SEMA News—January 2015

INDUSTRY NEWS

SPY PHOTOS

Photos copyright KGP Photography. Reuse or reproduction without the copyright holder’s consent is prohibited.

Porsche 911 Race Car		Camaro Convertible
This new 911-based race car, clad in familiar black-and-white graphic camouflage, was caught on film as it exited the famous Nürburgring. The test Porsche 911 racer is most likely a product of Manthey Racing—the Nürburgring-based race team of which Porsche is a majority shareholder. Manthey Racing sprang out of the success of famed German race-car driver Olaf Manthey. However, when Manthey’s son died in an accident, Porsche agreed to take control in order to keep the race team running. The best guess of the shooter on-site is that this 911-based race car is a variant of the new-generation 911 RSR Evolution.		Some recent ’16 Camaro prototypes feature newly camouflaged roofs, but these shots provide clear evidence of a soft top in place. Previous prototypes had several details that pointed to the existence of solid roof rails and no noticeable breaks at the Camaro’s A-pillar and headliner. With these test cars, it is certain that those earlier prototypes were clearly not convertibles. The Camaro convertible’s soft roof is uncovered in these new shots, and elements of the roof’s understructure can be seen beneath the soft surface. A redesigned B-pillar area has more of a glass-to-glass treatment than that of the Camaro coupe. There is also the clear presence of a seam where the soft top meets the headliner.
’80s Camaro Testing With Next-Gen Model		Nissan Maxima
Why is an M-plated ’80s Camaro right in the thick of a proper GM test group in the Rocky Mountains? The manufacturer’s plate affixed to this old-school red F-body strongly suggests that this car is somehow part of GM. The ’80s F-body test car was seen running with the Camaro prototype and a camouflaged Cadillac ATS. KGP’s shooter swears that the ’80s Camaro was rocking an intercooler and sounded like some sort of turbocharged V6. At the time these photos were taken, the camo covering the entire roof of the ’16 Camaro prototypes had shooters guessing that the cars could be Camaro convertibles. However, the setup pointed to a retractable hardtop, which seemed very unlikely to the photographers on-site.		Here are shots of a ’16 Nissan Maxima prototype, the automaker’s entry into the midsize sedan segment to battle style leaders such as the Ford Fusion and Mazda6. The new Maxima takes some of its design inspiration from Nissan’s ’14 Sport Sedan concept. With this lightly covered prototype, nearly all of the concept’s key design traits have been adapted into a marginally toned-down production design. AutoPacific sources say to expect a performance-oriented hybrid Maxima variant, reportedly using a 2.5L supercharged, direct-injection four-cylinder mated to a battery to provide strong, V6-like performance. This system is seen as a way to further differentiate the Maxima from the encroaching Altima, which will use a more sedate, eco-minded hybrid setup.

SEMA News—January 2015

INDUSTRY NEWS

SPY PHOTOS

Photos copyright KGP Photography. Reuse or reproduction without the copyright holder’s consent is prohibited.

