The SEMA Show is not only the year’s best opportunity for the specialty-equipment industry to do business, it also serves as the proving grounds for trends that will either meet quick and superficial ends or will take hold and dominate the thoughts of builders, fabricators, designers, engineers and the like for the next 12 months.

The top trend of the 2009 SEMA Show wasn’t a vehicle or product, however. It was a business philosophy, namely, survival. Businesses that attended and exhibited made a commitment to set-up for success in 2010. Twelve months ago, the economy was in free-fall and no one knew where it would land, writes Motor Trend editor Angus MacKenzie. “This year, the mood among most exhibitors was a mixture of relief and quiet optimism: We’ve survived the worst, and things are slowly getting better.”

And with the worst behind, exhibitors offered a mix of innovative, optimistic and playful vehicle builds and designs.

Old School Meets New

Ringbrothers Ford Fairlane was a highlight for many, including Motor Trend and Jalopnik’s writers. A Roush V8, some chop work and artfully integrated billet and carbon-fiber work make the Afterburner an innovative blend of old and new.

Compact Cubism

Kia, Scion and Nissan now all have mobile boxes, and with the success of the Scion xB, why not? These cube cars, with their unique stance and highly customizable layouts, have become top sellers with a young generation of car enthusiasts. The Kia Soul, which made its SEMA Show debut last year, and the Nissan Cube offered platforms for a variety of manufacturers, from mobile audio wire and component makers Scosche to veteran Nissan tuners Stillen.

But the xB, which launched the box trend more than five years ago and now is in its second-generation, still holds sway over the pack. The Scion annual design contest brought out some truly inspired takes on the xB, including the stretched, chopped and Moon-inspired pickup/Ruckus hauler pictured above built by the crew at BOWLS in Los Angeles.

Lexus Continues SEMA Hot Streak
The Lexus IS-F was a hot debut at the 2007 SEMA Show, and this year Lexus maintained its SEMA momentum with the first North American showing of its LF-A supercar. But it was the newest variation of the IS family, the convertible, that got many enthusiasts pumped, as InsideLine noted.

Diesel: Not Just for Trucks and Converted Benz 300s Anymore

More than a few journalists covered this sinister sled, but the guys at Speedhunters.com got some nice shots of Amanda Livingston’s '65 Cadillac, complete with Cummings turbodiesel drivetrain. Although the flat black exterior and sparkle top aren’t breakthrough aesthetics, the diesel swap makes an interesting twist. Here's more flat-black love from the Show floor.

Cake and Eat It Too

The gap between traditional hot-rod values and environmental responsibility further narrowed at the 2009 SEMA Show. GM debuted its E-Rod engine line—430hp LS3 crate engines that allow you to legally title a project vehicle in California—within a ’55 Chevy. And Ford displayed its application of new and old school with its twin-turbocharged Ecoboosted ’34 Ford, shown above.

Show Concepts to Reality

Although billed simply as a Jay Leno project car with GM, with a meager 425 hp from a V6 and a pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbos, recent auto show speculation suggests that this Camaro may very well be the next Z28—an idea welcomed by the writers at InsideLine.

Bigger, Wider, Larger…

Mopar’s Lower Forty Jeep caused a stir in off-road circles, as noted by the crew at AutoWeek. The tires on the Lower Forty measure 40 x 13.5, wrapped around 20-inch wheels. There’s also a nearly 400hp Hemi for good measure.


Only at SEMA…

...will you find a Subaru WRX STI snowcat. Unless you happen to ski or board at rally driver and DC Shoes cofounder Ken Block’s Utah compound, in which case you might be offered a ride up to the half-pipe in this purpose-built STI snowmobile. It offered a “why not?” moment for writers such as Motor Trend’s Ed Loh.

The SEMA Show is not only the year’s best opportunity for the specialty-equipment industry to do business, it also serves as the proving grounds for trends that will either meet quick and superficial ends or will take hold and dominate the thoughts of builders, fabricators, designers, engineers and the like for the next 12 months.

