Performance


SEMA 2009: Gran Turismo Best in Show is the Trans-Cammer Mustang

Phillip Koenen brought a really gorgeous, miles-deep-black, 1970 Mustang to SEMA and came away with another fine piece of hardware:The Gran Turismo Best in Show award. For the past several years, Sony Computer Entertainment America has hosted these awards, which honor some of the coolest cars at SEMA. Koenen's SOHC 427-powered "Trans-Cammer" snagged the Best Hot Rod award in addition to winning Best in Show. Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi awarded the trophy himself at the awards ceremony, which rocked The Palms' Rain nightclub ... Read more →

SEMA 2009: What we didn't get to cover Frank Filipponio

Every year at SEMA, we fill the week with posts featuring special vehicles and products that we felt were important enough to share. Generally, they are the most newsworthy projects and new model ...

SEMA 2009: Chevy Graphics Camaro not bashful about changing in public Frank Filipponio

Chevrolet decided that it might be fun to have a contest to pick out a new decal pack for its hot new Camaro. They posted six different possible decal sets on Facebook a while back and after ...

SEMA 2009: Galpin builds custom '69 Mustang right on the show floor Drew Phillips

While those of us in the media walked around the show floor at SEMA looking for the cool, the crazy, and the just plain awesome, there were people doing actual work. Real work. No, we're not ...

SEMA 2009: 1951 Henry J gasser is a 7-second blast from the past Frank Filipponio

Here's another black beauty that caught our attention in the halls of SEMA 2009. It's a 1951 Kaiser Henry J owned and raced by Chris Beanes of California. Running in A/Gas, this gloss-free ...

SEMA 2009: The Chevrolet Camaro 'splosion!!! 19 hours ago on Autoblog

In past years at SEMA, there has always been a single vehicle that seems to be the most popular at the show. Last year, it was the Dodge Challenger and Nissan GTR, but there weren't enough to be overwhelming. This year, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro came and infested the Las Vegas convention ...

SEMA 2009: Pinkee's ignites lust for a Pontiac Firebird 20 hours ago on Autoblog

This year's SEMA show might have been a bit smaller than in years past, but there were certainly some heavy hitters in the crowd that proved the old "quality, not quantity" adage. Take, for instance, this super-clean, super-fine 1977 Pontiac Firebird. Like the Ringbrothers "Afterburner" Fairlane ...

SEMA 2009: Blackout Bentley balances the bad 21 hours ago on Autoblog

It seems that matte black is the new black this year at SEMA, especially if you broaden if to gray and slip bare carbon fiber into the category. This particular application of said coloring resides on a sinister looking Bentley Continental GT. Besides the satin paint, it's wearing a Premier ...

SEMA 2009: We expected a Camaro Convertible, but got two 22 hours ago on Autoblog

When we received the press release from Drop Top Customs saying that they would be bringing a Camaro convertible to SEMA, we could hardly contain ourselves. Ever since the Camaro Concept was first shown some way too many years ago, we've been expecting a droptop version as well. General Motors ...

SEMA 2009: Ford Taurus puts on a good SHO 23 hours ago on Autoblog

We didn't expect much from Ford's new fulls-size four-door at this year's SEMA show, but the quartet of Taurus Concepts were actually pretty impressive. The design lends itself better to customization than we might've thought, and we wouldn't be surprised to see quite a few owners personalizing ...

SEMA 2009: Ford shows off Healing Heroes Network grand prize Shelby GT500 pair 1 day ago on Autoblog

In the Ford booth at SEMA this year, we spotted a matching set of 1967 and 2010 Shelby GT500 Mustangs. White with blue stripes, they looked incredible even in the unflattering lighting of Central Hall. The 1967 example is a verified Shelby original, number 3139 in the Shelby Registry. The 2010 ...

SEMA 2009: World's only known four-rotor Mazda RX-8 1 day ago on Autoblog

We came across this RX-8 at SEMA and it immediately rang a bell. Time Attack, four-rotor, Mazda RX-8? It's the BMI Racing car we saw on Streetfire a while back. It's said to be the only four-rotor RX-8 in the world and it looks and sounds incredible. Don't believe us? You can see a couple of ...

SEMA 2009: Grunewald Racing Camaro sets its sights on 2010 Formula Drift season 1 day ago on Autoblog

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 ...

SEMA 2009: Mavizen introduces 130-mph TTX02 electric racebike 1 day ago on Autoblog

Right on schedule, Mavizen has released its TTX02 electric motorcycle at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Well, if you listen to Azhar Hussain, TTXGP founder and the entrepreneur behind this racebike, the TTX02 is a "laptop on wheels." How so? For starters, each machine is fitted with an ...