Porsche 911 Race Car		Camaro Convertible
This new 911-based race car, clad in familiar black-and-white graphic camouflage, was caught on film as it exited the famous Nürburgring. The test Porsche 911 racer is most likely a product of Manthey Racing—the Nürburgring-based race team of which Porsche is a majority shareholder. Manthey Racing sprang out of the success of famed German race-car driver Olaf Manthey. However, when Manthey’s son died in an accident, Porsche agreed to take control in order to keep the race team running. The best guess of the shooter on-site is that this 911-based race car is a variant of the new-generation 911 RSR Evolution.		Some recent ’16 Camaro prototypes feature newly camouflaged roofs, but these shots provide clear evidence of a soft top in place. Previous prototypes had several details that pointed to the existence of solid roof rails and no noticeable breaks at the Camaro’s A-pillar and headliner. With these test cars, it is certain that those earlier prototypes were clearly not convertibles. The Camaro convertible’s soft roof is uncovered in these new shots, and elements of the roof’s understructure can be seen beneath the soft surface. A redesigned B-pillar area has more of a glass-to-glass treatment than that of the Camaro coupe. There is also the clear presence of a seam where the soft top meets the headliner.
’80s Camaro Testing With Next-Gen Model		Nissan Maxima
Why is an M-plated ’80s Camaro right in the thick of a proper GM test group in the Rocky Mountains? The manufacturer’s plate affixed to this old-school red F-body strongly suggests that this car is somehow part of GM. The ’80s F-body test car was seen running with the Camaro prototype and a camouflaged Cadillac ATS. KGP’s shooter swears that the ’80s Camaro was rocking an intercooler and sounded like some sort of turbocharged V6. At the time these photos were taken, the camo covering the entire roof of the ’16 Camaro prototypes had shooters guessing that the cars could be Camaro convertibles. However, the setup pointed to a retractable hardtop, which seemed very unlikely to the photographers on-site.		Here are shots of a ’16 Nissan Maxima prototype, the automaker’s entry into the midsize sedan segment to battle style leaders such as the Ford Fusion and Mazda6. The new Maxima takes some of its design inspiration from Nissan’s ’14 Sport Sedan concept. With this lightly covered prototype, nearly all of the concept’s key design traits have been adapted into a marginally toned-down production design. AutoPacific sources say to expect a performance-oriented hybrid Maxima variant, reportedly using a 2.5L supercharged, direct-injection four-cylinder mated to a battery to provide strong, V6-like performance. This system is seen as a way to further differentiate the Maxima from the encroaching Altima, which will use a more sedate, eco-minded hybrid setup.

SEMA News—January 2015

INDUSTRY NEWS

SPY PHOTOS

Photos copyright KGP Photography. Reuse or reproduction without the copyright holder’s consent is prohibited.

Porsche 911 Race Car		Camaro Convertible
This new 911-based race car, clad in familiar black-and-white graphic camouflage, was caught on film as it exited the famous Nürburgring. The test Porsche 911 racer is most likely a product of Manthey Racing—the Nürburgring-based race team of which Porsche is a majority shareholder. Manthey Racing sprang out of the success of famed German race-car driver Olaf Manthey. However, when Manthey’s son died in an accident, Porsche agreed to take control in order to keep the race team running. The best guess of the shooter on-site is that this 911-based race car is a variant of the new-generation 911 RSR Evolution.		Some recent ’16 Camaro prototypes feature newly camouflaged roofs, but these shots provide clear evidence of a soft top in place. Previous prototypes had several details that pointed to the existence of solid roof rails and no noticeable breaks at the Camaro’s A-pillar and headliner. With these test cars, it is certain that those earlier prototypes were clearly not convertibles. The Camaro convertible’s soft roof is uncovered in these new shots, and elements of the roof’s understructure can be seen beneath the soft surface. A redesigned B-pillar area has more of a glass-to-glass treatment than that of the Camaro coupe. There is also the clear presence of a seam where the soft top meets the headliner.
’80s Camaro Testing With Next-Gen Model		Nissan Maxima
Why is an M-plated ’80s Camaro right in the thick of a proper GM test group in the Rocky Mountains? The manufacturer’s plate affixed to this old-school red F-body strongly suggests that this car is somehow part of GM. The ’80s F-body test car was seen running with the Camaro prototype and a camouflaged Cadillac ATS. KGP’s shooter swears that the ’80s Camaro was rocking an intercooler and sounded like some sort of turbocharged V6. At the time these photos were taken, the camo covering the entire roof of the ’16 Camaro prototypes had shooters guessing that the cars could be Camaro convertibles. However, the setup pointed to a retractable hardtop, which seemed very unlikely to the photographers on-site.		Here are shots of a ’16 Nissan Maxima prototype, the automaker’s entry into the midsize sedan segment to battle style leaders such as the Ford Fusion and Mazda6. The new Maxima takes some of its design inspiration from Nissan’s ’14 Sport Sedan concept. With this lightly covered prototype, nearly all of the concept’s key design traits have been adapted into a marginally toned-down production design. AutoPacific sources say to expect a performance-oriented hybrid Maxima variant, reportedly using a 2.5L supercharged, direct-injection four-cylinder mated to a battery to provide strong, V6-like performance. This system is seen as a way to further differentiate the Maxima from the encroaching Altima, which will use a more sedate, eco-minded hybrid setup.

