By AJ Carney

The 2018 Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) featured an interactive panel discussion moderated by Billy Godbold, COMP Performance Group, and featured legendary engine builders Ed Pink, Sonny Leonard, Keith Dorton and Jon Kaase.

The 2018 Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) kicked off Tuesday, December 4, with an opening experience that included an interactive panel discussion moderated by Billy Godbold, COMP Performance Group, and featured legendary engine builders:

• Ed Pink, Ed Pink’s Garage
• Sonny Leonard, Sonny’s Racing Engines
• Keith Dorton, Automotive Specialists
• Jon Kaase, Jon Kaase Race Engines

On Wednesday, there was a full day of value-packed seminars delivered by such experts as Jeremy Wagler, Wagler Motorsports;  Lake Speed Jr., DRIVEN Racing Oils; and Gary Patterson of ECR, to name a few. The day also featured a special seminar hosted by winners of the 2018 Engine Masters.

Following the conference on Wednesday, attendees were invited to attend the second Annual Engine Builder Happy Hour that serves to recognize engine builders and offered a great community of networking for the industry.

The award honorees were:

• Sonny Leonard; Sonny's Racing Engines, Inc.—Engine Builder Honor Winner
• Ben Strader; EFI University—U 40 Engine Designer Award Winner

There’s more—on both Thursday and Friday of the PRI Trade Show, more than 90 attendees participated in the AETC+ seminars, hosted by:

• Chuck Lynch, AERA
• Jim Arentz, Penske Racing Shocks
• Charles Navarro, LN Engineering LLC
• Jason Enders, RE Suspension & Gary Crooks, Crooks Racing
• Mark Bush, Racewise

Want to attend AETC in 2019? Register now for early-bird pricing.

The Land Rover Defender replacement has been spotted in public in the UK. These spy shots show a heavily camouflaged prototype, which is reasonably close to the final product. Previous shots have shown a mule car with a modified Range Rover Sport body on the Defender running gear. The vehicle snapped here is a three-door—the replacement for the 90. The photos have been taken near the Land Rover factory.

Speaking from the 2018 Paris Motor Show, Jaguar Land Rover’s chief marketing officer Felix Bräutigam said: “Our brand is about passion, and it is icons that drive that passion. The truth is the world doesn’t need another premium brand doing what all the others do. These icons are what separate us; at Land Rover, we are rooted in our heritage, and that’s what makes us different.”

The prototype shows a wealth of design cues from the Defender as well as a few from the Discovery and Range Rover families. The offset grille badge has been with the family since 1994. The horizontal radiator grille itself dates from the introduction of the Ninety and One Ten models of 1984. Rear cargo space appears to be short, making a seven-seater a tight fit and a roof rack or trailer a necessity for remote touring—just like the older Discoveries.

Purists will dislike the full independent suspension, especially on the utility models, despite how well the Discovery handles off road; the 2.0L turbodiesel will be shunned by the big engine brigade, even though the Ingenium engine range has proven to be strong performers for a number of years now. There is a high chance the drivetrain will be hybrid electric, if not across the range but as an option. The tapered sides and raked roof aren’t as economical for interior space. Shallower window lines and Alpine Window deletion will take from the bright and airy feel of the Defender.

Bräutigam added, “If we had wanted to recreate the existing car then we could have moved quicker, but it is our view that for an icon to remain an icon it cannot only look backwards, but must move forwards too. The new Defender will move the game on again, and having the benefit for some perspective in order to achieve that should be to our advantage.”

“The one thing I can promise you is that the new Defender will do all that our customers expect of it, without being a copycat of what has gone before. It is a car for the modern world, and that means that it must move the game on if it is to be relevant.”

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

The Land Rover Defender replacement has been spotted in public in the UK. These spy shots show a heavily camouflaged prototype, which is reasonably close to the final product. Previous shots have shown a mule car with a modified Range Rover Sport body on the Defender running gear. The vehicle snapped here is a three-door—the replacement for the 90. The photos have been taken near the Land Rover factory.

