SEMA News - December 2009
The Most Accessory-Friendly Vehicles of the Year
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| The 2010 SEMA Most Accessory-Friendly Vehicles of the year are the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford F-Series Super Duty, Toyota 4Runner and Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid. |
The SEMA Design Awards celebrate the collaboration between the automakers and specialty-equipment businesses. Each year, four vehicles from specific categories are chosen as the Most Accessory Friendly—meaning that the original-equipment manufacturer has kept the end customer in mind by allowing for and even encouraging personalization of the product. While SEMA members benefit from such designs, so do the automakers whose vehicles can be tailored to meet the requirements of more buyers in more places. And they—the consumers—are the ultimate winners.
For the 2010 model year, the judging for the SEMA Design Awards was performed by employees of SEMA-member companies that have utilized one or more of SEMA’s OEM collaborative programs, including Measuring Sessions and Technology Transfer. Each voting member took part in at least one SEMA event during the course of the previous year.
The voting for the four awards—Accessory-Friendly Car, Accessory-Friendly Truck, Accessory-Friendly SUV and Accessory-Friendly Hybrid—was conducted over several weeks in September and October to allow for processing prior to the SEMA Show. For 2010, the winning vehicles are the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro as Accessory-Friendly Car, the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty as Accessory-Friendly Truck, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner as Accessory-Friendly SUV and the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid as Accessory-Friendly Hybrid.
While many other vehicles were introduced or redesigned for the 2010 model year and received significant support from the industry voters, the four winners carried convincing majorities. The Camaro, Super Duty, 4Runner and Silverado Hybrid have earned their SEMA Design Awards.
Accessory-Friendly Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
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The Camaro is an iconic brand in America. From its inception in 1967, the Camaro became a favorite with performance enthusiasts. |
The Camaro is an iconic brand in America. From its inception in 1967 as the answer to Ford’s Mustang, introduced two years before, the Camaro became a favorite with performance enthusiasts. When it was discontinued after the 2002 model year, afficianadoes were outraged. Now the joy is back. And, as evidenced by this year’s write-in vote, it is back with a vengeance.
The LS and LT models are equipped with a 3.6L direct-injected V6 engine that puts out 304 hp and 273 lb.-ft. of torque—respectable numbers for that displacement and even for V8s of only a few years ago. But the big boys (and girls) will want to run with one of a pair of 6.2L V8 offerings in the Camaro SS, both of which are based off the LS3 used in the Corvette. The L99 version develops 400 hp, and the Camaro LS3 puts out 426—the difference stemming mainly from the L99’s use of the Active Fuel Management System, which allows four cylinders to be shut down during light driving conditions to provide up to 25-mile-per-gallon fuel efficiency. The L99 is mated to a Hydramatic six-speed automatic transmission, and the more powerful LS3 hooks up with a Tremac six-speed manual.
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The big boys (and girls) will want to run with one of a pair of 6.2L V8 offerings in the Camaro SS, both of which are based off the LS3 used in the Corvette. |
The interior is as refined as you would expect for a car with this pedigree. Full gauge packages and leather upholstery are optional on all models, along with navigation, an iPod interface and ports for Bluetooth and USB connections.
Pricing is surprisingly reasonable with, reported MSRPs of $22,995 for the base LS and $30,995 for the SS. That ought to leave some cash left over for a little personalization….
Why the Chevrolet Camaro?
David Schardt, general manager of Forgeline Motorsports LLC, said that consumers become frustrated with brands that are not accessory friendly. “These days, consumers want to differentiate themselves from everyone else,” he said. “This goes for just about everything from cell phones to clothes and, of course, their vehicles. The SEMA Technology Transfer program that GM participates in makes it much easier for manufacturers to design parts, and the Camaro has been a popular car with that program. With GM putting the LS3 motor in the SS, engine upgrades and accessories are easily and quickly done from information learned from previous cars with the same basic motors.” Schardt said that products, such as exhaust systems, power upgrades, wheels and tires, lowering springs and other suspension components should sell well.
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The interior is as refined as you would expect for a car with this pedigree, with options that include navigation, an iPod interface and ports for Bluetooth and USB connections. |
Walter S. Green, owner of 2g Performance LLC, said that building adaptability into a vehicle from the start is crucial to not only selling vehicles, but also to selling aftermarket products. “People are holding on to their vehicles longer and may have only one vehicle that they can modify and make their own,” he said. “The 2010 Camaro seems to have been built with the end user in mind—meaning that Chevrolet knew that consumers were going to want to personalize the car for performance, styling and individuality. Products are already hitting the market for this car, from superchargers to carbon-fiber interior panels, but there is room for a bunch more. Having used the Technology Transfer program available from SEMA, I can’t say enough about the collaboration between the OEMs and aftermarket manufacturers.”