SEMA News—January 2015

INDUSTRY NEWS

SPY PHOTOS

Photos copyright KGP Photography. Reuse or reproduction without the copyright holder’s consent is prohibited.

Porsche 911 Race Car		Camaro Convertible
This new 911-based race car, clad in familiar black-and-white graphic camouflage, was caught on film as it exited the famous Nürburgring. The test Porsche 911 racer is most likely a product of Manthey Racing—the Nürburgring-based race team of which Porsche is a majority shareholder. Manthey Racing sprang out of the success of famed German race-car driver Olaf Manthey. However, when Manthey’s son died in an accident, Porsche agreed to take control in order to keep the race team running. The best guess of the shooter on-site is that this 911-based race car is a variant of the new-generation 911 RSR Evolution.		Some recent ’16 Camaro prototypes feature newly camouflaged roofs, but these shots provide clear evidence of a soft top in place. Previous prototypes had several details that pointed to the existence of solid roof rails and no noticeable breaks at the Camaro’s A-pillar and headliner. With these test cars, it is certain that those earlier prototypes were clearly not convertibles. The Camaro convertible’s soft roof is uncovered in these new shots, and elements of the roof’s understructure can be seen beneath the soft surface. A redesigned B-pillar area has more of a glass-to-glass treatment than that of the Camaro coupe. There is also the clear presence of a seam where the soft top meets the headliner.
’80s Camaro Testing With Next-Gen Model		Nissan Maxima
Why is an M-plated ’80s Camaro right in the thick of a proper GM test group in the Rocky Mountains? The manufacturer’s plate affixed to this old-school red F-body strongly suggests that this car is somehow part of GM. The ’80s F-body test car was seen running with the Camaro prototype and a camouflaged Cadillac ATS. KGP’s shooter swears that the ’80s Camaro was rocking an intercooler and sounded like some sort of turbocharged V6. At the time these photos were taken, the camo covering the entire roof of the ’16 Camaro prototypes had shooters guessing that the cars could be Camaro convertibles. However, the setup pointed to a retractable hardtop, which seemed very unlikely to the photographers on-site.		Here are shots of a ’16 Nissan Maxima prototype, the automaker’s entry into the midsize sedan segment to battle style leaders such as the Ford Fusion and Mazda6. The new Maxima takes some of its design inspiration from Nissan’s ’14 Sport Sedan concept. With this lightly covered prototype, nearly all of the concept’s key design traits have been adapted into a marginally toned-down production design. AutoPacific sources say to expect a performance-oriented hybrid Maxima variant, reportedly using a 2.5L supercharged, direct-injection four-cylinder mated to a battery to provide strong, V6-like performance. This system is seen as a way to further differentiate the Maxima from the encroaching Altima, which will use a more sedate, eco-minded hybrid setup.

SEMA News—January 2015

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy of the Petersen Archives

HERITAGE

From Hot Rods to Choppers

A car’s electrical system can be a challenge for a do-it-yourself hobbyist. That’s why car magazines—for about as long as there have been car magazines—have covered the topic to help enlighten shade-tree mechanics.

For instance, Hot Rod magazine published an article in its June 1963 issue called “Wiring Made Easy” to illustrate the basic tools, hardware and steps needed to wire a hot-rod project. But the car in the opening photograph wasn’t just any hot rod. The subject car was the XR-6—a futuristic, built-from-scratch roadster that was the brainchild of Hot Rod’s LeRoi “Tex” Smith to “investigate the uses of modern ideas in hot-rod design,” as Smith described it. The XR-6 would go on to appear on the cover of Hot Rod’s August 1963 issue and also nab the coveted America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at that year’s Oakland Roadster Show.