The top trend of the 2009 SEMA Show wasn’t a vehicle or product, however. It was a business philosophy, namely, survival. Businesses that attended and exhibited made a commitment to set-up for success in 2010. Twelve months ago, the economy was in free-fall and no one knew where it would land, writes Motor Trend editor Angus MacKenzie. “This year, the mood among most exhibitors was a mixture of relief and quiet optimism: We’ve survived the worst, and things are slowly getting better.”

And with the worst behind, exhibitors offered a mix of innovative, optimistic and playful vehicle builds and designs.

Old School Meets New

Ringbrothers Ford Fairlane was a highlight for many, including Motor Trend and Jalopnik’s writers. A Roush V8, some chop work and artfully integrated billet and carbon-fiber work make the Afterburner an innovative blend of old and new.

Compact Cubism

Kia, Scion and Nissan now all have mobile boxes, and with the success of the Scion xB, why not? These cube cars, with their unique stance and highly customizable layouts, have become top sellers with a young generation of car enthusiasts. The Kia Soul, which made its SEMA Show debut last year, and the Nissan Cube offered platforms for a variety of manufacturers, from mobile audio wire and component makers Scosche to veteran Nissan tuners Stillen.

But the xB, which launched the box trend more than five years ago and now is in its second-generation, still holds sway over the pack. The Scion annual design contest brought out some truly inspired takes on the xB, including the stretched, chopped and Moon-inspired pickup/Ruckus hauler pictured above built by the crew at BOWLS in Los Angeles.

Lexus Continues SEMA Hot Streak
The Lexus IS-F was a hot debut at the 2007 SEMA Show, and this year Lexus maintained its SEMA momentum with the first North American showing of its LF-A supercar. But it was the newest variation of the IS family, the convertible, that got many enthusiasts pumped, as InsideLine noted.

Diesel: Not Just for Trucks and Converted Benz 300s Anymore

More than a few journalists covered this sinister sled, but the guys at Speedhunters.com got some nice shots of Amanda Livingston’s '65 Cadillac, complete with Cummings turbodiesel drivetrain. Although the flat black exterior and sparkle top aren’t breakthrough aesthetics, the diesel swap makes an interesting twist. Here's more flat-black love from the Show floor.

Cake and Eat It Too

The gap between traditional hot-rod values and environmental responsibility further narrowed at the 2009 SEMA Show. GM debuted its E-Rod engine line—430hp LS3 crate engines that allow you to legally title a project vehicle in California—within a ’55 Chevy. And Ford displayed its application of new and old school with its twin-turbocharged Ecoboosted ’34 Ford, shown above.

Show Concepts to Reality

Although billed simply as a Jay Leno project car with GM, with a meager 425 hp from a V6 and a pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbos, recent auto show speculation suggests that this Camaro may very well be the next Z28—an idea welcomed by the writers at InsideLine.

Bigger, Wider, Larger…

Mopar’s Lower Forty Jeep caused a stir in off-road circles, as noted by the crew at AutoWeek. The tires on the Lower Forty measure 40 x 13.5, wrapped around 20-inch wheels. There’s also a nearly 400hp Hemi for good measure.


Only at SEMA…

...will you find a Subaru WRX STI snowcat. Unless you happen to ski or board at rally driver and DC Shoes cofounder Ken Block’s Utah compound, in which case you might be offered a ride up to the half-pipe in this purpose-built STI snowmobile. It offered a “why not?” moment for writers such as Motor Trend’s Ed Loh.

The SEMA Show is not only the year’s best opportunity for the specialty-equipment industry to do business, it also serves as the proving grounds for trends that will either meet quick and superficial ends or will take hold and dominate the thoughts of builders, fabricators, designers, engineers and the like for the next 12 months.

The top trend of the 2009 SEMA Show wasn’t a vehicle or product, however. It was a business philosophy, namely, survival. Businesses that attended and exhibited made a commitment to set-up for success in 2010. Twelve months ago, the economy was in free-fall and no one knew where it would land, writes Motor Trend editor Angus MacKenzie. “This year, the mood among most exhibitors was a mixture of relief and quiet optimism: We’ve survived the worst, and things are slowly getting better.”

And with the worst behind, exhibitors offered a mix of innovative, optimistic and playful vehicle builds and designs.

