The Acura TL, controversially redesigned in 2009, appears due for a mid-cycle redesign for 2012. Brenda Priddy’s photographers caught the first sightings of a mule with its controversial “Power Plenum” grille tightly masked. Modest powertrain enhancements may also be in store, possibly to include Acura’s new six-speed automatic transmission to replace the aging five-speed. Another possibility is that the TL could receive one of the new family of V6s that Honda is working on. Sources say that production has been bumped up to September in order to have models available in showrooms by late spring/early summer 2011, which might provide a boost to a model that has seen sales dip 4.5% from last year.

 

 

 

 

 

Photos copyright Brenda Priddy & Company. Reuse or reproduction without copyright holder's consent is prohibited.

The SEMA Show Exhibitor Services Manual contains all the information exhibitors need to prepare for the upcoming 2010 SEMA Show. While previously, the Exhibitor Services Manual had been printed in bulk, today’s digital age provides for a much more simplified and searchable format.

In addition to the main exhibitor contact, now any individual within the organization can review the manual, print out necessary forms they would like to review and even forward particular forms to others on their team.

When reviewing the Exhibitor Services Manual, continue to monitor the Deadline Checklist. A majority of the forms have deadlines that not only ensure the services will be provided in a timely manner onsite, but also many contractors offer early-bird or advance rates where you can save money if you submit the forms by the published deadlines.

The following deadlines are fast approaching:

• August 20: Student Program Application–Internship
• August 27: Show Directory Advertising Space Reservation
• September 3: Celebrity Appearance
• September 3: Media Conference Application
• September 3: Show Directory Listing Information for printed material

Under a SEMA-supported “jobs bill” enacted into law last March, private employers can claim tax credits if they hire someone in 2010 who has been out of work for at least 60 days. The federal government estimates the credit already applies to 4.5 million new workers hired between last February and May.

All businesses that hire an unemployed worker between February 5, 2010, and January 1, 2011, will be exempt from paying the 6.2% employer share of Social Security payroll taxes. The new worker must have been unemployed for at least 60 days and cannot replace another employee. If the business retains the newly hired worker for one year, the employer is then entitled to a one-time, $1,000 tax credit for each eligible worker.

The law also extended the “Section 179” expensing provision, allowing small businesses to write-off up to $250,000 of capital expenditures made during 2010 rather than recovering the costs over time through depreciation. The law also increases the investment cap to $800,000 for 2010 rather than $500,000 indexed for inflation.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Under a SEMA-supported “jobs bill” enacted into law last March, private employers can claim tax credits if they hire someone in 2010 who has been out of work for at least 60 days. The federal government estimates the credit already applies to 4.5 million new workers hired between last February and May.

All businesses that hire an unemployed worker between February 5, 2010, and January 1, 2011, will be exempt from paying the 6.2% employer share of Social Security payroll taxes. The new worker must have been unemployed for at least 60 days and cannot replace another employee. If the business retains the newly hired worker for one year, the employer is then entitled to a one-time, $1,000 tax credit for each eligible worker.

The law also extended the “Section 179” expensing provision, allowing small businesses to write-off up to $250,000 of capital expenditures made during 2010 rather than recovering the costs over time through depreciation. The law also increases the investment cap to $800,000 for 2010 rather than $500,000 indexed for inflation.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

	Luxury auto sales are on the rise in China, up 34% in June. BMW expects its market share to grow more than 30% and Audi projects selling more than 200,000 autos this year.

BMW expects its sales in China in 2010 to grow by 30% to 120,000 units. Mercedes-Benz aims to sell more than 100,000 passenger vehicles in China in 2010, according to the company's vice president of sales and marketing. Audi, the top-selling luxury brand in China, is on course to sell more than 200,000 units in 2010. Those aren’t pipe dreams. Luxury-vehicle sales in China rose 34% in June to 35,445 units, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Owners of those luxury cars are target customers for T.K. Lee, president of Rennen International, manufacturers of Donz Wheelz. Custom-forged wheels are a fast-growing business segment for Lee in the United States. He figures Chinese luxury owners will have the same desire as U.S. enthusiasts to flaunt their cars. Lee sources wheels from China, and his sourcing team is already selling a small volume of wheels domestically. He just started putting together an actual sales team and says he'd like to find a regional distributor.

That's one of Lee’s goals when he participates in the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September. Rennen International is one of 20 SEMA-member companies taking part in the conference, where participating SEMA members will be paired with relevant Chinese buyers in up to a dozen private, pre-scheduled meetings. One-on-one meetings with potential Chinese partners at this groundbreaking event will allow SEMA members to get to know the Chinese companies and the market.

