Special Car, auto, cars, vehicles

Looming over everything is the aftermath of The Nightmare on Wall Street. No-one you talk to here expects all three of Detroit's automakers to survive the credit crunch intact. Chrysler is widely regarded as the weakest link and the most likely to fail or be absorbed, though most people merely nod sagely when you explain that at the current rate it is burning cash, GM has maybe 12 to 24 months to live. A year ago they would have called you crazy.

Ford's in scarcely better shape, but the view here is Alan Mullaly's decisive moves to dramatically downsize the company have at least given it a head start over the other two. And maybe a shot at survival.

It's easy to think of the credit crunch as only really affecting the vulnerable Detroit Three. But otherwise healthy automakers are also deeply worried. The long faces among execs working for Japanese automakers betray the strain of dealing with sudden 20 to 30 percent slumps in sales. Even the upscale brands are stressed -- I heard the suggestion one high-margin, highly successful European automaker could only afford to support its dealers at current levels for 16 months before the company would run into serious financial problems.

There's blood on the concrete at dealerships all over the country. One prominent dealer told me his business was currently running at 25 percent the level it was seven or eight years ago. "We've been used to growth," he said. "Now we're having meetings every day trying to figure out how we can get back to profitability." He paused for a second, then smiled: "At least at SEMA we can enjoy some escapism for a couple of days."

How true.

Pro-Street Rolls-Royce
We're used to seeing Rollers at SEMA -- even this year there were at least two Phantom Drophead Coupes on display. But most are simply high-priced show ponies for uber-bling wheels, primly stock in every other way. This Pro-Street Silver Shadow is the real SEMA deal, however -- slammed and tubbed, with a blown Hemi metal mountain thrusting through the hood. Inside is a lot of leather. But no burl walnut.

Rothmans Porsche 962C
I started in this business in the early 80s as a freelance motor sport reporter in Australia, hustling stories as a way of getting up close and personal to fast cars and fascinating people. And maybe make a couple of bucks here and there along the way. By 1985 I had landed a job on a mainstream buff book, giving me the opportunity to occasionally see first hand the best racers in the world compete on tracks I'd read about all my life. The Rothmans Porsche 962s ran in the World Sports Car Championship in the mid-80s, a series that rivaled Formula 1 for excitement and manufacturer involvement. I think I saw this particular car race at Spa-Francorchamps in 1987. It's most famous, however, for winning the Le Mans 24 Hour race that year, breaking a run of wins by the all-conquering Silk Cut Jaguars, and causing then Jaguar boss Sir John Egan to utter the immortal line: "God must be a German".

Matte and gloss
One of the fun parts of SEMA is trying to spot the trends. One of the obvious ones this year was tone-on-tone matte-gloss paint jobs. This Nissan GT-R was one of a number of cars with variations on this theme. Another that caught my eye was a very cool Challenger with a gloss black lower, matt black upper, and gloss black racing stripes over the hood, roof and trunk.

Get smart
Though Ford tried hard with the Flex, the tiny smart fourtwo was -- along with the Dodge Challenger -- one of this year's "it" cars at SEMA. The smarts ran the gamut from mild to wild (George Barris had one pimped as a baby Batmobile). My favorite was this neat little one from German tuner Carlsson. It had been lowered, fitted with 16in front and 177in rear wheels and bigger tires, and had a sports exhaust with quad outlets. Carlsson boss Markus Schuster wondered aloud whether there would be a market for a modded smart in America. What do you think? We'll be testing this one when it's shipped to LA after the show, so stay tuned.

Closing the circle
This is how it began. Could it also be how it ends? The Jeep J8 "Sarge" is a military-spec version of the JK Jeep. It rolls on a 116in wheelbase, and is offered as a two or four door. It can be configured as a light troop carrier, ambulance, or cargo truck. Chassis upgrades allow the J8 Sarge to tow and carry much heavier loads than a regular JK Jeep. Under the hood is a 2.8-liter four cylinder turbo-diesel making 158hp and 295lb-ft of torque, driving all four wheels through a five speed automatic transmission. Jeep started out as an all-purpose motorized mule for the Allied forces in World War Two. The J8 Sarge has a rugged honesty that too many of Jeep's modern products lack -- step forward Commander, Compass and Patriot. Maybe that's why I liked it.