Speaking from the 2018 Paris Motor Show, Jaguar Land Rover’s chief marketing officer Felix Bräutigam said: “Our brand is about passion, and it is icons that drive that passion. The truth is the world doesn’t need another premium brand doing what all the others do. These icons are what separate us; at Land Rover, we are rooted in our heritage, and that’s what makes us different.”

The prototype shows a wealth of design cues from the Defender as well as a few from the Discovery and Range Rover families. The offset grille badge has been with the family since 1994. The horizontal radiator grille itself dates from the introduction of the Ninety and One Ten models of 1984. Rear cargo space appears to be short, making a seven-seater a tight fit and a roof rack or trailer a necessity for remote touring—just like the older Discoveries.

Purists will dislike the full independent suspension, especially on the utility models, despite how well the Discovery handles off road; the 2.0L turbodiesel will be shunned by the big engine brigade, even though the Ingenium engine range has proven to be strong performers for a number of years now. There is a high chance the drivetrain will be hybrid electric, if not across the range but as an option. The tapered sides and raked roof aren’t as economical for interior space. Shallower window lines and Alpine Window deletion will take from the bright and airy feel of the Defender.

Bräutigam added, “If we had wanted to recreate the existing car then we could have moved quicker, but it is our view that for an icon to remain an icon it cannot only look backwards, but must move forwards too. The new Defender will move the game on again, and having the benefit for some perspective in order to achieve that should be to our advantage.”

“The one thing I can promise you is that the new Defender will do all that our customers expect of it, without being a copycat of what has gone before. It is a car for the modern world, and that means that it must move the game on if it is to be relevant.”

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

The Land Rover Defender replacement has been spotted in public in the UK. These spy shots show a heavily camouflaged prototype, which is reasonably close to the final product. Previous shots have shown a mule car with a modified Range Rover Sport body on the Defender running gear. The vehicle snapped here is a three-door—the replacement for the 90. The photos have been taken near the Land Rover factory.

Speaking from the 2018 Paris Motor Show, Jaguar Land Rover’s chief marketing officer Felix Bräutigam said: “Our brand is about passion, and it is icons that drive that passion. The truth is the world doesn’t need another premium brand doing what all the others do. These icons are what separate us; at Land Rover, we are rooted in our heritage, and that’s what makes us different.”

The prototype shows a wealth of design cues from the Defender as well as a few from the Discovery and Range Rover families. The offset grille badge has been with the family since 1994. The horizontal radiator grille itself dates from the introduction of the Ninety and One Ten models of 1984. Rear cargo space appears to be short, making a seven-seater a tight fit and a roof rack or trailer a necessity for remote touring—just like the older Discoveries.

Purists will dislike the full independent suspension, especially on the utility models, despite how well the Discovery handles off road; the 2.0L turbodiesel will be shunned by the big engine brigade, even though the Ingenium engine range has proven to be strong performers for a number of years now. There is a high chance the drivetrain will be hybrid electric, if not across the range but as an option. The tapered sides and raked roof aren’t as economical for interior space. Shallower window lines and Alpine Window deletion will take from the bright and airy feel of the Defender.

Bräutigam added, “If we had wanted to recreate the existing car then we could have moved quicker, but it is our view that for an icon to remain an icon it cannot only look backwards, but must move forwards too. The new Defender will move the game on again, and having the benefit for some perspective in order to achieve that should be to our advantage.”

“The one thing I can promise you is that the new Defender will do all that our customers expect of it, without being a copycat of what has gone before. It is a car for the modern world, and that means that it must move the game on if it is to be relevant.”

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

The Land Rover Defender replacement has been spotted in public in the UK. These spy shots show a heavily camouflaged prototype, which is reasonably close to the final product. Previous shots have shown a mule car with a modified Range Rover Sport body on the Defender running gear. The vehicle snapped here is a three-door—the replacement for the 90. The photos have been taken near the Land Rover factory.

Speaking from the 2018 Paris Motor Show, Jaguar Land Rover’s chief marketing officer Felix Bräutigam said: “Our brand is about passion, and it is icons that drive that passion. The truth is the world doesn’t need another premium brand doing what all the others do. These icons are what separate us; at Land Rover, we are rooted in our heritage, and that’s what makes us different.”

