From Ceramic to Silicone – 2011 SEMA Show

From Ceramic to Silicone – 2011 SEMA Show:

For those who have never been to the annual SEMA Show it’s easy to imagine it’s just a place where complete cars from the wild and crazy ones to pure race cars are displayed. That’s not the case though – they are really just eye-candy. The real show is put on by some 2,000 exhibitors displaying aftermarket parts and accessories.

Everything from body parts, such as a complete replica Ford Mustang bodyshell, to engine components to polishes. Essentially there is something for anyone involved in the auto trade be it a repair facility or a race shop.

Naturally we have tended to concentrate on the complete cars shown at this year’s show but we also took time to check out some of the accessories as well.

It would be impossible to cover everything from A to Z so here’s a quick look at two extremes.

Brembo is the world’s largest manufacturer of high performance brakes. I was amazed to see Brembo brakes on show cars from just about every major manufacturer including Chrysler, GM and Ford. Brembo has just announced it will be the exclusive supplier of brakes for the new Dallara car for next season’s IZOD IndyCar series. Utilizing its vast experience in F1, GP2 and Le Mans, Brembo has engineered a 6-piston, monobloc aluminum caliper machined from billet with titanium-radiated pistons and carbon-carbon discs.

Brembo showed off an actual ceramic on ceramic disc rotor from an F1 car on its booth alongside a sample of an aftermarket ceramic rotor that can be retrofitted to many high performance road cars. Of course the ultimate in braking costs thousands of dollars compared to a comparable, but heavy, steel rotor, but it is the best way to stop in a hurry.

At the other extreme we were fascinated by a hands-on display at the Rescue Tape booth. The company produces a silicone tape that is used by many race teams as well as boaters, since the tape can be applied under water. Rescue Tape can be used to seal leaks in hoses and pipe. It can even be used to create a temporary fan belt if you’re caught with a broken one. It is something that can keep you from being stopped when you’re in a hurry.

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Full Coverage: 2011 SEMA Show >>

Photos: Best of SEMA 2011 >>

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Convertible SUVs – 2011 SEMA Show

Convertible SUVs – 2011 SEMA Show:

We have seen more than our share of convertible SUVs at SEMA this year, including this one. Has the Nissan Murano convertible started a weird trend?

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Product Spotlight: MXP SP Exhaust for BMW M3 – 2011 SEMA Show

Product Spotlight: MXP SP Exhaust for BMW M3 – 2011 SEMA Show:

The new SP exhaust from MXP fits all three body styles of the current BMW M3 (E90/92/93). Constructed with SUS304 stainless steel, the SP exhaust features a quad-tip design with a burnt finish. The tip lengths are adjustable to fit either the 2- or 4-door body styles. Four straight-through mufflers and larger 60 mm piping reduce backpressure, increasing output by up to 10 bhp. The exhaust system carries a 3-year warranty.

Price: $1895.

www.mxp-performance.com

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Full Coverage: 2011 SEMA Show >>

Photos: Best of SEMA 2011 >>

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Great Scott! Someone Built an Electric DeLorean

Great Scott! Someone Built an Electric DeLorean:

The DeLorean Motor Company is a nostalgic and stainless-steel bodied blast from the past, especially for fans of the Back to the Future movie trilogy. Go ahead, you know you want to start quoting lines from the films…we’ll wait.

Believe it or not, DeLorean has some pretty big plans for the future, naturally. The company plans to build brand new, and entirely electric-powered, versions of the DMC-12 coupe. The finished product should make even Doc Brown proud.

Now based in Humble, Texas, the DeLorean Motor Company of the present holds the rights to the company name and DMC-12 sports coupe. It also serves as the largest inventory for original parts and equipment, to help keep your classic DeLorean on the road.

The new electric model is due in 2013. Powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, the DeLorean DMC-12 EV is expected to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds. Top speed should be 125 mph, which puts us safely beyond the 88 mph barrier needed for time travel.

However, a range of only 70 miles could put a crimp on those long-distance drives outside of Hill Valley. Though you have to love the name of the California-based company behind the DMC-12 EV’s electric motor technology: Flux Power.

And no, that’s not a joke.

Each model will be custom-built, and priced at approximately $100,000. DeLorean can also build you a new gasoline-powered DMC-12 coupe for roughly half that amount.

No word yet on a Mr. Fusion upgrade.

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Driven: European Spec 2012 Honda Civic

Driven: European Spec 2012 Honda Civic:

Malaga, Spain: This is Honda’s take on a world car but, unlike the Ford Focus, for instance, which is a universal product, Honda prefers to tailor cars individually for each market. So, the UK and Europe get hatchback models – currently only a five-door, but it’s likely to be joined by a three-door further down the line – while the US Civic comes as a coupe or four-door with their own design language.