Old School Meets New

Ringbrothers Ford Fairlane was a highlight for many, including Motor Trend and Jalopnik’s writers. A Roush V8, some chop work and artfully integrated billet and carbon-fiber work make the Afterburner an innovative blend of old and new.

Compact Cubism

Kia, Scion and Nissan now all have mobile boxes, and with the success of the Scion xB, why not? These cube cars, with their unique stance and highly customizable layouts, have become top sellers with a young generation of car enthusiasts. The Kia Soul, which made its SEMA Show debut last year, and the Nissan Cube offered platforms for a variety of manufacturers, from mobile audio wire and component makers Scosche to veteran Nissan tuners Stillen.

But the xB, which launched the box trend more than five years ago and now is in its second-generation, still holds sway over the pack. The Scion annual design contest brought out some truly inspired takes on the xB, including the stretched, chopped and Moon-inspired pickup/Ruckus hauler pictured above built by the crew at BOWLS in Los Angeles.

Lexus Continues SEMA Hot Streak
The Lexus IS-F was a hot debut at the 2007 SEMA Show, and this year Lexus maintained its SEMA momentum with the first North American showing of its LF-A supercar. But it was the newest variation of the IS family, the convertible, that got many enthusiasts pumped, as InsideLine noted.

Diesel: Not Just for Trucks and Converted Benz 300s Anymore

More than a few journalists covered this sinister sled, but the guys at Speedhunters.com got some nice shots of Amanda Livingston’s '65 Cadillac, complete with Cummings turbodiesel drivetrain. Although the flat black exterior and sparkle top aren’t breakthrough aesthetics, the diesel swap makes an interesting twist. Here's more flat-black love from the Show floor.

Cake and Eat It Too

The gap between traditional hot-rod values and environmental responsibility further narrowed at the 2009 SEMA Show. GM debuted its E-Rod engine line—430hp LS3 crate engines that allow you to legally title a project vehicle in California—within a ’55 Chevy. And Ford displayed its application of new and old school with its twin-turbocharged Ecoboosted ’34 Ford, shown above.

Show Concepts to Reality

Although billed simply as a Jay Leno project car with GM, with a meager 425 hp from a V6 and a pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbos, recent auto show speculation suggests that this Camaro may very well be the next Z28—an idea welcomed by the writers at InsideLine.

Bigger, Wider, Larger…

Mopar’s Lower Forty Jeep caused a stir in off-road circles, as noted by the crew at AutoWeek. The tires on the Lower Forty measure 40 x 13.5, wrapped around 20-inch wheels. There’s also a nearly 400hp Hemi for good measure.


Only at SEMA…

...will you find a Subaru WRX STI snowcat. Unless you happen to ski or board at rally driver and DC Shoes cofounder Ken Block’s Utah compound, in which case you might be offered a ride up to the half-pipe in this purpose-built STI snowmobile. It offered a “why not?” moment for writers such as Motor Trend’s Ed Loh.

The SEMA Show is not only the year’s best opportunity for the specialty-equipment industry to do business, it also serves as the proving grounds for trends that will either meet quick and superficial ends or will take hold and dominate the thoughts of builders, fabricators, designers, engineers and the like for the next 12 months.

The top trend of the 2009 SEMA Show wasn’t a vehicle or product, however. It was a business philosophy, namely, survival. Businesses that attended and exhibited made a commitment to set-up for success in 2010. Twelve months ago, the economy was in free-fall and no one knew where it would land, writes Motor Trend editor Angus MacKenzie. “This year, the mood among most exhibitors was a mixture of relief and quiet optimism: We’ve survived the worst, and things are slowly getting better.”

And with the worst behind, exhibitors offered a mix of innovative, optimistic and playful vehicle builds and designs.

Old School Meets New

Ringbrothers Ford Fairlane was a highlight for many, including Motor Trend and Jalopnik’s writers. A Roush V8, some chop work and artfully integrated billet and carbon-fiber work make the Afterburner an innovative blend of old and new.