Nitto Tires USA wants to get a feel for hot tire styles in China and meet potential partners, says Tyler Tanaka, account director at Cie Studios, the marketing and advertising firm handling Nitto’s advertising. Tanaka and Nitto marketing manager Gloria Miyamoto will be in Beijing.

“The trip is a wonderful opportunity for us to do some market research and find out what the current climate is,” Tanaka says. “The bonus is to meet with Chinese distributors.”

China’s economy grew by more than 11% in the first half of 2010. Sales in the luxury car segment surged by 55% to more than 205,000, according to J.D. Power and Associates. A locally produced stretch version of the Audi A6 sedan led the luxury pack in number of units sold at nearly 60,000. The imported Lexus ES series also sold well.

Although accessories made for U.S. cars don’t fit all locally produced models, many do, especially when the locally produced models are foreign brands. All are target customers for SEMA members. In Nitto’s case, its team of engineers and designers can produce model-specific and even one-off wheels, says Tanaka.

SEMA members in Beijing can ask potential Chinese partners about their product’s suitability for locally produced foreign models and even local models. The members signed up to attend the conference, scheduled September 23–26 in Beijing, include:

• AEM Performance Electronics
• American Eagle Wheel Corp.
• AMSOIL
• BDS Suspension
• Bushwacker
• COMP Performance Group
• DELTA TECH Industries
• eBay Motors
• Eibach Springs Inc.
• Holley Performance Products
• Injen Technology
• K&N Engineering
• Mr. Gasket/Prestolite Performance
• NITTO Tires
• Performance Motorsports
• Rennen International
• SCT Performance
• Sheen Coatings
• ThyssenKrupp Bilstein
• Wheel Pros

Don’t get left behind. Register for the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference by contacting Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or online at www.SEMA.org/china.

	Luxury auto sales are on the rise in China, up 34% in June. BMW expects its market share to grow more than 30% and Audi projects selling more than 200,000 autos this year.

BMW expects its sales in China in 2010 to grow by 30% to 120,000 units. Mercedes-Benz aims to sell more than 100,000 passenger vehicles in China in 2010, according to the company's vice president of sales and marketing. Audi, the top-selling luxury brand in China, is on course to sell more than 200,000 units in 2010. Those aren’t pipe dreams. Luxury-vehicle sales in China rose 34% in June to 35,445 units, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Owners of those luxury cars are target customers for T.K. Lee, president of Rennen International, manufacturers of Donz Wheelz. Custom-forged wheels are a fast-growing business segment for Lee in the United States. He figures Chinese luxury owners will have the same desire as U.S. enthusiasts to flaunt their cars. Lee sources wheels from China, and his sourcing team is already selling a small volume of wheels domestically. He just started putting together an actual sales team and says he'd like to find a regional distributor.

That's one of Lee’s goals when he participates in the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September. Rennen International is one of 20 SEMA-member companies taking part in the conference, where participating SEMA members will be paired with relevant Chinese buyers in up to a dozen private, pre-scheduled meetings. One-on-one meetings with potential Chinese partners at this groundbreaking event will allow SEMA members to get to know the Chinese companies and the market.

Nitto Tires USA wants to get a feel for hot tire styles in China and meet potential partners, says Tyler Tanaka, account director at Cie Studios, the marketing and advertising firm handling Nitto’s advertising. Tanaka and Nitto marketing manager Gloria Miyamoto will be in Beijing.

“The trip is a wonderful opportunity for us to do some market research and find out what the current climate is,” Tanaka says. “The bonus is to meet with Chinese distributors.”

China’s economy grew by more than 11% in the first half of 2010. Sales in the luxury car segment surged by 55% to more than 205,000, according to J.D. Power and Associates. A locally produced stretch version of the Audi A6 sedan led the luxury pack in number of units sold at nearly 60,000. The imported Lexus ES series also sold well.

Although accessories made for U.S. cars don’t fit all locally produced models, many do, especially when the locally produced models are foreign brands. All are target customers for SEMA members. In Nitto’s case, its team of engineers and designers can produce model-specific and even one-off wheels, says Tanaka.

SEMA members in Beijing can ask potential Chinese partners about their product’s suitability for locally produced foreign models and even local models. The members signed up to attend the conference, scheduled September 23–26 in Beijing, include:

• AEM Performance Electronics
• American Eagle Wheel Corp.
• AMSOIL
• BDS Suspension
• Bushwacker
• COMP Performance Group
• DELTA TECH Industries
• eBay Motors
• Eibach Springs Inc.
• Holley Performance Products
• Injen Technology
• K&N Engineering
• Mr. Gasket/Prestolite Performance
• NITTO Tires
• Performance Motorsports
• Rennen International
• SCT Performance
• Sheen Coatings
• ThyssenKrupp Bilstein
• Wheel Pros

Don’t get left behind. Register for the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference by contacting Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or online at www.SEMA.org/china.