2010 Chevrolet Camaro Product Listing
Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT)
Twin-disc clutch kit
www.advancedclutch.com
aFe
Performance air filter
Stage 2 cold-air intake
www.afepower.com
AIRAID Filter Co.
Performance intakes
www.airaid.com
Alternative Automotive Technologies
Custom supercharger package
www.altautotech.com
American Racing Headers
Headers and complete exhaust system
www.americanracingheaders.com
Amsoil Inc.
Signature Series synthetic 0W-30 motor oil
www.amsoil.com
| Billy Boat Performance Exhaust Three-inch cat-back exhaust system www.bbexhaust.com
Check Corp.
Comp Cams
Corsa Performance Exhausts
Creative Performance Racing
Draw-Tite
EGR Inc.
Fidanza
G.N.D Technology Co. Ltd.
H&R Special Spring
Heartthrob Exhaust
Hellwig Products
Hidden Hitch
Hurst Shifters
JE Pistons
Jet Performance Products
K&N Engineering Inc.
Lexani
Magnaflow
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Metra Electronics
Nutek Wheels
Power Vision LLC
Proline Styling
Pure Power!
Pypes Performance Exhaust
Quick Time Performance
Rav-Ravaglioli
Riley Technologies LLC
Spohn Performance Inc.
Star Shield Armor
TopLine USA
Tow Ready
Trick Flow Specialties
Wilwood Engineering
Wiseco
Yella Terra
Zex |
Accessory-Friendly Truck: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty
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The Ford Super Duty is aimed squarely at the folks who need a pickup for work, regardless of what changes may occur in the economy or truck market. |
The diesel features an engine block constructed of compacted graphite iron (said to be stronger than cast iron), a single turbocharger that spins a dual-sided compressor wheel, an intake/exhaust configuration that allows reduced heat transfer, aluminum cylinder heads and a high-pressure fuel-injection system. It can run on B20 diesel fuel (up to 20% biodiesel) and meets the 2010 federal emissions requirements for nitrogen oxide. Ford says that the new diesel also delivers class-leading fuel economy as well as best-in-class towing and payload capacities.
The new 6.2L V8 can run on anything from unleaded gas to an E85 gasoline/ethanol blend, utilizing Ford’s big-bore technology for better breathing and a short stroke for higher rpm and increased horsepower. The flex-fuel engine features a single overhead cam, variable valve timing and two sparkplugs per cylinder.
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An available 4.2-inch LCD dash-mounted screen allows monitoring of the navigation and trailering systems as well as fuel economy, trip statistics and, in 4WD models, off-road systems. |
Ford’s commitment to work-truck functionality continues inside. The console can be configured in dozens of ways through a number of different modules. It can hold a laptop, file folders and an assortment of writing tools, and it features a standard 110-volt inverter as well as multiple DC power outlets. An available 4.2-inch LCD dash-mounted screen allows monitoring of the navigation and trailering systems as well as fuel economy, trip statistics and, in 4WD models, off-road systems. Carryovers from previous years include Ford’s Sync system as well as Super Duty exclusives, such as Took Link, Crew Chief and Cable Lock.
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| Among the most impressive additions to the 2011 Super Duty lineup are a 6.7L Powerstroke turbocharged diesel V8 and a 6.2L flex-fuel V8. |
Why the F-Series Super Duty?
Aric Pogel, design engineer for Steeda Autosports Inc., said that being accessory friendly is important for the OEMs because they design for a broad audience in order to maximize the number of vehicles sold. “The easier it is for a consumer to adapt a vehicle to a particular desire, the easier it is to sell an 85th-percentile vehicle to someone who fits in the remaining 15% group. There are loads of accessories for the current-model Ford Super Duty, and what has sold well for previous models should be updated to work with the new model.” Pogel also praised SEMA’s Tech Transfer program, pointing out that “…the Tech Transfer initiative makes it considerably easier to develop parts that fit the first time out. It really is a great program.”
“OE manufacturers build vehicles consumers can envision themselves in by offering vehicles that can be accessorized,” said Chris Howd, product manager for Omix-ADA Inc. “This ability to customize the vehicle fuels a generation of buyers who spread their enthusiasm through social media, blogging, car shows, forums and word of mouth. Ford pickups have been America’s best-selling vehicles for decades, and Ford is looking to continue this trend by offering vehicles for Measuring Sessions and Tech Transfer exclusively to SEMA manufacturers. It’s easier for consumers to justify the purchase of accessories, such as floor liners, bull bars, air intakes and recovery gear, because they instantly increase the functionality of the vehicle. Taking advantage of OEM/SEMA collaborations, such as Measuring Sessions and Tech Transfer, allows specialty-equipment manufacturers to get product to the marketplace quicker.”
