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So we noticed at SEMA this year that carbon fiber has become the new matte black. And if you remember, as we learned from SEMA last year, matte black is the new black. Now, because of a desire for the "carbon fiber look" — lovers of tuners of all shapes, colors and chrome appendages are taking the time-honored tradition of finding ways to lighten their cars — and throwing them out the window. Most of us already know that instead of fabricating new carbon-fiber parts, many lovers of the over-pimped are merely wrapping their pre-existing car parts in carbon-fiber. Yay, 1.25 times the weight, and 1.25 times less performance. Anyway — if you happen to be one of the silly people interested, the folks over at VolvoSpeed have put together a little "How-To" on wrapping your car parts in carbon-fiber. Although it may seem like we're aiding and abetting, we've gone and galleried 'em up below in the hopes of showing the little ones what not to do with their side mirrors. You know — for the kids. Don't follow along with the step-by-step instructions under each one of the pictures. More »
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(Follow us as we lift the hood on the world of industrial automotive espionage in From The Car Spy's Dossier, a semi-regular series of road reports from A-list spy shooter Brenda Priddy and some of the world's greatest car spies!) So I thought it would be a good idea. All the bloggers go crazy with the "Girls of SEMA" layouts and various nearly-obscene versions playing on the words and zooming in on the pictures. So for all the Laura Bursteins in the world (and me, too, of course), I thought we'd get equal time - and I'd do a "Men of SEMA" photo spread (arrgh ....some people have such a dirty mind!) More »
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The kids over at the Road that is ever-Winding got themselves the scoop straight from the press release of Pratt & Miller Engineering on the Corvette C6RS. Yes, the rumors are true, you too can own Jay Leno's ride — or at least one of a limited-edition run of the E85-powered sub-ZR1 modeled off Leno's car shown at the SEMA show in Vegas last week. We're waiting until we can get one in red. Full press release after the jump. More »
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The folks over at Air Power Systems decided the 505 horses of stock output from the Z06's LS7 engine just wasn't enough for them. So the turbo-lovin' young punks took the stock engine and developed themselves a twin turbocharger kit, which they claim brings the engine's output up to an amazing 1100 rear-wheel HP. Nice — who needs to wait for the Detroit Auto Show and the reveal of the new supercharged 2009 Corvette ZR1 when you can build yourself an APS-engineered turbocharged Corvette Z06? Well, you won't get the neat-o see-through plastic hood. More »
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Turbosmart doesn't manufacture turbochargers directly, but they do make everything else required to plumb together a forced induction system that works - even for sponsored drag cars. This Mustang from Murillo Motorsports packs not just one but two turbos mounted in the trunk. Intakes for the watermelon-sized hair dryers poke through the rear quarters. Boost travels up to the passenger seat mounted water-to-air intercooler, through the dash, and down an elbow into the engine. The car is being built to run into the 6-second zone, and is reported to twist out 3000 horsepower. The blow off valves, external wastegates, and electronic boost controllers just like the one in the Mustang were also super bitchen. [Mustangblog.com] [Turbosmart] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=318472&view=rss&microfeed=true Ashley Van Dyke over at the Lane that's Fast and Daily had a chit-chat today with Chip Foose where she doesn't even ask him what his promotional gameplan for Foosical: The Musical will be. Today's episode also includes a interview of Alex Zanardi by a man who's head is bald like a Gumball, has a last name of Roy and didn't play goalie for Montreal. More »
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While we could not locate Steve Strope the man at the SEMA, we did find his 1972 Ford Gran Torino. The latest from Purevision packs a 514 cubic inch Ford crate engine and a 4-speed top loader backed by a Gear Vendors overdrive that translates four into eight speeds. The heavy rides on Bonspeed wheels sized at a mere 20X12 out back and 18X8 in front. The wheel size stagger accentuates the already pronounced space-age '70s Torino swagger. An Art Morrison four link holds everything together underneath the slope of the sportroof. Look closely and Strope himself can be seen in shorts. The Starsky and Hutch version of the Torino didn't roll here or in France until 1976. [Purevision Design] More »
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Carbonetic is an offshoot of Across, which produces carbon-carbon composites using a patented method. The translation is that since they can make nearly anything out of carbon-carbon, they can also produce a series of clutches, limited slip differentials, and brake pads using the same stuff. What impressed us the most was the multiplate clutch setup. The usually heavy steel floater center plate discs in carbon-carbon weigh almost nothing. Picking one up makes for a hand does not believe the eye kind of thing. Carbonetic also has a line of single plate street clutches using sprung hubs and carbon composite for the under 500 horsepower cars out in the garage or driveway. [Carbonetic] More »
