Compiled by SEMA Editors

Formula DRIFT to Launch World Championship in 2015
Following the recent announcement of the merger between Formula DRIFT USA and Asia operations, Formula DRIFT has announced a World Championship series slated for 2015. Formula DRIFT will begin to operate a world championship that will be an integration of the Formula DRIFT USA and Formula DRIFT Asia operations. Current Formula DRIFT USA and Formula DRIFT Asia Pro Championships will continue to run as is, with the World Championship as the over-arching pinnacle.

Starting in 2014, Formula DRIFT will merge its USA and Asia operations with a global headquarters in Long Beach, California, and a regional office in Singapore. The merger comes after six years of successful event operations in Asia taking the Formula DRIFT Asia Championship Series to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and earlier this year, Australia. The Formula DRIFT licensor, Driftpac, will remain an integral part of the Formula DRIFT events in Asia and will continue to assist in expansion of the brand, but the Formula DRIFT global operations will begin to operate each event internationally as it does with the USA Series.

In 2015, Formula DRIFT will consider some or all of the events on the Formula DRIFT USA and Formula DRIFT Asia calendar as well as possible new host venues into a points championship that will include events on at least three continents. The Formula DRIFT USA and Asia Series will still operate status quo but the new Formula DRIFT World Championship will be created to sit on top of both of the existing series as the first global championship for drifting. The World Championship will also have its own prize purse, media package and champion. Drivers that are currently competing in both series include Daigo Saito, Robbie Nishida, Fredric Aasbo and Ken Gushi.

2014 Summit Racing Show Car Series Schedule Announced
The 2014 Summit Racing Show Car Series schedule is now available. The Summit Racing Show Car Series is the place to see custom cars, trucks, motorcycles, hot rods, race vehicles, antique cars and other vehicles at indoor shows from Houston to Calgary. The Summit Racing Show Car Series will include an International Show Car Association (ISCA)-sanctioned competition. Contestants can also compete for several additional awards, such as the Detroit AutoRama’s Ridler Award.

2014 Summit Racing Show Car Series Schedule

• November 28–December 1: AutoRama, Houston
• January 10–12: Cavalcade of Customs, Cincinnati
• January 24–26: World of Wheels, Pittsburgh
• February 7–9: World of Wheels, Indianapolis and New Orleans
• February 14–16: World of Wheels, Dallas and Kansas City
• February 21–23: World of Wheels, Calgary and Milwaukee
• February 28–March 2: World of Wheels, Chicago
• March 7–9: Detroit AutoRama, Detroit
• March 14–16: Summit Racing I-X Piston Powered Autorama, Cleveland, and World of Wheels, Winnipeg
• March 21–23: World of Wheels, Salt Lake City
• March 28–30: World of Wheels, Omaha, Nebraska, and Boston

For more information on the Summit Racing Show Car Series and AutoRama events, visit www.Autorama.com.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Formula DRIFT to Launch World Championship in 2015
Following the recent announcement of the merger between Formula DRIFT USA and Asia operations, Formula DRIFT has announced a World Championship series slated for 2015. Formula DRIFT will begin to operate a world championship that will be an integration of the Formula DRIFT USA and Formula DRIFT Asia operations. Current Formula DRIFT USA and Formula DRIFT Asia Pro Championships will continue to run as is, with the World Championship as the over-arching pinnacle.

Starting in 2014, Formula DRIFT will merge its USA and Asia operations with a global headquarters in Long Beach, California, and a regional office in Singapore. The merger comes after six years of successful event operations in Asia taking the Formula DRIFT Asia Championship Series to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and earlier this year, Australia. The Formula DRIFT licensor, Driftpac, will remain an integral part of the Formula DRIFT events in Asia and will continue to assist in expansion of the brand, but the Formula DRIFT global operations will begin to operate each event internationally as it does with the USA Series.

In 2015, Formula DRIFT will consider some or all of the events on the Formula DRIFT USA and Formula DRIFT Asia calendar as well as possible new host venues into a points championship that will include events on at least three continents. The Formula DRIFT USA and Asia Series will still operate status quo but the new Formula DRIFT World Championship will be created to sit on top of both of the existing series as the first global championship for drifting. The World Championship will also have its own prize purse, media package and champion. Drivers that are currently competing in both series include Daigo Saito, Robbie Nishida, Fredric Aasbo and Ken Gushi.

