

Justin Berkowitz — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EDT

Yep, it's a ten-banger in a box. The Viper may be dead for the time being, but Chrysler will still build you a V10 by hand, intended for use in drag racing. The 8.4-liter monster makes 800 hp and 695 lb-ft. No pricing info has yet been released. More »

Get your vitamin D in a convertible Chrysler 300

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EDT

About six million years ago, back when Chrysler was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia, specialty builder ASC created the droptop Chrysler 300 Helios concept. Since then, others have built convertible conversions. Now, in time for SEMA '11, there's a new one. More »

The winner of our DeLorean Forza 4 wrap contest is…

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EDT

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We asked our readers to design a wrap for the DeLorean Motor Company's new supercharged Stage III car in Forza 4 and more than 75 of you answered the call with a stunning array of wraps that range from brilliantly colorful to deeply disturbing. More »

This is the Lexus GS 350 with F Sport package

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EDT

Easy there, Johnny. Lexus's GS 350 with F Sport package will be a highlight of this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas, but don't expect IS-F or LFA levels of performance. This is about rims, brakes and a tighter tune on the adaptive suspension. More »

Design a DeLorean wrap in Forza 4 and we'll make it real

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EDT

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The Electric DeLorean isn't DeLorean Motor Company's only project. They're also working on a supercharged version of the classic stainless steel sports car set to debut at SEMA next week. All they need is a design to wrap it in, which is where you, and a copy of Forza Motorsport 4, come in. More »

The ten bro-tastic Ford SEMA custom cars

Raphael Orlove — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EDT

Ford is bringing the new Focus to SEMA for the first time this year, so here's a breakdown of the all bro, all the time funky paint and flash rims that are going to be on display. Beefcake Fiestas and Focii abound. More »

This Is The First 3D Printed Car

Tom Joslin — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EST

The Urbee is a hybrid car concept that, according to the manufacturers, will be built with 3D printing technology and achieve an unbelievable 200/100 mpg fuel economy in highway/city driving. That is, of course, once they change the toner. More »

My, What Big Nostrils You Have, Mr. Viper

Ray Wert — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EDT

The better to suck air into my ginormous twin turbo engine through my double K&N cone air filters, my dear. More shots of my honkin' huge nasal cavity below. More »

Taste The Brembo Rainbow

Ray Wert — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 08:30:00 EDT

We love big brake calipers. The bigger they are, the better they're able to apply pressure on the disc to stop the car. And since Brembo offers calipers in a Skittles-like rainbow of colors, they'll even look stylish! Ahh, progress. More »

Mazda Drops A 500-HP Mazda3 On Las Vegas

Justin Hyde — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EDT

Not to be outshone by the flood of Scions and Hondas crowding SEMA, Mazda brought a full range of toys, from cosmetically enhanced Mazda2s up to the time-attack Mazda3 sporting 500 hp from a 2.5-liter four banger. More »

Why Wouldn't You Need LED-Illuminated Floor Mats In Your Audi?

Justin Hyde — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EDT

Audi made the most of its inaugural appearance at the SEMA custom car show by unveiling the world's first illuminated floor mats, made of an LED pad sandwiched underneath the vehicle logo. Next stop: rubber-ribbed iPads for your muddy Testonis. More »

The BMW E30 Craigslist Baja Car Does SEMA

Justin Hyde — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EDT

We dropped by Bill Caswell's outpost at SEMA, where he's building a Baja truck from a BMW E30 at the Miller Electric Manufacturing booth. Only two weeks before the race, and the car's still a bare frame, but who's worried? More »

No One Looks Cool On This Goofy Tracked Snowmobile

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EDT

Vendors at SEMA appear to have a strong yen for tracked vehicles, which might explain this "Snowmobile" from Canadian company TCZL that looks like an a/c unit with tracks, a seat, and bike handles. More »

Zero South:The Biodiesel Electric-Tracked Hummer

Justin Hyde — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EDT

Meet the Zero South PHE-PTV, a biodiesel-powered, series-electric Hummer with tracks designed for a South Pole expedition set for next year, which will apparently be filmed by the director of the Who Killed/Revived The Electric Car movies. More »

Mythbusters Tests The Porsche 928's Aerodynamics... In Reverse

Justin Hyde — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:30:00 EDT

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The Mythbusters crew and Popular Mechanics will test later this month the old claim that the Porsche 928 could go faster if driven backwards. To do so, they flipped a 928's body to face the wrong direction. More »

Need For Speed's 1969 Mustang RTR-X Comes To Life

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EDT

This '69 Mustang RTR-X, designed for future Need For Speed games, answers the question: how wild does a car have to be as appreciated in the real world as in a steroid-induced racing video game? More »

Hydraulic-Powered Rock Crawler Sneaks Into SEMA

Justin Hyde — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EDT

Caught in the wilds of SEMA out behind the Las Vegas convention center, this moon buggy-type rock crawler sports a hydraulic motor in each massive wheel for maximum traction control. Looks like fun, even in a parking lot. More »