	Luxury auto sales are on the rise in China, up 34% in June. BMW expects its market share to grow more than 30% and Audi projects selling more than 200,000 autos this year.

BMW expects its sales in China in 2010 to grow by 30% to 120,000 units. Mercedes-Benz aims to sell more than 100,000 passenger vehicles in China in 2010, according to the company's vice president of sales and marketing. Audi, the top-selling luxury brand in China, is on course to sell more than 200,000 units in 2010. Those aren’t pipe dreams. Luxury-vehicle sales in China rose 34% in June to 35,445 units, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Owners of those luxury cars are target customers for T.K. Lee, president of Rennen International, manufacturers of Donz Wheelz. Custom-forged wheels are a fast-growing business segment for Lee in the United States. He figures Chinese luxury owners will have the same desire as U.S. enthusiasts to flaunt their cars. Lee sources wheels from China, and his sourcing team is already selling a small volume of wheels domestically. He just started putting together an actual sales team and says he'd like to find a regional distributor.

That's one of Lee’s goals when he participates in the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September. Rennen International is one of 20 SEMA-member companies taking part in the conference, where participating SEMA members will be paired with relevant Chinese buyers in up to a dozen private, pre-scheduled meetings. One-on-one meetings with potential Chinese partners at this groundbreaking event will allow SEMA members to get to know the Chinese companies and the market.

Nitto Tires USA wants to get a feel for hot tire styles in China and meet potential partners, says Tyler Tanaka, account director at Cie Studios, the marketing and advertising firm handling Nitto’s advertising. Tanaka and Nitto marketing manager Gloria Miyamoto will be in Beijing.

“The trip is a wonderful opportunity for us to do some market research and find out what the current climate is,” Tanaka says. “The bonus is to meet with Chinese distributors.”

China’s economy grew by more than 11% in the first half of 2010. Sales in the luxury car segment surged by 55% to more than 205,000, according to J.D. Power and Associates. A locally produced stretch version of the Audi A6 sedan led the luxury pack in number of units sold at nearly 60,000. The imported Lexus ES series also sold well.

Although accessories made for U.S. cars don’t fit all locally produced models, many do, especially when the locally produced models are foreign brands. All are target customers for SEMA members. In Nitto’s case, its team of engineers and designers can produce model-specific and even one-off wheels, says Tanaka.

SEMA members in Beijing can ask potential Chinese partners about their product’s suitability for locally produced foreign models and even local models. The members signed up to attend the conference, scheduled September 23–26 in Beijing, include:

• AEM Performance Electronics
• American Eagle Wheel Corp.
• AMSOIL
• BDS Suspension
• Bushwacker
• COMP Performance Group
• DELTA TECH Industries
• eBay Motors
• Eibach Springs Inc.
• Holley Performance Products
• Injen Technology
• K&N Engineering
• Mr. Gasket/Prestolite Performance
• NITTO Tires
• Performance Motorsports
• Rennen International
• SCT Performance
• Sheen Coatings
• ThyssenKrupp Bilstein
• Wheel Pros

Don’t get left behind. Register for the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference by contacting Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or online at www.SEMA.org/china.

	Luxury auto sales are on the rise in China, up 34% in June. BMW expects its market share to grow more than 30% and Audi projects selling more than 200,000 autos this year.

BMW expects its sales in China in 2010 to grow by 30% to 120,000 units. Mercedes-Benz aims to sell more than 100,000 passenger vehicles in China in 2010, according to the company's vice president of sales and marketing. Audi, the top-selling luxury brand in China, is on course to sell more than 200,000 units in 2010. Those aren’t pipe dreams. Luxury-vehicle sales in China rose 34% in June to 35,445 units, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Owners of those luxury cars are target customers for T.K. Lee, president of Rennen International, manufacturers of Donz Wheelz. Custom-forged wheels are a fast-growing business segment for Lee in the United States. He figures Chinese luxury owners will have the same desire as U.S. enthusiasts to flaunt their cars. Lee sources wheels from China, and his sourcing team is already selling a small volume of wheels domestically. He just started putting together an actual sales team and says he'd like to find a regional distributor.

That's one of Lee’s goals when he participates in the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference in Beijing in late September. Rennen International is one of 20 SEMA-member companies taking part in the conference, where participating SEMA members will be paired with relevant Chinese buyers in up to a dozen private, pre-scheduled meetings. One-on-one meetings with potential Chinese partners at this groundbreaking event will allow SEMA members to get to know the Chinese companies and the market.

