One of four Mercedes-Benz GLK models entered in a tuner's challenge, the Urban Whip from Florida-based Boulevard Customs features a wide-body styling kit, 26-inch wheels and tires, redesigned interior and ground-pounding audio system.

Developed by longtime Mercedes-Benz tuning experts Brabus, the BRABUS Widestar includes flowing front and rear wheel arch flares, redesigned front and rear bumpers, and exclusive BRABUS wheels and interior.

Legendary Motorcar Company, specialists in exotic and musclecar restoration, offers the Four Corners Rock Crawler including an innovative winching system to propel skateboarders and wakeboarders up to speed and actually “grind” down the vehicle’s specially integrated side rails.

RENNTech Rally Racer – Inspired by the unlimited-class rally cars of the storied Pikes Peak Hillclimb, RENNTech's Rally Racer GLK concept represents the Mercedes-Benz performance specialist’s first hybrid powertrain to enhance acceleration off the line and out of corners. You can see all four of these customized GLKs at the Mercedes-Benz display Central Hall #20999.

Japanese tuner Zele will show its carbon fiber body kit on this orange Nissan GT-R. The kit includes new front bumper, lip spoiler, side skirts, underbody spoiler, air duct, grille, front fender ducts and surge tank cover. Look for it in the Eneos booth Central Hall #24501 (read more from Motor Authority here).

Dodge hasn't announced any plans to build a droptop Challenger, but that hasn't stopped Coach Builders Ltd. from realizing a vision of an open-air edition. The company is reportedly already taking deposits for similar conversions. Look for this one in the company's booth (North Hall #12157) trimmed with a Vortech supercharger and 22-inch Foose Challenger wheels (read more at Top Speed via Car Domain. Check out more in-progress SEMA projects at Car Domain here).

Look for Rick Bottom Designs' 2008 Saturn VUE Greenline, which runs on either gasoline or propane, in the General Motors booth, Central Hall #23743. Look for the Solatec solar panels on the roof, which Bottom calls "a symbolic leap, but a leap in the right direction nonetheless."

Also, check out these great feature vehicles recently profiled in the November issue of SEMA News.

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SEMA Show exhibitors: Generate more buzz for your company and products by announcing your SEMA Show incentives and specials in SEMA eNews.

Exhibitors with special pricing, promotions, two-for-one offers and other incentives are encouraged to let SEMA know so that the information can be included. To announce your company’s special offers, send information to Adrienne Bailey at adrienneb@sema.org.  

Details on the 2008 SEMA Show are available at www.semashow.com.

Here are the latest specials:

Byers Products Group is introducing its new Versa Lift power storage lift for home garage-to-attic, commercial garage-to-mezzanine or second-floor storage area lifting. The companion Product is the Versa Rail attic ladder safety railing, which is being offered free with all Versa Lift orders placed at the Show. It is a $159 value. Customers that do not need the Versa Rail may choose shipping for systems purchased at regular retail. Website: www.bpghome.com.  

CAPCAN Inc.: Orders received at the 2008 SEMA Show are eligible for discounts of 5% on orders of 25 or more and 10% on orders of 100 or more. Optionally, CAPCAN Inc. will make a donation in your company’s name to the Hendrick Marrow Program in lieu of the cash discount.

RegenEV Shocks is providing free demonstrations of its latest innovation: a regenerative suspension system on a "green" Chevy SUV. RegenEV's shocks are hydraulic-electric generators. Hydraulic pressure from vehicle weight powers a gear motor and generator to recharge a plug-in Hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) battery bank. Stop by booth #31215 to see this amazing technology in action!

SilverHorse Racing will waive the buy-in for dealers who sign up at the 2008 SEMA Show to carry SilverHorse products. The buy-in, normally $1,000, is in place to help SilverHorse dealers with exclusivity; the company anticipates meeting qualified dealers at the Show that will be able to represent its products to customers. SilverHorse Racing is located in booth #11317 in the Restyling & Car Care Accessories section of the North Hall. 