Compact Cubism

Kia, Scion and Nissan now all have mobile boxes, and with the success of the Scion xB, why not? These cube cars, with their unique stance and highly customizable layouts, have become top sellers with a young generation of car enthusiasts. The Kia Soul, which made its SEMA Show debut last year, and the Nissan Cube offered platforms for a variety of manufacturers, from mobile audio wire and component makers Scosche to veteran Nissan tuners Stillen.

But the xB, which launched the box trend more than five years ago and now is in its second-generation, still holds sway over the pack. The Scion annual design contest brought out some truly inspired takes on the xB, including the stretched, chopped and Moon-inspired pickup/Ruckus hauler pictured above built by the crew at BOWLS in Los Angeles.

Lexus Continues SEMA Hot Streak
The Lexus IS-F was a hot debut at the 2007 SEMA Show, and this year Lexus maintained its SEMA momentum with the first North American showing of its LF-A supercar. But it was the newest variation of the IS family, the convertible, that got many enthusiasts pumped, as InsideLine noted.

Diesel: Not Just for Trucks and Converted Benz 300s Anymore

More than a few journalists covered this sinister sled, but the guys at Speedhunters.com got some nice shots of Amanda Livingston’s '65 Cadillac, complete with Cummings turbodiesel drivetrain. Although the flat black exterior and sparkle top aren’t breakthrough aesthetics, the diesel swap makes an interesting twist. Here's more flat-black love from the Show floor.

Cake and Eat It Too

The gap between traditional hot-rod values and environmental responsibility further narrowed at the 2009 SEMA Show. GM debuted its E-Rod engine line—430hp LS3 crate engines that allow you to legally title a project vehicle in California—within a ’55 Chevy. And Ford displayed its application of new and old school with its twin-turbocharged Ecoboosted ’34 Ford, shown above.

Show Concepts to Reality

Although billed simply as a Jay Leno project car with GM, with a meager 425 hp from a V6 and a pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbos, recent auto show speculation suggests that this Camaro may very well be the next Z28—an idea welcomed by the writers at InsideLine.

Bigger, Wider, Larger…

Mopar’s Lower Forty Jeep caused a stir in off-road circles, as noted by the crew at AutoWeek. The tires on the Lower Forty measure 40 x 13.5, wrapped around 20-inch wheels. There’s also a nearly 400hp Hemi for good measure.


Only at SEMA…

...will you find a Subaru WRX STI snowcat. Unless you happen to ski or board at rally driver and DC Shoes cofounder Ken Block’s Utah compound, in which case you might be offered a ride up to the half-pipe in this purpose-built STI snowmobile. It offered a “why not?” moment for writers such as Motor Trend’s Ed Loh.

The SEMA Show is not only the year’s best opportunity for the specialty-equipment industry to do business, it also serves as the proving grounds for trends that will either meet quick and superficial ends or will take hold and dominate the thoughts of builders, fabricators, designers, engineers and the like for the next 12 months.

The top trend of the 2009 SEMA Show wasn’t a vehicle or product, however. It was a business philosophy, namely, survival. Businesses that attended and exhibited made a commitment to set-up for success in 2010. Twelve months ago, the economy was in free-fall and no one knew where it would land, writes Motor Trend editor Angus MacKenzie. “This year, the mood among most exhibitors was a mixture of relief and quiet optimism: We’ve survived the worst, and things are slowly getting better.”

And with the worst behind, exhibitors offered a mix of innovative, optimistic and playful vehicle builds and designs.

Old School Meets New

Ringbrothers Ford Fairlane was a highlight for many, including Motor Trend and Jalopnik’s writers. A Roush V8, some chop work and artfully integrated billet and carbon-fiber work make the Afterburner an innovative blend of old and new.

Compact Cubism

Kia, Scion and Nissan now all have mobile boxes, and with the success of the Scion xB, why not? These cube cars, with their unique stance and highly customizable layouts, have become top sellers with a young generation of car enthusiasts. The Kia Soul, which made its SEMA Show debut last year, and the Nissan Cube offered platforms for a variety of manufacturers, from mobile audio wire and component makers Scosche to veteran Nissan tuners Stillen.

