Every restyling, auto trim and accessory business needs tools to get the job done right; not just tools of the trade, but also resources to sharpen installation and business skills. That’s why the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO), a SEMA council, has teamed up with WyoTech Blairsville to deliver the following:

• Installation Workshops
• Hands-on Training
• Product Knowledge
• Sales-Training Workshops
• Networking Events

Every restyling, auto trim and accessory business needs tools to get the job done right; not just tools of the trade, but also resources to sharpen installation and business skills. That’s why the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO), a SEMA council, has teamed up with WyoTech Blairsville to deliver the following:

• Installation Workshops
• Hands-on Training
• Product Knowledge
• Sales-Training Workshops
• Networking Events

Every restyling, auto trim and accessory business needs tools to get the job done right; not just tools of the trade, but also resources to sharpen installation and business skills. That’s why the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO), a SEMA council, has teamed up with WyoTech Blairsville to deliver the following:

• Installation Workshops
• Hands-on Training
• Product Knowledge
• Sales-Training Workshops
• Networking Events

During the Detroit Auto Show, Honda showed off a Civic sedan and Civic Coupe Si Coupe concept. The pros over at Brenda Priddy & Co. just spied another variant Honda wasn't talking about—the Hybrid sedan. The difference is that this time almost all the heavy camo has been removed.

The wheels and tires give away this sedan's true identity, says Priddy. The same Bridgestone Insignia SE200-02 low-rolling resistance tire found on the '10 Honda Civic Hybrid are also found on this prototype.

According to Priddy and her team, the ninth-generation Civic was set to debut in the summer of 2010 as a '11 model, but once Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations changed and the auto industry hit hard times in 2009, Honda had to rethink its approach. Rumors stated Honda originally wanted to make the Civic larger, but as you can see from the photos, the overall size of the '12 Civic will remain mostly unchanged.

While the camouflage is pretty heavy, a new grille and headlights are peaking out from the concealment. The front end looks more upright overall as well. The doors also have some fresh character lines.

The current Civic hybrid has a 1.3L i-VTEC four-cylinder, mated to electric motors. Priddy has heard that the Civic may move to the 1.5L-based hybrid powertrain setup also found in the CR-Z. This new Civic Hybrid may also be the first car in the lineup to receive the rumored, next-generation lithium ion batteries Honda has been working on.

Photo Credit: Brian Williams/Brenda Priddy & Company

During the Detroit Auto Show, Honda showed off a Civic sedan and Civic Coupe Si Coupe concept. The pros over at Brenda Priddy & Co. just spied another variant Honda wasn't talking about—the Hybrid sedan. The difference is that this time almost all the heavy camo has been removed.

The wheels and tires give away this sedan's true identity, says Priddy. The same Bridgestone Insignia SE200-02 low-rolling resistance tire found on the '10 Honda Civic Hybrid are also found on this prototype.

According to Priddy and her team, the ninth-generation Civic was set to debut in the summer of 2010 as a '11 model, but once Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations changed and the auto industry hit hard times in 2009, Honda had to rethink its approach. Rumors stated Honda originally wanted to make the Civic larger, but as you can see from the photos, the overall size of the '12 Civic will remain mostly unchanged.

While the camouflage is pretty heavy, a new grille and headlights are peaking out from the concealment. The front end looks more upright overall as well. The doors also have some fresh character lines.

The current Civic hybrid has a 1.3L i-VTEC four-cylinder, mated to electric motors. Priddy has heard that the Civic may move to the 1.5L-based hybrid powertrain setup also found in the CR-Z. This new Civic Hybrid may also be the first car in the lineup to receive the rumored, next-generation lithium ion batteries Honda has been working on.

Photo Credit: Brian Williams/Brenda Priddy & Company

Victory Junction Launches Facebook Fan Page
Victory Junction Gang Camp has launched a brand-new fan page on Facebook. The charity organization was built in honor of Adam Petty and provides life-changing experiences for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illness. Victory Junction Gang Camp, along with Childhelp, are supported by SEMA's charity committee, SEMA Cares.

Jim Smail Named AIADA Chair
The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) named Pennsylvania auto dealer Jim Smail as its new 2011 chairman. Smail took over the position during AIADA’s 41st Annual Meeting and Luncheon held last week in in San Francisco. Smail is the president of the Smail Auto Group, which operates five international nameplate franchises, including Acura, Honda, Kia, Mazda and Mercedes-Benz. They have been the recipient of numerous dealership awards, including Acura’s Dealer of Distinction and Precision Team Award; Honda’s President’s Award and the Council of Excellence; Mercedes-Benz’s Best of the Best; and Mazda’s Gold Cup Dealer recognition. Smail has served as chairman of the Honda National Dealer Advisory Board, is the current chairman of the Acura National Dealer Advisory Board, is on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Automotive Association and is on the board of directors and past president of the Greater Pittsburgh Automobile Dealers Association.