Dingell, Democrat from Michigan's 15th district, doesn't want to go anywhere. He has more experience than any other congress member, having replaced his late father in the 15th district in 1955. He's number 33 on Motor Trend's 2008 Power List, mostly for his efforts in beating back draconian Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards in last year's Energy Bill. Dingell didn't make as much progress on the bill as he'd like, but it would have been even tougher for automakers to meet had Waxman and fellow committee member Representative Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) prevailed.

While they're with the same party, Dingell and Waxman don't get along, at least on issues of energy and climate change, the two lead issues that Energy & Commerce oversees. Dingell is a champion of his home state's auto industry of course, while Waxman would like nothing better than to adapt stricter California Air Resources Board standards nationally. He knows that when the California Air Resources Board issues its latest emissions rules, automakers will take the state to court, again, to get a ruling that states can't supersede federal rules. With six Eastern states following the California standard, the Golden State has de facto authority over the federal government. (What we really could use is a global standard, but that's another post.) If Waxman becomes chairman, he could push for a stricter CAFE standard, like CARB's proposal.

Speaker Pelosi will have a lot of influence in nominating the 111th Congress' Energy & Commerce chairman to the Democratic caucus, and it's easy to jump to the conclusion that the two California Democrats would like to impose the strict fuel economy standards that CARB favors. Representative Bart Stupak (D-Michigan) doesn't see that happening, with 48 of 50 states have ties to the auto industry.

I'd rather not take the risk.

Still, the loyal opposition is confident. Representative Mike Doyle, Dem from Pennsylvania, says Waxman doesn't have committee support to become chairman.

"The chairman (Dingell) has aggressively pursued the agenda that has been supported by the Democratic leadership," Doyle says. "I asked Mr. Waxman what is his reason for opposing Mr. Dingell...He was unable to give me a reason, other than he wanted to be chairman."

Stupak and Doyle say they have enough votes in the committee to oppose Waxman's challenge. Dingell will remain chairman of the committee, they say. If you agree, see whether someone from your state is on the committee by going to energycommerce.house.gov (Democrats are in the left column) and write your congressman or woman. Stupak expects a caucus vote on the Energy & Commerce chairman about November 17 or 18.

8:55 AM -- From the looks of the various OEs spread out over the show, Ford looks to be the winner this year, but still need to get over to Toyota. The project Flexes (including our own Motor Trend Flex) are all over the place, and the Raptor intro has a lot of people talking. Clearly Ford has the biggest booth but it's also done the best job filling it with significant and cool vehicles.

9:15 AM -- Did some video with MT.com at the Mopar booth. Last year they made a big deal about all their Mopar Underground lifts and slamming performance parts. This year they said nothing about how sales have been going but did build four new Rams with off-the-shelf parts. Nice but just basic lifted and street truck offerings. Nothing special.

10:00 AM -- Finished Gran Turismo Award judging. I picked a custom classic '38 Chevy pickup for the Truck/SUV category. Too bad more trucks didn't enter. There were quite a few crazy monster all over the show.

10:10 AM -- Got to listen to Barry Meguiar talk about some of his new waxes and detail products. We've been using their stuff for years for photo shoots. Now he says he has moisture repell that can push water uphill. That might be looney.

10:45 a.m. -- Stopped at the Avery Dennison booth that was putting a protective plastic all over a Lambo. Looked easy with thick front and side protection. We might need that for some long-termers.

11:15 AM -- First moment I've had to spend in Toyota booth. WOW! Ducati Tundra is crazy with custom bike bed and luscious interior. Stealth Black Tundra has all the TRD stuff on it and will do a 4.4 0-60, that's what we tested one as having. Desert Racer Tacoma has an independent rear suspension, is 7 in. wider, has a 2-in. lift, and a S/C. (Sounds like somebody was watching Raptor.) Four-cylinder 4x4 with an auto Tacoma doesn't exist now (used to) so this is how the SEMA builders give the engineers a push. And to top it all off, they've used a color scheme from the late '80s. Also here is a new FJ package with BFGs, bead locks, black rims and a unique interior. Definitely need to yell at someone at Toyota for not making a bigger deal about what they brought. And why didn't they let us know ahead of time?

