General Motors is currently accepting proposals for companies interested in developing a GM-based project vehicle for the 2011 SEMA Show. The automaker recommends submitting proposals early for preferential consideration, but no later than May 11, 2011.

The Chevrolet Cruze is a key passenger car to be considered for GM's Project Vehicle Program for the 2011 SEMA Show.

The General Motors 2011 SEMA Show strategy for its Project Vehicle Program will focus on passenger-car performance accessories and some pickups with full accessory programs from the accessories market. The Chevrolet Cruze and Camaro Convertible are the key passenger cars to be considered. Other GM product lines will be available in limited quantities within the scope of this program.

Proposals will be reviewed on an individual basis for approval. Three copies of the proposal, including a rendering on 8½ x 11-in. paper (stapled, not bound please) are requested and preferred over e-mailed submissions.

To be considered, proposals must include the four General Motors criteria listed below for content and definition:

• An introductory letter defining the project vehicle's theme (i.e. appealing to which market segment) and its general content, vehicle-need date and project-completion date.
• A list of specific system upgrades, including partnered sources, if appropriate. Please use the Excel-formatted “Sheet B,” which will be provided by calling Bob Kern as stated below.
• A proposed list of intended events, trade shows, publications, etc., where the vehicle will be promoted. Availability for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas is required. Please state where the vehicle will be displayed at the SEMA Show and who will sponsor the vehicle if it is placed in a feature spot. Note that partners are required to promote the vehicle through November 1, 2012. Proposals with guaranteed interior booth space will be given preferred consideration.
• 8 ½ x 11 color renderings illustrating front/side, and rear appearance (composite ¾ views are acceptable) with the intended color and graphic scheme accurately defined. If the interior will be significantly modified, an interior sketch also is recommended. Preservation of front-end brand identity (divisional emblem and possibly grille features) is mandatory.

SEMA members interested in developing a General Motors project vehicle for the 2011 SEMA Show are encouraged to prepare a project description plan and submit it to:

Bob Kern
SEMA Relations Manager
2382 Browning Dr., Ste. 100
Orion, MI 48360

OR

Please note that quantities for each brand will be limited. Vehicle availability (timing) may vary by brand, depending on start-of-production schedules. It is recommended to submit proposals early for preferential consideration, but no later than May 11, 2011.

Approved projects will be required to be completed no later than October 12, 2011. Build photos may be requested.

General Motors is currently accepting proposals for companies interested in developing a GM-based project vehicle for the 2011 SEMA Show. The automaker recommends submitting proposals early for preferential consideration, but no later than May 11, 2011.

The Chevrolet Cruze is a key passenger car to be considered for GM's Project Vehicle Program for the 2011 SEMA Show.

The General Motors 2011 SEMA Show strategy for its Project Vehicle Program will focus on passenger-car performance accessories and some pickups with full accessory programs from the accessories market. The Chevrolet Cruze and Camaro Convertible are the key passenger cars to be considered. Other GM product lines will be available in limited quantities within the scope of this program.

Proposals will be reviewed on an individual basis for approval. Three copies of the proposal, including a rendering on 8½ x 11-in. paper (stapled, not bound please) are requested and preferred over e-mailed submissions.

To be considered, proposals must include the four General Motors criteria listed below for content and definition:

• An introductory letter defining the project vehicle's theme (i.e. appealing to which market segment) and its general content, vehicle-need date and project-completion date.
• A list of specific system upgrades, including partnered sources, if appropriate. Please use the Excel-formatted “Sheet B,” which will be provided by calling Bob Kern as stated below.
• A proposed list of intended events, trade shows, publications, etc., where the vehicle will be promoted. Availability for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas is required. Please state where the vehicle will be displayed at the SEMA Show and who will sponsor the vehicle if it is placed in a feature spot. Note that partners are required to promote the vehicle through November 1, 2012. Proposals with guaranteed interior booth space will be given preferred consideration.
• 8 ½ x 11 color renderings illustrating front/side, and rear appearance (composite ¾ views are acceptable) with the intended color and graphic scheme accurately defined. If the interior will be significantly modified, an interior sketch also is recommended. Preservation of front-end brand identity (divisional emblem and possibly grille features) is mandatory.

