SEMA News—February 2015

PEOPLE
By Mike Imlay

Rich Barsamian SEMA Person of the Year

Over the course of his career, Rich Barsamian has forged an impressive list of accomplishments while working for some of the industry’s most recognized companies, including Grant, Edelbrock, GT Performance Products and Advanced Clutch Technology. Along the way, he has also served on SEMA select committees for the Young Executive Network (YEN), the Motorsports Parts Manufacturer Council (MPMC), the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) and the SEMA Scholarship Committee.

His dedication to these and other initiatives has earned him numerous accolades, including the YEN Executive of the Year award, the YEN Vanguard award, and the 2011 Performance Warehouse Association Person of the Year award. Now he can add the 2014 SEMA Person of the Year award to his many achievements, having received the honor at the recent 2014 SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet in Las Vegas.

“I am so grateful and humbled by this award,” said Barsamian, who recently returned to Advanced Clutch Technology as its vice president of sales and marketing. “It is very surreal. Anyone who knows me knows that I could talk to a wall even if it wouldn’t listen to me. But when they called my name at the ceremony, I was speechless.”

Ranking among SEMA’s most prestigious honors, the Person of the Year award recognizes outstanding contributions to the automotive specialty-equipment market over a year-long period by an industry individual employed by a SEMA-member company.

“SEMA is extremely pleased to honor Rich Barsamian as our 2014 Person of the Year,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “Rich is well known within both the association and industry at large for his professional achievements, enthusiasm, energy, approachability and spirit of volunteerism. He has been a driving force in so many SEMA initiatives and continues to give back to the specialty-equipment industry in countless ways, most especially through the mentoring of young people seeking to make their careers in our industry.”

While thanking his wife Sandra for her continued support of his endeavors, Barsamian also credited his father with first introducing him to the specialty-equipment industry some three decades ago.

“He was an automotive buyer for a Southern California membership department store called Fedco,” Barsamian explained. “He got me some side work with some local rep agencies doing demos at grand openings of new stores.”

Soon, a rep principal named Charlie Sumrall took note of Barsamian’s ability to work well with people and sell products for the now-defunct store chain, and Sumrall offered Barsamian a job at the Berkhoff, Hyatt and Sumrall rep agency, which later split and reorganized to become Sumrall, Odell and Anderson.

“I worked my first several years as a field merchandiser and later as a sales rep,” Barsamian recalled. “I can hardly believe that was 30 years ago. I attended my first SEMA Show 28 years ago.”

That participation in the SEMA Show eventually led to deeper and deeper involvement in the trade association.

“I began volunteering in 1994 as part of YEN,” he said. “It allowed me to springboard eventually to the HRIA, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Committee and later to the MPMC. I had many mentors who helped me when I first started. Now I use what they taught me and what helped me starting out as the basis for helping others. In fact, the most rewarding part of my career has been the opportunity to mentor young people in the industry and help them navigate their career paths to find their place volunteering within SEMA. The main thing is for them to find their passion. Once they identify their passion, everything else will happen naturally as they grow in their jobs and volunteerism.”

Reflecting on lessons learned over the years, Barsamian noted how difficult it can be at times to stay on top of a marketplace in constant flux.

“It has been especially challenging pushing myself to grow and adapt to this industry as it continues to evolve and change,” he said. “The temptation is to drag your feet in the sand, but we just can’t. We need to remain motivated. I like the saying that we never stop learning until they slam the coffin lid. I know that I will never know it all, and I love the opportunities that change eventually brings.”

Ultimately, however, Barsamian believes that true professional growth derives from service to others.

“Become the go-to person at your job and when volunteering,” he advised. “Be the person that people can count on to get things done. Good things will happen. When they do, pay it forward and get others involved. Help them the way you would’ve liked to have been helped. You will be successful, and there’s no better feeling than knowing you left things better than how you found them.”

SEMA News—February 2015

PEOPLE
By Mike Imlay

Rich Barsamian SEMA Person of the Year

Over the course of his career, Rich Barsamian has forged an impressive list of accomplishments while working for some of the industry’s most recognized companies, including Grant, Edelbrock, GT Performance Products and Advanced Clutch Technology. Along the way, he has also served on SEMA select committees for the Young Executive Network (YEN), the Motorsports Parts Manufacturer Council (MPMC), the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) and the SEMA Scholarship Committee.

His dedication to these and other initiatives has earned him numerous accolades, including the YEN Executive of the Year award, the YEN Vanguard award, and the 2011 Performance Warehouse Association Person of the Year award. Now he can add the 2014 SEMA Person of the Year award to his many achievements, having received the honor at the recent 2014 SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet in Las Vegas.

“I am so grateful and humbled by this award,” said Barsamian, who recently returned to Advanced Clutch Technology as its vice president of sales and marketing. “It is very surreal. Anyone who knows me knows that I could talk to a wall even if it wouldn’t listen to me. But when they called my name at the ceremony, I was speechless.”

Ranking among SEMA’s most prestigious honors, the Person of the Year award recognizes outstanding contributions to the automotive specialty-equipment market over a year-long period by an industry individual employed by a SEMA-member company.