SEMA 2009: HPP Daytona is one big Hot Wheels toy 1 day ago on Autoblog

We've been hearing about this car for three days, but we just couldn't find it. Then, just before lunch, one of our intrepid reporters tracked the beast down within the tropical bowels of Las Vegas Convention Center's Central Hall. Behold: the HPP Daytona! Yes, it's a new Dodge Challenger ...

SEMA 2009: Mid-engined Ghepardo is one part Corvette, one part Camaro, 100% SEMA 1 day ago on Autoblog

Here's what we know: Caccia Custom Cars took a 2002 Chevy Camaro and a 2002 Chevy Corvette and created the Ghepardo. The car uses the Camaro's frame and the Corvette's motor and suspension. The motor is mounted amidships, albeit backwards (note the throttle body). And the House of Kolor paint is ...

SEMA 2009: 1962 Corvette C1-RS is a worthy Goodguys Street Machine of the Year 1 day ago on Autoblog

It takes a lot to win the the Goodguys Street Machine of the Year award, but this custom 1962 Corvette convertible you see here easily deserves the honor. The car not only looks incredible, but it posted the fastest time at the Goodguys autocross track as well! Every single one of the body ...

SEMA 2009: Badass Chevy Chevelle isn't as fuelish as it seems 1 day ago on Autoblog

The clean exterior of this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle hides a wicked little secret – if you take a look at the photo above, you'll see what we mean. The bundle of plumbing you see spilling out of the engine bay tells only part of the story – that's no overworked Chevy small block in ...

SEMA 2009: Hyundai Genesis Coupes out in force in Vegas 1 day ago on Autoblog

While the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang are the de facto coupes of the show, as suspected, tuners have taken a liking to Hyunda'si Genesis Coupe, with numerous modified examples peppered throughout the show floor. The 3.8-liter V6 is arguably the better driver, and the Road/Race version in ...

SEMA 2009: Turbo rotary Mazda MX-5 begs to be flogged 1 day ago on Autoblog

If you get the impression things are all high gloss and dubs in Vegas, you wouldn't be far off. But walk around the SEMA compound long enough and you come across something cool that that speaks to the gearhead, track rat in each of us. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of details about this ...

Shelby unveils F-150 Super Snake Concept, turbocharged Mustang package 1 day ago on Autoblog

We figured that anything and everything automotive in Las Vegas would be over at the convention center for SEMA all week, but apparently, we were wrong. Amidst the introductions of custom cars and aftermarket parts, Shelby Automobiles introduced two new vehicles at its Las Vegas facility. ...

Gullwing America takes on Mercedes' latest supercar, creates SLS Panamericana 1 day ago on Autoblog

Few cars are as classic and iconic as the original Gullwing, also known as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL. Created by a loophole in racing rules when MB realized that, "Nowhere is it written that a door can only open sideways." Hence, Mercedes was allowed to retain the strength of the 300SL's (as well ...

SEMA 2009: Mazda introduces us to a happy couple, inspires 3-some 2 days ago on Autoblog

For SEMA 2009, Mazda introduced us to a pair of the happiest Mazda3 derivatives we've ever seen. Part Le Mans-winning 787B tribute, part rolling showcase (for their Mazda accessories catalog) and part 40th anniversary present to itself, this couple with their odd, knowing smiles was pretty easy ...

SEMA 2009: Custom Suzuki Kizashi models impress, upset 2 days ago on Autoblog

We totally dig the new 2010 Suzuki Kizashi. It's a bold step forward for Suzuki and (hopefully) a harbinger of great things to come, which also happens to be what "Kizashi" means. However, the looks are a little, well... not outstanding. Not that it's particularly bad-looking (it ain't), but ...

Seven new Porsche models reportedly due over next four years... could there be more? 2 days ago on Autoblog

It doesn't seem that long ago that Porsche was a two-car company. But since then, the German automaker has come out with the Cayenne and the Panamera, taking it into new territory – for better or worse. Now that it's part of the Volkswagen Group, sources expect Porsche to begin expanding its ...

SEMA 2009: Dodge Challenger Mopar Edition 2 days ago on Autoblog

The Chevrolet Camaro might have a dominating presence on the show floor at SEMA, but there were still a handful of Dodge Challengers to wave the Mopar flag. This particular example was found tucked away in the Chrysler display described as a "Mopar Edition" and features two dozen items straight ...