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You would be correct if you're thinking that we ran something like this from last year's friction materials SEMA convention accompanied by some random musings about Norse death metal. Thundering crescendos of dualing lead guitar aside, a year ago we only ran one image. Thanks to the ongoing miracle of the internets we can now bring you shots of not only the VQ, but some 1000 hp twin-turbo LS1-LS2 action along with some scooby doo. Zoinks! [Air Power Systems] More »
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The story goes the original owner of this wagon was dismayed to find that the Plymouth GTX came out just weeks after he purchased the mighty land yacht. So dismayed in fact he took it back down to the dealer and made them option it the same as a Belvedere-based Plymouth GTX coupe. A 440 with six-pack bolted to a 4-speed get the heavy moving in modern times. We found the wagon at the Hotchkis booth, serving as a platform for a new line of sport suspensions for Mopars coming next year. We swear the lines on these wagons drifted right off sixties top fuel slingshot dragsters - or F-104 Starfighters. Sport wagons, ho! More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=317526&view=rss&microfeed=true Unlike me, this guy actually understands the Baja 1000 and the importance of the two new Dodge Ram pickups. Plus, his pictures are better than ours. [PickupTruck.com] More »
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The night and day efforts of three guys over the course of six months is under the lights here in sin city. Twin turbos on the LS1 helped twist the dyno to to read 1067 horsepower and 980 foot pounds of torque and make the V7 Super Coupe, as Phil from American Super Car put it - a D9 Cat in Corvette clothing. Right after bolting in the steering column before this shot was taken the crew realized the adapter hub for the steering wheel didn't exist. Phil fired up the mill at 4AM last Thursday morning and machined one so the car could get here and Mequires could put the detail on the machine for their booth. Next year promises a 1966 supercharged mid-engine drop top Vette. More »
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From the bolt up a TRD supercharger department comes the 2009 Toyota Corolla XRS in blue. The new Corolla will be available in everything from the standard volume leader to the XRS shown here. The XRS packs the 158 horsepower version of the 2.4 liter engine under the hood with choice of five-speed manual or sequential shift automatic. And even though we prefer our Toyotas older with rear wheel drive, we're sure some enterprising individual will soon figure out how to graft the all-wheel drive Matrix and Corolla sequential transmissions together with a turbo the size of a watermelon in a base Corolla. More »
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In celebration of Halloween and 50 years in America Toyota revealed the stock versions of the 2009 Corolla and Corolla Matrix. We looked for the aforementioned scantily clad sirens and nitrous bottles, but all we heard were scary noises. Both cars were said to have super aftermarket potential! The MillenWorks Matrix was over in another hall, but we did catch the stock XRS. More »
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The new 2009 Toyota Corolla and 2009 Toyota Matrix were just unveiled here at the SEMA show in Vegas. For some reason the folks from the super number one best awesome automaker from the land of the rising sun decided to show off one set of vehicles, un-pimped ones, to the press at the Hilton across the street. Fear not, the mighty Mike Bumbeck was covering those. But here at the convention center, we were "treated" to some heavily modded versions of the new Corolla and Matrix. That's what you see below. Press release below the jump.
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UPDATE: The new 2009 Toyota Corolla was also unveiled — all the shots are here. In addition to the over-pimped 2009 Toyota Corolla we saw a few minutes ago, the Toyota folks also unveiled an over-pimped 2009 Toyota Matrix. Yes, this is the new Matrix, only in an options-addition mode. We're waiting on Bumbeck's shots of the Toyota Performance Parts delete option model from the Hilton across the street — feel free to check these shots out while you wait.
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Just for SEMA, Ford's let two designers have their way with their new people mover, the Ford Flex. First up is none other than the star of "Foosical: The Musical," Chip Foose. He's put his personal touch on the Flex by dropping Foose Design 22-inch wheels on the feet, and Eibach springs customized for "a lower appearance," and a custom-mixed, tow-tone blue and cream pearl paint job. It's the Foose Flexy, kiddies — all the same "great" looks of the Flex, with absolutely no performance upgrades. Yup, enjoy — or something.
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Rapper 50 Cent took some time away from recording music and trying to grab a piece of Fast Lane Daily host Ashley Van Dyke, to customize a Pontiac G8. We're told he was absolutely instrumental in the design process — like when he said "I want a red car" and then "I want it to have a black stripe." Bingo, he got a "red car" with a "black stripe." Unfortunately, GM wouldn't let him use the rest of his "ideas" and left the remainder of the custom job on the 500 HP LSX 427-engined customized ride to the capable hands at Unique Autosports. Full release below the jump. More »
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If the Mopar-built Dodge Avenger concept we showed you earlier is named "Stormtrooper," then this here DUB edition Dodge Caliber is most assuredly "Stormtrooper Jr." Or, "Mini Stormtrooper" if you will. We've got no other information on it to give you, but we found it so gleamingly bright and white we thought we'd better snap some shots of this over-DUB-bed Caliber that's anything but cute.