“SEMA is extremely pleased to honor Rich Barsamian as our 2014 Person of the Year,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “Rich is well known within both the association and industry at large for his professional achievements, enthusiasm, energy, approachability and spirit of volunteerism. He has been a driving force in so many SEMA initiatives and continues to give back to the specialty-equipment industry in countless ways, most especially through the mentoring of young people seeking to make their careers in our industry.”

While thanking his wife Sandra for her continued support of his endeavors, Barsamian also credited his father with first introducing him to the specialty-equipment industry some three decades ago.

“He was an automotive buyer for a Southern California membership department store called Fedco,” Barsamian explained. “He got me some side work with some local rep agencies doing demos at grand openings of new stores.”

Soon, a rep principal named Charlie Sumrall took note of Barsamian’s ability to work well with people and sell products for the now-defunct store chain, and Sumrall offered Barsamian a job at the Berkhoff, Hyatt and Sumrall rep agency, which later split and reorganized to become Sumrall, Odell and Anderson.

“I worked my first several years as a field merchandiser and later as a sales rep,” Barsamian recalled. “I can hardly believe that was 30 years ago. I attended my first SEMA Show 28 years ago.”

That participation in the SEMA Show eventually led to deeper and deeper involvement in the trade association.

“I began volunteering in 1994 as part of YEN,” he said. “It allowed me to springboard eventually to the HRIA, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Committee and later to the MPMC. I had many mentors who helped me when I first started. Now I use what they taught me and what helped me starting out as the basis for helping others. In fact, the most rewarding part of my career has been the opportunity to mentor young people in the industry and help them navigate their career paths to find their place volunteering within SEMA. The main thing is for them to find their passion. Once they identify their passion, everything else will happen naturally as they grow in their jobs and volunteerism.”

Reflecting on lessons learned over the years, Barsamian noted how difficult it can be at times to stay on top of a marketplace in constant flux.

“It has been especially challenging pushing myself to grow and adapt to this industry as it continues to evolve and change,” he said. “The temptation is to drag your feet in the sand, but we just can’t. We need to remain motivated. I like the saying that we never stop learning until they slam the coffin lid. I know that I will never know it all, and I love the opportunities that change eventually brings.”

Ultimately, however, Barsamian believes that true professional growth derives from service to others.

“Become the go-to person at your job and when volunteering,” he advised. “Be the person that people can count on to get things done. Good things will happen. When they do, pay it forward and get others involved. Help them the way you would’ve liked to have been helped. You will be successful, and there’s no better feeling than knowing you left things better than how you found them.”

SEMA News—February 2015

PEOPLE
By Mike Imlay

Rich Barsamian SEMA Person of the Year

Over the course of his career, Rich Barsamian has forged an impressive list of accomplishments while working for some of the industry’s most recognized companies, including Grant, Edelbrock, GT Performance Products and Advanced Clutch Technology. Along the way, he has also served on SEMA select committees for the Young Executive Network (YEN), the Motorsports Parts Manufacturer Council (MPMC), the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) and the SEMA Scholarship Committee.

His dedication to these and other initiatives has earned him numerous accolades, including the YEN Executive of the Year award, the YEN Vanguard award, and the 2011 Performance Warehouse Association Person of the Year award. Now he can add the 2014 SEMA Person of the Year award to his many achievements, having received the honor at the recent 2014 SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet in Las Vegas.

“I am so grateful and humbled by this award,” said Barsamian, who recently returned to Advanced Clutch Technology as its vice president of sales and marketing. “It is very surreal. Anyone who knows me knows that I could talk to a wall even if it wouldn’t listen to me. But when they called my name at the ceremony, I was speechless.”

Ranking among SEMA’s most prestigious honors, the Person of the Year award recognizes outstanding contributions to the automotive specialty-equipment market over a year-long period by an industry individual employed by a SEMA-member company.

“SEMA is extremely pleased to honor Rich Barsamian as our 2014 Person of the Year,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “Rich is well known within both the association and industry at large for his professional achievements, enthusiasm, energy, approachability and spirit of volunteerism. He has been a driving force in so many SEMA initiatives and continues to give back to the specialty-equipment industry in countless ways, most especially through the mentoring of young people seeking to make their careers in our industry.”

While thanking his wife Sandra for her continued support of his endeavors, Barsamian also credited his father with first introducing him to the specialty-equipment industry some three decades ago.

“He was an automotive buyer for a Southern California membership department store called Fedco,” Barsamian explained. “He got me some side work with some local rep agencies doing demos at grand openings of new stores.”

Soon, a rep principal named Charlie Sumrall took note of Barsamian’s ability to work well with people and sell products for the now-defunct store chain, and Sumrall offered Barsamian a job at the Berkhoff, Hyatt and Sumrall rep agency, which later split and reorganized to become Sumrall, Odell and Anderson.

“I worked my first several years as a field merchandiser and later as a sales rep,” Barsamian recalled. “I can hardly believe that was 30 years ago. I attended my first SEMA Show 28 years ago.”