JMPR Selected Agency of Record for Pep Boys
JMPR Public Relations Inc. was selected as the agency of record for Pep Boys. JMPR will provide PR outreach and media initiatives for the company and has recently launched a media relations program that highlights Pep Boys' overall business profile and its upcoming 90th anniversary celebration. JMPR will also work with individual locations to promote full-service vehicle maintenance and repair capabilities.

Philadelphia Auto Show Increases Attendance by Nearly 29%
The Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia announced that the 2011 Philadelphia Auto Show (January 29–February 6) experienced a 28.4% increase in attendance for the show's opening weekend, when compared to the 2010 event. The show's weekend attendance hit 65,984, marking the event's third-largest opening weekend in its 109-year history.

The vehicle photo gallery on enjoythedrive.com features images of all of the vehicles on display at the 2010 SEMA Show. All of the photos are available for download in a high-resolution format (JPEG). One of the best features of the site is that its searchable by several parameters, including vehicle year, exhibiting company name, vehicle make and more. Looking for photos of Mustangs at the Show? Simply include "Mustang" in the vehicle model box. Looking to see which Toyota models companies crafted for the Show? Search for "Toyota" in the vehicle make box.

Not only does the site include a 2010 SEMA Show vehicle-photo gallery, it contains videos of new products from the Show, access to a SEMA-member product directory, details on several SEMA programs and more. Check out enjoythedrive.com and get further connected with your industry.

The vehicle photo gallery on enjoythedrive.com features images of all of the vehicles on display at the 2010 SEMA Show. All of the photos are available for download in a high-resolution format (JPEG). One of the best features of the site is that its searchable by several parameters, including vehicle year, exhibiting company name, vehicle make and more. Looking for photos of Mustangs at the Show? Simply include "Mustang" in the vehicle model box. Looking to see which Toyota models companies crafted for the Show? Search for "Toyota" in the vehicle make box.

Not only does the site include a 2010 SEMA Show vehicle-photo gallery, it contains videos of new products from the Show, access to a SEMA-member product directory, details on several SEMA programs and more. Check out enjoythedrive.com and get further connected with your industry.

	The proposal submission deadline for the 2011 Ford and Lincoln Project Vehicle Program is March 1, 2011.

Ford and Lincoln are now accepting project vehicle proposals from SEMA members for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The proposal submission deadline is March 1, 2011, and the award recipient notification deadline is May 2, 2011. All project-vehicle requests must meet the Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria shown below.

Ford has requested that project requests be submitted in two parts:

1. E-mail a one-page project summary, which must be received by February 21, 2011. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2011 SEMA Show

2. Mail a detailed project proposal, which must be received by March 1, 2011. Include detail supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project-vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available here. Information on Lincoln vehicles is available here.

Ford Aftermarket Project-Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan
• A current SEMA member

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature a vehicle in a booth at the 2011 Las Vegas SEMA Show
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period
• Purchase and maintain $3M in general liability insurance and $1M in vehicle insurance
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford/Lincoln logos intact and visible
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion

Companies must also submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring vehicle
6. Additional exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration
8. E-mail, disc, or fax reports will not be accepted

Please submit Ford and Lincoln proposals to:

Ford Motor Company
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attention: Sherry Kollien & Mike Nicopolis
semainfo@ford.com

	The proposal submission deadline for the 2011 Ford and Lincoln Project Vehicle Program is March 1, 2011.

Ford and Lincoln are now accepting project vehicle proposals from SEMA members for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The proposal submission deadline is March 1, 2011, and the award recipient notification deadline is May 2, 2011. All project-vehicle requests must meet the Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria shown below.

Ford has requested that project requests be submitted in two parts:

1. E-mail a one-page project summary, which must be received by February 21, 2011. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2011 SEMA Show

2. Mail a detailed project proposal, which must be received by March 1, 2011. Include detail supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project-vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available here. Information on Lincoln vehicles is available here.

Ford Aftermarket Project-Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting vehicles should be:

• A manufacturer or designer/restyler dedicated to supporting new-product development
• Financially capable and willing to spend promotional dollars
• Actively promoting the vehicle with their product(s) through an established marketing plan
• A current SEMA member

Aftermarket companies receiving project vehicles must:

• Feature a vehicle in a booth at the 2011 Las Vegas SEMA Show
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period
• Purchase and maintain $3M in general liability insurance and $1M in vehicle insurance
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford/Lincoln logos intact and visible
• Order a California-certified vehicle if you intend to register or use the vehicle primarily in California or any other state that has adopted California emissions standards. Failure to do so may subject you to a state fine.
• Make vehicles available to Ford or its dealers for display, at the owner's discretion

Companies must also submit written quarterly status reports for a period of 18 months, as specified in the contract, stating:

1. Product development
2. Modifications to the vehicle
3. Events (including dates, location and type of event)
4. Media exposure (originals or color copies)
5. Company advertising featuring vehicle
6. Additional exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration
8. E-mail, disc, or fax reports will not be accepted

Please submit Ford and Lincoln proposals to:

Ford Motor Company
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attention: Sherry Kollien & Mike Nicopolis
semainfo@ford.com