11:30 AM -- Not many clothing or apparel companies at SEMA but did have a great chat with the head guy at Piloti. Very cool racing shoe that looking to branch out. If you haven't seen one before, check them out. Every car guy should have one pair. Would make great Christmas gift for anyone -- hint, hint. Sure wish my wife read my blogs.

12:00 PM -- Nothing like a convention center lunch: two-day old chicken Caesar wrap with stale Famous Amos cookies, and a headache-killing Mountain Dew. Decided to only eat two bites of the wrap, hoping to avoid the previous day's bowl highlights.

1:30 PM -- Greatest thing about SEMA is the chance we journos get to wander the aisles and look at all the overhyped, overpromising crud... But every once in a while we stumble across some new product where even the owner or designer doesn't realize how good their product is. I saw three of those things today. The first was called R4Tech air-over-leaf suspension replacement from Firestone Industries for one-ton pickups. It's $2000 but changes everything for guys who use their trucks to haul and daily drive. Second is a fun light fixture that shines from under your truck any logo, bright light, or design you want. Clever and full of potential. Finally, we saw a spin-on magnetic filter accessory that will easily double the cleaning power of any standard oil filter. This will be a fun one to watch in the coming years.

They're stellar examples of the Camaro's performance potential to be sure, but the current-gen Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger have the advantage of wider show floor distribution and months, if not years, in the hands of the enthusiasts.

Here's a look at just some of heavy artillery Ford and Mopar tuners brought to this year's SEMA show to challenge the General.

2008 Ford Cobra Jet Mustang
Location: Ford Motor Company booth, Center Hall
Output: estimated 425 hp
Features: 5.4L Cobra Jet engine, 6-sp manual with SFI-approved bell housing, stainless-steel long tube racing headers, 9-in. rear axle assembly, one piece driveshaft, air-conditioning delete, Cobra Jet/Ford Racing suspension with drag race spring kit, Cobra Jet seats and wheel package (15 x 4-in. fronts, 15 x 10-in. rears), 5-in. pedestal tach, short throw shifter.
Claim: 10-sec quarter mile ET right out of the box
Cost: $69,900
Availability: Allotment of 50 sold in a week, but Ford is considering another 50 in 2010.

Mr. Norm's Super Challenger
Location: Katzkin Booth, North Hall
Output: 900 hp
Features: Kenne Bell intercooler supercharger, Katzkin leather, Hurst pistol grip shifter, Hotchkis Performance lowering suspension, SSBC 6-piston brakes, Pirelli Scorpions, Corsa Performance exhaust, Mopar liftoff hood, Hulst side scoops and rear spoiler, Mr. Norms 22-in. wheels.
Claim: It can put down 900 hp on 22-in. wheels.
Cost: Too much for you, old man.
Availability: One off, not for sale.

NuFormZ 2009 Challenger 426 Supercharged
Location: Mimaki booth, North Hall
Output: 700 hp, 720 lb-ft of torque
Features: Nuformz custom 426 7.0L stroker motor with ported heads and manifold, air to air intercooler, direct port injection, Paxton Novi 1500 supercharger, OS Giken LSD, Eibach Pro 1 adjustable suspension, Nufromz tuned ECU and TCM, Brembo big brake kit, Nuformz custom carbon graphic chin spoiler grill, headlight assembly, rear deck with spoiler, Lexani wheels and BFGoodrich tires (front 265/35/20, rear 285/35/22).
Claim: When you hit the throttle, the car actually moves (versus immediately roasting the rear tires).
Cost: $100,000
Availability: n/a

2008 Challenger SRT8 convertible
Location: NCE booth, North Hall
Output: n/a
Features: NCE folding softop, 24-inch Forgiato wheels on 275/25R 24 Nitto Invo tires.
Claim: They can build a better drop top Challenger than Dodge.