The UK-European Civic was a pretty radical piece of design when it debuted six years ago, so it has only been tinkered with around the edges. Its most drastic change is the wrap-round rear spoiler and high-level brake light that spans the rear window; the latter has been made deeper so shorter drivers have a better view out the back window.

Aerodynamics have played a big role in the car’s design, with specialists who worked on Honda’s abortive F1 effort contributing their knowledge and expertise to the car’s design. What can’t be seen is the full length underbody paneling designed to ease airflow, while the diesel model has small vertical strakes on the rear quarters that help to keep the air attached to the car and at the same time knock 1 g/km CO2 off the diesel model’s fuel consumption. In total it’s reckoned the car is 30% more slippery than the old model. The diesel also gets active grille shutters that open and close automatically to further improve aerodynamic efficiency.

All very clever, but reduced coefficient of drag only works on the move whereas reducing weight has a more universal effect. To this end Honda has reduced the car’s weight by 60Kgs over the outgoing one, but additional equipment has added it all back on to neutralize the gains.

Inside there’s been a general improvement in materials and overall quality, although the instrumentation – a slightly odd combination of digital and analogue read outs – might not be to everyone’s taste. What you can’t argue about is the interior’s roominess, it’s very spacious for its size and the clever flip and folding rear seat arrangement, made possible by having a central fuel tank under the floor and torsion beam rear suspension, is unique to Honda.

The 2.2 liter diesel with 147 bhp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque is going to be the big seller in the UK and Europe, not surprising when it only emits a class-leading 110g/kms and returns a combined average of 56 mpg (US); it’s reasonably sprightly as well with a 135 mph top speed and 62 mph reached in 8.5 seconds.

Otherwise there’s a 1.8 gasoline version, delivering 139 bhp and 128 lb.-ft. of torque. In typical Honda fashion it’s a pretty high revving engine with peak power and torque not coming on song until 6500 and 4300 rpm, respectively, resulting in 134 mph max speed and a dash to 62 mph in 9.6 seconds.

The last car to wear the Civic badge didn’t have great ride and handling, but that has been comprehensively put to one side with this latest iteration. A solidly mounted rack means the steering is sharper and more responsive whilst new front suspension geometry and clever hydraulic rear suspension bushes keep everything under control, allowing keener drivers to punt the car down the road with some gusto.

By European standards the diesel is a bit limp requiring more gear changing than you’d expect from a 2.2, but it delivers on fuel consumption.

Forget the change up arrows on the gasoline version and max it out to the red line and you’ll be rewarded with a thrumming exhaust note and a reasonably quick drive.

Ultimately does it beat European contenders like the Focus or Golf? Probably not, because it’s quite pricey for starters. But what it does do well is hold its value on the used car market and appeal to those that don’t want to be mainstream. And that’s a good enough reason for many.

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Do You Really Need That? – 2011 SEMA Show

Do You Really Need That? – 2011 SEMA Show:

The annual SEMA show offers the wildest high performance products you’re likely to find on earth. And without doubt, it also serves up a hearty helping of the wackiest gear too. If super-sizing wheels isn’t taking things far enough, you can always add some sparkle – or space for a Jacuzzi. It’s SEMA, after all, and subtlety is one thing you’re not going to find at the show.

Bedazzled Chevy V-8

Who doesn’t love the power and punch of a classic Chevy V-8? Apparently, the folks at Proform figured it needed something a little extra. This V-8 now boasts some blinding bling. It certainly drew a crowd here at SEMA. But try to imagine the chaos that V-8 would inflict on the precious bedazzled heads the first time the engine was started. Ouch!

2010 Camaro

If you have stock in Goodyear or Pirelli, chances are you’ll love this car. This 2010 Camaro comes with humungous 24×15 rear wheels wrapped in 405/25-24 tires. These massive wheels could fill the arches on a Peterbilt tractor-trailer, much less a Chevy muscle car.

BPG Werks Scooter

The DTV Shredder from BPG Werks features a 200cc 18hp 4-stroke engine. Top speed is 30 mph. It has lean-to-steer controls with two CVT’s controlling the treads. A tow hitch comes standard, while a remote control, amphibious package and GPS are optional. It’s kind of cool, in a Mad Max-meets-Segway kind of way.

Jeweled Wheel Weights

These impressive wheel weights from P.C. Products mark another entry into the ledger of things that don’t need to sparkle, yet somehow they must at SEMA. They could also double as a flashy set of earrings in a pinch.