But the xB, which launched the box trend more than five years ago and now is in its second-generation, still holds sway over the pack. The Scion annual design contest brought out some truly inspired takes on the xB, including the stretched, chopped and Moon-inspired pickup/Ruckus hauler pictured above built by the crew at BOWLS in Los Angeles.

Lexus Continues SEMA Hot Streak
The Lexus IS-F was a hot debut at the 2007 SEMA Show, and this year Lexus maintained its SEMA momentum with the first North American showing of its LF-A supercar. But it was the newest variation of the IS family, the convertible, that got many enthusiasts pumped, as InsideLine noted.

Diesel: Not Just for Trucks and Converted Benz 300s Anymore

More than a few journalists covered this sinister sled, but the guys at Speedhunters.com got some nice shots of Amanda Livingston’s '65 Cadillac, complete with Cummings turbodiesel drivetrain. Although the flat black exterior and sparkle top aren’t breakthrough aesthetics, the diesel swap makes an interesting twist. Here's more flat-black love from the Show floor.

Cake and Eat It Too

The gap between traditional hot-rod values and environmental responsibility further narrowed at the 2009 SEMA Show. GM debuted its E-Rod engine line—430hp LS3 crate engines that allow you to legally title a project vehicle in California—within a ’55 Chevy. And Ford displayed its application of new and old school with its twin-turbocharged Ecoboosted ’34 Ford, shown above.

Show Concepts to Reality

Although billed simply as a Jay Leno project car with GM, with a meager 425 hp from a V6 and a pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbos, recent auto show speculation suggests that this Camaro may very well be the next Z28—an idea welcomed by the writers at InsideLine.

Bigger, Wider, Larger…

Mopar’s Lower Forty Jeep caused a stir in off-road circles, as noted by the crew at AutoWeek. The tires on the Lower Forty measure 40 x 13.5, wrapped around 20-inch wheels. There’s also a nearly 400hp Hemi for good measure.


Only at SEMA…

...will you find a Subaru WRX STI snowcat. Unless you happen to ski or board at rally driver and DC Shoes cofounder Ken Block’s Utah compound, in which case you might be offered a ride up to the half-pipe in this purpose-built STI snowmobile. It offered a “why not?” moment for writers such as Motor Trend’s Ed Loh.

The SEMA Show is not only the year’s best opportunity for the specialty-equipment industry to do business, it also serves as the proving grounds for trends that will either meet quick and superficial ends or will take hold and dominate the thoughts of builders, fabricators, designers, engineers and the like for the next 12 months.

The top trend of the 2009 SEMA Show wasn’t a vehicle or product, however. It was a business philosophy, namely, survival. Businesses that attended and exhibited made a commitment to set-up for success in 2010. Twelve months ago, the economy was in free-fall and no one knew where it would land, writes Motor Trend editor Angus MacKenzie. “This year, the mood among most exhibitors was a mixture of relief and quiet optimism: We’ve survived the worst, and things are slowly getting better.”

And with the worst behind, exhibitors offered a mix of innovative, optimistic and playful vehicle builds and designs.

Old School Meets New

Ringbrothers Ford Fairlane was a highlight for many, including Motor Trend and Jalopnik’s writers. A Roush V8, some chop work and artfully integrated billet and carbon-fiber work make the Afterburner an innovative blend of old and new.

Compact Cubism

Kia, Scion and Nissan now all have mobile boxes, and with the success of the Scion xB, why not? These cube cars, with their unique stance and highly customizable layouts, have become top sellers with a young generation of car enthusiasts. The Kia Soul, which made its SEMA Show debut last year, and the Nissan Cube offered platforms for a variety of manufacturers, from mobile audio wire and component makers Scosche to veteran Nissan tuners Stillen.

But the xB, which launched the box trend more than five years ago and now is in its second-generation, still holds sway over the pack. The Scion annual design contest brought out some truly inspired takes on the xB, including the stretched, chopped and Moon-inspired pickup/Ruckus hauler pictured above built by the crew at BOWLS in Los Angeles.

Lexus Continues SEMA Hot Streak
The Lexus IS-F was a hot debut at the 2007 SEMA Show, and this year Lexus maintained its SEMA momentum with the first North American showing of its LF-A supercar. But it was the newest variation of the IS family, the convertible, that got many enthusiasts pumped, as InsideLine noted.

