Travel on cars

Filed under: LA Auto Show, SUVs, Toyota

We’re only a couple of weeks away from the LA Auto Show and the news floodgates are opening up. The latest comes from Toyota, which announced that it will officially debut the new second generation Sequoia SUV in Los Angeles. We aren’t expecting any big surprises from the Sequoia since it’s expected to be derived from the new Tundra pickup. Aside from the enclosed rear body and three rows of seats, the SUV will probably have an independent rear suspension. This will allow the floor to be lowered and for extra space out in the back forty. Unfortunately, we have no official images of the new Sequoia yet, but expect a big SUV with a Tundra nose. (more…)

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Coupes, Chrysler

click image above for more high-res pics of the Chrysler Cuda Concept

Unless you’ve got an uncle on the verge of buying the farm or Grand Canyon deep pockets, you won’t be able to pick up an actual ‘Cuda anytime soon. According to a Chrysler exec on hand at SEMA, the Barracuda concept is a one-off production car built for one of those overtly wealthy gearhead. We don’t have any details on who this mystery magnate is, but with a 6.1-liter HEMI, a body entirely molded in carbon fiber, six piston Brembo brakes and a set of 22-inch Zenetti five-spoke wheels wrapped in Pirelli PZeros, it’s guaranteed that he (or she) will be enjoying laying rubber around his private estate. (more…)

Filed under: Aftermarket, Garage, SEMA, Tuners, Chevrolet, GM

With 19 magazine covers and a starring role in Hollywood Nights, Popular Hotrodding’s Project X is the classic hotrod. Since 1965 it’s been modified constantly, but GM wanted to take a shot at the vehicle it had created 50 years ago. The General started with a 427 crate engine, and added parts from production models like the C6 Corvette and even the Chevy Colorado. Seats come from the Cadillac STS, a new center cluster was added, and the giant steering wheel from a 1963 Impala SS rounds out the interior. We were there for the live unveil of the updated four-wheeled legend, and you can view some of the action by clicking play on the video above.

Filed under: Concept Cars, SEMA, Crossovers/CUVs, Kia

Click for some live shots of the latest version of Kia’s Soul concept

Today in Las Vegas, Kia COO Len Hunt told us that the production Kia Soul we’ll be getting before too long will look almost exactly like the updated concept they showed us here today at SEMA. It also happens to look a lot like the spy shots we showed you last month. In case you forgot, Kia introduced the Soul crossover at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. The camo-covered production version has been spotted in the Detroit area not far from the Hyundai-Kia Tech Center. The production version looks like it sticks pretty close to the concept on the outside. The main visual differences are the rear suicide doors being replaced with conventional types and frames around the side glass. The shape of the vehicle with the slight downward sloping roof-line and the boxy front remains true to form. We’ll probably see this one make its public debut during the coming auto show season, perhaps as soon as the Detroit Auto Show in January. (more…)

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Tuners, Coupes, Mercedes Benz

click above pic to view more images of the Kleeman GTK Concept

Well-known Mercedes tuner Kleemann has released the first official rendering of its own car, an in-house production called the Kleemann GTK. The carbon fiber skin is wrapped around an SLK body, and the design language is “based on the unique Kleemann design code of elegance and simplicity acknowledging the Nordic design traditions of simple and organic shapes.” That apparently means a Reventon (again with the Reventon) snout, a Castagna Aznom front fender treatment, and sharper SLK lines from the A-pillar back.

The GTK is actually based on the SLK 55, and gets a Kleemann Kompressor system, 20-inch Kleeman wheels and 8-piston Kleemann brakes in front and 4-piston out back. That “kompressor” means the little roadster puts 540 HP and 516 lb-ft through its 7-speed auto box. Twenty-inch Kleeman rims ride rubber slivers called Toyo T1-R tires designed specifically for the car. According to Kleemann, it gets to six-oh in 3.7 seconds and runs up to 180+ MPH. Kleemann isn’t going to do mass production, so for those of you with the means (lots), place your call now.

[Source: Kleemann]

Continue reading Mercedes tuner Kleemann drops GTK Concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Minivans/MPVs, Nissan

Click image to enlarge

Nissan has a new family-hauler concept lined up for the upcoming Detroit Auto Show called the FORUM. The vannish machine boasts trackless sliders, no B-pillar and maybe hints at what’s in store for car buyers when the current Quest ultimately runs its course. In addition to the sketch you see above, Nissan made the world’s shortest press release available. In fact, it’s so short, we’re not even going to bother putting it after the jump. Here it is: (more…)

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Trucks/Pickups, Ford

click above image to view more high-res photos of the DeBerti Super-Duty

Earlier we showed you a preview of three Super Duty trucks that Ford’s brought to SEMA, and we hunted down the DeBerti version to see just how low they could get an F-450. This ground scraping pickup has a Dallas Smith Axleless Lo-Floor front-wheel drive conversion that puts the rear low enough to easily drive a motorcyle up onto the bed. Ford even put a motorcycle into the Deep-V bed to demonstrate its utility. It was by far one of the most popular vehicles in the company’s display, which unfortunately made it hard to get photos. Still, with some patient waiting we snapped a gallery for your viewing pleasure.

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green

Look, over at AutoblogGreen, we know there are people who really dig biodiesel (Willie Nelson, Darryl Hannah, etc.), but we didn’t know there’d be folks so desperate for the fuel they’d steal two trucks full of it from a small biodiesel station in Texas.

We also knew - but now understand better - just how smart Car Talk’s Click and Clack are: they’re unafraid to call for 35 mpg standard for new CAFE rules and rip the industry a few new ones in the process. Nice. (more…)

Filed under: Aftermarket

Centric Parts just added another performance feather to their high end brake cap. The company that already leads the replacement brake and clutch market just picked up Power Performance Group, Inc. and its Power Slot brake company. After already adding StopTech last year, this makes Centric one of the most fromidable brake suppliers in the States. For those that don’t know, StopTech is the supplier for the Callaway C16 Speedster and the upcoming Lexus IS-F, even though Brembo is usually credited. We also recently covered StopTech as the first company to offer a continuous fiber carbon ceramic upgrade. (more…)

Filed under: Wagons/Estates, Chrysler, Dodge

According to The Detroit News, Chrysler’s product-cutting plan is all but official. The first three models on the chopping block, according to the newspaper’s unnamed sources, are the Magnum, Pacifica and the PT Cruiser. The next round could include the Jeep Commander if it doesn’t get its act together.

Sales on the first three models were down as much as 32% through September, and the company’s new boss, Bob Nardelli, isn’t in a playing-around mood. Company insiders have told the Det News that Nardelli is taking very close looks at the current lineup and isn’t exactly thrilled. Supposedly, Dodge’s Dakota and Avenger and Chrysler’s Sebring are also feeling the Nardelli heat. The newspaper quotes Nardelli as saying, “I’m not a designer, but I’m a consumer,” he said. “Rather than deny some of the (negative) reports that are out there you kind of embrace them and say, what do we want to do to take our vehicle from where it is to where consumers want it to be?” (more…)