That participation in the SEMA Show eventually led to deeper and deeper involvement in the trade association.

“I began volunteering in 1994 as part of YEN,” he said. “It allowed me to springboard eventually to the HRIA, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Committee and later to the MPMC. I had many mentors who helped me when I first started. Now I use what they taught me and what helped me starting out as the basis for helping others. In fact, the most rewarding part of my career has been the opportunity to mentor young people in the industry and help them navigate their career paths to find their place volunteering within SEMA. The main thing is for them to find their passion. Once they identify their passion, everything else will happen naturally as they grow in their jobs and volunteerism.”

Reflecting on lessons learned over the years, Barsamian noted how difficult it can be at times to stay on top of a marketplace in constant flux.

“It has been especially challenging pushing myself to grow and adapt to this industry as it continues to evolve and change,” he said. “The temptation is to drag your feet in the sand, but we just can’t. We need to remain motivated. I like the saying that we never stop learning until they slam the coffin lid. I know that I will never know it all, and I love the opportunities that change eventually brings.”

Ultimately, however, Barsamian believes that true professional growth derives from service to others.

“Become the go-to person at your job and when volunteering,” he advised. “Be the person that people can count on to get things done. Good things will happen. When they do, pay it forward and get others involved. Help them the way you would’ve liked to have been helped. You will be successful, and there’s no better feeling than knowing you left things better than how you found them.”

SEMA News—February 2015

PEOPLE
By Mike Imlay

Rich Barsamian SEMA Person of the Year

Over the course of his career, Rich Barsamian has forged an impressive list of accomplishments while working for some of the industry’s most recognized companies, including Grant, Edelbrock, GT Performance Products and Advanced Clutch Technology. Along the way, he has also served on SEMA select committees for the Young Executive Network (YEN), the Motorsports Parts Manufacturer Council (MPMC), the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) and the SEMA Scholarship Committee.

His dedication to these and other initiatives has earned him numerous accolades, including the YEN Executive of the Year award, the YEN Vanguard award, and the 2011 Performance Warehouse Association Person of the Year award. Now he can add the 2014 SEMA Person of the Year award to his many achievements, having received the honor at the recent 2014 SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet in Las Vegas.

“I am so grateful and humbled by this award,” said Barsamian, who recently returned to Advanced Clutch Technology as its vice president of sales and marketing. “It is very surreal. Anyone who knows me knows that I could talk to a wall even if it wouldn’t listen to me. But when they called my name at the ceremony, I was speechless.”

Ranking among SEMA’s most prestigious honors, the Person of the Year award recognizes outstanding contributions to the automotive specialty-equipment market over a year-long period by an industry individual employed by a SEMA-member company.

“SEMA is extremely pleased to honor Rich Barsamian as our 2014 Person of the Year,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “Rich is well known within both the association and industry at large for his professional achievements, enthusiasm, energy, approachability and spirit of volunteerism. He has been a driving force in so many SEMA initiatives and continues to give back to the specialty-equipment industry in countless ways, most especially through the mentoring of young people seeking to make their careers in our industry.”

While thanking his wife Sandra for her continued support of his endeavors, Barsamian also credited his father with first introducing him to the specialty-equipment industry some three decades ago.

“He was an automotive buyer for a Southern California membership department store called Fedco,” Barsamian explained. “He got me some side work with some local rep agencies doing demos at grand openings of new stores.”

Soon, a rep principal named Charlie Sumrall took note of Barsamian’s ability to work well with people and sell products for the now-defunct store chain, and Sumrall offered Barsamian a job at the Berkhoff, Hyatt and Sumrall rep agency, which later split and reorganized to become Sumrall, Odell and Anderson.

“I worked my first several years as a field merchandiser and later as a sales rep,” Barsamian recalled. “I can hardly believe that was 30 years ago. I attended my first SEMA Show 28 years ago.”

That participation in the SEMA Show eventually led to deeper and deeper involvement in the trade association.

“I began volunteering in 1994 as part of YEN,” he said. “It allowed me to springboard eventually to the HRIA, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Committee and later to the MPMC. I had many mentors who helped me when I first started. Now I use what they taught me and what helped me starting out as the basis for helping others. In fact, the most rewarding part of my career has been the opportunity to mentor young people in the industry and help them navigate their career paths to find their place volunteering within SEMA. The main thing is for them to find their passion. Once they identify their passion, everything else will happen naturally as they grow in their jobs and volunteerism.”

Reflecting on lessons learned over the years, Barsamian noted how difficult it can be at times to stay on top of a marketplace in constant flux.

“It has been especially challenging pushing myself to grow and adapt to this industry as it continues to evolve and change,” he said. “The temptation is to drag your feet in the sand, but we just can’t. We need to remain motivated. I like the saying that we never stop learning until they slam the coffin lid. I know that I will never know it all, and I love the opportunities that change eventually brings.”

Ultimately, however, Barsamian believes that true professional growth derives from service to others.

“Become the go-to person at your job and when volunteering,” he advised. “Be the person that people can count on to get things done. Good things will happen. When they do, pay it forward and get others involved. Help them the way you would’ve liked to have been helped. You will be successful, and there’s no better feeling than knowing you left things better than how you found them.”