2014 Summit Racing Show Car Series Schedule Announced
The 2014 Summit Racing Show Car Series schedule is now available. The Summit Racing Show Car Series is the place to see custom cars, trucks, motorcycles, hot rods, race vehicles, antique cars and other vehicles at indoor shows from Houston to Calgary. The Summit Racing Show Car Series will include an International Show Car Association (ISCA)-sanctioned competition. Contestants can also compete for several additional awards, such as the Detroit AutoRama’s Ridler Award.

2014 Summit Racing Show Car Series Schedule

• November 28–December 1: AutoRama, Houston
• January 10–12: Cavalcade of Customs, Cincinnati
• January 24–26: World of Wheels, Pittsburgh
• February 7–9: World of Wheels, Indianapolis and New Orleans
• February 14–16: World of Wheels, Dallas and Kansas City
• February 21–23: World of Wheels, Calgary and Milwaukee
• February 28–March 2: World of Wheels, Chicago
• March 7–9: Detroit AutoRama, Detroit
• March 14–16: Summit Racing I-X Piston Powered Autorama, Cleveland, and World of Wheels, Winnipeg
• March 21–23: World of Wheels, Salt Lake City
• March 28–30: World of Wheels, Omaha, Nebraska, and Boston

For more information on the Summit Racing Show Car Series and AutoRama events, visit www.Autorama.com.

The shooters at KGP Photography just got their first look at the ’15 Nissan Murano, resulting in interior and exterior shots of the all-new crossover.

Styling Breakdown—Compared to Nissan Resonance Crossover Concept

Despite the camouflage, it's  apparent that the next Murano will take design cues straight from the Nissan Resonance concept crossover that debuted at the last North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The prototype shares the concept's rising belt line and the prominent side shelf that stretches from the taillights, all the way up to a roll into the front fender and hood line. Further similarities are found around the rear wheel arch, with the Murano prototype showing signs of the concept's strong swell over the rear wheel arch, which continues into the crossover's midsection.

The Resonance concept's rear surface development was very complex, and it looks to have been toned-down a bit on the Murano prototype. Still, there are more signs of the concept's inspiration in the Murano's rear-end styling, with taillights that appear to begin sweeping back upward into the prototype's C-pillar—just as it does on the Resonance concept.

The Murano prototype's front fascia appears to have a sharply chiseled grille design similar to that found on the latest Nissan Rogue. Again, the Murano prototype gets a significantly toned-down version of the concept's front fascia.

Prototype Interior

The Murano's interior reveals a portion of the crossover's center stack that is dominated by a large LCD screen at the top of the dashboard. Prominent brushed aluminum accents can be seen on interior, both on the outer edges of the instrument binnacle, and also defining the outer edges of the center stack.  

Signs of Plug-In Hybrid?

The prototype has what appears to be a circular access door hidden within the black camouflage on its front fender, just ahead of the A-pillar. There are reports of a 2.5L four-cylinder with a lithium-ion battery, providing the usual performance bump while maintaining a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine. To date, there are no reports of a plug-in hybrid system.

Production of the ’15 Murano will reportedly be shifted to Nissan's Canton, Mississippi, manufacturing plant, with a build date destined for sometime in the next calendar year.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

The shooters at KGP Photography just got their first look at the ’15 Nissan Murano, resulting in interior and exterior shots of the all-new crossover.

Styling Breakdown—Compared to Nissan Resonance Crossover Concept

Despite the camouflage, it's  apparent that the next Murano will take design cues straight from the Nissan Resonance concept crossover that debuted at the last North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The prototype shares the concept's rising belt line and the prominent side shelf that stretches from the taillights, all the way up to a roll into the front fender and hood line. Further similarities are found around the rear wheel arch, with the Murano prototype showing signs of the concept's strong swell over the rear wheel arch, which continues into the crossover's midsection.