LA Preview: Porsche reveals new lightweight Boxster Spyder [w/VIDEO] 2 days ago on Autoblog

We're less than a month away from the LA Auto Show, which means that automakers are starting to dribble out some of what we'll be seeing there. The gang from Zuffenhausen will be rolling out a new lightweight edition of the Boxster dubbed "Spyder" especially for those who live where the sun ...

SEMA 2009: Steve Saleen launches SMS Superparts 2 days ago on Autoblog

With SMS Supercars recently launching the 570 Challenger and with a Mustang and Camaro, it was inevitable it would soon offer many of the parts individually. On the first day of SEMA Steve Saleen and his new company announced Superparts, the aftermarket sales and distribution arm of SMS ...

SEMA 2009: Lexus F-Sports sitting in the sun 2 days ago on Autoblog

It's tempting to dismiss Lexus' F-Sport as a direct Audi S-Line rip off. But unlike Audi's visual-only appearance upgrades, F-Sport actually offers some performance (intake, exhaust, brakes, etc.), handling and exterior body mods. Advantage, Lexus. And we like the Yakuza-y stance of this GS ...

SEMA 2009: Progressive Automotive X-Prize Contenders 2 days ago on Autoblog

For those of you who follow our sister site AutoblogGreen regularly, you're very familiar with the Automotive X-Prize, the $10m challenge to produce viable and super fuel-efficient vehicles. For us polar ice cap haters, we generally think of the competitors in this kind of thing as a bunch of ...

SEMA 2009: New-and-improved Specter Werkes C6 GTR 2 days ago on Autoblog

We told you about the Specter Werkes C6 GTR last month, but now we've seen the latest super 'Vette in person and we like what we see. The Corvette tuners from Troy, MI unveiled their original C6 GTR last summer, but here at SEMA, they showed the new-and-improved version. This newest GTR has had ...

SEMA 2009: HTT Plethore LC-750, yet another ambitious supercar startup 2 days ago on Autoblog

"I'm not an engineer. I'm an electrician," Luc Chartrand admits through his thick Quebecois accent. I believe him. Chartrand, a former karting and stock-car driver, is the lone designer, engineer and founder of HTT, a Montreal-based supercar upstart, unveiling the first prototype of his 11-year ...

SEMA 2009: Vaughn Gittin's all-carbon fiber RTR-C Mustang 2 days ago on Autoblog

Of all the Mustangs in the Ford booth, Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s carbon fiber RTR-C Mustang was by far our favorite. To answer the question everyone is wondering – no, it's not a wrap. The carbon fiber body panels are the real deal. According to Vaughn, the lightweight material saves 400-500 ...

SEMA 2009: Yenko Camaro cuts through the aftermarket fog 2 days ago on Autoblog

There a lot of new Camaros here at SEMA. In fact, depending upon your depth of exhaustion, residual blood-alcohol level from last night and general brain-deadedness, you might be forgiven for thinking that every other car here is a Camaro. And some of them, well, ain't so great. Useless ground ...

SEMA 2009: A trio of modded Lexus customs drop their tops 2 days ago on Autoblog

While it might be tempting to dismiss the Lexus C (either the 250 or 350) as a bustled buttocksed luxury faux-sports car, Lexus implanted enough good handling (in the 250 C) and/or POWA! (in the 350 C) to make 'em pretty much OK in our book. Still, this is SEMA -- pretty much OK is never even ...

SEMA 2009: Saleen officially unveils 2010 S281 Mustang 2 days ago on Autoblog

After a few teasers photos via Flickr, Saleen Performance Vehicles has finally given us our first live view of its 2010 S281 Mustang. Those initial pictures showed lots of potential, and our positive first impressions were confirmed when we saw the car in person. To put it bluntly, Saleen has ...

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Autoblog Podcast #151: With Car and Driver's Eddie Alterman

Eddie Alterman wades in with Sam, Chris, Dan, and Jonny to talk about SEMA and other recent events.

 
 

Featured Galleries

  • SEMA 2009: HPP Daytona Challenger
  • LA Design Challenge 2009 Competitors
  • SEMA 2009: 1962 Chevrolet Corvette C1-RS
  • SEMA 2009: Bigfoot
  • SEMA 2009: Black Bison Toyota Alphard
  • Ford's Inflatable Seat Belts
  • 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder
  • Shelby Turbocharged Mustang
  • Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition
  • SEMA 2009: Ringbrothers 1964 Ford Fairlane
  • SEMA 2009: Lexus F-Sport
  • SEMA 2009: Hennessey HPE700 Camaro
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