SEMA News—February 2015

PEOPLE
By Mike Imlay

Rich Barsamian SEMA Person of the Year

Over the course of his career, Rich Barsamian has forged an impressive list of accomplishments while working for some of the industry’s most recognized companies, including Grant, Edelbrock, GT Performance Products and Advanced Clutch Technology. Along the way, he has also served on SEMA select committees for the Young Executive Network (YEN), the Motorsports Parts Manufacturer Council (MPMC), the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) and the SEMA Scholarship Committee.

His dedication to these and other initiatives has earned him numerous accolades, including the YEN Executive of the Year award, the YEN Vanguard award, and the 2011 Performance Warehouse Association Person of the Year award. Now he can add the 2014 SEMA Person of the Year award to his many achievements, having received the honor at the recent 2014 SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet in Las Vegas.

“I am so grateful and humbled by this award,” said Barsamian, who recently returned to Advanced Clutch Technology as its vice president of sales and marketing. “It is very surreal. Anyone who knows me knows that I could talk to a wall even if it wouldn’t listen to me. But when they called my name at the ceremony, I was speechless.”

Ranking among SEMA’s most prestigious honors, the Person of the Year award recognizes outstanding contributions to the automotive specialty-equipment market over a year-long period by an industry individual employed by a SEMA-member company.

“SEMA is extremely pleased to honor Rich Barsamian as our 2014 Person of the Year,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “Rich is well known within both the association and industry at large for his professional achievements, enthusiasm, energy, approachability and spirit of volunteerism. He has been a driving force in so many SEMA initiatives and continues to give back to the specialty-equipment industry in countless ways, most especially through the mentoring of young people seeking to make their careers in our industry.”

While thanking his wife Sandra for her continued support of his endeavors, Barsamian also credited his father with first introducing him to the specialty-equipment industry some three decades ago.

“He was an automotive buyer for a Southern California membership department store called Fedco,” Barsamian explained. “He got me some side work with some local rep agencies doing demos at grand openings of new stores.”

Soon, a rep principal named Charlie Sumrall took note of Barsamian’s ability to work well with people and sell products for the now-defunct store chain, and Sumrall offered Barsamian a job at the Berkhoff, Hyatt and Sumrall rep agency, which later split and reorganized to become Sumrall, Odell and Anderson.

“I worked my first several years as a field merchandiser and later as a sales rep,” Barsamian recalled. “I can hardly believe that was 30 years ago. I attended my first SEMA Show 28 years ago.”

That participation in the SEMA Show eventually led to deeper and deeper involvement in the trade association.

“I began volunteering in 1994 as part of YEN,” he said. “It allowed me to springboard eventually to the HRIA, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Committee and later to the MPMC. I had many mentors who helped me when I first started. Now I use what they taught me and what helped me starting out as the basis for helping others. In fact, the most rewarding part of my career has been the opportunity to mentor young people in the industry and help them navigate their career paths to find their place volunteering within SEMA. The main thing is for them to find their passion. Once they identify their passion, everything else will happen naturally as they grow in their jobs and volunteerism.”

Reflecting on lessons learned over the years, Barsamian noted how difficult it can be at times to stay on top of a marketplace in constant flux.

“It has been especially challenging pushing myself to grow and adapt to this industry as it continues to evolve and change,” he said. “The temptation is to drag your feet in the sand, but we just can’t. We need to remain motivated. I like the saying that we never stop learning until they slam the coffin lid. I know that I will never know it all, and I love the opportunities that change eventually brings.”

Ultimately, however, Barsamian believes that true professional growth derives from service to others.

“Become the go-to person at your job and when volunteering,” he advised. “Be the person that people can count on to get things done. Good things will happen. When they do, pay it forward and get others involved. Help them the way you would’ve liked to have been helped. You will be successful, and there’s no better feeling than knowing you left things better than how you found them.”

SEMA News—February 2015

The Los Angeles Auto Show

EVENTS
By John Stewart

The Los Angeles Auto Show has developed a reputation as a “green” show that strongly focuses on alternative fuels and novel forms of propulsion. This may have been the case in prior years, but the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show had more to offer enthusiasts than in recent years, as a burst of “track-ready” performance cars and creative variants on existing platforms came to light. That made it more like the SEMA Show—an optimistic environment in which OEM exhibitors launched fun-to-drive new models and showed off interesting concept cars that may very well enter production. Among them were several vehicles that could be of special relevance to SEMA members.

The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 concept rides on 18-in. bead-lock-style aluminum wheels and is 4 in. wider than the Colorado Z71. The pickup is powered by a 2.8L Duramax diesel that produces 181 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed transmission. The spare tire is mounted in the bed, along with a Hi-Lift jack, and both differentials have electronic lockers. The Colorado ZR2 may or may not be offered in showrooms soon, but the 2.8 turbodiesel powerplant is expected to become available in 2016.