The Resonance concept's rear surface development was very complex, and it looks to have been toned-down a bit on the Murano prototype. Still, there are more signs of the concept's inspiration in the Murano's rear-end styling, with taillights that appear to begin sweeping back upward into the prototype's C-pillar—just as it does on the Resonance concept.

The Murano prototype's front fascia appears to have a sharply chiseled grille design similar to that found on the latest Nissan Rogue. Again, the Murano prototype gets a significantly toned-down version of the concept's front fascia.

Prototype Interior

The Murano's interior reveals a portion of the crossover's center stack that is dominated by a large LCD screen at the top of the dashboard. Prominent brushed aluminum accents can be seen on interior, both on the outer edges of the instrument binnacle, and also defining the outer edges of the center stack.  

Signs of Plug-In Hybrid?

The prototype has what appears to be a circular access door hidden within the black camouflage on its front fender, just ahead of the A-pillar. There are reports of a 2.5L four-cylinder with a lithium-ion battery, providing the usual performance bump while maintaining a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine. To date, there are no reports of a plug-in hybrid system.

Production of the ’15 Murano will reportedly be shifted to Nissan's Canton, Mississippi, manufacturing plant, with a build date destined for sometime in the next calendar year.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

The shooters at KGP Photography just got their first look at the ’15 Nissan Murano, resulting in interior and exterior shots of the all-new crossover.

Styling Breakdown—Compared to Nissan Resonance Crossover Concept

Despite the camouflage, it's  apparent that the next Murano will take design cues straight from the Nissan Resonance concept crossover that debuted at the last North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The prototype shares the concept's rising belt line and the prominent side shelf that stretches from the taillights, all the way up to a roll into the front fender and hood line. Further similarities are found around the rear wheel arch, with the Murano prototype showing signs of the concept's strong swell over the rear wheel arch, which continues into the crossover's midsection.

The Resonance concept's rear surface development was very complex, and it looks to have been toned-down a bit on the Murano prototype. Still, there are more signs of the concept's inspiration in the Murano's rear-end styling, with taillights that appear to begin sweeping back upward into the prototype's C-pillar—just as it does on the Resonance concept.

The Murano prototype's front fascia appears to have a sharply chiseled grille design similar to that found on the latest Nissan Rogue. Again, the Murano prototype gets a significantly toned-down version of the concept's front fascia.

Prototype Interior

The Murano's interior reveals a portion of the crossover's center stack that is dominated by a large LCD screen at the top of the dashboard. Prominent brushed aluminum accents can be seen on interior, both on the outer edges of the instrument binnacle, and also defining the outer edges of the center stack.  

Signs of Plug-In Hybrid?

The prototype has what appears to be a circular access door hidden within the black camouflage on its front fender, just ahead of the A-pillar. There are reports of a 2.5L four-cylinder with a lithium-ion battery, providing the usual performance bump while maintaining a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine. To date, there are no reports of a plug-in hybrid system.

Production of the ’15 Murano will reportedly be shifted to Nissan's Canton, Mississippi, manufacturing plant, with a build date destined for sometime in the next calendar year.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Transport Canada has updated its tire standards to harmonize them with counterpart standards in the United States. Canada’s Motor Vehicle Tire Safety Regulations, 1995 (MVTSR, 1995) are being revised and relocated within the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). The new standards will also allow enforcement of winter tire standards if manufacturers place the peaked mountain with a snowflake symbol on their tires. The new rules take effect on September 1, 2014. 

For more information, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Transport Canada has updated its tire standards to harmonize them with counterpart standards in the United States. Canada’s Motor Vehicle Tire Safety Regulations, 1995 (MVTSR, 1995) are being revised and relocated within the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). The new standards will also allow enforcement of winter tire standards if manufacturers place the peaked mountain with a snowflake symbol on their tires. The new rules take effect on September 1, 2014. 

For more information, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Transport Canada has updated its tire standards to harmonize them with counterpart standards in the United States. Canada’s Motor Vehicle Tire Safety Regulations, 1995 (MVTSR, 1995) are being revised and relocated within the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). The new standards will also allow enforcement of winter tire standards if manufacturers place the peaked mountain with a snowflake symbol on their tires. The new rules take effect on September 1, 2014. 

For more information, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.