SEMA members interested in developing a General Motors project vehicle for the 2011 SEMA Show are encouraged to prepare a project description plan and submit it to:

Bob Kern
SEMA Relations Manager
2382 Browning Dr., Ste. 100
Orion, MI 48360

OR

Please note that quantities for each brand will be limited. Vehicle availability (timing) may vary by brand, depending on start-of-production schedules. It is recommended to submit proposals early for preferential consideration, but no later than May 11, 2011.

Approved projects will be required to be completed no later than October 12, 2011. Build photos may be requested.

General Motors is currently accepting proposals for companies interested in developing a GM-based project vehicle for the 2011 SEMA Show. The automaker recommends submitting proposals early for preferential consideration, but no later than May 11, 2011.

The Chevrolet Cruze is a key passenger car to be considered for GM's Project Vehicle Program for the 2011 SEMA Show.

The General Motors 2011 SEMA Show strategy for its Project Vehicle Program will focus on passenger-car performance accessories and some pickups with full accessory programs from the accessories market. The Chevrolet Cruze and Camaro Convertible are the key passenger cars to be considered. Other GM product lines will be available in limited quantities within the scope of this program.

Proposals will be reviewed on an individual basis for approval. Three copies of the proposal, including a rendering on 8½ x 11-in. paper (stapled, not bound please) are requested and preferred over e-mailed submissions.

To be considered, proposals must include the four General Motors criteria listed below for content and definition:

• An introductory letter defining the project vehicle's theme (i.e. appealing to which market segment) and its general content, vehicle-need date and project-completion date.
• A list of specific system upgrades, including partnered sources, if appropriate. Please use the Excel-formatted “Sheet B,” which will be provided by calling Bob Kern as stated below.
• A proposed list of intended events, trade shows, publications, etc., where the vehicle will be promoted. Availability for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas is required. Please state where the vehicle will be displayed at the SEMA Show and who will sponsor the vehicle if it is placed in a feature spot. Note that partners are required to promote the vehicle through November 1, 2012. Proposals with guaranteed interior booth space will be given preferred consideration.
• 8 ½ x 11 color renderings illustrating front/side, and rear appearance (composite ¾ views are acceptable) with the intended color and graphic scheme accurately defined. If the interior will be significantly modified, an interior sketch also is recommended. Preservation of front-end brand identity (divisional emblem and possibly grille features) is mandatory.

SEMA members interested in developing a General Motors project vehicle for the 2011 SEMA Show are encouraged to prepare a project description plan and submit it to:

Bob Kern
SEMA Relations Manager
2382 Browning Dr., Ste. 100
Orion, MI 48360

OR

Please note that quantities for each brand will be limited. Vehicle availability (timing) may vary by brand, depending on start-of-production schedules. It is recommended to submit proposals early for preferential consideration, but no later than May 11, 2011.

Approved projects will be required to be completed no later than October 12, 2011. Build photos may be requested.

General Motors is currently accepting proposals for companies interested in developing a GM-based project vehicle for the 2011 SEMA Show. The automaker recommends submitting proposals early for preferential consideration, but no later than May 11, 2011.

The Chevrolet Cruze is a key passenger car to be considered for GM's Project Vehicle Program for the 2011 SEMA Show.

The General Motors 2011 SEMA Show strategy for its Project Vehicle Program will focus on passenger-car performance accessories and some pickups with full accessory programs from the accessories market. The Chevrolet Cruze and Camaro Convertible are the key passenger cars to be considered. Other GM product lines will be available in limited quantities within the scope of this program.

Proposals will be reviewed on an individual basis for approval. Three copies of the proposal, including a rendering on 8½ x 11-in. paper (stapled, not bound please) are requested and preferred over e-mailed submissions.