Diesel: Not Just for Trucks and Converted Benz 300s Anymore

More than a few journalists covered this sinister sled, but the guys at Speedhunters.com got some nice shots of Amanda Livingston’s '65 Cadillac, complete with Cummings turbodiesel drivetrain. Although the flat black exterior and sparkle top aren’t breakthrough aesthetics, the diesel swap makes an interesting twist. Here's more flat-black love from the Show floor.

Cake and Eat It Too

The gap between traditional hot-rod values and environmental responsibility further narrowed at the 2009 SEMA Show. GM debuted its E-Rod engine line—430hp LS3 crate engines that allow you to legally title a project vehicle in California—within a ’55 Chevy. And Ford displayed its application of new and old school with its twin-turbocharged Ecoboosted ’34 Ford, shown above.

Show Concepts to Reality

Although billed simply as a Jay Leno project car with GM, with a meager 425 hp from a V6 and a pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbos, recent auto show speculation suggests that this Camaro may very well be the next Z28—an idea welcomed by the writers at InsideLine.

Bigger, Wider, Larger…

Mopar’s Lower Forty Jeep caused a stir in off-road circles, as noted by the crew at AutoWeek. The tires on the Lower Forty measure 40 x 13.5, wrapped around 20-inch wheels. There’s also a nearly 400hp Hemi for good measure.


Only at SEMA…

...will you find a Subaru WRX STI snowcat. Unless you happen to ski or board at rally driver and DC Shoes cofounder Ken Block’s Utah compound, in which case you might be offered a ride up to the half-pipe in this purpose-built STI snowmobile. It offered a “why not?” moment for writers such as Motor Trend’s Ed Loh.

The SEMA Show is not only the year’s best opportunity for the specialty-equipment industry to do business, it also serves as the proving grounds for trends that will either meet quick and superficial ends or will take hold and dominate the thoughts of builders, fabricators, designers, engineers and the like for the next 12 months.

The top trend of the 2009 SEMA Show wasn’t a vehicle or product, however. It was a business philosophy, namely, survival. Businesses that attended and exhibited made a commitment to set-up for success in 2010. Twelve months ago, the economy was in free-fall and no one knew where it would land, writes Motor Trend editor Angus MacKenzie. “This year, the mood among most exhibitors was a mixture of relief and quiet optimism: We’ve survived the worst, and things are slowly getting better.”

And with the worst behind, exhibitors offered a mix of innovative, optimistic and playful vehicle builds and designs.

Old School Meets New

Ringbrothers Ford Fairlane was a highlight for many, including Motor Trend and Jalopnik’s writers. A Roush V8, some chop work and artfully integrated billet and carbon-fiber work make the Afterburner an innovative blend of old and new.

Compact Cubism

Kia, Scion and Nissan now all have mobile boxes, and with the success of the Scion xB, why not? These cube cars, with their unique stance and highly customizable layouts, have become top sellers with a young generation of car enthusiasts. The Kia Soul, which made its SEMA Show debut last year, and the Nissan Cube offered platforms for a variety of manufacturers, from mobile audio wire and component makers Scosche to veteran Nissan tuners Stillen.

But the xB, which launched the box trend more than five years ago and now is in its second-generation, still holds sway over the pack. The Scion annual design contest brought out some truly inspired takes on the xB, including the stretched, chopped and Moon-inspired pickup/Ruckus hauler pictured above built by the crew at BOWLS in Los Angeles.

Lexus Continues SEMA Hot Streak
The Lexus IS-F was a hot debut at the 2007 SEMA Show, and this year Lexus maintained its SEMA momentum with the first North American showing of its LF-A supercar. But it was the newest variation of the IS family, the convertible, that got many enthusiasts pumped, as InsideLine noted.

Diesel: Not Just for Trucks and Converted Benz 300s Anymore

More than a few journalists covered this sinister sled, but the guys at Speedhunters.com got some nice shots of Amanda Livingston’s '65 Cadillac, complete with Cummings turbodiesel drivetrain. Although the flat black exterior and sparkle top aren’t breakthrough aesthetics, the diesel swap makes an interesting twist. Here's more flat-black love from the Show floor.