The article was written by the automotive electrician seen holding a roll of wire next to the XR-6’s chassis: Tom McMullen. Years before he built a publishing empire, McMullen operated Automotive Electric Engineering in La Habra, California, which specialized in wiring hot rods and race boats. His calling card was the now-iconic black-and-flamed ’32 Ford roadster he bought in 1958 and raced all over Southern California.

This article was one of several appearances McMullen made in Hot Rod in 1963. His car was featured on the magazine’s April cover, and its record-setting, 154-mph run at El Mirage dry lake was chronicled by Smith in the August issue.

By the mid ’60s, McMullen had given up the electrical business and was writing car-magazine articles as a freelancer, many based around work he did on his roadster. He also became interested in choppers and started a motorcycle parts business called AEE Choppers (AEE being a shortened version of his former business’s name).

In 1969, he and Smith started publishing Street Chopper magazine as a means to promote AEE Choppers. As it turned out, their timing was perfect: The film Easy Rider was also released in 1969, and with it came a huge interest in building and riding choppers just like Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Soon Street Chopper was joined by a second magazine, Hot Bike, and TRM Publishing—named after McMullen and his second wife Rose—was on its way.

SEMA News—January 2015

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy of the Petersen Archives

HERITAGE

From Hot Rods to Choppers

A car’s electrical system can be a challenge for a do-it-yourself hobbyist. That’s why car magazines—for about as long as there have been car magazines—have covered the topic to help enlighten shade-tree mechanics.

For instance, Hot Rod magazine published an article in its June 1963 issue called “Wiring Made Easy” to illustrate the basic tools, hardware and steps needed to wire a hot-rod project. But the car in the opening photograph wasn’t just any hot rod. The subject car was the XR-6—a futuristic, built-from-scratch roadster that was the brainchild of Hot Rod’s LeRoi “Tex” Smith to “investigate the uses of modern ideas in hot-rod design,” as Smith described it. The XR-6 would go on to appear on the cover of Hot Rod’s August 1963 issue and also nab the coveted America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at that year’s Oakland Roadster Show.

The article was written by the automotive electrician seen holding a roll of wire next to the XR-6’s chassis: Tom McMullen. Years before he built a publishing empire, McMullen operated Automotive Electric Engineering in La Habra, California, which specialized in wiring hot rods and race boats. His calling card was the now-iconic black-and-flamed ’32 Ford roadster he bought in 1958 and raced all over Southern California.

This article was one of several appearances McMullen made in Hot Rod in 1963. His car was featured on the magazine’s April cover, and its record-setting, 154-mph run at El Mirage dry lake was chronicled by Smith in the August issue.

By the mid ’60s, McMullen had given up the electrical business and was writing car-magazine articles as a freelancer, many based around work he did on his roadster. He also became interested in choppers and started a motorcycle parts business called AEE Choppers (AEE being a shortened version of his former business’s name).

In 1969, he and Smith started publishing Street Chopper magazine as a means to promote AEE Choppers. As it turned out, their timing was perfect: The film Easy Rider was also released in 1969, and with it came a huge interest in building and riding choppers just like Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Soon Street Chopper was joined by a second magazine, Hot Bike, and TRM Publishing—named after McMullen and his second wife Rose—was on its way.

SEMA News—January 2015

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy of the Petersen Archives

HERITAGE

From Hot Rods to Choppers

A car’s electrical system can be a challenge for a do-it-yourself hobbyist. That’s why car magazines—for about as long as there have been car magazines—have covered the topic to help enlighten shade-tree mechanics.