Siriani & Associates, administrators of the SEMA Freight Savings Plan, is offering the chance to win a FedEx Racing jacket autographed by #11 FedEx driver Denny Hamlin. Come to booth #10965 to find out how to save up to 65% on your shipping costs and to enter for a chance to win. For more information, call 800/554.0005 or e-mail info@siriani.com.

Superior Mats LLC, manufacturer of custom-cut automotive floor mats, is offering 10% off all orders received at the 2008 SEMA Show. Stop by booth #12207 to place your custom order with Charles or Cindy. For more information, call 800/931-9330 and ask for Cindy.

Trucks Covers USA, booth #33112, is offering special pricing for orders placed at the Show. Receive $100 off its top dealer pricing on the American Roll Cover and American Work Cover. Receive 20% off any American Cargo Lights kit. Receive 10% off any of Truck Covers USA's other accessories, including the American Snap-Locs, American Spring-Step, American Tailmate, American Wonder Auto Cloth and American Tailgate Seal. Contact: Kim Tremelling at 858/622-9135 for additional information.

Dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows and activities have been announced. Details are:

SEMA WTC Open Meeting, November 3, 2008, Las Vegas
SEMA Show 2008, November 4–7, 2008, Las Vegas 
SEMA Dealer Day, November 5, 2008, Las Vegas
SEMA PRO Open Meeting, November 6, 2008, Las Vegas
SEMA ARMO Shopkeeper's Roundtable, November 6, 2008, Las Vegas
SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN, November 6, 2008 7:15 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (PDT), Las Vegas
SEMA Installer Certification Program, Exam date: November 13, 2008
 SEMA Webinar, "Fast Track Product Development with 3-D Design Technology," November 20, 2008 10:00 a.m. (PDT)
SEMA Webinar, "How to Make Money with the Right Social Media Tools," December 4, 2008 10:00 a.m. (PDT)
SEMA MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 20–22, 2009, El Segundo, California
SEMA Technical Skills & Training Conference, March 27–28, 2009, Orlando, Florida
PAACE Automechanika Mexico, July 15–17, 2009, Mexico

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstoreusa.com) at Travel Store USA, 949/930-9268.

Looking for Some Extra Publicity for Your Industry Event?
Publicize your events through the SEMA Online Calendar of Events located at www.sema.org/calendar. The calendar is stocked with information on events taking place throughout the year, broken down by month. Examples of events featured in the calendar include consumer shows and club events, educational and training workshops, conventions and trade shows, races and more.

To submit your event details for the calendar, e-mail company name and the date(s), location and name of the event to Shirley Presecan at shirleyp@sema.org.

Vehicle-color preferences are beginning to shift as customers look to vibrant palettes for individuality. According to a report by automotive paint and coatings manufacturer PPG Industries, consumer preferences for vehicle paints are changing in reaction to modern non-automotive designs.  

Silver remains the world’s most popular color, snapping up 20% of North American, 35% of European and 37% of Asian Pacific tones.

"Although silver is the most popular car color overall, we're not dealing with the same old silvers anymore," says Jane E. Harrington, PPG color styling manager. "With advances in technology and design, silver shades continue to evolve with the incorporation of hue shifts, color tints, aluminum flake size and appearance. Silver, along with black and white, is offered on every vehicle line as part of the core color palette, which also increases its popularity."

Other shades are quickly closing the gap, however. Black and white have tied silver as prominent options in certain vehicle classes, while blue received the most interest in a recent consumer survey. The major changes are in the rise of vibrant tones and finishes.

"We're seeing more abundant color use at major auto shows as consumers start to show increased interest in vivid, intense shades," Harrington added. "Today's consumers are in tune with brand images, and they see premium colors on everything from cell phones to washers and dryers. Good color design is not considered a bonus anymore; it's an expectation."