This is an advance look at the Scion iM Hatchback concept, thought to be very close to what will arrive in dealerships in 2015. (The actual production version is scheduled to be revealed at the New York Auto Show in April.) The Scion iM hatchback concept rests atop 19-in. forged alloy wheels and features geometric grille inserts, sport suspension, a full body kit, deep air intakes and fog lights.

Another “track-ready daily driver” car, the new Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is equipped with a 5.2L V8 engine that will crank out more than 500 hp and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It rides on 19-in. aluminum-alloy wheels. Performance upgrades include MagneRide dampers, aggressive brakes and finely tuned aerodynamics. Rumor has it that pricing will start in the low $50,000 range and move up with optional packages.

A beautiful exercise in glass and metal, the Infiniti Q80 Inspiration Concept is a stunner from every angle. The concept car features lots of intriguing ideas, including a new hybrid powerplant that pairs a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine to an electric motor, making a combined 550 hp. Infiniti spokespeople say that the car is an indication of where they would like to take the brand in the future.

The Lexus LF-C2 2+2 roadster concept features small vents in the side sills that direct air to the rear brakes and out the fin-like rear diffusers. The rear end is highlighted by L-shaped taillight bulbs and an exhaust system with chrome-covered quad exhaust tips. Lexus calls the car a “design study that explores key styling themes” and, as such, is an illustration of the company’s intention to put more emotion into its designs.

Toyota Mirai Runs on Hydrogen

Toyota has become the first manufacturer to build a production car ready for sale that is powered by a fuel cell. In November, Toyota announced the name of the car, Mirai, which means “the future” in Japanese.

At a recent event tied in with the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota allowed automotive journalists and business reporters to drive the car, which in simplest terms might be described as a hybrid Camry with a better battery.

That “better battery” would be a hydrogen fuel cell, which offers numerous advantages over actual battery packs. Hydrogen fuel cells can be refueled in three to five minutes instead of hours for a battery pack, and they weigh less. The hydrogen is held in two heavily reinforced high-pressure storage tanks at about 10,000 psi and provides enough fuel to enable about a 300-mile range. These components offer packaging advantages that result in a low center of gravity and sporty cornering capacity.

Toyota’s advance presentation included experts who suggested that the car represented a turning point in clean transportation and addressed questions about what it would be like to live with a hydrogen car. To the assembled audience, the company’s assertions that hydrogen will become a big player in the future seemed generally credible.

Intriguingly, the Mirai will be available with an optional power-takeoff feature, which would allow the fuel cell stack to function as a stationary power generator in an emergency situation.

The powertrain is rated at 153 hp with 247 lb.-ft. of torque. Unlike the Prius, the Mirai is a four-seat sedan with a trunk instead of a hatch, so direct comparisons are inappropriate, but the Mirai is clearly a more relaxing car to drive, with better interior appointments, more dynamic handling and lower NVH.

It also will be priced differently—somewhere around $57,500; leasable for $499. After federal and state rebates and tax credits, the bottom line will be somewhere under $50,000.

The Mirai goes on sale in Japan by the end of 2014 and in selected regional North American markets in the second half of 2015. How fuel-cell technology will affect enthusiasts and car collectors remains to be seen, but we can imagine the day when hydrogen cars will make a presence on the SEMA Show floor.

SEMA News—February 2015

The Los Angeles Auto Show

EVENTS
By John Stewart

The Los Angeles Auto Show has developed a reputation as a “green” show that strongly focuses on alternative fuels and novel forms of propulsion. This may have been the case in prior years, but the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show had more to offer enthusiasts than in recent years, as a burst of “track-ready” performance cars and creative variants on existing platforms came to light. That made it more like the SEMA Show—an optimistic environment in which OEM exhibitors launched fun-to-drive new models and showed off interesting concept cars that may very well enter production. Among them were several vehicles that could be of special relevance to SEMA members.

The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 concept rides on 18-in. bead-lock-style aluminum wheels and is 4 in. wider than the Colorado Z71. The pickup is powered by a 2.8L Duramax diesel that produces 181 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed transmission. The spare tire is mounted in the bed, along with a Hi-Lift jack, and both differentials have electronic lockers. The Colorado ZR2 may or may not be offered in showrooms soon, but the 2.8 turbodiesel powerplant is expected to become available in 2016.

This is an advance look at the Scion iM Hatchback concept, thought to be very close to what will arrive in dealerships in 2015. (The actual production version is scheduled to be revealed at the New York Auto Show in April.) The Scion iM hatchback concept rests atop 19-in. forged alloy wheels and features geometric grille inserts, sport suspension, a full body kit, deep air intakes and fog lights.

Another “track-ready daily driver” car, the new Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is equipped with a 5.2L V8 engine that will crank out more than 500 hp and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It rides on 19-in. aluminum-alloy wheels. Performance upgrades include MagneRide dampers, aggressive brakes and finely tuned aerodynamics. Rumor has it that pricing will start in the low $50,000 range and move up with optional packages.

A beautiful exercise in glass and metal, the Infiniti Q80 Inspiration Concept is a stunner from every angle. The concept car features lots of intriguing ideas, including a new hybrid powerplant that pairs a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine to an electric motor, making a combined 550 hp. Infiniti spokespeople say that the car is an indication of where they would like to take the brand in the future.