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| Either of the new engines can be mated to a new six-speed TorqShift automatic transmission that features manual gear selection as well as a Live Drive power take-off system. |
2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty Product Listing
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| The Super Duty lineup—F-250 through F-550—can also be outfitted with Trailer Sway Control, which monitors the motion of the truck as it is affected by trailer movement and automatically applies braking or reduced engine torque to control the motion. |
Performance air filter, Stage 2 cold-air intake
www.afepower.com
The Awareness LLC
Clean Breeze Truck Screen
www.cleanbreezeusa.com
Cequent Performance Products Inc.
Cross-bed towing system
www.trimascorp.com
Check Corp.
Nine different seat-heater systems
www.seatheater.com
Delta Tech Industries LLC
Scout Bar five-function front bar for trucks and SUVs twin-cam-bar five-function rear bar, HID hood light bar with mounting kit, 46H-series HID fascia driving/fog lights
www.deltalights.com
EGR Inc.
Tape-on WindowVisors, Channel WindowVisors
www.egrusa.com
G4-Elite
Integrated tonneau cover/cargo management system
www.foldacover.com
| G.N.D Technology Co. Ltd. Flexible/portable video borescope with high-resolution remote color camera www.gaond.com
Ningbo Sunrising Silicone Hose Co. Ltd.
Power Vision
Proline Styling
Pure Power!
Rav-Ravaglioli |
Reese Frame-mounted cross-bed towing system www.reeseprod.com
Scrublade LLC
Star Shield Armor
Step-n-Tow
TopLine USA
Truck Covers USA |
Accessory-Friendly SUV: 2010 Toyota 4Runner
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| The Toyota 4Runner, now 25 years old, helped spark the SUV boom in the mid-’80s and continues to be a stalwart in the marketplace. |
Toyota dropped its V8 engine option for the 2010 4Runner, opting instead to develop a beefier V6 and offer an inline four. At 270 hp and 278 lb.-ft. of torque, the new six provides about 10 more ponies than in the previous V8 while also upping the fuel-economy figure to a combined 19 miles per gallon and offering a 5,000-lb. towing capacity. The 2.7L, 16-valve four-banger is available in 2WD SR5 4Runners only, but provides only a one-mile-per-gallon boost in the city economy rating over the V6, with an identical 23 mpg highway rating.
As either 2WD or 4WD, the 4Runner is available in three versions: the high-line Limited, the SR5 and the off-road-ready Trail. That latter model is replete with the drivetrain equipment that enthusiasts have sought for years, but particularly since rock crawling entered its zenith.
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| Toyota dropped its V8 engine option for the 2010 4Runner, opting instead to develop a beefier V6 that offers 270 hp, about 10 more ponies than in the previous V8. |
Suspension on all models consists of a double-wishbone independent front and a four-link rear, with coil springs over gas shocks at each corner. Toyota also equips all 4Runners with its Star Safety System, which includes stability control, traction control and a four-disc anti-lock braking system. The SR5 and Trail are fitted with standard 17-inch wheels, and the Limited rolls on 20-inchers.
The 4Runner is larger in every dimension for 2010—taller, wider and longer—and the interior has also been redesigned for greater capacity. Three-row seating (leather standard in the Limited) is optional in the SR5 and Limited, and a sliding rear cargo deck that supports up to 440 lbs. is standard in the Trail and Limited and optional in the SR5.
Why the 4Runner?
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Three-row seating (leather standard in the Limited) is optional in the SR5 and Limited, and a sliding rear cargo deck that supports up to 440 lbs. is standard in the Trail and Limited and optional in the SR5. |
Clayton Rietz, a mechanical design engineer for AIRAID Filter Co., said that vehicle accessorization makes better products for enthusiasts and that Toyota 4Runners have always been owned by people who accessorize. He sees intakes, snorkels, axles, lifts and bumpers among the products that should find success with the new 4Runner because they come with the off-road-rugged territory. Rietz views OEM/aftermarket collaboration and cooperation as very important. “I wish they were all as cooperative and responsive as General Motors is in the Tech Transfer program,” he said.
Sterling K. Logan, a design engineer at Bushwacker Inc., said that his company manufactures a number of aftermarket and OEM parts for SUVs and off-road vehicles, and the 2010 Toyota 4Runner offers a clean slate to begin accessorizing. “4Runner sales are usually higher than other SUV models,” Logan said, “and buyers who are willing to spend that much for a vehicle usually have some extra cash for additional add-ons. Lift kits and suspension upgrades turn SUVs into tough off-road vehicles, and exterior restyling could also be popular among buyers of the new 4Runner. Suspension upgrades can turn the already-capable 4Runner into an off-road machine that is hard to match, and exterior restyling allows each 4Runner owner to make the vehicle unique and different from others.”
2010 Toyota 4Runner Product Listing
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A crawl-control system allows the 4Runner driver to set one of five vehicle speeds so that he or she can concentrate on steering over rugged terrain without worrying about throttle position or braking. |
Proline Styling’s Xtreme Performance window film
www.braygroup.com
Check Corp.
