When gas prices spiked and automakers began focusing more attention on fuel efficient cars and crossovers, we began wondering if the pickup truck's best days were behind it. The next big blow came when domestic automakers began postponing or canceling development of light-duty diesel engines for their half-ton trucks. Then, when things were at their bleakest, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor arrived. The SVT-badged baja bruiser is one serious piece of hardware, with unique Fox struts and 35-inch rubber.
With the overwhelmingly positive reaction that the Raptor has received, we've been wondering if General Motors, Chrysler or even Toyota would follow suit with their own sand monster. After seeing a Camaro video posted by Chevrolet on YouTube, we may have evidence that it's a strong possibility.
The purpose of the video is to showcase several new Camaro graphics packages that will appear at SEMA next month, but anyone can see the pair of pics in the upper right hand corner that show a bad ass green machine dressed up in a bow tie and sporting six-spoke wheels. The hopped-up Silverado is lifted to within an inch of its life with highly flared wheel wells to corral all that rubber, but it's hard to tell if the mods are more for show than actual dune diving.
We've been keeping tabs on Rhys Millen Racing and their construction of a V8-powered, mid-engine Hyundai Genesis Coupe for the last few weeks. Called the RM460 Genesis Coupe, this car will make its official debut at SEMA in early November, but we've got the first rendering of the exterior right here for ya.
As we've mentioned before, the engine is the 4.6-liter Tau V8 normally found under the hood of a Hyunda Genesis sedan. The Gen Coupe's rear seat has been tossed to make room, and the V8 has been upgraded with eight individual throttle bodies, a set of JE pistons and an AEM engine management system that all work in concert to bump power to 500 horsepower. In order to make the engine accessible back there, RMR also replaced the trunk lid with a carbon fiber rear hatch that's vented and hinges near the roof line.
Being a SEMA car, there's hardly a bolt or nut on this car that hasn't been modified. The stock transmission was swapped out for a Mendeola five-speed sequential gearbox and the stock suspension augmented by a set of KW coilovers. HRE 560 Series 20-inch wheels, Toyo T1R tires and a StopTech braking system round out the hardware upgrades. The exterior, meanwhile, features an RMR Signature Edition kit with carbon fiber spoilers and custom RM ONYX HD paint job by BASF. The interior sports seats plus alcantara and carbon fiber trim panels from Sparco, and there's a boomin' sound system by Infinity as well.
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Oh my. A stock 2010 Chevy Camaro SS produces 426 horsepower from its 6.2-liter LS3 V8. A Corvette Z06 turns out 505 hp from its 7.0-liter LS7. The Blue Devil, aka Corvette ZR1, is the most powerful car ever produced by General Motors and churns out a ridiculous 638 hp from its supercharged 6.2-liter LS9 guts. Impressive, but what if you were to strap a supercharger onto the bigger displacement LS7 from the Z06? Why, you'd get more power than you do from the LS9, that's for sure.
Obviously, that's exactly what Lingenfelter has done with its new Camaro. Co-engineered with suspension experts Hotchkis, the 2010 Lingenfelter Camaro features a 750-hp supercharged 427 cubic inch (though really 428) V8. No official word on torque, but let's just assume bat guano levels of twist. For one thing, this Camaro motor is a bit more than simply a blower bolted to a big block. For one thing it has forged JE pistons. For another it has titanium intake valves and Iconel exhaust valves – we don't even know what Iconel is! Oh wait, thanks to the magic of the internet we learn that Iconel is an "austenitic nickel-chromium-based superalloy" that is "oxidation and corrosion resistant materials well suited for service in extreme environments." What on earth is austenitic?
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The performance-partsgasm that is Las Vegas' SEMA Show may be down on fuel this year because of the state of the economy, but that isn't stopping the Chrysler Group from unveiling four concepts based on the models in its lineup that are arguably the most endearing to the aftermarket. To that end, the company's Mopar devision has lavished a bunch of custom bits on everything from a pair of Jeep Wranglers (one of which is fit to sleep in, and the other looking fit enough to climb a wall) to a streetable 556-horsepower Dodge Challenger, and a dolled up Dodge Ram 1500.