The Lexus LF-C2 2+2 roadster concept features small vents in the side sills that direct air to the rear brakes and out the fin-like rear diffusers. The rear end is highlighted by L-shaped taillight bulbs and an exhaust system with chrome-covered quad exhaust tips. Lexus calls the car a “design study that explores key styling themes” and, as such, is an illustration of the company’s intention to put more emotion into its designs.

Toyota Mirai Runs on Hydrogen

Toyota has become the first manufacturer to build a production car ready for sale that is powered by a fuel cell. In November, Toyota announced the name of the car, Mirai, which means “the future” in Japanese.

At a recent event tied in with the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota allowed automotive journalists and business reporters to drive the car, which in simplest terms might be described as a hybrid Camry with a better battery.

That “better battery” would be a hydrogen fuel cell, which offers numerous advantages over actual battery packs. Hydrogen fuel cells can be refueled in three to five minutes instead of hours for a battery pack, and they weigh less. The hydrogen is held in two heavily reinforced high-pressure storage tanks at about 10,000 psi and provides enough fuel to enable about a 300-mile range. These components offer packaging advantages that result in a low center of gravity and sporty cornering capacity.

Toyota’s advance presentation included experts who suggested that the car represented a turning point in clean transportation and addressed questions about what it would be like to live with a hydrogen car. To the assembled audience, the company’s assertions that hydrogen will become a big player in the future seemed generally credible.

Intriguingly, the Mirai will be available with an optional power-takeoff feature, which would allow the fuel cell stack to function as a stationary power generator in an emergency situation.

The powertrain is rated at 153 hp with 247 lb.-ft. of torque. Unlike the Prius, the Mirai is a four-seat sedan with a trunk instead of a hatch, so direct comparisons are inappropriate, but the Mirai is clearly a more relaxing car to drive, with better interior appointments, more dynamic handling and lower NVH.

It also will be priced differently—somewhere around $57,500; leasable for $499. After federal and state rebates and tax credits, the bottom line will be somewhere under $50,000.

The Mirai goes on sale in Japan by the end of 2014 and in selected regional North American markets in the second half of 2015. How fuel-cell technology will affect enthusiasts and car collectors remains to be seen, but we can imagine the day when hydrogen cars will make a presence on the SEMA Show floor.

SEMA News—February 2015

The Los Angeles Auto Show

EVENTS
By John Stewart

The Los Angeles Auto Show has developed a reputation as a “green” show that strongly focuses on alternative fuels and novel forms of propulsion. This may have been the case in prior years, but the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show had more to offer enthusiasts than in recent years, as a burst of “track-ready” performance cars and creative variants on existing platforms came to light. That made it more like the SEMA Show—an optimistic environment in which OEM exhibitors launched fun-to-drive new models and showed off interesting concept cars that may very well enter production. Among them were several vehicles that could be of special relevance to SEMA members.

The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 concept rides on 18-in. bead-lock-style aluminum wheels and is 4 in. wider than the Colorado Z71. The pickup is powered by a 2.8L Duramax diesel that produces 181 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed transmission. The spare tire is mounted in the bed, along with a Hi-Lift jack, and both differentials have electronic lockers. The Colorado ZR2 may or may not be offered in showrooms soon, but the 2.8 turbodiesel powerplant is expected to become available in 2016.

This is an advance look at the Scion iM Hatchback concept, thought to be very close to what will arrive in dealerships in 2015. (The actual production version is scheduled to be revealed at the New York Auto Show in April.) The Scion iM hatchback concept rests atop 19-in. forged alloy wheels and features geometric grille inserts, sport suspension, a full body kit, deep air intakes and fog lights.

Another “track-ready daily driver” car, the new Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is equipped with a 5.2L V8 engine that will crank out more than 500 hp and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It rides on 19-in. aluminum-alloy wheels. Performance upgrades include MagneRide dampers, aggressive brakes and finely tuned aerodynamics. Rumor has it that pricing will start in the low $50,000 range and move up with optional packages.

A beautiful exercise in glass and metal, the Infiniti Q80 Inspiration Concept is a stunner from every angle. The concept car features lots of intriguing ideas, including a new hybrid powerplant that pairs a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine to an electric motor, making a combined 550 hp. Infiniti spokespeople say that the car is an indication of where they would like to take the brand in the future.

The Lexus LF-C2 2+2 roadster concept features small vents in the side sills that direct air to the rear brakes and out the fin-like rear diffusers. The rear end is highlighted by L-shaped taillight bulbs and an exhaust system with chrome-covered quad exhaust tips. Lexus calls the car a “design study that explores key styling themes” and, as such, is an illustration of the company’s intention to put more emotion into its designs.

Toyota Mirai Runs on Hydrogen

Toyota has become the first manufacturer to build a production car ready for sale that is powered by a fuel cell. In November, Toyota announced the name of the car, Mirai, which means “the future” in Japanese.

At a recent event tied in with the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota allowed automotive journalists and business reporters to drive the car, which in simplest terms might be described as a hybrid Camry with a better battery.