To be considered, proposals must include the four General Motors criteria listed below for content and definition:

• An introductory letter defining the project vehicle's theme (i.e. appealing to which market segment) and its general content, vehicle-need date and project-completion date.
• A list of specific system upgrades, including partnered sources, if appropriate. Please use the Excel-formatted “Sheet B,” which will be provided by calling Bob Kern as stated below.
• A proposed list of intended events, trade shows, publications, etc., where the vehicle will be promoted. Availability for the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas is required. Please state where the vehicle will be displayed at the SEMA Show and who will sponsor the vehicle if it is placed in a feature spot. Note that partners are required to promote the vehicle through November 1, 2012. Proposals with guaranteed interior booth space will be given preferred consideration.
• 8 ½ x 11 color renderings illustrating front/side, and rear appearance (composite ¾ views are acceptable) with the intended color and graphic scheme accurately defined. If the interior will be significantly modified, an interior sketch also is recommended. Preservation of front-end brand identity (divisional emblem and possibly grille features) is mandatory.

SEMA members interested in developing a General Motors project vehicle for the 2011 SEMA Show are encouraged to prepare a project description plan and submit it to:

Bob Kern
SEMA Relations Manager
2382 Browning Dr., Ste. 100
Orion, MI 48360

OR

Please note that quantities for each brand will be limited. Vehicle availability (timing) may vary by brand, depending on start-of-production schedules. It is recommended to submit proposals early for preferential consideration, but no later than May 11, 2011.

Approved projects will be required to be completed no later than October 12, 2011. Build photos may be requested.

The SEMA Action Network issued the following clarification regarding a recent April Fool's Day prank involving an alleged The New York Times article indicating that legislation was being drafted in the U.S. Congress to create a federal tax on collector cars.

SEMA Action Network Members:

Some of you may have received notice of an alleged The New York Times article indicating that legislation was being drafted in the U.S. Congress to create a federal tax on collector cars. Hopefully, most of you know by now that the article was an April Fool's Day prank. The author has indicated his regrets for any confusion or embarrassment to automobile collectors and enthusiasts caused by the prank. Below, we have included the full text of his letter revealing the hoax.

Please contact me if I can be of additional assistance.

Steve McDonald
Vice President, Government Affairs
Specialty Equipment Market Association

The Shelby American Automobile Club’s (SAAC) annual April Fool’s gag reached a much wider audience than anyone could have predicted. Initially a four-page newsletter was e-mailed to every member. It contained stories about a perpetual motion ’68 Shelby, a ’69 GT350 that supposedly got 40 miles per gallon and a bogus front-page recreation of The New York Times, dated March 28, that had two stories. One was a hoax about purported tax legislation being prepared by Sen. Charles Schumer, which would tax every collector car, antique, hot rod and race car in the country. This was, of course, concocted out of thin air. But it was, on the surface, believable and it hit numerous hot buttons of car owners.

As soon as some SAAC members read this, they immediately went into full “Paul Revere mode,” posting the article on a wide variety of Internet car forums. Once on those forums, readers swarmed like angry killer bees, both posting angry comments about the unfairness of the concept and spreading parts and pieces of the original article in e-mails and postings. It was the classic definition of something “going viral.”

When readers on some forums recognized the whole thing as an April Fool’s joke and posted this, other readers seemed to look right past the warnings. We now know how Orson Wells must have felt after his 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast resulted in traffic jams as panicked people tried to flee New Jersey.

While we enjoy a good April Fool’s prank as much as anyone, we never envisioned that this one could spread so quickly or so widely beyond the Shelby American Automobile Club. We deeply regret if taking this story seriously has caused anyone any undue distress or embarrassment. To keep more of that from happening we would greatly appreciate it if you could forward this message to as many car enthusiasts as possible. If they forward it to others who can forward it to even more people, maybe this second message will catch up with and overpower the first one.

And, finally, please do not contact Senator Schumer’s office. He already has his hands full with real issues of importance.

