My First Time at the SEMA Show - The Car Connection

My First Time at the SEMA Show - The Car Connection My First Time at the SEMA Show
I came, I saw, I didn’t see it all. How could you?

(2004-11-15)

By Conor Twomey

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2004 SEMA Show Highlights by Marty Padgett (11/8/2004)
Manufacturer news from the aftermarket extravaganza.

This was my very first SEMA show and I figured the usual day and a half would be plenty of time to cover the event. Boy, was I wrong. I didn't get any time to wander around the custom hot-rods and 4x4 stuff, nor did I even have a chance to grab a proper lunch, but I did manage to get a look at the hottest commodities in the world of tuning this year - and the darling of the 2005 SEMA show was Ford's new Mustang.

There's always been a respectable range of aftermarket parts for the old-model Mustang, but it's clear that Ford wants to reposition its pony car as even more of tuner's car than before. This should not only improve the car's image but also attract a much larger youth customer base - complete with disposable income and appetite for speed.

Ford has obviously sent the specifications (as well as a few early production models) out to the tuning community because it seemed there was a Mustang on every tuner stand at the show. Of most interest, however, was the potential D1 car Falken had on display on its stand. Not only did it look mean in the company's green and blue colors, it also gives credence to Ford's claim that customers want the easily-swappable live rear axle. Sure, it keeps the price down on base models, but it's also 20 percent over-engineered, which should encourage new tuners to take the plunge. Saleem, Roush and Steeda also had fantastic 'Stangs on display while Paxton Automotive had a Novi supercharger kit capable of boosting the V-8's performance to around the 400-hp mark. Very sweet.

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Continental feel

I could be wrong, but it seemed to me that the second most common car at the show was the Bentley Continental - vastly outnumbering everything else except the Mustang. None had any significant modifications other than having big wheels fitted, most of which were no prettier than the standard items. Only the Silver Continental on 20" Giovannas looked better than the stock car. Still, I thought it curious that the quarter-million-dollar Bentley should appear on so many displays.

GTO and Cobalt star for GM

GM wheeled in a whole bevy of tuned machines to promote its own line of aftermarket parts, but only the new GTO and Cobalt SS caught my eye.

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There are no GM performance parts available specifically for the new GTO yet, apart from air-filters and exhaust systems, so the show car was just promoting the '05 car and the appearance packages that will be available. Because it shares its engine with the Corvette, though, the SEMA Corvette's CNC-machined cylinder heads should free up another 25 hp on top of the GTO's 400.

The supercharged and intercooled 2.0-liter engine in the Cobalt SS 272 has been tuned to produce 270 horsepower using a hood-mounted air scoop, custom air intake box, cat-back exhaust, and recalibrated electronics. The LS2-powered Colorado SS concept looks like fun, too, if they decide to build it.

Chrysler Chops the Durango

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That could, potentially, go head-to-head with the fabulous Skunkwerks Durango V-8 pickup concept, which looks like a mini Ram SRT-10 and offers crazy performance from its 5.7-liter HEMI V-8. The chopped Durango gets a cat-back dual exhaust, lowered suspension, custom bumpers and sill extensions, a composite hood and 20-inch billet wheels from Budnik. It's absolutely bitchin'. Chrysler also looks like it might be joining Ford and GM in the drifting craze. They debuted a Crossfire Drifter powered by a 400-hp, supercharged version of the standard 3.2-liter V-6 found in the Crossfire SRT-6. The tuned suspension, BBS wheels, RennTech limited slip differential, extreme body kit, and carbon-fiber wing are all functional, but the chopped windshield is just for fun. Inside, Chrysler has fitted a Sparco shifter, steering wheel, racing seats, and pedals, as well as a SCCA Formula D-spec roll cage.

Drifting Tires Have Their Day

Other big news on the drifting front was the announcement by Yokohama that it intends to produce a special drifting tire, previewed by the Parada Concept D. It will be designed specifically for the rigours of drifting but at a price that ordinary folks can afford - a big consideration considering how quickly drifters can get through tires. The Concept D is still in development but should be on the market next year, we hear.

Imports Quiet on the Western Front

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Surprisingly, there weren't as many imports as I would have expected. Subaru had a few cars showcasing its new range of STi handling and cosmetic parts, while there were only a few Evos on display, including two fine examples tuned by RB Motoring and Falken Tires.

There were a few Scions at the show, though, with Nitto's stand featuring a Jotech-built tC complete with HKS Turbo and intercooler, Arias pistons, AEBS cylinder sleeves, K&N air-intake, Sparco seats, and 20" Crimson Linea Sport wheels and Nitto tires, amongst other refinements.

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Scion's own booth was a real eye-catcher thanks to the Five Axis tC they had on show. It was fitted with a massive, lime-green bodykit, 19" Rays Wheels, GReddy turbocharger and intercooler and e-Manage fuel management controller putting out an estimated 230 hp. The Pioneer AVIC-N1 DVD header and 43-inch Pioneer plasma screen in the trunk finished the Five Axis tC off nicely.

Right alongside was another tC decorated in a crazy Haze paint-job (he's better known for Beastie Boys and LL Cool J album covers, his Nike shoes, and his line of streetwear and furniture) while Mister Cartoon's xB oozes the understated cool he's become known for.

Motegi Racing displayed another cosmetically enhanced tC but performance nuts were drawn to Greddy's concept tC which was there to show off the company's upcoming bolt-on products. GReddy hopes to get its turbocharger and intercooler package, with a potential for 400hp, into Scion dealers before long, allowing tC buyers double the output of their cars. A GReddy Type-RS blow-off valve, Airinx air intake kit and GReddy EVO2 exhaust system were also fitted to the showcar.

Mazda's Rare RX-8

Good to see Texas represented in the shape of Protech Performance who featured one of the surprisingly rare Mazda RX-8s at the show. They were showing off their bolt-on Turbo kit, complete with Garrett T4 Turbo, HKS blow-off valve, and K&N cold air-intake system. The Austin-based company reckons 270 hp shouldn't be too difficult to achieve, while fattening up the rev-happy RX-8's torque curve at the same time.

Teutuls On Parade

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Highlights of the show included the unveiling of a Shelby Mustang-inspired Orange County Chopper with its builders Paul Teutul Sr., Paulie, and Mikey, who picked up a stunning yellow Shelby GT500E for their trouble.

A short while later the Drift exhibition took place in the Yokohama proving ground featuring the best in Japanese drifting. Of particular interest was the rear-drive Ford Focus V-8, an elaborate bolt-in modification tuners should soon be able to get their hands on for around $15,000.

So that's some of what's new and exciting in the world of tuning. Next year, I'm going to spend a week in Vegas to make sure I cover every aspect of the show. I'm just wondering if there's anything to do in that town once the doors close at SEMA, though.