Cake and Eat It Too

The gap between traditional hot-rod values and environmental responsibility further narrowed at the 2009 SEMA Show. GM debuted its E-Rod engine line—430hp LS3 crate engines that allow you to legally title a project vehicle in California—within a ’55 Chevy. And Ford displayed its application of new and old school with its twin-turbocharged Ecoboosted ’34 Ford, shown above.

Show Concepts to Reality

Although billed simply as a Jay Leno project car with GM, with a meager 425 hp from a V6 and a pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbos, recent auto show speculation suggests that this Camaro may very well be the next Z28—an idea welcomed by the writers at InsideLine.

Bigger, Wider, Larger…

Mopar’s Lower Forty Jeep caused a stir in off-road circles, as noted by the crew at AutoWeek. The tires on the Lower Forty measure 40 x 13.5, wrapped around 20-inch wheels. There’s also a nearly 400hp Hemi for good measure.


Only at SEMA…

...will you find a Subaru WRX STI snowcat. Unless you happen to ski or board at rally driver and DC Shoes cofounder Ken Block’s Utah compound, in which case you might be offered a ride up to the half-pipe in this purpose-built STI snowmobile. It offered a “why not?” moment for writers such as Motor Trend’s Ed Loh.

The SEMA Show is not only the year’s best opportunity for the specialty-equipment industry to do business, it also serves as the proving grounds for trends that will either meet quick and superficial ends or will take hold and dominate the thoughts of builders, fabricators, designers, engineers and the like for the next 12 months.

The top trend of the 2009 SEMA Show wasn’t a vehicle or product, however. It was a business philosophy, namely, survival. Businesses that attended and exhibited made a commitment to set-up for success in 2010. Twelve months ago, the economy was in free-fall and no one knew where it would land, writes Motor Trend editor Angus MacKenzie. “This year, the mood among most exhibitors was a mixture of relief and quiet optimism: We’ve survived the worst, and things are slowly getting better.”

And with the worst behind, exhibitors offered a mix of innovative, optimistic and playful vehicle builds and designs.

Old School Meets New

Ringbrothers Ford Fairlane was a highlight for many, including Motor Trend and Jalopnik’s writers. A Roush V8, some chop work and artfully integrated billet and carbon-fiber work make the Afterburner an innovative blend of old and new.

Compact Cubism

Kia, Scion and Nissan now all have mobile boxes, and with the success of the Scion xB, why not? These cube cars, with their unique stance and highly customizable layouts, have become top sellers with a young generation of car enthusiasts. The Kia Soul, which made its SEMA Show debut last year, and the Nissan Cube offered platforms for a variety of manufacturers, from mobile audio wire and component makers Scosche to veteran Nissan tuners Stillen.

But the xB, which launched the box trend more than five years ago and now is in its second-generation, still holds sway over the pack. The Scion annual design contest brought out some truly inspired takes on the xB, including the stretched, chopped and Moon-inspired pickup/Ruckus hauler pictured above built by the crew at BOWLS in Los Angeles.

Lexus Continues SEMA Hot Streak
The Lexus IS-F was a hot debut at the 2007 SEMA Show, and this year Lexus maintained its SEMA momentum with the first North American showing of its LF-A supercar. But it was the newest variation of the IS family, the convertible, that got many enthusiasts pumped, as InsideLine noted.

Diesel: Not Just for Trucks and Converted Benz 300s Anymore

More than a few journalists covered this sinister sled, but the guys at Speedhunters.com got some nice shots of Amanda Livingston’s '65 Cadillac, complete with Cummings turbodiesel drivetrain. Although the flat black exterior and sparkle top aren’t breakthrough aesthetics, the diesel swap makes an interesting twist. Here's more flat-black love from the Show floor.

Cake and Eat It Too

The gap between traditional hot-rod values and environmental responsibility further narrowed at the 2009 SEMA Show. GM debuted its E-Rod engine line—430hp LS3 crate engines that allow you to legally title a project vehicle in California—within a ’55 Chevy. And Ford displayed its application of new and old school with its twin-turbocharged Ecoboosted ’34 Ford, shown above.