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Mopar revealed a total of eight customized vehicles here at SEMA, and we've already shown a few of them like the Jeep JT concept and the Hemi-fied Wrangler. Here's another. It's a tricked out Dodge Avenger the folks at The New Chrysler call the "Stormtrooper." Somehow we find that name to be a bit of a bad choice by the Penastar brand — haven't they heard of the "Stormtrooper Effect?" Maybe they should have painted it black and named it the "Vader." And another note to Mopar — probably not the best idea to call your big 4.0-liter V6 a "velvet hammer." But maybe that's just us. Press release excerpt below the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=317146&view=rss&microfeed=true Aww, shoot, it's Fast Lane Daily and they got themselves an exclusive interview with some guy named "Fiddy" or "50" or something. And look, he's got himself a special-ed Pontiac G6. Err...that's Special Edition. More »
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Chrysler just revealed some Baja love with a couple of Dodge Ram pickups that'll be hitting the Baja trails. The first is a Mopar-sponsored Dodge Ram Off-Road Trophy Truck for Collins Motorsports to field in the SCORE International Off-Road Racing Series. The second's a stock 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 also for Baja truckin'. Full press release after the jump. More »
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Attempting to move quickly away from the country karaoke guy sitting and singing Eastbound and Down to electronic accompaniment from PA mounted to the lift gate of his pickup found us in short proximity of the none other than the Bourget's Bike Works Quadracycle. Passerby reaction seemed to be split between man that's over the top, and boy that makes more sense than a V8 motorcycle. All agreed to wanting to put that hammer down twist the throttle and give it hell. More »
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Oh look, it's the turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec referenced earlier today. Yay. Enjoy the open hood, boys. And remember, the Chevy Cobalt SS grille will be billet, not bar. GM PR wants us to clear up that misconception built from, you know, showing a car at SEMA that's the opposite of what the production version will look like. More »
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Ford and Force Racing unveiled the first new entry into the nitro burning hemi engine field in modern times. The crew developed the engine using space age analytical tools, beefing up the main bearing journals and surrounding webbing to help keep the crank and pistons from windowing the blue anodized block. Force Mustang Funny Car driver Mike Neff will be the first to huff the good stuff through the blower, with Robert Hight and Ashley Force phasing in the mill in their own Mustangs after nitro scientists John Medlin and Austin Coil fine tune the 8000 horsepower nitro burner. More »
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Honda just revealed a "world debut" concept car here at SEMA, and it basically represents what you can do with a new 2008 Honda Accord if you really put your mind to it. Also, you've got to use up every option possible in the Honda Factory Performance catalog — from ten years from now. It's called the Honda Accord Coupe HF-S concept, and it's got every piece of Honda kit you'd never want and you couldn't even get — even a "Cadmium Orange Pearl" color coat, which we think may be what happens when you combine an orange and cadmium at a really hot temperature. It's got LED driving lights, a wrap-around front bumper which creates a "vortex effect" to enhance high-speed aero and engine cooling. Full press release after the jump.