Perhaps our favorite vehicle of the lot is the Wrangler "Lower Forty" - an imposing rig that uses a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine to churn its massive 40-inch tires. If it looks familiar, that's because it was first shown at the Moab Safari in April. Interestingly, the huge running gear upgrade has been applied to a standard ride-height two-door Rubicon – no suspension or body lift has been fitted. What has been screwed on, however, are new fender flares that ride four inches higher than stock, and they're an inch wider, too. Other trick bits include a new integrated roll cage, a relocated spare tire, a new drop-down tailgate with an old-school stamped Jeep logo. Did we mention the slick three-inch chop and the extra ten degrees of rake applied to the windshield?
Newly formed Saleen Performance Vehicles released their first 2010-based Mustang, the 435S, this past summer, but the lack of any significant design upgrades left us wanting something a little more. We knew an S281 model was soon to follow, and thanks to Saleen's Flickr page, we now know the car will make its debut at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. The three photos posted on the site actually provide a decent look at the front and rear of the car, and we especially like what's been done to the 2010 Stang's controversial rear with the elongated tail and the diffuser-style rear valence. Check back for full details and plenty of photos when we cover the 2010 Saleen S281 Mustang's live unveiling early next month.
![SEMA Preview: Drop Top Customs bringing convertible Camaro to Sin City [w/VIDEO]](http://www.niot.net/blog-images/sema-preview-drop-top-customs-bringing-convertible-camaro-to-si.jpg)
We've been waiting for a convertible version of the new Camaro for almost as long as we've been waiting for the Camaro itself, but Chevrolet has yet to deliver. In fact, the convertible was delayed by The General, so it could be more than a year before we ever see one at our local Bowtie showroom (although dealers are reportedly getting their first look at the 2011 model as we speak). That hasn't stopped many from guessing just what a Camaro ragtop might look like.
The lucky folks attending this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas, however, won't have to rely on their imaginations to see what a Camaro convertible looks like. Drop Top Customs (founded in 1976 as Coachbulders Limited) will be showing off the car you see here, a genuine Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible, albeit one they had to build themselves. Drop Top did a similar cut job on the Camaro's pony car title Challenger from Dodge for last year's SEMA show with pretty spectacular results. The Camaro chop will cost owners about $18,000 at the firm's Florida shop. If the Camaro isn't your thing, Drop Top will also take a Sawzall to a Chrysler 300, Cadillac CTS or even a DTS if you'd prefer.
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For perhaps the very first time in their history, Hyundai has a vehicle platform worthy of serious performance upgrades to display at the SEMA show. The 2010 Genesis Coupe has gobs of tuning potential, especially the 2.0T model, and we fully expect the Korean automaker to have plenty of modified examples on display in their booth at the Las Vegas convention center next month.
One of those cars will be the GReddy X-Gen Street Genesis Coupe you see here, and it features an upgraded version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four putting out 350 horsepower and 320 lb-ft torque. The Japanese tuner has also added exterior items including front and rear spoilers and a carbon fiber hood. Below the sheetmetal, you'll find a fully adjustable coilover suspension, larger front and rear brakes, Volk Racing G2 wheels, Sparco racing seats. Of course, there's also the less-than-subtle graphics package designed in collaboration with Hyundai's design center in Southern California.
![2010 Cobra Jet Mustang hits the drag strip for a test-n-tune [w/VIDEO]](http://www.niot.net/blog-images/2010-cobra-jet-mustang-hits-the-drag-strip-for-a-test-n-tune-w.jpg)
We learned earlier this summer that Ford Racing would be continuing its Cobra Jet program for the 2010 model year, and the new model has already taken to the strip for a testing session at Milan Dragway in Michigan. From looking at the photos released by Ford Racing, it looks like the updated CJ will get more than just new visual cues from the 2010 model Mustang. Under the hood lies a huge 3.4-liter Whipple supercharger that should be able to push quite a bit more air into the 5.4-liter V8 than the FRPP blower on the '09 version, and the interior looks even more race-oriented with the Liberty clutchless V-Gate style shifter and various gauges, buttons and toggles that adorn the instrument panel. We should have full details when the car makes its official debut at SEMA in November.
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