That “better battery” would be a hydrogen fuel cell, which offers numerous advantages over actual battery packs. Hydrogen fuel cells can be refueled in three to five minutes instead of hours for a battery pack, and they weigh less. The hydrogen is held in two heavily reinforced high-pressure storage tanks at about 10,000 psi and provides enough fuel to enable about a 300-mile range. These components offer packaging advantages that result in a low center of gravity and sporty cornering capacity.

Toyota’s advance presentation included experts who suggested that the car represented a turning point in clean transportation and addressed questions about what it would be like to live with a hydrogen car. To the assembled audience, the company’s assertions that hydrogen will become a big player in the future seemed generally credible.

Intriguingly, the Mirai will be available with an optional power-takeoff feature, which would allow the fuel cell stack to function as a stationary power generator in an emergency situation.

The powertrain is rated at 153 hp with 247 lb.-ft. of torque. Unlike the Prius, the Mirai is a four-seat sedan with a trunk instead of a hatch, so direct comparisons are inappropriate, but the Mirai is clearly a more relaxing car to drive, with better interior appointments, more dynamic handling and lower NVH.

It also will be priced differently—somewhere around $57,500; leasable for $499. After federal and state rebates and tax credits, the bottom line will be somewhere under $50,000.

The Mirai goes on sale in Japan by the end of 2014 and in selected regional North American markets in the second half of 2015. How fuel-cell technology will affect enthusiasts and car collectors remains to be seen, but we can imagine the day when hydrogen cars will make a presence on the SEMA Show floor.

SEMA News—February 2015

The Los Angeles Auto Show

EVENTS
By John Stewart

The Los Angeles Auto Show has developed a reputation as a “green” show that strongly focuses on alternative fuels and novel forms of propulsion. This may have been the case in prior years, but the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show had more to offer enthusiasts than in recent years, as a burst of “track-ready” performance cars and creative variants on existing platforms came to light. That made it more like the SEMA Show—an optimistic environment in which OEM exhibitors launched fun-to-drive new models and showed off interesting concept cars that may very well enter production. Among them were several vehicles that could be of special relevance to SEMA members.

The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 concept rides on 18-in. bead-lock-style aluminum wheels and is 4 in. wider than the Colorado Z71. The pickup is powered by a 2.8L Duramax diesel that produces 181 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed transmission. The spare tire is mounted in the bed, along with a Hi-Lift jack, and both differentials have electronic lockers. The Colorado ZR2 may or may not be offered in showrooms soon, but the 2.8 turbodiesel powerplant is expected to become available in 2016.

This is an advance look at the Scion iM Hatchback concept, thought to be very close to what will arrive in dealerships in 2015. (The actual production version is scheduled to be revealed at the New York Auto Show in April.) The Scion iM hatchback concept rests atop 19-in. forged alloy wheels and features geometric grille inserts, sport suspension, a full body kit, deep air intakes and fog lights.

Another “track-ready daily driver” car, the new Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is equipped with a 5.2L V8 engine that will crank out more than 500 hp and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It rides on 19-in. aluminum-alloy wheels. Performance upgrades include MagneRide dampers, aggressive brakes and finely tuned aerodynamics. Rumor has it that pricing will start in the low $50,000 range and move up with optional packages.

A beautiful exercise in glass and metal, the Infiniti Q80 Inspiration Concept is a stunner from every angle. The concept car features lots of intriguing ideas, including a new hybrid powerplant that pairs a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine to an electric motor, making a combined 550 hp. Infiniti spokespeople say that the car is an indication of where they would like to take the brand in the future.

The Lexus LF-C2 2+2 roadster concept features small vents in the side sills that direct air to the rear brakes and out the fin-like rear diffusers. The rear end is highlighted by L-shaped taillight bulbs and an exhaust system with chrome-covered quad exhaust tips. Lexus calls the car a “design study that explores key styling themes” and, as such, is an illustration of the company’s intention to put more emotion into its designs.

Toyota Mirai Runs on Hydrogen

Toyota has become the first manufacturer to build a production car ready for sale that is powered by a fuel cell. In November, Toyota announced the name of the car, Mirai, which means “the future” in Japanese.

At a recent event tied in with the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota allowed automotive journalists and business reporters to drive the car, which in simplest terms might be described as a hybrid Camry with a better battery.

That “better battery” would be a hydrogen fuel cell, which offers numerous advantages over actual battery packs. Hydrogen fuel cells can be refueled in three to five minutes instead of hours for a battery pack, and they weigh less. The hydrogen is held in two heavily reinforced high-pressure storage tanks at about 10,000 psi and provides enough fuel to enable about a 300-mile range. These components offer packaging advantages that result in a low center of gravity and sporty cornering capacity.

Toyota’s advance presentation included experts who suggested that the car represented a turning point in clean transportation and addressed questions about what it would be like to live with a hydrogen car. To the assembled audience, the company’s assertions that hydrogen will become a big player in the future seemed generally credible.

Intriguingly, the Mirai will be available with an optional power-takeoff feature, which would allow the fuel cell stack to function as a stationary power generator in an emergency situation.

