By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Delaware Senate passed SEMA-supported legislation to exempt reconstructed vehicles that are more than 25 years old from emissions testing.

SEMA-supported legislation to exempt reconstructed vehicles that are more than 25 years old from emissions testing was passed by the Delaware Senate and sent to the governor for his signature and enactment into law. The House of Representatives has already passed the measure. Under the bill, the vehicle must continue to meet and be inspected for safety and anti-tampering requirements for its model year.

In Delaware, "Reconstructed vehicle" means "a vehicle which has been assembled or constructed largely by means of essential parts, new or used, derived from other vehicles or makes of vehicles of various names, models and types, or which, if originally otherwise constructed, has been materially altered by the removal of essential parts or by the addition or substitution of essential parts, new or used, derived from other vehicles or makes of vehicles."

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

	Holly Krozel was promoted to vice president and general manager for Martin & Co. Advertising.

Martin & Co. Promotes Holly Krozel to VP and General Manager

Martin & Co. Advertising recently promoted Holly Krozel to vice president and general manager for the company. After more than 15 years of marketing and analytics experience, she joined Martin & Co. in early 2013 and has driven reorganization of the business to improve productivity and to position the team to best help clients compete in the world of content marketing.

Krozel spent most of her professional career with global consumer packaged goods company MARS Petcare, US. She has a breadth of experience creating and implementing new ideas and sustainable business processes across marketing, sales, supply and finance throughout her career. She has also launched two successful small businesses and has worked on award-winning, cross-functional teams to launch new products, build brand awareness and increase sales.

Steve Filipiak Named Marketing Director for Midwest Truck & Auto Parts

Midwest Truck & Auto Parts announced that Steve Filipiak was named the company’s new director of marketing. Filipiak will be responsible for driving the company’s global marketing strategy in order to strengthen its brands and advance business goals. He will also oversee the day-to-day management and implementation of marketing programs and initiatives for Midwest Truck & Auto Parts and its brands.

Most recently, Filipiak was vice president of marketing at June Media, where he was responsible for planning and strategy, product development, advertising and promotions. As director of marketing, Filipiak will expand Midwest’s marketing strategy while supporting the sales team as he expands the Midwest Truck & Auto Parts brand presence by redesigning the company websites, including www.midwesttruck.com, www.motivegear.com, www.worldamerican.com, www.richmondgear.com, www.powertrax.com and www.tenfactory.com.

Black Magic Teams With West Coast Customs

Black Magic entered into a new partnership with West Coast Customs (WWC). The company’s Black Magic brand and products are fully integrated into the WWC programming, and new episodes debuted in April 2014 on Fox Sports 2. Retailer activation, including consumer promotions and marketing collateral, will also be an integral part of the program. Black Magic stated that WCC was an ideal partner due to WCC owner Ryan Friedlinghaus and his crew’s reputation for pushing boundaries and expectations—two philosophies mirrored by Black Magic.

Larte Design, a luxury tuning company specializing in premium SUVs, has selected JMPR for public relations and media services.

JMPR  to Provide PR, Media Services for Larte Design

JMPR Public Relations was selected as the North American agency of record for European-based Larte Design—a luxury tuning company specializing in SUVs made by premium OEMs, such as Infiniti, Range Rover and Mercedes. JMPR will assist Larte with its U.S. introduction and handle a range of media relations and event PR activities. JMPR will also assist with the company’s U.S. representation and brand development as needed. More information is available at www.larte-design.com.

Registration Open for University of the Aftermarket Leadership 2.0 Class

The University of the Aftermarket has officially opened registration for the next Leadership 2.0 class, which begins August 24–29, on the campus of Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. The second session will be held March 8–13, 2015, at Northwood’s West Palm Beach, Florida, campus. Participants must attend both sessions.

Leadership 2.0 is an intensive post-graduate-style leadership and business skills education experience designed to promote the development of the next generation of aftermarket leaders. Featured presenters include leading aftermarket executives and faculty members of the Northwood University DeVos Graduate School of Management. The program is designed for early- to mid-career, management-track, high-potential aftermarket professionals in all market segments. Program participants include a mix of aftermarket professionals from manufacturing, retail/wholesale stores, program groups, warehouses, service dealers, associations and other industry segments allied to the motor vehicle aftermarket.

