Mazda Takeri Sedan Concept Smiles for the Video Camera

This year's edition of the Tokyo Motor Show in December is gearing up to be one of the most exciting automotive events of the year as we're anticipating many important debuts including the Toyota FT-86 and Subaru BRZ twins, the new Honda CR-V and the reason why we're writing this article, the Mazda Takeri concept.

Even though Mazda's initial press release didn't disclose many details, the Takeri is believed to be a thinly disguised concept of the next generation of the Mazda6 sedan in the same way that the Minagi study previewed the CX-5 that was revealed in Frankfurt this September.

Read more »

Hollywood Aroma for 2011 LA Auto Show Design Challenge Concepts

For the past eight years, the LA Auto Show has been playing host to a design contest aimed at automaker design studios. Each year, a new Design Challenge theme is chosen with the studios showcasing their conceptual ideas during the press days of the show.

For 2011, the motorshow organizers are asking six automotive design studios from around the world, including Honda, Hyundai, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach to come up with Hollywood’s next hottest movie car.

Read more »

Report: Land Rover to Show Updated Version of DC100 Concept at LA Auto Show [New Photos]

[Early design rendering for DC100 pictured above]

Land Rover only recently showed its conceptual proposals for the 2015 Defender with the DC100 studies at the 2011 IAA in Frankfurt, but that's not stopping the British automaker from preparing an updated version that will make its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show in a couple of weeks' time.

The news comes courtesy of Edmund's Insideline, which had a brief encounter with Land Rover Global Brand Director, John Edwards.

The British firm's executive told the news outlet that Land Rover is testing the waters with the DC100 concepts and that it is a working project.

Read more »

2011 SEMA: Hyundai Showcases 450HP Genesis Coupe Hurricane SC [Video]

If you found Rhys Millen's 5.0-liter V8-powered Genesis Coupe a little bit over the top, you may want to take a look at a supercharged prototype based on the V6 model that also made its debut at the Las Vegas SEMA Show.

Named the Genesis Coupe Hurricane SC, the prototype is the result of a two year development effort of Hyundai America Technical Center Inc. (HATCI) in cooperation with Magnuson Products, Rhys Millen Racing, Harman International and Torvec Inc.

“One of the many exciting aspects of this project is that the Genesis Hurricane SC is not just another pretty face for the show circuit, but rather it is a hard working lab-rat that will push the bounds of this car and the whole vehicle segment," said Terry Peddicord, director of sales at Magnuson Products.

Read more »

Ford Fiesta ST 5-Door Concept to Receive World Premiere at LA Auto Show

At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, Ford previewed its upcoming Fiesta ST with a thinly disguised concept based on the three-door hatchback model.

Now, the Detroit-based carmaker is heading to this month's Los Angeles Auto Show with a five-door hatchback variant of the Fiesta ST that should give us a taste of the North American model.

“With the Fiesta ST Concept, we are demonstrating that our global performance plan has legs," says Jost Capito, Ford director of Global Performance Vehicles

"The Fiesta ST Concept shows in the most dramatic way possible that the qualities that define an ST are not limited to one model [the Focus ST]. The potential for delivering the ST experience to an even wider audience is laid bare by this exciting new concept," he added.

Read more »

2011 SEMA Show Debut for Mazda5 Laguna SECA Support Vehicle

Albeit one of the lesser "zoom-zoom" models in Mazda's range, the Mazda5 minivan also received a special treatment for the 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas.

Dubbed the Mazda5 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (MRLS) support vehicle, the six-seater family car has been reimagined with a slightly sportier flair.

Read more »

Hyundai Storms the SEMA Show with Six Veloster Project Cars [116 Photos]

The Camaro may have won the SEMA Award for the “hottest car” of the show for a second year in a row, but Hyundai made its presence felt in Las Vegas with a huge variety of tunes, most of which focused on the new Veloster three-door sport hatch.

The South Korean maker displayed a total of six Veloster project cars at this year's aftermarket show. Aside from the RMR Veloster Rally Car, there's the PM Lifestyle concept, a turbocharged model from ARK Performance, and the gaming-, tech- and music-themed studies from Remix.

Read more »

2011 SEMA: Honda's Supercharged Accord V6 HFP Concept

While most of Honda's tuning attention at this year's edition of the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas is focused on the new 2012 Civic, the Japanese brand also brought along a powered-up concept of the Accord Coupe.

The highlight of the conceptual Accord Coupe V6 HFP [Honda Factory Performance] lies under the hood as the firm's engineers dropped a supercharger along with a performance air intake and exhaust system.

Read more »

Nissan Juke-R Part V: Fitting the GT-R's Gearbox and AWD Drivetrain

In the fifth installment of the Nissan Juke-R video series, the Japanese automaker gives us an insight into the problems that arose while trying to fit the GT-R's gearbox and all-wheel drive system into the small crossover.

The most significant challenge had to do with the Juke-R's wheelbase that is 250mm shorter than the GT-R's.

Read more »

Sonic Boom: Chevy Rocks the SEMA with One More Concept of its Subcompact Model

The 30 or so Sonic and Cruze concepts along with the numerous Camaro project cars that have been presented at this week’s SEMA Show, haven’t stopped the flow of new Chevrolet exhibits in Las Vegas.

As you can probably guess by its name, the Sonic Boom is all about sound. The subcompact model features an audio system developed by Chevrolet and Kicker with its design and component placing said to be inspired by jet engines.

Read more »

2011 SEMA: Chevy’s COPO Concept Previews NHRA Drag Racing Camaro

Among other offerings, Chevrolet brought to Las Vegas the COPO Camaro, a racing car concept built according to NHRA Stock Eliminator drag racing.