2005 Silverhorse Racing Mustang GT
Location: Silverhorse Racing booth, North Hall
Output: n/a
Features: JLT cold air intake, Superchips tuning system,
Agent 47 SLA front suspension, Stillen AP Racing 6piston front and 4 piston rear brakes, Silverhourse Racing appearance products including flush mount louvers, true billet replacements, trim pieces,
mirror control knob, fuse box.
Claim: Nothing -- first time exhibitor at SEMA.
Cost: n/a
Availability: n/a

Squires Turbo System (STS) 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8
Location: Outside
Output: 670 horsepower
Features: STS rear mounted, intercooler turbo system.
Claim: Boost in the rear is best.
Cost: n/a
Availabilty: n/a

Rich Evans Designs 2007 Ford GT Mustang
Location: Inside hallway, North Hall
Output: n/a
Features: Rich Evans, bumper, bumper spoiler, bumper grill, grill, rear bumper, rocker panels, rear flares, hood scoops with stainless inserts, fender scoops, quarter panel scoops, rear whing, fiberglass headliner, aluminum exhaust tips, 2-piece wheels (20- and 22-in.), perforated stainless-steel air-conditioning vent.
Claim: There are adults in the world who want Mustangs that looked like this.
Cost: n/a
Availability: n/a

Tommy Pike Customs 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8
Location: Motorola booth, North Hall
Output: 600+ horsepower, 500 pound-feet of torque
Features: Vortech supercharger, SLP stainless-steel long tube headers, Eibach pro suspension kit, widebody front and rear fenders, MHT wheels (20 x 10-inch fronts, 22 x 12 inch rears)
Claim: Over 7 in. wider overall to fit those big meats!
Cost: $65,000 including car, $25,000 as an upgrade kit
Availability: Now

Sanderson Red Demon designed by George Barris
Location: Vertical Doors booth, North Hall
Output: 725 horsepower
Features: Supercharger, 3D Carbon Fiber rallye stripes, flared fenders, 20-in. front and 22-in. rear wheels, Vertical Doors, custom George Barris leather seats and carbon-fiber cabin accents.
Claim: Musclecars need exotic car doors.
Cost: n/a
Availability: n/a

So what would you rather have? One these hot-rodded Challengers or Mustangs? Or perhaps one of the GM's house-tuned Camaros?

By now you've probably seen all the big-name star cars and trucks on our SEMA show pages. But there's a lot of cool stuff on the smaller stands, too. So here are a few cars that caught my eye while dashing between meetings.

Dan Webb's Streamliner Coupe
This gorgeous, jewel-like retro rod is a recreation inspired by the streamlined 1916 Miller coupe, the world's first enclosed race car, driven by legendary racer Barney Oldfield. Almost every piece of this car has been handmade by Dan Webb and his crew, from the steering wheel to the seat to the beautifully curved aluminum panels. There are details to die for in this car, from the way the exhaust exits right at the tip of the car's pointed tail, to the Miller-style grille, to the trick motorcycle disc brakes that are almost as large as the front wheels.

Galpin Scythe
I saw this car come together at the Galpin Auto Sports shop as the guys were working on the Motor Trend Flex. To say Scythe is a wild custom is a bit like saying Heidi Klum is attractive; would you believe this thing started life as a Mustang convertible? Scythe is a love it or loathe it car. Most of the hot-rod establishment loathe it. Ford design chief Peter Horbury just rolled his eyes when asked about it. Scythe channels Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, creator of some of the wackiest customs that defined the early '60s -- no surprise given Galpin Auto Sports boss Beau Boeckmann is a huge Roth fan, and has just spent a fortune restoring a long-lost Roth hot rod, the Orbitron. Scythe is the sort of car that 40 years ago I would have been building as a 1/24th-scale plastic model. Maybe that's why I kinda like it.

1951 Henry J Wagon
The great thing about SEMA is that even cars that were ugly orphans in their heyday get their opportunity to shine. Built by Kaiser, the odd-duck Henry J was an attempt at building a cheap, no-frills compact car, and launched just as Americans started to celebrate the end of wartime austerity by buying bigger, faster, more extravagant automobiles. The Henry J sedan had a hunchback roofline, and nascent tailfins. It was never going to make an attractive wagon, but this slammed, tubbed, and trimmed street machine is somehow strangely appealing. The wood trim, by the way, is actually hand painted.