During the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, car buyers weighed in on color. More than 1,200 consumers were asked for their impressions on new vehicle hues, and for the second consecutive year, the overwhelming selection was blue. Many designers are considering this the staple color as the automotive industry gears up for the future.  

SEMA Show vehicles, on the other hand, often represent current trends and forecasts for the specialty-equipment industry. Leading designers and concept artists showcase the most contemporary examples of vehicle customization and artistic expression, often casting aside monotone compositions.

During the 2007 Show, the majority of vehicles displayed one or more elements designed to differentiate their style from others. Most vehicles adopted multiple characteristics and were decorated with assorted paints and schemes. However, many had a primary color or overriding feature, despite the additional layers of graphics, logos or accessories. The base colors used for each vehicle at the Show are given below.   
 
Furthermore, the vehicles at the Show often employ edgy features or materials commonly used as accents. The items listed are those that are considered overriding themes above and beyond individual components. For example, the vehicles listed as having a carbon-fiber theme were the ones crafted using a complete carbon-fiber shell, rather than a single component. The same applies for graphic enhancements—a complete body wrap as opposed to sponsor logos. Very few vehicles at the Show come without some type of secondary feature.   
 
For more original SEMA market research, please visit www.sema.org/research.

TreeHugger.com, a site not shy with its agenda, reports that bench racers are targeting a performance icon with electric vehicles. The story, titled “5 Eco-Cars Faster than the Porsche 911,” aims to send a shock wave through the perceptions of automotive enthusiasts. The article compares the sports car to a polished group of concepts, one-offs and dedicated electric supercars.  

  

The Porsche goes 0–60 in 4.7 seconds. How does that compare to the electrics?

• Tzero by AC Propulsion: 3.6 seconds
• Tesla Motors Roadster: 2.78 seconds
• Ultimate Aero EV by Shelby SuperCars: 2.78 seconds
• Tango Electric Cars: 4 seconds
• Wrightspeed X1: 3.07 seconds

This level of acceleration is what automotive enthusiasts are passionate about, never mind that there is dead silence instead of an addictive V8 growl. As the automotive industry evolves to meet emissions standards and the United States moves to curb its dependence on foreign oil, models such as these make the case for an electric-car performance market. 

Consider what some of the OEMs are working on: General Motors has announced production plans for the Chevrolet Volt and sibling offshoots; Chrysler has announced three electric vehicle candidates; Ford is testing plug-in hybrids; Toyota is testing a plug-in Prius; and BMW is teasing Californians with 500 pure-electric MINIs.

Part of this surge is due to consumer demand, but some of the urgency can be attributed to regulations insisting on zero- or low-emissions vehicles.  

For the consumer, the decision will hinge on performance for related fossil fuel-powered cars and the time it will take to recover the additional expense. Retail prices:

• Base Porsche 911 Carrera 4S: $102,900
• TZero: not for sale
• Tesla Roadster: $109,000
• Ultimate Aero: n/a
• Tango Electric: $85,000
• Wrightspeed X1: n/a

For our example above, we find that initial investments in high performance can be costly, if impossible. One of the largest hurdles has been availability. As suppliers invest in component factories and vehicle builders begin to test legitimate concepts, the choices will change.   

  

The price difference between the Porsche and the Tesla is $6,100. At $3.50 a gallon, that represents 1,742 gallons of gas. Since the Porsche is rated at 19 mpg, that equates to 33,114 miles. It would take a year and a half to two years to recover the additional cost in the current market. In a few years, production costs may come down as suppliers retool their assembly lines and government rebates begin to take effect, and electric vehicles could play a vital role in the market for high-performance vehicles.  

This is a part of the automotive industry that bears watching for performance parts and accessory opportunities. 

Click here to access the SEMA Research & Information Center.

