The All-Encompassing SEMA Preview Coverage, Pt 1

The yearly SEMA (Special Equipment Manufacturers Association) show happens in Las Vegas.  That's enough reason to want to go to it.  But more than the exotic locale (way better than, err, Detroit), SEMA is a hotbed of aftermarket parts.  If you're inclined to think this is a no-big-deal sort of affair, that's not the case.  The SEMA show attracts so much attention that manufacturers themselves have been getting into the SEMA game for a few years now, whether directly or through various 3rd party companies.

There are so many "new car" debuts prior to SEMA that I would literally flood your RSS feed with them.  I don't want to do that.  Plus, I can't write an entire article about a Chevy Sonic with a bodykit.  So here are some of the goods that are coming out at SEMA this year, split up into two convenient posts for your reading pleasure, by manufacturer.

Chevrolet is bringing a whole bunch of Sonics and Cruzes decked out with aftermarket goodies.  This is a definite change from the Sonic's predecessor, the Aveo - to which the best modification would be the addition of plastic explosives.  Above is the Z-Spec #1, which has Torch Red paint, a mild bodykit, and a vinyl job.  There are also upgraded 4-piston front brakes, a new exhaust, and suspension bits - as well as a short shifter, flat-bottomed wheel, etc.  The Z-Spec #2 (white one) has all the same upgrades but with a more aggressive body kit.

Chevy will also be bringing two other Sonics to SEMA - the Z-Spec 4D (with the same modifications as the two 5-door concepts) and a Sonic Dusk, which is a dark blue with 18" wheels, etc.  There will also be a Cruze Z-Spec and a Cruze Dusk concept to match the Sonic concepts - both of which get Z-Spec body kits, 18" wheels, and interior modifications (like the shifter, flat-bottom wheel, and specific trim) as well.

Chevy is also showing a pair of concept Corvettes at SEMA - the Carlisle Blue Grand Sport, and the Ron Fellows Z06 Hall of Fame Tribute.  The Carlisle Blue concept (pictured) features a new paint color that will be available on the Corvette next year, as well as a set of staggered-size wheels (18" front, 19" rear) called Torque 2's that will be available soon.  There are also six-piston brakes, a dry-sumped LS3 under the hood, Magnaride shocks, and a lot of aesthetic goodies.  The Ron Fellows edition Z06 is a Z07 package car built to honor the Corvette Racing driver's induction into the Corvette Hall of Fame, and features a lot of cosmetic enhancements like a raised carbon hood, black headlight housings, and a custom interior.

Chevrolet will also bring no less than four Camaro concept cars to SEMA.  Two of them are just sticker, paint and alloys type of deals - the Red Zone and Synergy concepts - but the 1LE and ZL-1 Carbon concepts are more interesting.  The Carbon concept (pictured right) is a regular ZL-1 Camaro - all 580 supercharged horsepower of it - with a smattering of carbon fibre trim to liven it up.  Carbon fibre gills in the hood lump and a carbon rear spoiler along with a set of lightweight 20" wheels (10" front, 11" rear) give the ZL1 a meaner appearance, and the massive two-piece front Brembo rotors with 6-piston calipers will probably help the heavy ZL-1 slow down.  There's also a lot of suede and carbon-fibre (with a flat-bottom wheel, which Chevy is apparently fond of) inside.  The other interesting concept - the 1LE package - combines parts from the SS and ZL1 Camaro to make a more track-ready SS.  It adds a lot of things not normally available on the SS- Magnetic Ride Control, ZL1 rolling stock, the same two-piece front rotors with six-piston calipers, a ZL-1 style active dual exhaust in a diffuser, and some ZL1 interior pieces.  Chevrolet says the 1LE could become a production option, and I certainly don't see why not - the SS could benefit from the ride and handling improvements that Magnaride offers.

Mopar is bringing a bevy of concept to SEMA as well.  Pictured above is the Challenger ACR concept, made to celebrate the defunct Viper ACR's recent 'Ring lap time record.  It has a pile of Mopar performance accessories to make it go, turn, and stop faster: a cat-back exhaust, long-tube headers, and a short throw shifter help with the accelerating, while a set of adjustable coilovers as well as front and rear strut braces help the big Dodge turn.  Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires provide the grip.  The black-on-white color scheme with a single red stripe and mirror caps is pretty menacing, as well.  Inside, the rear seats are gone, and front buckets with harness pass-throughs, a roll cage, and a flat-bottom wheel make it lighter and more focused.  Dodge:  build it!