Wild Boar Jeep

This dual-axle jeep at the Wild Boar Products stand looks rough and tough, until you factor in the longer wheelbase and larger turning radius. Not exactly fine attributes for a serious off-roader. However, the truck-bed could make the perfect spot for a Jacuzzi…

Crazy Shift-Knobs

If you’re looking to dress up your rat-rod – or scare would-be car thieves – this smoking monkey head in a fez and deranged pineapple shift-knob might be just the thing. These could make even a beige Corolla look seriously demented.

Dcenti Custom

We think this blindingly orange creation at the Dcenti stand started life as a Chrysler 300. Maybe. It has all the custom car touches: suicide doors, TV screens, huge wheels, massive speakers and Bentley-like grill. What takes it to the next level are the Venus Fly Trap bed cover and hood. Okay, those and the hard plastic seats. And with so much work poured into this vehicle, you think someone might have color-matched the black rubber door seals.

Optima Rock Crawler

How do you get people to look at a stand devoted to batteries? You put THIS in front of it. Meet the very awesome Optima Rock Crawler. Did anyone else play with a Construx building set as a kid? Apparently so.

This is all and good fun and we get a kick out of seeing the wild things that are brought to the show each year. Because, just when you think you’ve seen it all at SEMA, you turn a corner and find the unimaginable!

Tornado Racer at Line-X

More:



Full Coverage: 2011 SEMA Show >>

Photos: Best of SEMA 2011 >>

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Do You Really Need That? – 2011 SEMA Show

Do You Really Need That? – 2011 SEMA Show:

The annual SEMA show offers the wildest high performance products you’re likely to find on earth. And without doubt, it also serves up a hearty helping of the wackiest gear too. If super-sizing wheels isn’t taking things far enough, you can always add some sparkle – or space for a Jacuzzi. It’s SEMA, after all, and subtlety is one thing you’re not going to find at the show.

Bedazzled Chevy V-8

Who doesn’t love the power and punch of a classic Chevy V-8? Apparently, the folks at Proform figured it needed something a little extra. This V-8 now boasts some blinding bling. It certainly drew a crowd here at SEMA. But try to imagine the chaos that V-8 would inflict on the precious bedazzled heads the first time the engine was started. Ouch!

2010 Camaro

If you have stock in Goodyear or Pirelli, chances are you’ll love this car. This 2010 Camaro comes with humungous 24×15 rear wheels wrapped in 405/25-24 tires. These massive wheels could fill the arches on a Peterbilt tractor-trailer, much less a Chevy muscle car.

BPG Werks Scooter

The DTV Shredder from BPG Werks features a 200cc 18hp 4-stroke engine. Top speed is 30 mph. It has lean-to-steer controls with two CVT’s controlling the treads. A tow hitch comes standard, while a remote control, amphibious package and GPS are optional. It’s kind of cool, in a Mad Max-meets-Segway kind of way.

Jeweled Wheel Weights

These impressive wheel weights from P.C. Products mark another entry into the ledger of things that don’t need to sparkle, yet somehow they must at SEMA. They could also double as a flashy set of earrings in a pinch.

Wild Boar Jeep

This dual-axle jeep at the Wild Boar Products stand looks rough and tough, until you factor in the longer wheelbase and larger turning radius. Not exactly fine attributes for a serious off-roader. However, the truck-bed could make the perfect spot for a Jacuzzi…

Crazy Shift-Knobs

If you’re looking to dress up your rat-rod – or scare would-be car thieves – this smoking monkey head in a fez and deranged pineapple shift-knob might be just the thing. These could make even a beige Corolla look seriously demented.

Dcenti Custom

We think this blindingly orange creation at the Dcenti stand started life as a Chrysler 300. Maybe. It has all the custom car touches: suicide doors, TV screens, huge wheels, massive speakers and Bentley-like grill. What takes it to the next level are the Venus Fly Trap bed cover and hood. Okay, those and the hard plastic seats. And with so much work poured into this vehicle, you think someone might have color-matched the black rubber door seals.

Optima Rock Crawler

How do you get people to look at a stand devoted to batteries? You put THIS in front of it. Meet the very awesome Optima Rock Crawler. Did anyone else play with a Construx building set as a kid? Apparently so.

This is all and good fun and we get a kick out of seeing the wild things that are brought to the show each year. Because, just when you think you’ve seen it all at SEMA, you turn a corner and find the unimaginable!

Tornado Racer at Line-X

More:



Full Coverage: 2011 SEMA Show >>

Photos: Best of SEMA 2011 >>

Related posts:

1. Ricky Carmichael Sonic Turbo – 2011 SEMA Show
2. Hot New Product: Optima Digital 1200 Battery Charger – 2011 SEMA Show
3. Winner of the 2011 Scion Tuner Challenge Announced – 2011 SEMA Show

Source :Google Reader