More information and registration details are available at www.universityoftheaftermarket.com. Participants receive 7.0 CEUs toward their Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) or Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designations.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org. 

Is Ford testing a new Mustang variant using the chassis upgrades given to the upcoming GT500, but using a smaller four- or six-cylinder engine, for something akin to a resurrected SVO Mustang? A new prototype caught testing on the streets of Dearborn, Michigan, is intriguing.

Looks Like a GT500, But Is Something Missing?

The prototype is outfitted with nearly all of the traits seen on a number of Mustang GT500 prototypes, including the bulging hood, more aggressive front fascia, the hood-mounted air-intake and the venting just aft of the front wheelwell. What this latest prototype is missing is the GT500's distinctive quad-exhaust setup. It has the exhaust in largely the same place as on the GT500, but this latest prototype has two of the exhaust outlets capped-off for some unknown reason.

Has Your Voice Changed?

The audio evidence deepens the mystery, as our video clip of this new Mustang prototype reveals what appears to be a different engine and exhaust note accompanying this test car. The engine noise lacks the deep resonance and throaty burble typical of the Mustang's V8 in general, and the GT500, in particular. Are two capped exhaust tips enough to account for different sounds made by this prototype? It's impossible to say for certain, and it is plausible that the exhaust may have been capped down to two outlets for some sort of emissions testing, or some other engineering reason. Still, could the move down to two operational exhaust tips signal an alternative, downsized engine?

Partially Neutered GT500 or New SVO?

It's admittedly speculation, but what if we are looking at a new high-performance Mustang prototype using many of the same chassis upgrades to be found on the coming GT500 model, but configured with a new, highly tuned four-cylinder or V6 engine. New, smaller-displacement, turbocharged engines can now generate significant power, and a lighter-weight engine could likely result in sharper handling. It's a compelling notion to ponder a resurrected, turbocharged Mustang SVO, representing a comparatively precise scalpel considered alongside a Mustang GT500—which is more akin to a gloriously blunt hammer.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

Is Ford testing a new Mustang variant using the chassis upgrades given to the upcoming GT500, but using a smaller four- or six-cylinder engine, for something akin to a resurrected SVO Mustang? A new prototype caught testing on the streets of Dearborn, Michigan, is intriguing.

Looks Like a GT500, But Is Something Missing?

The prototype is outfitted with nearly all of the traits seen on a number of Mustang GT500 prototypes, including the bulging hood, more aggressive front fascia, the hood-mounted air-intake and the venting just aft of the front wheelwell. What this latest prototype is missing is the GT500's distinctive quad-exhaust setup. It has the exhaust in largely the same place as on the GT500, but this latest prototype has two of the exhaust outlets capped-off for some unknown reason.

Has Your Voice Changed?

The audio evidence deepens the mystery, as our video clip of this new Mustang prototype reveals what appears to be a different engine and exhaust note accompanying this test car. The engine noise lacks the deep resonance and throaty burble typical of the Mustang's V8 in general, and the GT500, in particular. Are two capped exhaust tips enough to account for different sounds made by this prototype? It's impossible to say for certain, and it is plausible that the exhaust may have been capped down to two outlets for some sort of emissions testing, or some other engineering reason. Still, could the move down to two operational exhaust tips signal an alternative, downsized engine?

Partially Neutered GT500 or New SVO?

It's admittedly speculation, but what if we are looking at a new high-performance Mustang prototype using many of the same chassis upgrades to be found on the coming GT500 model, but configured with a new, highly tuned four-cylinder or V6 engine. New, smaller-displacement, turbocharged engines can now generate significant power, and a lighter-weight engine could likely result in sharper handling. It's a compelling notion to ponder a resurrected, turbocharged Mustang SVO, representing a comparatively precise scalpel considered alongside a Mustang GT500—which is more akin to a gloriously blunt hammer.

Photo credit: KGP Photography