The prototype shows a wealth of design cues from the Defender as well as a few from the Discovery and Range Rover families. The offset grille badge has been with the family since 1994. The horizontal radiator grille itself dates from the introduction of the Ninety and One Ten models of 1984. Rear cargo space appears to be short, making a seven-seater a tight fit and a roof rack or trailer a necessity for remote touring—just like the older Discoveries.

Purists will dislike the full independent suspension, especially on the utility models, despite how well the Discovery handles off road; the 2.0L turbodiesel will be shunned by the big engine brigade, even though the Ingenium engine range has proven to be strong performers for a number of years now. There is a high chance the drivetrain will be hybrid electric, if not across the range but as an option. The tapered sides and raked roof aren’t as economical for interior space. Shallower window lines and Alpine Window deletion will take from the bright and airy feel of the Defender.

Bräutigam added, “If we had wanted to recreate the existing car then we could have moved quicker, but it is our view that for an icon to remain an icon it cannot only look backwards, but must move forwards too. The new Defender will move the game on again, and having the benefit for some perspective in order to achieve that should be to our advantage.”

“The one thing I can promise you is that the new Defender will do all that our customers expect of it, without being a copycat of what has gone before. It is a car for the modern world, and that means that it must move the game on if it is to be relevant.”

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

The Land Rover Defender replacement has been spotted in public in the UK. These spy shots show a heavily camouflaged prototype, which is reasonably close to the final product. Previous shots have shown a mule car with a modified Range Rover Sport body on the Defender running gear. The vehicle snapped here is a three-door—the replacement for the 90. The photos have been taken near the Land Rover factory.

Speaking from the 2018 Paris Motor Show, Jaguar Land Rover’s chief marketing officer Felix Bräutigam said: “Our brand is about passion, and it is icons that drive that passion. The truth is the world doesn’t need another premium brand doing what all the others do. These icons are what separate us; at Land Rover, we are rooted in our heritage, and that’s what makes us different.”

The prototype shows a wealth of design cues from the Defender as well as a few from the Discovery and Range Rover families. The offset grille badge has been with the family since 1994. The horizontal radiator grille itself dates from the introduction of the Ninety and One Ten models of 1984. Rear cargo space appears to be short, making a seven-seater a tight fit and a roof rack or trailer a necessity for remote touring—just like the older Discoveries.

Purists will dislike the full independent suspension, especially on the utility models, despite how well the Discovery handles off road; the 2.0L turbodiesel will be shunned by the big engine brigade, even though the Ingenium engine range has proven to be strong performers for a number of years now. There is a high chance the drivetrain will be hybrid electric, if not across the range but as an option. The tapered sides and raked roof aren’t as economical for interior space. Shallower window lines and Alpine Window deletion will take from the bright and airy feel of the Defender.

Bräutigam added, “If we had wanted to recreate the existing car then we could have moved quicker, but it is our view that for an icon to remain an icon it cannot only look backwards, but must move forwards too. The new Defender will move the game on again, and having the benefit for some perspective in order to achieve that should be to our advantage.”

“The one thing I can promise you is that the new Defender will do all that our customers expect of it, without being a copycat of what has gone before. It is a car for the modern world, and that means that it must move the game on if it is to be relevant.”

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

The Land Rover Defender replacement has been spotted in public in the UK. These spy shots show a heavily camouflaged prototype, which is reasonably close to the final product. Previous shots have shown a mule car with a modified Range Rover Sport body on the Defender running gear. The vehicle snapped here is a three-door—the replacement for the 90. The photos have been taken near the Land Rover factory.

Speaking from the 2018 Paris Motor Show, Jaguar Land Rover’s chief marketing officer Felix Bräutigam said: “Our brand is about passion, and it is icons that drive that passion. The truth is the world doesn’t need another premium brand doing what all the others do. These icons are what separate us; at Land Rover, we are rooted in our heritage, and that’s what makes us different.”

The prototype shows a wealth of design cues from the Defender as well as a few from the Discovery and Range Rover families. The offset grille badge has been with the family since 1994. The horizontal radiator grille itself dates from the introduction of the Ninety and One Ten models of 1984. Rear cargo space appears to be short, making a seven-seater a tight fit and a roof rack or trailer a necessity for remote touring—just like the older Discoveries.