For instance, Hot Rod magazine published an article in its June 1963 issue called “Wiring Made Easy” to illustrate the basic tools, hardware and steps needed to wire a hot-rod project. But the car in the opening photograph wasn’t just any hot rod. The subject car was the XR-6—a futuristic, built-from-scratch roadster that was the brainchild of Hot Rod’s LeRoi “Tex” Smith to “investigate the uses of modern ideas in hot-rod design,” as Smith described it. The XR-6 would go on to appear on the cover of Hot Rod’s August 1963 issue and also nab the coveted America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at that year’s Oakland Roadster Show.

The article was written by the automotive electrician seen holding a roll of wire next to the XR-6’s chassis: Tom McMullen. Years before he built a publishing empire, McMullen operated Automotive Electric Engineering in La Habra, California, which specialized in wiring hot rods and race boats. His calling card was the now-iconic black-and-flamed ’32 Ford roadster he bought in 1958 and raced all over Southern California.

This article was one of several appearances McMullen made in Hot Rod in 1963. His car was featured on the magazine’s April cover, and its record-setting, 154-mph run at El Mirage dry lake was chronicled by Smith in the August issue.

By the mid ’60s, McMullen had given up the electrical business and was writing car-magazine articles as a freelancer, many based around work he did on his roadster. He also became interested in choppers and started a motorcycle parts business called AEE Choppers (AEE being a shortened version of his former business’s name).

In 1969, he and Smith started publishing Street Chopper magazine as a means to promote AEE Choppers. As it turned out, their timing was perfect: The film Easy Rider was also released in 1969, and with it came a huge interest in building and riding choppers just like Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Soon Street Chopper was joined by a second magazine, Hot Bike, and TRM Publishing—named after McMullen and his second wife Rose—was on its way.

SEMA News—January 2015

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy of the Petersen Archives

HERITAGE

From Hot Rods to Choppers

A car’s electrical system can be a challenge for a do-it-yourself hobbyist. That’s why car magazines—for about as long as there have been car magazines—have covered the topic to help enlighten shade-tree mechanics.

For instance, Hot Rod magazine published an article in its June 1963 issue called “Wiring Made Easy” to illustrate the basic tools, hardware and steps needed to wire a hot-rod project. But the car in the opening photograph wasn’t just any hot rod. The subject car was the XR-6—a futuristic, built-from-scratch roadster that was the brainchild of Hot Rod’s LeRoi “Tex” Smith to “investigate the uses of modern ideas in hot-rod design,” as Smith described it. The XR-6 would go on to appear on the cover of Hot Rod’s August 1963 issue and also nab the coveted America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at that year’s Oakland Roadster Show.

The article was written by the automotive electrician seen holding a roll of wire next to the XR-6’s chassis: Tom McMullen. Years before he built a publishing empire, McMullen operated Automotive Electric Engineering in La Habra, California, which specialized in wiring hot rods and race boats. His calling card was the now-iconic black-and-flamed ’32 Ford roadster he bought in 1958 and raced all over Southern California.

This article was one of several appearances McMullen made in Hot Rod in 1963. His car was featured on the magazine’s April cover, and its record-setting, 154-mph run at El Mirage dry lake was chronicled by Smith in the August issue.

By the mid ’60s, McMullen had given up the electrical business and was writing car-magazine articles as a freelancer, many based around work he did on his roadster. He also became interested in choppers and started a motorcycle parts business called AEE Choppers (AEE being a shortened version of his former business’s name).

In 1969, he and Smith started publishing Street Chopper magazine as a means to promote AEE Choppers. As it turned out, their timing was perfect: The film Easy Rider was also released in 1969, and with it came a huge interest in building and riding choppers just like Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Soon Street Chopper was joined by a second magazine, Hot Bike, and TRM Publishing—named after McMullen and his second wife Rose—was on its way.

SEMA News—January 2015

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy of the Petersen Archives

HERITAGE

From Hot Rods to Choppers

A car’s electrical system can be a challenge for a do-it-yourself hobbyist. That’s why car magazines—for about as long as there have been car magazines—have covered the topic to help enlighten shade-tree mechanics.