Nine different seat-heater systems
www.seatheater.com
Delta Tech Industries LLC
Scout Bar five-function front bar for trucks and SUVs, twin-cam-bar five-function rear bar, HID hood light bar with mounting kit, 46H-series HID fascia driving/fog lights
www.deltalights.com
EGR Inc.
Tape-on WindowVisors, Channel WindowVisors
www.egrusa.com
G.N.D Technology Co. Ltd.
Flexible/portable video borescope with high-resolution remote color camera
www.gaond.com
Pure Power!
Lifetime Oil and Fuel Filters
www.gopurepower.com
| Rav-Ravaglioli Wheel-alignment system www.ravamerica.com
Scrublade LLC
Star Shield Armor |
Step-n-Tow Swing-out step for standard 2-inch receiver www.stepntow.com
3dCarbon
TopLine USA |
Accessory-Friendly Hybrid: 2010 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
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The Chevy hybrid pickup provides 40% better city fuel economy and 25% better overall fuel economy than its traditionally powered brethren. |
The Silverado Hybrid is powered by a 6.0L flex-fuel engine combined with a 300-volt nickel-metal battery and an electrically variable transmission (EVT). Below 30 miles per hour, the truck is driven by electric motors that receive current from the battery; the V8 takes over above that speed. Any time the brakes are applied or the vehicle is coasting, the motors create electricity and restore the charge to the battery. The V8, which uses active fuel management to deactivate four cylinders under light-load conditions, can run on unleaded regular fuel or on an E85 ethanol blend and produces 332 hp and 367 lb.-ft. of torque. The system delivers 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway, providing a range of more than 500 miles from the standard 26-gallon fuel tank. The Energy Storage System, including the battery, is warranted for eight years or 100,000 miles.
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The V8, which uses active fuel management to deactivate four cylinders under light-load conditions, can run on unleaded regular fuel or on E85 ethanol blend and produces 332 hp and 367 lb.-ft. of torque. |
High tech doesn’t mean low performance, however. The Silverado Hybrid can tow up to 6,100 lbs. in 2WD models and 5,900 in 4WDs. And the electric drive maintains those capabilities even below 30 mph, without using the V8.
The standard body-on-frame chassis rides on an independent front suspension with coil-over shocks and a two-stage leaf rear suspension. The regenerative braking system incorporates discs at each corner with an anti-lock system. The standard wheel is an 18x8 five-spoke aluminum rim.
The Silverado Hybrid is available only in the Crew Cab short-box configuration, allowing battery storage under the rear seat. Standard features in the Silverado line include electronic stability control, a locking rear axle and a trailering package.
Why the Silverado Hybrid?
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The Silverado Hybrid’s dual-mode system delivers 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway, providing a range of more than 500 miles from the standard 26-gallon fuel tank. |
“It’s human nature to stand out, to look different from others,” said Larry Ashley, R&D manager for TMI Products Inc. “We accessorize ourselves with clothing, jewelry and in more permanent ways, such as tattoos. People want the same from the vehicles they drive. They want to stand out as well as make their vehicles user-friendly to their needs.” The Silverado Two-Mode Hybrid allows people who want a large, road-commanding vehicle to have the size and power they need yet also take advantage of fuel economy. “The Silverado allows your imagination to run,” he said. “Whether you prefer lifted or lowered, luxury or for work, the Silverado gives you the option to cater to your personal needs. Having a Hybrid model allows even greater choices.” Ashley believes that products, such as wheels, grilles, suspension lowering and lifting and exhaust systems will find success with the Silverado Hybrid.
2010 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid Product Listing
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The Silverado Hybrid can tow up to 6,100 lbs. in 2WD models and 5,900 in 4WDs. And the electric drive maintains those capabilities even below 30 mph, without using the V8. |
Nine different seat-heater systems
www.seatheater.com
C.R. Laurence Co. Inc.
Rear sliding windows
www.crlaurence.com
Delta Tech Industries LLC
Scout Bar five-function front bar for trucks and SUVs, twin-cam-bar five-function rear bar, HID hood light bar with mounting kit, 46H-series HID fascia driving/fog lights
www.deltalights.com
EGR Inc.
Tape-on WindowVisors, Channel WindowVisors
www.egrusa.com
G4-Elite
Integrated tonneau cover/cargo management system
www.foldacover.com
| G.N.D Technology Co. Ltd. Flexible/portable video borescope with high-resolution remote color camera www.gaond.com
Pareto Point Industries
Power Vision
Proline Styling
Pure Power! |
Rav-Ravaglioli Wheel-alignment system www.ravamerica.com
Star Shield Armor
TopLine USA
Truck Covers USA
Wilwood Engineering |