Tanner Foust, Dark Lord Of The Drift

Ray Wert — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:30:00 EDT

The 'merican Drift King. Top Gear USA host. Converted Ford fan-boy. Taxi cab driver. Emperor of all he surveys atop Ford's SEMA display. Photo Credit: Me More »

You're With Me, Leather

Ray Wert — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EDT

I really miss leather hood straps. A lot. There's something completely awesome about a piece of animal hide keeping a car together. Like this strap and chain from last year's SEMA "Best in Show," the Golden Submarine. Photo Credit: Me More »

Ever Wonder What A Toyota Minivan Stretch Limo Looks Like?

Justin Hyde — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:15:00 EDT

Never say Toyota doesn't understand the crowd at SEMA, bringing a Sienna minivan and Scion xB with bodies engorged several feet like rolling demonstrators for ExtenZe. How else do you put the swagger in your wagon? More »

Dodge Charger R/T Lays Bets On Red And Black

Justin Hyde — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EDT

The R/T version of the reworked Dodge Charger peeped out from under the covers at SEMA long enough for us to grab a few shots, showing Dodge gaining supremacy in the race for fake ducts. More »

Ford Stealth Police Interceptor Is A Badass Blacked-Out Cruiser

Justin Hyde — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EDT

Ford brought a stealth version of its Police Interceptor to SEMA, sporting blacked-out lenses, a one-inch suspension drop and wider tires. Perfect for undercover work, except for, you know, the chrome-rimmed wheels and bright-red brake calipers. More »

U.S. Rallyers Get A Fiesta Of New Ford Parts

Justin Hyde — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Rally wannabes and Ken Block disciples will now be able to buy a Ford-blessed kit that turns their Fiesta into a race-ready machine, complete with 40% power boost. There's now more than one way to build a flying car. More »

'69 Shelby GT500CS: Muscle Car Shell With Chewy New 'Stang Insides

Justin Hyde — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EDT

Missouri-based coachbuilders RetroBuilt offer these '69 Shelby GT500CS replicas built off the unmodified underpinnings/interior of a 2005 or later Mustang GT. Go-fast bits available to match the Shelby-licensed looks. It's as wholesome and natural as skittles dipped in fake chrome. More »

The Perfect Toyota Truck For The Zombiepocalypse

Ray Wert — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:45:00 EDT

This is the Toyota Sportsman, a concept truck built in coordination with Bass Pro Shops for the extreme ~~zombie slayer~~ outdoorsman. How extreme? There's an 86 square foot deck, pop-up camouflaged hunting blind and a portable armory. [PickupTrucks] More »

FlairHair: The Next Horrible Gotta-Have-It Holiday Gift

Ray Wert — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:45:00 EDT

Screw the snuggie. Say goodbye to the beer helmet. Adios, ironic John Deere hats. FlairHair is the hot new spiky-haired hat phenomenon that's set to sweep middle America like an especially virulent form of herpes. More »

Dodge Viper Speedster, Canine Passenger Separated From Owners At SEMA

Justin Hyde — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EDT

Attention SEMA goers: If you've misplaced an adorable puppy and a Dodge Viper converted to a roadster with chrome body work and some kind of metal tonneau funkiness, please come to lost and found, located near LugNut Luigi's Frozen Yogurt. More »

Chevy Gives Great Head

Ray Wert — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:40:00 EDT

Chevy gives great head... cylinder head, that is. From the LSX small bore to the LS7 and LS9, Chevy runs deep in cylinder heads in this lazy susan-like display at the 2010 SEMA show. More »

What, Was CarWraps.com Already Taken?

Ray Wert — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:20:00 EDT

Well, yeah, it was. But luckily, CarWraps1 is named CarWraps1 and also managed to snatch up their domain name before cyber-squatters got to it. Although we would like to point out that CarWraps2 is still available for other budding entrepreneurs. More »

Convertible Dodge Challenger Covers Up At SEMA

Justin Hyde — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EDT

It's still early in Vegas, and the SEMA show hasn't launched in earnest, but it won't be long before this Droptop Customs Dodge Challenger will have to compete for attention with other displays of topless customization. More »

If A Dually Is Good, A Dual Dually Must Be Doubly Good

Ray Wert — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EDT

Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com and I caught a Dodge Ram 3500 sitting outside the SEMA show here in Vegas sporting duallies on both the rear and the front. Wanna double your pleasure? Double your fun? Double the dually! More below. More »

Top Gear Brings Lambo, Ferrari Supercabs To SEMA

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EDT

The crew from 'Merican Top Gear rolled into SEMA this morning with a quintet of supercabs. We hear a certain Ray Wert might drive one, but we're not sure if we can tell anyone. So, um, keep it to yourself... More »