Nitto Tires USA wants to get a feel for hot tire styles in China and meet potential partners, says Tyler Tanaka, account director at Cie Studios, the marketing and advertising firm handling Nitto’s advertising. Tanaka and Nitto marketing manager Gloria Miyamoto will be in Beijing.

“The trip is a wonderful opportunity for us to do some market research and find out what the current climate is,” Tanaka says. “The bonus is to meet with Chinese distributors.”

China’s economy grew by more than 11% in the first half of 2010. Sales in the luxury car segment surged by 55% to more than 205,000, according to J.D. Power and Associates. A locally produced stretch version of the Audi A6 sedan led the luxury pack in number of units sold at nearly 60,000. The imported Lexus ES series also sold well.

Although accessories made for U.S. cars don’t fit all locally produced models, many do, especially when the locally produced models are foreign brands. All are target customers for SEMA members. In Nitto’s case, its team of engineers and designers can produce model-specific and even one-off wheels, says Tanaka.

SEMA members in Beijing can ask potential Chinese partners about their product’s suitability for locally produced foreign models and even local models. The members signed up to attend the conference, scheduled September 23–26 in Beijing, include:

• AEM Performance Electronics
• American Eagle Wheel Corp.
• AMSOIL
• BDS Suspension
• Bushwacker
• COMP Performance Group
• DELTA TECH Industries
• eBay Motors
• Eibach Springs Inc.
• Holley Performance Products
• Injen Technology
• K&N Engineering
• Mr. Gasket/Prestolite Performance
• NITTO Tires
• Performance Motorsports
• Rennen International
• SCT Performance
• Sheen Coatings
• ThyssenKrupp Bilstein
• Wheel Pros

Don’t get left behind. Register for the SEMA-CIAPE China Business Development Conference by contacting Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or online at www.SEMA.org/china.

TRAGEDY: Eight spectators were killed and at least a dozen injured when an off-road racing truck plowed into a crowd during a Mojave Desert Racing event in the Soggy Dry Lake Bed near Lucerne Valley, California, Saturday night.

THIS BUD’S FOR YOU: Budweiser will sponsor Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick for 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point races in each of the next three seasons.

GOLDEN GO: Tim Shaffer topped four-time and defending race winner Donny Schatz to win the 50th running of the Goodyear Knoxville Nationals sprint-car race at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway Saturday, earning $150,000 in the process.

IN CHARGE: Tony Cotman has been hired by the IZOD IndyCar Series to serve as the project manager for the development of its 2012 technical program.

NEW BOSS: Joie Chitwood III has been named the president of Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, replacing former president Robin Braig effective immediately.

HISTORIC FIRST: Brothers Tanner and Kody Swanson became the first brothers in the 40-year history of the USAC Silver Crown Series to finish one-two when Tanner Swanson beat Kody Swanson at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan, August 12.

LABOR DAY FUN: The inaugural IZOD IndyCar Series Baltimore Grand Prix will be held over the Labor Day weekend (September 2–4) next season.

NEW TEAM: Paul Menard will leave Richard Petty Motorsports to join Richard Childress Racing next season, bringing sponsorship from Menards, the home improvement company owned by his father John Menard, with him.

BUSTED: Tommy Ellis, a former NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for defrauding the Internal Revenue Service of more than $133,000.

CHEAPER HORSEPOWER: Officials from the Northeastern Midget Association and United States Speed Association are independently working with engine manufacturers to create cheaper, cost-effective midget racing engines, ranging from $17,000–$22,000, which should be available in 2011.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM: Marcos Ambrose will drive the No. 9 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports next year with sponsorship from Stanley Black & Decker.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click here.

	The new Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas is offering SEMA Show attendees room rates for $199 a night.

Opened in Las Vegas earlier this year, the Mandarin Oriental recently joined the 2010 SEMA Show partner hotel program and is offering rooms for $199/night for reservations made by August 31 (after which rates increase to $220/night). Located within the City Center complex, the 47-story Mandarin Oriental offers guests a relaxing atmosphere free of casino and gaming but is also just a short walk to the ARIA Resort & Casino.

The Mandarin Oriental is the latest hotel to sign on as a SEMA Show partner hotel, joining Mandalay Bay, ARIA Resort & Casino and Vdara, and returning partners SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, Renaissance Hotel, Marriott Suites, Bluegreen Club 36 and Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino.

SEMA will keep Show attendees apprised of changes to hotel rates in the SEMA Housing Block. Any reductions made to rates are retroactive to anyone already booked in that hotel. Take advantage of these early-bird rates now! If you have questions about booking hotel rooms for the SEMA Show, please contact the 2010 SEMA Show Official Housing Bureau at 800/967-8852 or aapexsema@experient-inc.com.