1951 Mercury
I'm a sucker for a trick flame job -- and for early-'50s Mercurys. Put the two together and, well, I just had to grab a snap. I love the contrast between vibrancy of the modern paint and the decidedly old-school custom touches such as the lakes pipes, the full wheel covers, and the spotlights on the windshield posts. Interesting, too, that this is one of the few early Merc customs that hasn't been chopped.

Camaro GS Racecar
"Tell me your favorite," said Camaro design director Tom Peters the night before SEMA opened. GM may have scaled the number of people it sent to SEMA this year, but it didn't stint on the Camaros. Okay, Tom, here goes: My favorite Camaro on the stand is the GS Racercar concept, which recalls the iconic blue-and-yellow car raced by Mark Donohue in the 1969 Trans Am series. I grew up watching Trans Am-style Mustangs and Camaros duke it out on the track with Holden Monaros and Chevy Novas and Lotus Cortinas and Mini Coopers in Australia in the late '60s and early '70s. I'd love to see Trans Am-style racing back again. You know, with real cars. Not tube-framed identicars with different badges painted on them.

That's all for now. I've got more meetings today, but I'm hoping to grab a few minutes off to walk the halls. With my camera ready.

9:00 AM -- Hyundai showed some supercharger tech on a Genesis sedan that boosts up to 100 hp and 8% mpg gain with cylinder deactivation. Rhys Millen goes racing for Hyundai in a pretty cool looking Genesis coupe.

9:40 AM -- Honda will offer Mugen racing parts at select dealerships. They had a race-prepped Pilot and Ridgeline. Well done. Both done by Skilton Race Team. We need to drive both. Element gets a mid-model refresh this year.

10:40 AM -- Ford booth has some great trucks but how many sport trucks and lifted trucks do we have to look at each year? SEMA should be about creativity, not the same old thing. PML did some cool motor-on-wheel tech with the all-electric F-150 that has a 100-mile range but could have more with I-4 (EcoBoost?) on-board generator motor. Raptor made big entrance for SVT. Who is the German guy at Ford who heads the communications/engineering? Sounds odd to have the accent introducing American trucks. DeWalt F-150 is cool.

11:30 AM -- VW at SEMA for first time and looks like it brought a good contingent with them. Heard quite a few German speakers around the show. Europe seems to be getting more involved. Could be good opportunity for some U.S. companies. Turbo Tiguan with 300 hp looks pretty good.

12:05 PM -- Crowds are down but big aisles and big players still crowd the halls. Wheel and tire hall is not even full. Empty room in the back of hall. Still plenty of media all over, and more video than I've ever seen.

1:30 PM -- Subaru has a few concept Foresters that push their crossover ID over the limits into hardpcore 4x4 territory. Honda is doing the same thing at their booth. Why do they do this? So confusing. Aren't the benefits of a crossover enough to keep them from pretending to be something they were never designed to be; in fact, their very existence is about celebrating the fact they aren't like hard-core SUVs. I'm not bitter, though.

2:15 PM -- Have seen tons of cool new products that need to be highlighted in future issues. Extang, Amp Research, Masterlock, ARB, RBP, and more.

3:30 PM -- Crowds still seem strong by the afternoon. Many talking about big voter turnout. Looks like most people who want to talk about politics are Obama people. Makes sense. His vision of U.S. strikes me a little pessimistic but his message is clearly making a lot of people feel good. Wonder if he or Joe Biden will ever make a stop to the SEMA floor.

4:30 PM -- Mopar had the emptiest press conference I've ever seen. Some TV geek with stupid jokes and stories went on and on and apparently couldn't be loud enough. Couldn't make it to the end.

5:00 PM -- Think my favorite stretch of walkway is Mopar Alley that connects South and Central Halls. All the classic rides are there, including an old Power Wagon, Little Red Truck, and Custom Sport Special pickup.

5:25 PM -- Las Vegas Hilton as a home base works out pretty well, especially if you get hit with stomach cramps from bad shrimp the night before. Barely made it back to my room. Thank goodness it is close to convention center. Too much info I'm guessing.