For instance, Hot Rod magazine published an article in its June 1963 issue called “Wiring Made Easy” to illustrate the basic tools, hardware and steps needed to wire a hot-rod project. But the car in the opening photograph wasn’t just any hot rod. The subject car was the XR-6—a futuristic, built-from-scratch roadster that was the brainchild of Hot Rod’s LeRoi “Tex” Smith to “investigate the uses of modern ideas in hot-rod design,” as Smith described it. The XR-6 would go on to appear on the cover of Hot Rod’s August 1963 issue and also nab the coveted America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at that year’s Oakland Roadster Show.

The article was written by the automotive electrician seen holding a roll of wire next to the XR-6’s chassis: Tom McMullen. Years before he built a publishing empire, McMullen operated Automotive Electric Engineering in La Habra, California, which specialized in wiring hot rods and race boats. His calling card was the now-iconic black-and-flamed ’32 Ford roadster he bought in 1958 and raced all over Southern California.

This article was one of several appearances McMullen made in Hot Rod in 1963. His car was featured on the magazine’s April cover, and its record-setting, 154-mph run at El Mirage dry lake was chronicled by Smith in the August issue.

By the mid ’60s, McMullen had given up the electrical business and was writing car-magazine articles as a freelancer, many based around work he did on his roadster. He also became interested in choppers and started a motorcycle parts business called AEE Choppers (AEE being a shortened version of his former business’s name).

In 1969, he and Smith started publishing Street Chopper magazine as a means to promote AEE Choppers. As it turned out, their timing was perfect: The film Easy Rider was also released in 1969, and with it came a huge interest in building and riding choppers just like Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Soon Street Chopper was joined by a second magazine, Hot Bike, and TRM Publishing—named after McMullen and his second wife Rose—was on its way.

SEMA News—January 2015

By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy of the Petersen Archives

HERITAGE

From Hot Rods to Choppers

A car’s electrical system can be a challenge for a do-it-yourself hobbyist. That’s why car magazines—for about as long as there have been car magazines—have covered the topic to help enlighten shade-tree mechanics.

For instance, Hot Rod magazine published an article in its June 1963 issue called “Wiring Made Easy” to illustrate the basic tools, hardware and steps needed to wire a hot-rod project. But the car in the opening photograph wasn’t just any hot rod. The subject car was the XR-6—a futuristic, built-from-scratch roadster that was the brainchild of Hot Rod’s LeRoi “Tex” Smith to “investigate the uses of modern ideas in hot-rod design,” as Smith described it. The XR-6 would go on to appear on the cover of Hot Rod’s August 1963 issue and also nab the coveted America’s Most Beautiful Roadster award at that year’s Oakland Roadster Show.

The article was written by the automotive electrician seen holding a roll of wire next to the XR-6’s chassis: Tom McMullen. Years before he built a publishing empire, McMullen operated Automotive Electric Engineering in La Habra, California, which specialized in wiring hot rods and race boats. His calling card was the now-iconic black-and-flamed ’32 Ford roadster he bought in 1958 and raced all over Southern California.

This article was one of several appearances McMullen made in Hot Rod in 1963. His car was featured on the magazine’s April cover, and its record-setting, 154-mph run at El Mirage dry lake was chronicled by Smith in the August issue.

By the mid ’60s, McMullen had given up the electrical business and was writing car-magazine articles as a freelancer, many based around work he did on his roadster. He also became interested in choppers and started a motorcycle parts business called AEE Choppers (AEE being a shortened version of his former business’s name).

In 1969, he and Smith started publishing Street Chopper magazine as a means to promote AEE Choppers. As it turned out, their timing was perfect: The film Easy Rider was also released in 1969, and with it came a huge interest in building and riding choppers just like Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. Soon Street Chopper was joined by a second magazine, Hot Bike, and TRM Publishing—named after McMullen and his second wife Rose—was on its way.