Best regards,

Rick Kopec
Shelby American Automobile Club

The SEMA Action Network issued the following clarification regarding a recent April Fool's Day prank involving an alleged The New York Times article indicating that legislation was being drafted in the U.S. Congress to create a federal tax on collector cars.

SEMA Action Network Members:

Some of you may have received notice of an alleged The New York Times article indicating that legislation was being drafted in the U.S. Congress to create a federal tax on collector cars. Hopefully, most of you know by now that the article was an April Fool's Day prank. The author has indicated his regrets for any confusion or embarrassment to automobile collectors and enthusiasts caused by the prank. Below, we have included the full text of his letter revealing the hoax.

Please contact me if I can be of additional assistance.

Steve McDonald
Vice President, Government Affairs
Specialty Equipment Market Association

The Shelby American Automobile Club’s (SAAC) annual April Fool’s gag reached a much wider audience than anyone could have predicted. Initially a four-page newsletter was e-mailed to every member. It contained stories about a perpetual motion ’68 Shelby, a ’69 GT350 that supposedly got 40 miles per gallon and a bogus front-page recreation of The New York Times, dated March 28, that had two stories. One was a hoax about purported tax legislation being prepared by Sen. Charles Schumer, which would tax every collector car, antique, hot rod and race car in the country. This was, of course, concocted out of thin air. But it was, on the surface, believable and it hit numerous hot buttons of car owners.

As soon as some SAAC members read this, they immediately went into full “Paul Revere mode,” posting the article on a wide variety of Internet car forums. Once on those forums, readers swarmed like angry killer bees, both posting angry comments about the unfairness of the concept and spreading parts and pieces of the original article in e-mails and postings. It was the classic definition of something “going viral.”

When readers on some forums recognized the whole thing as an April Fool’s joke and posted this, other readers seemed to look right past the warnings. We now know how Orson Wells must have felt after his 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast resulted in traffic jams as panicked people tried to flee New Jersey.

While we enjoy a good April Fool’s prank as much as anyone, we never envisioned that this one could spread so quickly or so widely beyond the Shelby American Automobile Club. We deeply regret if taking this story seriously has caused anyone any undue distress or embarrassment. To keep more of that from happening we would greatly appreciate it if you could forward this message to as many car enthusiasts as possible. If they forward it to others who can forward it to even more people, maybe this second message will catch up with and overpower the first one.

And, finally, please do not contact Senator Schumer’s office. He already has his hands full with real issues of importance.

Best regards,

Rick Kopec
Shelby American Automobile Club

Cadillac's all-new flagship model recently went on another test drive, and the covert team of shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co.  managed to snap some up-close shots of the XTS.

According to Brenda Priddy, GM has gone to great lengths to camouflage this XTS almost exactly like the previously spotted ATS prototypes. While the ATS test cars have heavy padding underneath the vinyl to make them look bigger, the XTS camouflage looks to have no padding at all. This makes for very similar-looking test cars.

Riding the long-wheel-base version of the Epsilon II chassis, the XTS will go into production in March 2012 at the Oshawa plant, says Priddy. Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models will be available.

Under the hood, the 3.6L V6 will be standard, and Priddy is sure that a turbo-charged V6 should be available for an upmarket model. A 3.0L, twin-turbo V6 is the rumored choice.

Photo: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Company

Cadillac's all-new flagship model recently went on another test drive, and the covert team of shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co.  managed to snap some up-close shots of the XTS.

According to Brenda Priddy, GM has gone to great lengths to camouflage this XTS almost exactly like the previously spotted ATS prototypes. While the ATS test cars have heavy padding underneath the vinyl to make them look bigger, the XTS camouflage looks to have no padding at all. This makes for very similar-looking test cars.

Riding the long-wheel-base version of the Epsilon II chassis, the XTS will go into production in March 2012 at the Oshawa plant, says Priddy. Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models will be available.

Under the hood, the 3.6L V6 will be standard, and Priddy is sure that a turbo-charged V6 should be available for an upmarket model. A 3.0L, twin-turbo V6 is the rumored choice.

Photo: Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Company