Over half of all 2009 automobiles planned for sale in the United States will feature support for Portable Media Players (PMPs), says a report from iSuppli, an electronics market analysis group. This option illustrates automakers’ push to increase sales through merging technology with amenities and modern conveniences.  

Consumers throughout the United States have demanded improved connectivity between their lifestyles and mobility, insisting on audio/visual support with their PMPs. Leading the charge has been Apple Inc.’s iPod, with 39% of 2008 vehicle models featuring an option for the product. In 2009, the amount is expected to jump to 58% of vehicles featuring iPod support directly from the factory. As for other popular brands, roughly 33% of all vehicles will come with a USB interface, up from 16% a year ago.



In iSuppli’s 2009 Automotive Technology Availability Index, consumer expectations of available technology highlight the change in perception. “The automotive industry is at the point where in-vehicle technologies—or the lack of them—are influencing sales,” claims Phil Magney, vice president of automotive research for iSuppli. “The charge toward greater technological integration has been led by OEMs such as Hyundai and Honda, which are making USB/iPod combination interfaces standard on many of their vehicles. It’s also been spurred by OEMs such as Audi and Mercedes, which offer integrated Media Device Gateways that allow any device imaginable to integrate with a vehicle.”

As stated, the lack of these products as standard equipment on all vehicles, but as options on a growing number of them, has left the door open to specialty-equipment manufacturers. As of 2008, only 8% of respondents in recent enthusiast surveys claimed to have purchased these types of devices.  

Even more notable is the aggressive adoption of Bluetooth wireless devices. In 2009, 82% of new vehicles will be equipped with such technology, either as standard or optional equipment. Only 55% of current models have the option. Moreover, nearly all mobile devices released in the past year offer some degree of Bluetooth connectivity.

Mark Boyadjis, North American automotive analyst for iSuppli, notes, “The influx of Bluetooth technology has blanketed the consumer electronics industry, and this is spilling over into cars.” According to the latest SEMA study, one in five enthusiasts surveyed have purchased a Bluetooth-enabled product within the past year or plan to purchase one in the next year. 

Click here to access the SEMA Research & Information Center.

Motor Trend has confirmed earlier rumors that Toyota will ship its iQ minicar to the United States. This new entrant will fill in as the smallest vehicle in the lineup, achieve in excess of 50 mpg, and be badged a Scion. Sources claim the model will debut in its North American form at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. European and Japanese models—regions Toyota previously designed the minicar around—previewed its production version at the Geneva Auto Show in March.  

  

The iQ is a 3+1 four-seater aimed at providing functionality where its main rival, the SMART car, left off. The four seats can accompany three adults and one child, whereas the SMART is dedicated for two. Packaging innovations and component downsizing help reduce both weight and size while conventional elements in the steering, transmission and fuel systems have been shuffled to maximize space.

Chief engineer Hiroki Nakajimi tells Automotive News that the iQ is the first production vehicle to exhibit "vehicle packaging innovation": the concept of rethinking the approach to component development.

Three engines will be available worldwide, including 1.0L three-cylinder and 1.5L four-cylinder gasoline engines and a 1.4L turbodiesel. The second is the most probable as it can be sourced from the Yaris and would fit the needs of larger American drivers. As a Scion, the iQ could be differentiated from Toyota's high-mileage offerings, including the Yaris and Prius.

The Scion line needs renewed buzz to restore its original brand image and move away from its conservative second-generation models. A fresh niche icon could prove valuable. Toyota held a launch party this month that revealed styling packages for the Japanese model, much like its agenda in the United States with Scion's widely known "accessory-friendly" mentality.

Under the in-house accessory brand Modellista, the iQ can be fitted with mild performance modifications or customer-selected color themes. The recent mood throughout the automotive industry has been sour. The few bright spots have been with compact and ultra-compact vehicles. As a competitor to the successful Smart car, the iQ stands to offer a more functional alternative to the ultra-niche icon and appeal to a larger audience.

Click here to access the SEMA Research & Information Center.