By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to repeal the requirement that retail dealers, nonretail dealers or wholesale dealers sell only gasoline blended with a specified percentage of ethanol died when the Oregon legislature adjourned for the year. The bill did not receive committee consideration. Oregon requires that gasoline sold or offered for sale contain 10% ethanol by volume. H.B. 3107 recognized that while the current ethanol mandate does not apply to fuel used in antique vehicles, there has been an inability to obtain unblended gasoline for engines that may be damaged by ethanol. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-supported legislation to provide for the prompt issuance of titles to owners of out-of-state motor vehicles that are 35 years old or older was approved by the full House of Representatives. Having already been passed by the Senate, the bill will now be sent to Governor Pat McCrory for his signature and enactment into law.

Under the bill, if a required inspection and verification is not conducted by the Division of Motor Vehicles within 15 days after receiving a request and the inspector has no probable cause to believe that the ownership documents or public vehicle identification number does not match the vehicle being examined, the vehicle will be deemed to have satisfied all inspection and verification requirements and the title will be issued to the owner within 15 days. If an inspection and a verification is performed in a timely manner and the vehicle passes the inspection and verification, the title will be issued to the owner within 15 days of the date of the inspection. The bill would provide vehicle owners a fair, reasonable and reliable time period in which they could have these older cars inspected and receive the title from the DMV. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-supported legislation to provide for the prompt issuance of titles to owners of out-of-state motor vehicles that are 35 years old or older was approved by the full House of Representatives. Having already been passed by the Senate, the bill will now be sent to Governor Pat McCrory for his signature and enactment into law.

Under the bill, if a required inspection and verification is not conducted by the Division of Motor Vehicles within 15 days after receiving a request and the inspector has no probable cause to believe that the ownership documents or public vehicle identification number does not match the vehicle being examined, the vehicle will be deemed to have satisfied all inspection and verification requirements and the title will be issued to the owner within 15 days. If an inspection and a verification is performed in a timely manner and the vehicle passes the inspection and verification, the title will be issued to the owner within 15 days of the date of the inspection. The bill would provide vehicle owners a fair, reasonable and reliable time period in which they could have these older cars inspected and receive the title from the DMV. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-supported legislation to provide for the prompt issuance of titles to owners of out-of-state motor vehicles that are 35 years old or older was approved by the full House of Representatives. Having already been passed by the Senate, the bill will now be sent to Governor Pat McCrory for his signature and enactment into law.

Under the bill, if a required inspection and verification is not conducted by the Division of Motor Vehicles within 15 days after receiving a request and the inspector has no probable cause to believe that the ownership documents or public vehicle identification number does not match the vehicle being examined, the vehicle will be deemed to have satisfied all inspection and verification requirements and the title will be issued to the owner within 15 days. If an inspection and a verification is performed in a timely manner and the vehicle passes the inspection and verification, the title will be issued to the owner within 15 days of the date of the inspection. The bill would provide vehicle owners a fair, reasonable and reliable time period in which they could have these older cars inspected and receive the title from the DMV. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Thanks to some hot-weather testing in the Southwestern United States, the shooters at KGP Photography have gotten their best look yet at the ’15 Chevy Colorado—including the first engine shots of a production-spec prototype.  
 
The photographers caught a Colorado prototype with its hood raised just long enough to grab a couple shots of the truck's engine. The engine cover is emblazoned with "V6 VVT" and what appears to be "Direct Injection" in smaller print. It's clear that GM designers and engineers are "butching up" the global Colorado to better suit American tastes, and this V6 engine should further that cause.

The desert sun has also penetrated the front camouflage better than ever, providing the best look yet at the grille work. The Colorado—while taking some cues from the new Silverado—seems to have a more shapely grille, which is wider at the top and narrows toward the front bumper. Compared to the overly blocky grille on the Silverado, the ’15 Colorado is getting a little more shape to its face.

When the Colorado reaches United States showrooms—reportedly by mid 2014—the new truck will find more breathing room than was available in prior generations. With the Ford Ranger still a no-show in North America, and Ram showing signs of an updated replacement for the Dodge Dakota, the Colorado will have a more captive audience for those looking for something less than a fullsize truck.

The new truck may come with a new name, befitting the fresh take that the new pickup is getting. The end results will be more of a lifestyle truck, but it is expected to retain a high level of the Silverado's capabilities. With the availability of a DI V6 engine, GM's new midsize truck should prove to be a stout addition to GM's truck ranks.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

Thanks to some hot-weather testing in the Southwestern United States, the shooters at KGP Photography have gotten their best look yet at the ’15 Chevy Colorado—including the first engine shots of a production-spec prototype.  
 
The photographers caught a Colorado prototype with its hood raised just long enough to grab a couple shots of the truck's engine. The engine cover is emblazoned with "V6 VVT" and what appears to be "Direct Injection" in smaller print. It's clear that GM designers and engineers are "butching up" the global Colorado to better suit American tastes, and this V6 engine should further that cause.

The desert sun has also penetrated the front camouflage better than ever, providing the best look yet at the grille work. The Colorado—while taking some cues from the new Silverado—seems to have a more shapely grille, which is wider at the top and narrows toward the front bumper. Compared to the overly blocky grille on the Silverado, the ’15 Colorado is getting a little more shape to its face.

When the Colorado reaches United States showrooms—reportedly by mid 2014—the new truck will find more breathing room than was available in prior generations. With the Ford Ranger still a no-show in North America, and Ram showing signs of an updated replacement for the Dodge Dakota, the Colorado will have a more captive audience for those looking for something less than a fullsize truck.

The new truck may come with a new name, befitting the fresh take that the new pickup is getting. The end results will be more of a lifestyle truck, but it is expected to retain a high level of the Silverado's capabilities. With the availability of a DI V6 engine, GM's new midsize truck should prove to be a stout addition to GM's truck ranks.

Photo credit: KGP Photography