Purists will dislike the full independent suspension, especially on the utility models, despite how well the Discovery handles off road; the 2.0L turbodiesel will be shunned by the big engine brigade, even though the Ingenium engine range has proven to be strong performers for a number of years now. There is a high chance the drivetrain will be hybrid electric, if not across the range but as an option. The tapered sides and raked roof aren’t as economical for interior space. Shallower window lines and Alpine Window deletion will take from the bright and airy feel of the Defender.

Bräutigam added, “If we had wanted to recreate the existing car then we could have moved quicker, but it is our view that for an icon to remain an icon it cannot only look backwards, but must move forwards too. The new Defender will move the game on again, and having the benefit for some perspective in order to achieve that should be to our advantage.”

“The one thing I can promise you is that the new Defender will do all that our customers expect of it, without being a copycat of what has gone before. It is a car for the modern world, and that means that it must move the game on if it is to be relevant.”

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

Ford has announced its project-vehicle program for 2019.

Ford Motor Co. has announced its project-vehicle program for 2019. 

2019 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 1, 2019
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2019

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

Email a one-page project summary—must be received by February 15, 2019. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2019 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 1, 2019. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available at www.ford.com.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project 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 the vehicle in a booth at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
• Use Ford accessory products as specified and provided by Ford Motor Company.
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period.
• Purchase and maintain $3 million in general liability, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker’s compensation coverage. An umbrella policy may be used to achieve coverage limits.
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford logo 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.
• 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 the vehicle
6. Social-media exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2019 SEMA Show will follow in January. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Dan German and Kyle Ebner
semainfo@ford.com

By SEMA Editors

Ford has announced its project-vehicle program for 2019.

Ford Motor Co. has announced its project-vehicle program for 2019. 

2019 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 1, 2019
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2019

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

Email a one-page project summary—must be received by February 15, 2019. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2019 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 1, 2019. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available at www.ford.com.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project 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 the vehicle in a booth at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
• Use Ford accessory products as specified and provided by Ford Motor Company.
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period.
• Purchase and maintain $3 million in general liability, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker’s compensation coverage. An umbrella policy may be used to achieve coverage limits.
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford logo 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.
• 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 the vehicle
6. Social-media exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2019 SEMA Show will follow in January. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Dan German and Kyle Ebner
semainfo@ford.com

By SEMA Editors

Ford has announced its project-vehicle program for 2019.

Ford Motor Co. has announced its project-vehicle program for 2019. 

2019 Ford Project Vehicle Program

Proposal Submission Deadline: March 1, 2019
Award Recipient Notification Date: by May 1, 2019

All project vehicle requests must be submitted in two parts and meet the following Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program criteria:

Part 1

Email a one-page project summary—must be received by February 15, 2019. Include bullet points for:

• Vehicle/theme
• Vehicle modifications
• New-product development
• Promotional plan
• Vehicle display location at the 2019 SEMA Show

Part 2

Mail a detailed project proposal—must be received by March 1, 2019. Include details supporting the one-page project summary on company letterhead, a color rendering and past project vehicle examples.

Information on Ford vehicles is available at www.ford.com.

Ford Aftermarket Project Vehicle Program Criteria

Aftermarket companies requesting project 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 the vehicle in a booth at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
• Use Ford accessory products as specified and provided by Ford Motor Company.
• Register and keep the vehicle in your company name during the entire contract period.
• Purchase and maintain $3 million in general liability, $3 million in automotive liability, $1 million in employer liability and demonstrate worker’s compensation coverage. An umbrella policy may be used to achieve coverage limits.
• Commit to feature the vehicle with the Ford logo 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.
• 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 the vehicle
6. Social-media exposure
7. A copy of your current vehicle registration

Information on the specific vehicles Ford plans to emphasize at the 2019 SEMA Show will follow in January. Details will be provided to allow you to research those products and find high-resolution images for renderings.

Submit Ford Project Vehicle proposals to:

Ford Motor Co.
21175 Oakwood Blvd., PDCDC MD579
Dearborn, MI 48124
Attn: Dan German and Kyle Ebner
semainfo@ford.com