Less interesting, but far more, umm, orange is the Durango Tow Hook concept.  (Tow Hook?  Why?)  It's basically a Durango painted really freaking orange with a black roof, huge wheels, and 25mm lower ride height.  There's apparently a custom orange interior, which I can't wait to see, and the Hemi makes lovely noises through a Corsa cat-back exhaust.

Since Chrysler and Fiat are now linked at the hip, the Mopar boys are bringing a pair of tuned Fiat 500 concepts to SEMA as well, although they didn't bother to release any pictures other than a close-up of a headlight.  The 500 Titanium will feature a matte Titanium paint finish, 16" two-piece alloy wheels, a body kit, and lowered suspension and upgraded brakes.  the 500 Carbon will of course have a bunch of carbon-fibre components attached to it; stay tuned for pictures and info on these two.

In the "not too surprising" category is the Ram SRT 392 Quick Silver concept.  Dodge isn't exactly unfamiliar with the fast-truck genre; they basically invented it with the late 70's "L'il Red Express."  And for a while they were scaring the bejeesus out of unsuspecting passengers with the Viper-powered Ram SRT-10, all 8.3L and 500bhp of it.  The SRT 392 Quicksilver is exactly what you'd guess- a single cab Ram R/T that's had the SRT Group's 392ci (6.4L) Hemi V8 shoved under the hood.  With 470 horsepower, plus a cold-air intake and a set of long tube headers with electronic cutouts added (mmm!), this concept truck seems like a no-brainer, considering Ford has abandoned the fast-truck market.  Turning and stopping are improved with custom suspension providing a 2" drop, while 15" rotors are pinched by Brembo 6-piston calipers up front.  The truck rides on 22" alloy wheels with massive meats - 275/45/R22 front and 305/40/R22 rear.

Honda hasn't exactly been on a roll lately with cars appealing to drivers, but that doesn't mean the aftermarket is any less fond of them.  The new 2012 Civic Si is just rolling into dealerships now, and here's a crazy widebody boosted one already.  The biggest change for the 2012 Si was the replacement of the high-revving torqueless 2.0L K20Z3 with the larger 2.4L K24Z7 that can be found under the hood of the Acura TSX.  On paper, I'm not a huge fan - it's only got 4 more horsepower than the old one, and while the much higher torque output at low rpm's is nice for a daily driver, I'd rather have my high-winding 8,000+ rpm Honda engine back.

Add in some boost though, and the story is different.  With more displacement and a lower compression ratio, the new K24 is a natural for some turbocharging, which is just what Fox Marketing did.  They claim their intercooled turbocharger setup is good for 450 horsepower (more than double the original amount) while retaining Honda civility and reliability.  I just want to experience how much torque steer a 2.4L, turbocharged Civic with a helical LSD has.

Being a SEMA show car, there is of course a wide-body kit, gigantic wheels and tires, custom paint and interior work, and stickers everywhere.  But I mostly am interested in that boosted K24.  Do want.

Hyundai will also have a pretty full stand.  The Genesis coupe has been with us for two years now, and it's a great car, but like most other cars, it could use another hundred horsepower or so.  Hyundai (with the help of Magnuson, Rhys Millen Racing (RMR), Harman and Torvec) has just the thing: the Genesis Coupe Hurricane concept.

Beyond the badass matte-black paint and huge wheels, what's important is under the hood.  The Genesis 3.8's V6 engine, which normally makes 306 horsepower, is boosted by a Magnuson supercharger breathing through an air-to-liquid intercooler to the result of more than 450 horsepower.  Helping put all that supercharged grunt down is a new IsoTorque limited slip differential and 19" Enkeis with sticky Hankooks.  (No Goodyears?  Hey, gotta keep it KDM, son!)  A new exhaust provides more growl, and six-piston Brembos with cross drilled rotors help with the stopping.  Finally, an RMR front clip and a Lexicon stereo amp up the pimpin' factor.