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It took them 40 years, but Popular Hot Rodding's finally done it — they've finished the rebuild of the '57 Chevy they first received back in 1965. The history's as storied as can be and just as boring. But, if for some reason you're interested in what a magazine from Primedia with merely a token web site has got going on under the hood of their taken-forever-to-build project car, there's a gallery below and the full release from the General below the jump. More »
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Ford Racing just introduced what they're calling a "new way to affordably race" with their reveal of the all-new 2008 Mustang FR500S. The Mustang variant will be the heart of an all-new Mustang spec series for the Miller Cup, which they'll be calling the Take The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge which will make its debut on tracks around North America in 2008. Wait, Ford Racing on "tracks?" Maybe "tracks" is just a euphemism for "drag strips." Hit the jump for the full press release from Ford. Oh, why'd we use the Borat headline? Because we could. More »
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Now that we've seen the new Hummer H2 Safari Off Road concept, we can now conclusively say that yes, the General was correct in its press release. The SUV concept does have a gun rack. A pretty serious gun rack we might add, sitting atop the trunk area with easy access through what would normally be the rear set of side windows. Mmm, the smell of rhino blood in the morning, smells like...something. Full release after the jump. More »
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Not only is the new 2009 Toyota Corolla dressed up as a spooky ghost here at SEMA, but so's its platform-prostitute lifemate, the 2009 Toyota Matrix. That's right, Toyota's continuing the dressed-up-as-a-ghost Halloween theme as here's the new and soon-to-be revealed Toyota Matrix looking all ghoulishly adorable outside of the convention center here in Vegas. We wonder whether seeing the Matrix will end up being a trick or a treat come Wednesday night — judging by the few details we're able to see of the new Matrix, we're thinking maybe a little of both. More »
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In addition to everything else we've seen over the last few days, the General just revealed their hot like the fires of a summer solstice one-seater Pontiac concept racer we showed a drawing of the other day, the SD-290, today at SEMA in Vegas. The SD-290's powered by a 2.0-liter Ecotec direct-injected and turbocharged engine generating 290 HP. It's lighter than the usual Solstice through weight reduction by installation of the driver-side only windscreen and, you know, elimination of the passenger side door. Full press release after the jump. More »
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Those press shots of the new sub-V class concept Cadillac CTS Sport? They just don't do this car justice. That's because the grille? It's just not attractive. Not in the least. It's actually the antithesis of attractive. I'd be happy to see a normal CTS with this engine, but as it currently stands, I'd rather gouge out my eyeballs than be seen driving this car around town. It's just that garish. Don't believe us? See for yourself in the shots below and check out the full press release after the jump. Maybe we'll be able to make one with the grille-delete option. More »
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Part of the fun of covering automotive events is that, after a long day of running around, we get to eat free food. Heck, some of us can pack in three dinners in one night and still come back for dessert (yes Ray, I'm talking about you). We particularly scored tonight. Full report after the jump. More »
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We got some inside info on the C6RS from Kip Wasenko, GM's Director of Design, Performance Division after the reveal of that car tonight at the Wynn Hotel. We broke bread ... er ... watermelon ... with Kip and Marcelo Gaffoglio of Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters at the event, and if you're wondering why Marcelo's name sounds familiar, this may be why. But on to what we learned: More »
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We were wondering how long (or if) it would take for folks to notice the little two-door 'Cuda sitting behind the SR-392 yesterday. It didn't take too long for people to start rumoring, but before we even left the showroom floor, we'd already gotten our answer from the massively Mopar folks. Mostly because it was actually one of the first questions we asked when we walked out of the Chrysler display — and the answer we got made our hearts sink. Yes, it's a 'cuda. But no, it's not a real 'cuda and no, it's not a concept car from "The New Chrysler." It's nothing more than a one-off concept car built off a Dodge Charger body and created for a private enthusiast. Sorry folks, but good eagle eyes all around. [via Autoblog and CarDomain] More »
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Here it is folks, just a day before it's officially unveiled here at the 2007 SEMA show — the 2009 Toyota Corolla. Sort of anyway. We mean, that's the Toyota Corolla right there, just like we'd heard it would be, waiting to be officially unveiled tomorrow. Except, well, it's all covered up in a white sheet — like a Corolla dressed up for Halloween. Which, come to think of it, is what Wednesday will be. Ha! What fun — or something. More »
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Check out the inside of the back end of the newly revealed Chevy HHR Panel SS custom concept. How bad of a case of the red-ass does this SuperSport have with all of that hot red leather? Yeah, that's right — that's all red leather covering the interior of the cargo bay from the waistline up. Because this HHR SS is for show, for go and for hauling. Or as one PR person for Chevy claimed, "if the HHR Panel Van is for the small businessman, the HHR Panel SS is for the sporty small businessman." Or at least it's for the small businessman with a flair for Moulin Rouge. We'll have more later we're sure. For now, hit the jump for the press release. More »
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Well, on top of the General's reveal of Jay Leno's Corvette, they've now just revealed what we revealed this weekend — the new SuperSexyback — minus the "Sexy" of course — the Chevy Cobalt SS. Oh yes, it's yellow, baby. And we all know what that means. Yup, ladies, hold on to your panties. More »
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We sat down with former NBA All-Star player Jerome Williams to talk about his new "Urban CEO Edition" Buick Enclave he's unveiling live here in Vegas later tonight. So here's the skinny — Williams was approached by the General to help create this one-of-a-kind "Mad Dog" but according to him he "didn't have to do much to the 'clave, as it's already so fly." We do like one thing in particular about his blinded-by-the-white Buick and that's the low form-factor on the satellite dish atop the new Lambda crossover from the General. Not too shabby of an aftermarket job if you ask us — you barely notice it. And hey, the brushed chrome doesn't look too bad either. Can we get it in black? More to come later. More »
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