Show Concepts to Reality

Although billed simply as a Jay Leno project car with GM, with a meager 425 hp from a V6 and a pair of Turbonetics T-3 turbos, recent auto show speculation suggests that this Camaro may very well be the next Z28—an idea welcomed by the writers at InsideLine.

Bigger, Wider, Larger…

Mopar’s Lower Forty Jeep caused a stir in off-road circles, as noted by the crew at AutoWeek. The tires on the Lower Forty measure 40 x 13.5, wrapped around 20-inch wheels. There’s also a nearly 400hp Hemi for good measure.


Only at SEMA…

...will you find a Subaru WRX STI snowcat. Unless you happen to ski or board at rally driver and DC Shoes cofounder Ken Block’s Utah compound, in which case you might be offered a ride up to the half-pipe in this purpose-built STI snowmobile. It offered a “why not?” moment for writers such as Motor Trend’s Ed Loh.

	Rick Ballard

Rick G. Ballard from Hurricane, Utah, received the Technician of the Future award, sponsored by Mitchell 1 and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), Ballard earned the honor from a candidate pool of more than 185,000 qualifiers. Ballard has been an automotive technician for three years and an ASE Master Technician for one year. He is employed as an automotive technician at Cache Valley Advantage Automotive, located in Logan, Utah. Ballard took courses at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah in the automotive repair program as a high school student, which included electric car conversion. He graduated from the Toyota T-Ten program through Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, in May 2009.

Advanstar Communications announced that Auto Body World of Tolleson, Arizona, is the Automotive Body Repair News (ABRN) Top Shop for 2009. This year marked the first time the competition was held by ABRN magazine to honor the top 10 collision repair facilities in the United States. Auto Body World of Tolleson, is one of six shops in the Phoenix area operated by the company under the leadership of David Fait, CEO, and Mark Turner, president. Fait’s father, Warren, launched the company in 1962, and they now have 130 employees.

The 2009 SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series will air on Speed-TV beginning December 6.

Beginning December 6, the 2009 SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series—the country’s only professional clean diesel racing series—will begin airing on Speed TV. The broadcast schedule for the first seven races of the season has been announced, and the final dates will be released at a later date. Each of the races will air in an edited 30-minute broadcast. Check local cable listings for channel information and www.speedtv.com for broadcast schedule updates.

DuPont announced that silver, black and white are the top colors in the first-ever ranking of worldwide vehicle color popularity. The Top 10 Global Vehicle Colors according to DuPont are: silver (25%), black (23%), white (16%), gray (13%), blue (9%), red (8%), brown/beige (4%), green (1%), yellow/gold (1%), others (less than 1%). The information is part of the annual DuPont Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, now in its 57th year. Read the complete release from DuPont.

After being away from the Motorsports show for several years, Miller Beer will return as an associate sponsor for Motorsports 2010 presented by StreetBlaze 100. The 25th anniversary edition of the show is set for Friday–Sunday, January 22–24, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania.

	Yokohama's headquarters in Fullerton, California.

The Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the United States. Some highlights of the company’s 40 years in the United States include: YTC introduces the A008 asymmetric tread pattern to the United States in 1982; YTC acquires the Mohawk Rubber Company, providing an essential manufacturing facility in the United States; YTC opens a distribution center in Auburn, Georgia, in 2000; and, in 2008, the company’s Orange oil-infused dB Super E-spec wins Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award. For more information, visit www.yokohamatire.com.

McCullough Public Relations Inc. was selected as the public relations firm of record for Prolong Super Lubricants, a brand of GoldenWest Lubricants Inc. McCullough PR will coordinate all of Prolong's media relations, including press release writing, feature-story coordination and onsite trade show representation.

Suzuki is preparing the launch of its all-new 2010 Kizashi five-passenger sedan and is inviting all SEMA manufacturing members to its December 11 measuring session to get hands-on with the new specs. The front-drive 2010 Kizashi (also available in AWD) will feature a 2.4L four-cylinder engine, putting down 185 hp through a six-speed manual or CVT.