The big news for the slanted H this year is the Veloster, though.  So Hyundai is bringing a few tuned Velosters to whet the appetite of the aftermarket.  First up is the turbocharged, wide-body ARK Veloster.  The engine gets a twin-scroll turbocharger and intercooler, oil cooler, custom turbo manifold, underdrive pulleys, and new exhaust from the turbo to the tips.  There's also a six-piston braking system, a roll cage, and a pretty comprehensive suspension overhaul - including coilovers, sway bars, camber plates and adjustable control arms, and a strut tie bar.  ARK claims 210bhp for their turbocharged version of the Veloster's 1.6 GDI motor, up from 138 stock.  Considering the factory Veloster Turbo will have 208bhp, this is right on point.  Then there are the cosmetic modifications, which basically replace everything but the roof.  Looks wicked.

The other Veloster that will be on Hyundai's stand is a partnership between PM Design and UTI technical school.  This bright-blue on black Veloster was designed to showcase the kind of modifications people can do in their own garages.  To that point, it's mostly a lot of bolt-on modifications.  Power comes from an AEM intake and a Magnaflow exhaust with high-flow cat, as well as a Nitrous Express giggle gas setup.  Preventing it from blowing up are an external oil cooler, Flex-A-Lite radiator and thermostat, and a SPEC clutch.  There's also the usual chassis mods - big brake kit, KW coilover suspension, and 18" Konig wheels.  PM Design claims 163 horsepower for their Veloster; presumably before the hit of nitrous.  On the outside, a custom BASF paint job mixes with some Seibon carbon-fibre goodies to increase the pimp factor.  Nicely done on this one.

Over at the Kia division, work continues (quite successfully, I might add) on ridding Kia of it's barrell-scraper image.  To help with that, Kia is bringing two concepts to SEMA, a new Rio Hatchback (pictured left) and a Forte (below.)  The Rio is surf-themed, but to me it just looks like a stanced-out Rio Hatch with a roof-rack.  The paint is custom golden-brown, and there's a wooden front splitter to match the surf board on the roof.  The Rio is obviously dropped to the ground on some sort of aftermarket suspension, with a set of gold-hued 3-piece 17" wheels.  Is this the first stanced-out new gen Rio?  If so, the future is looking great for Kia's smallest car, whose previous claim to fame was "cheapest, nastiest new car you can buy."  Both of these concepts were made in conjuction with Antenna Magazine, who outfitted the trunk of the Rio concept with a custom "entertainment center" that can play 80's arcade games and records.  Why?  Well, why not I suppose.

The Forte Concept is hockey-themed, which is also odd.  Built off of the newish Forte 5-door hatchback, the concept has the front clip from the Forte Koup SX grafted onto it, which is actually pretty good looking.  On the outside, there's custom "Aviator Gray" paint and some very blue 18" alloy wheels along with a custom body kit, a carbon fibre roof, lowered suspension, quad tailpipes (one for each cylinder?) and LED accents.  Inside, a miniature air-hockey table slides out of the hatch - maybe it's the cargo cover when it's inside? - and there is of course a hockey-stick holder in the interior.  The rear seats are individual buckets, and there are 7" LCD screens in the back of the headrests hooked up to a PS3.  Pretty standard show car stuff, but I vote that Kia starts slapping Koup SX bumpers on 5-doors, pronto.

Mazda is bringing a pair of concepts to SEMA as well:  an ultralight-weight Miata concept like they've been teasing us with for years, and a turbocharged Mazda 2 hot hatch.  Mazda didn't give a lot of details on either concept, so I'll put on my conjecture hat.  The Miata Spyder has a much more aggressive looking front fascia grafted onto the current NC chassis Miata, with a grille opening that looks like it was borrowed directly from the RX-8.  There's also a Boxster Spyder-style tent where the roof would normally be, presumably because it weighs less.  They say it has a "new, more aggressive look" - and that's about it.

I'm more interested by the Mazda2 Turbo.  Mazda's PR department says it combines "one of our most powerful, turbocharged engines in our lightest platform."  (That's no lie - the Mazda2's curb weight is actually lower than that of the Miata, closer to 2,000 pounds than 2,500.)  What could that mean?  If I'm guessing (and I am!), I'd say there's a 2.3 DISI-Turbo under the hood, the 2.3L direct-injected, turbocharged and intercooled I4 that powers the MazdaSpeed3 and the CX-7.  If the weight is kept around 2,200lbs, this 263bhp motor would make for an absolutely wicked little beast.  More details on this toy very soon.

I'll cover the rest of the preview posts for SEMA in part II of this, so stay tuned!  SEMA opens it's doors tomorrow, so there will likely be more cool stuff rolling out afterwards as well.