Designed to be fitted with more than one engine options, the SEMA Show COPO concept models is powered by a supercharged 327 engine but can accommodate both the naturally aspirated 7.0-liter 427 (the same capacity as the original 1969 COPO) and the supercharged 5.3-liter 327.

Read more »

Honda Debuts Seven 2012 Civic Si Coupes and Sedans at SEMA Show

It was more or less expected that Honda would put a lot of emphasis on its not-so-well received 2012 Civic range at this year's edition of the SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas.

The Japanese brand brought along a total of seven modified Civic Si Coupes and sedans including a two-door model equipped with a limited-edition Honda Factory Performance (HFP) package and several concepts.

“The Honda Civic was instrumental in the first import-tuner movement in the U.S. during the ‘80s,” said Bruce Smith, vice president of Service and Technical Operations for American Honda. “The all-new Civic Si builds on that proud history by offering inspiring performance, improved fuel economy and a great platform for personalization.”

Read more »

Chevy Teams Up with AMA Champion Ricky Carmichael for Special Edition Sonic

If you are even remotely interested in two wheels, then you know who Ricky Carmichael is as he has been crowned American Motorcycle Association champion no less than 15 times –the first before he was 20 years old.

Since 2007, Carmichael entered the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Now he has teamed up with GM and Chevrolet to create the Sonic All Activity Vehicle – Ricky Carmichael Concept for the 2011 SEMA show.

Read more »

Rhys Millen Drops a 5.0-liter V8 Under the Hood of the Genesis Coupe for the SEMA Show

So, what's missing from the Hyundai Genesis Coupe (other than a little bit of history, that is) to enable it to play in the big boys league? Why a V8 powerplant of course, and who better to make the transplant than Rhys Millen and his performance shop.

Making its world premiere today at the Las Vegas 2011 SEMA Show is the RM500 Genesis Coupe complete with Hyundai's most powerful stock engine under its hood, the 5.0-liter Tau V8.

“From the moment I saw the Tau V8 engine in the Genesis R-Spec and Equus, I knew it would be a perfect fit for the Genesis Coupe, adding even more performance and power to the dynamic coupe,” said Rhys Millen, owner, Rhys Millen Racing [RMR].

Read more »

Hot Mazda2 Turbo with MAZDASPEED3 Engine and 3dCarbon Concepts Hit the SEMA Show Floor

There's a lot going on at Mazda's 2011 SEMA Show booth this year. Along with the two MX-5 concept roadsters, the Japanese brand also brought a pair of hotted-up Mazda2 studies to the Las Vegas show.

Without doubt, the Mazda2 Turbo is the one to watch out for as the concept model has been fitted with the MAZDASPEED3's MZR 2.3-liter Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) turbo engine that pumps out 263-horses and 280 lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm.

Read more »

Ford Begins Teasing 2013 Escape SUV with Preview of Hands-Free Power Liftback [Video]

Leave it to Ford to begin teasing a new model with random pieces of information and video and/or photo material.

Fortunately though, there's not much time left before the 2013 Ford Escape makes its world premiere at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show that will stay open for the public from November 18 to 27.

Following some revealing details on the new global Escape's engine lineup, Ford today released a single teaser image and a video highlighting the SUV's "segment-first hands-free power liftgate", which opens with a kicking gesture under the rear bumper and without the need to search for the key (though you will need to have it in your pocket).

Read more »

Sweet: Supercharged Mazda MX-5 Super20 gets a New 'Do for 2011 SEMA

Joining the new MX-5 Spyder Concept at Mazda's 2011 SEMA Show booth is a blast from the past, the MX-5 Super20 that returns to Las Vegas with a new color scheme.

Introduced during last year's SEMA extravaganza, the refreshed MX-5 Super20 ditches the original model's dark color theme for an eye-popping Hyper Orange Mica exterior treatment offset by a matte black finish for the hardtop, wheel arch extensions, trim accents, stripes and 16-inch Enkei RPF1 twin-spoke racing wheels matched with Toyo Proxes RA-1 245/45ZR16 tires.

Read more »

2011 SEMA: Hot Mazda MX-5 Spyder Revealed in Detail

One of the most intriguing concept models of this year's edition of the SEMA automotive aftermarket extravaganza, which takes place in Las Vegas from November 1 to 4, is the Mazda MX-5 Spyder.

Based on the soft-top MX-5, the two-seater roadster model has been tastefully modded with a mix of bespoke accessories and body parts such as the ground effects kit and the redesigned front bumper that sports a new grille and air vents.

Read more »

Subaru BRZ Concept STI: First Official Photo Released Ahead of LA Show Debut [Updated]

It's one of the most highly anticipated models of the year and today, we finally get our first official look at the new Subaru BRZ Concept a couple of weeks before it makes its world premiere at the 2011 edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16.

The STI-badged Subaru study is a thinly disguised concept version of the upcoming production BRZ coupe that will be unwrapped alongside its sister model, the Toyota FT-86, at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in the beginning of December.

Read more »

Chevrolet Camaro Concept Harks Back to the 1968 Hot Wheels Toy Model

These are the first photos of the new Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels concept car that was revealed just a few hours before its public debut at the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas later today.

The life-size concept model is inspired by the iconic “Custom Camaro” Spectraflame 1:64-scale toy that was part of the original 16 Hot Wheels car series released in 1968.

The Camaro Hot Wheels is the result of the joint collaboration between the GM Design studio in Michigan and the Hot Wheels Design studio in California.

Read more »