Eight years is enough time for me witness the rise of SEMA and its peak in 2005. Back then, the aftermarket scene was exploding; SEMA reported more than 2000 exhibitors -- the most in the history of the event. That year also saw 14 auto manufacturers; an impressive showing for what is essentially a four-day trade show closed to the general public.

This year, I'd heard murmurs about how the current economic turmoil -- particularly amongst the hard hit automakers -- was going to send exhibitor and attendee participation plunging; perhaps as much as 30% lower than 2007. There were a couple of advanced signs, too -- perennial receptions and parties canceled with no explanation and rumors of deeply discounted hotel rooms still available only days before the show. Then the Monday before the show arrived the news got worse; automakers like GM, Ford, Chrysler, and Toyota posted huge losses for the month of October. Would SEMA be an even bigger bust than rumored? I had to see for myself.

At first glance, this year's show looks to be just as alive and kicking as past SEMA shows. Any newbie would be completely overwhelmed, because even in a "down" year, SEMA looks psycho. The depth and breadth of the automotive aftermarket still manages to astonish and it looks -- at least on day one -- as crowded as ever; the Las Vegas Convention Center filled with row after row of vendors and throngs of badge-wielding buyers. Their presence is living proof of how much we American gearheads love our toys.

Look closer and a few cracks start to show. There is more empty space in the back of the South Hall than I've ever seen. Word is, to fill space, many of the tuned-up show cars that would have been relegated to outside show space in years past have been moved inside to keep things looking like an automotive orgy. Talk to the exhibitors and attendees, and you'll often get similar stories of reduced staff and shorter stays. Thursday -- buyer day -- apparently will be the big barometer. Tuesday and Wednesday are traditionally media whoo-ha days, so if the crowds are thin when it comes time to sign contracts, then the industry may well be in deep trouble. Tonight, I'll ask the real experts for their take on this year's show. Las Vegas cabbies, bouncers, and bartenders often know more than any industry analysts, because when convention attendance goes down in this town, they feel it in their pocketbooks.

Still, it is comforting to see SEMA still as crowded and busy as in years past. It's also a relief to see the pride and optimism of 600-hp musclecars lined up cheek to jowl against sky-high, candy-painted monster trucks, especially when all the TV pundits can seem to do these days is spew doom and gloom prognostications about the end of the world as we know it.

Three highlights:

RK Sport Hyundai Genesis sedan

As our intrepid Nate Martinez reported in WOT, Hyundai showed a tuned version of its ground-breaking rear-drive Genesis luxury sedan. The big news wasn't 24-in. wheels or some blinged-out grille, but a stunning 460-hp supercharged V-8 with cylinder deactivation (CDA). Hyundai claims this is the first time CDA has been mated to a blown production engine, which we're not debating. We're more impressed with the 8% improvement in fuel economy over the regular V-8 Hyundai Genesis. Hyundai won't say if it'll build it (it's an expensive proposition), but with an estimated 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway and with that kind of power, it'd be crazy not to at least consider it.

Dodge Challenger SRT10

Enough with the Challenger, right? Well this one is different. It's not merely a fixed-up version of the SRT8 Challenger we know and love and drove all over Europe; SRT engineers ripped-out that Challenger's puny 6.1L, 425-hp V-8 and dropped in the 8.4L all-aluminum V-10 engine that powers the Dodge Viper. Output? How does 600 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque strike you? It's pretty amazing stuff, especially with that V-10 breathing through a functional, carbon-fiber shaker hood. How'd you like to see this Challenger run against a Shelby Mustang GT500KR? Perhaps something else? Send in your recommendations!

Subaru Forester XTI

Sure, we have soft spot for the Forester; after all, we voted it our 2009 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year. But if there is anything missing from that cute 'ute, it's the pure performance of its rally bred brother, the WRX STI. Apparently, the people at Subaru are on the same wavelength, because they showed off a high-performance concept called the Forester XTI. While this Forester has the requisite fancy paint, upsized wheels (18 x 8 in. forged alloys) and performance bits including adjustable coilover suspension and big Brembo brakes, what we like is the six-speed manual transmission and estimated 315 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque under the hood. Even better, this Forester XTI is rumored to weigh only 60 lb more than the WRX STI. It's just the kind of vehicle we'd like to see added to the Forester lineup.