The powertrain is rated at 153 hp with 247 lb.-ft. of torque. Unlike the Prius, the Mirai is a four-seat sedan with a trunk instead of a hatch, so direct comparisons are inappropriate, but the Mirai is clearly a more relaxing car to drive, with better interior appointments, more dynamic handling and lower NVH.

It also will be priced differently—somewhere around $57,500; leasable for $499. After federal and state rebates and tax credits, the bottom line will be somewhere under $50,000.

The Mirai goes on sale in Japan by the end of 2014 and in selected regional North American markets in the second half of 2015. How fuel-cell technology will affect enthusiasts and car collectors remains to be seen, but we can imagine the day when hydrogen cars will make a presence on the SEMA Show floor.

SEMA News—February 2015

The Los Angeles Auto Show

EVENTS
By John Stewart

The Los Angeles Auto Show has developed a reputation as a “green” show that strongly focuses on alternative fuels and novel forms of propulsion. This may have been the case in prior years, but the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show had more to offer enthusiasts than in recent years, as a burst of “track-ready” performance cars and creative variants on existing platforms came to light. That made it more like the SEMA Show—an optimistic environment in which OEM exhibitors launched fun-to-drive new models and showed off interesting concept cars that may very well enter production. Among them were several vehicles that could be of special relevance to SEMA members.

The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 concept rides on 18-in. bead-lock-style aluminum wheels and is 4 in. wider than the Colorado Z71. The pickup is powered by a 2.8L Duramax diesel that produces 181 hp and 369 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed transmission. The spare tire is mounted in the bed, along with a Hi-Lift jack, and both differentials have electronic lockers. The Colorado ZR2 may or may not be offered in showrooms soon, but the 2.8 turbodiesel powerplant is expected to become available in 2016.

This is an advance look at the Scion iM Hatchback concept, thought to be very close to what will arrive in dealerships in 2015. (The actual production version is scheduled to be revealed at the New York Auto Show in April.) The Scion iM hatchback concept rests atop 19-in. forged alloy wheels and features geometric grille inserts, sport suspension, a full body kit, deep air intakes and fog lights.

Another “track-ready daily driver” car, the new Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang is equipped with a 5.2L V8 engine that will crank out more than 500 hp and more than 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It rides on 19-in. aluminum-alloy wheels. Performance upgrades include MagneRide dampers, aggressive brakes and finely tuned aerodynamics. Rumor has it that pricing will start in the low $50,000 range and move up with optional packages.

A beautiful exercise in glass and metal, the Infiniti Q80 Inspiration Concept is a stunner from every angle. The concept car features lots of intriguing ideas, including a new hybrid powerplant that pairs a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine to an electric motor, making a combined 550 hp. Infiniti spokespeople say that the car is an indication of where they would like to take the brand in the future.

The Lexus LF-C2 2+2 roadster concept features small vents in the side sills that direct air to the rear brakes and out the fin-like rear diffusers. The rear end is highlighted by L-shaped taillight bulbs and an exhaust system with chrome-covered quad exhaust tips. Lexus calls the car a “design study that explores key styling themes” and, as such, is an illustration of the company’s intention to put more emotion into its designs.

Toyota Mirai Runs on Hydrogen

Toyota has become the first manufacturer to build a production car ready for sale that is powered by a fuel cell. In November, Toyota announced the name of the car, Mirai, which means “the future” in Japanese.

At a recent event tied in with the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota allowed automotive journalists and business reporters to drive the car, which in simplest terms might be described as a hybrid Camry with a better battery.

That “better battery” would be a hydrogen fuel cell, which offers numerous advantages over actual battery packs. Hydrogen fuel cells can be refueled in three to five minutes instead of hours for a battery pack, and they weigh less. The hydrogen is held in two heavily reinforced high-pressure storage tanks at about 10,000 psi and provides enough fuel to enable about a 300-mile range. These components offer packaging advantages that result in a low center of gravity and sporty cornering capacity.

Toyota’s advance presentation included experts who suggested that the car represented a turning point in clean transportation and addressed questions about what it would be like to live with a hydrogen car. To the assembled audience, the company’s assertions that hydrogen will become a big player in the future seemed generally credible.

Intriguingly, the Mirai will be available with an optional power-takeoff feature, which would allow the fuel cell stack to function as a stationary power generator in an emergency situation.

The powertrain is rated at 153 hp with 247 lb.-ft. of torque. Unlike the Prius, the Mirai is a four-seat sedan with a trunk instead of a hatch, so direct comparisons are inappropriate, but the Mirai is clearly a more relaxing car to drive, with better interior appointments, more dynamic handling and lower NVH.

It also will be priced differently—somewhere around $57,500; leasable for $499. After federal and state rebates and tax credits, the bottom line will be somewhere under $50,000.

The Mirai goes on sale in Japan by the end of 2014 and in selected regional North American markets in the second half of 2015. How fuel-cell technology will affect enthusiasts and car collectors remains to be seen, but we can imagine the day when hydrogen cars will make a presence on the SEMA Show floor.