Sunday, January 11, 2009
2009 Toyota Tundra TR Concept at SEMA
The Tundra TR is outfitted to be a drag-racing "sleeper," thanks to an exterior that's notable for its almost complete lack of adornment. 18-inch steel wheels and blacked-out trim front and rear give it a menacing, purposeful look.
Starting with the lightest Tundra in the lineup, the regular cab, short-bed model, this 4x2, 5.7 liter V8-equipped show truck has been outfitted with a "Thunder Pak," which consists of a TRD lowered suspension and ceramic-coated black exhaust, as well as a supercharger. Just in case that's not enough to squirt it past the other drag trucks, the Tundra TR can also bring 150-horsepower shots of nitrous to the table.
Project GL MAMMUT by A.R.T.
The MAMMUT holds its own looks-wise by going very aggressive, incorporating broadened front fenders, LED headlights, large nostriled air inlets, cornering lights and fog lights. As a consequence, MAMMUT by A.R.T. looks very purposeful upfront.
Rear lights are also LED and feature a function that illuminates them when any of the doors are open, which is a good safety precaution. Enhancing the look backside is an integrated rear diffuser, four-pipe hard-chrome tail pipes with A.R.T. logos and an integrated roof spoiler. Illuminating for passengers too, are the STEPLIGHTS which light up the running boards for easy access into the cabin area.
A sports steering wheel makes for quite an attentive driving experience and interior appointments are sharpened by a choice of the following combinations: leather/fine wood, leather/leather, leather/alcantara, or leather/carbon fiber.
So far only cars marked "CDI" have been completed, with V6 and V8 models lined up for treatment later. A.R.T. promises a 20% increase in speeds for the MAMMUT over the standard vehicle, yet fuel consumption is kept in check.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Ventross IS-F Sedan by Vorsteiner
The offerings are lean but it's a good start by offering in dry carbon fiber a front lower bumper spoiler and luggage lid with integrated spoiler which is 50% lighter than the standard lid assembly. An add-on carbon fiber rear diffuser complements the luggage lid while cleanly accommodating the stacked quad exhaust tips. Lastly, a 3-Piece forged aluminum wheel set will also be available in 19 & 20 inch sizes (not shown).
In 2009 Ventross plans to build a full carbon fiber aerodynamic & light forged wheel package for the Nissan GTR.
2009 Impreza WRX 5-door SPT at SEMA 2008
Meant to showcase what is possible for anyone to easily duplicate, the company selected a series of parts in order to maximize the Impreza WRX's style and performance. Exterior modifications are relatively modest but include a new front lip spoiler by STI and fog light protectors. In order to enhance the car's handling the suspension has been outfitted with STI performance springs and a lower chassis brace and strut tower brace.
The WRX's already powerful 2.5-liter Boxer engine which produces 265 hp and 244 lb.-ft of torque has been raised to 275 hp and 250 lb.-ft of torque thanks to a new cat-back exhaust. Other changes include a short-throw shifter, 19x8-in. wheels by OZ Racing, and a turbo heat shield.
Toyota Tundra Diesel Dually Project Truck at SEMA 2008
Under the hood, there's an 8.0 liter inline six-cylinder turbodiesel Hino commercial truck engine. A healthy five-speed manual transmission and a Hino DRW rear end get the power to the ground and boost this stretched Tundra's capacity. 22.5-inch wheels are provided by Alcoa. Toyota didn't release specifications, but the Tundra's fifth-wheel hitch is rated at 24,000 pounds. No word on if such a truck is a serious consideration for production, or if it's just truck-guy chest-thumping.
TRD Tundra Double Cab
The Tundra's 5.7-litre V8 engine has been given the supercharged treatment, with TRD's new supercharger and integrated liquid-to-air intercooling system boosting output to 500 hp.
The principle changes to the body are the styling of more aggressive front and rear fascias as well as new five-inch wider side fenders that complement the form of the truck's accompanying 28-foot long custom Featherlite trailer. To facilitate towing, the rear also gains a trailer hitch.
Inside (the trailer), SEMA visitors can get a look at the internal workings of Toyota Racing Development technologies such as the latest TRD superchargers and limited-slip differentials, see the latest wheel designs or be shown how the Off-Road Concept Tundra was born.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Toyota TRD Tundra Street Concept at SEMA 2008
Based on 2007's Toyota Tundra and featuring the stock 5.7-litre DOHC VVTi V8 engine, the Street Concept hosts a range of supporting technical and styling upgrades, namely starting with the supercharging and intercooling of its V8 powerplant. The Eaton Roots-type supercharger features integrated air-to-liquid intercooling, while a TRD cold air intake system provides the necessary air flow improvements. A stainless dual exhaust and uprated TRD brake system also join the technical upgrades.
Modified suspension arrives hand-in-hand with a stance-enhancing lowered ride height and is joined by a revised front grille and front fascia, restyled bumper arrangement, new bed cover and integrated spoiler in creating a more aggressive look. A custom red paint job and 16-inch forged alloys complete the restyle. Inside and leather touches adorn central console and inner door, while seat fabrics also get the custom touch.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Kicherer CL 65 Coupe with 650hp
For the exterior they chose a few changes, headlined by 9 and 10 x 20" Kicherer RS-X lightweight wheels, carbon fiber mirror shells, rear diffuser, front grille and front apron whose deflector is also of the black light stuff. The exhaust system is a mirror-finished affair with four tailpipes, and supposedly makes the most glorious of sounds.
Inside as expected the CL 65 receives velvet glove treatment, from the alcantara ceiling, carbon intarsia, to the nappa leather seats, and handmade hand-worked shag pile carpet for the back. And now for the numbers you want. Kicherer has managed to squeeze out 38 more stallions out of the engine to give it a well-rounded 650 hp/ 486kW and oak-pulling 1200Nm. A rear diff lock helps plant it firmly on tar. For that you get 0 - 100km/h in 4.2 seconds and a limited 320km/h for your top end.
2008 Cobra Jet Mustang Drag Racer at SEMA
Ford Racing has released a slate of race-ready Mustangs and this latest is what Ford calls the FR500CJ, and what we, who prefer names rather than soul-less numbers to describe things, will know as the Cobra Jet.
This latest Cobra Jet harkens back to a better time for Ford -- a time when it held a considerable lock on its share of the US market. More specifically 1968, when Ford won the NHRA Winternationals with its then Cobra Jet and helped solidify the Mustang as a legendary American sports car. Only 50 of those original Cobra Jets were built and if you happen to have one in your garage right now, then you won't have to worry about the current global recession hitting your local economy.
Also, you can order one of these at your local Ford dealer. Which, at least, means that Ford is serious about putting these cars out there and not just up for show at SEMA.
Oddly, Ford Racing doesn't yet provide any (real) numbers on performance. But you can guess it comes with some tweaked variation on the 4.6L V8 found in the Mustang GT, which produces about 325 hp.
Novitec Rosso 599 GTB Fiorano Bi-Kompressor
We have 808 ph, 823 Nm of cranking capacity and a top speed of more than 340 km/h. Track times are 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds, 0-200km/h in 9.7 and 0-300km/h in 25.5 seconds. If you're giving out numbers on your 0-300km/h time, you have confidence in what you're putting out there on the street.
The Novitec Rosso's Bi-Kompressor V12 adds 188 hp and 215 Nm of torque from the 'factory' 599 GTB (factory must come in quotes since Ferrari builds its cars by hand, not by assembly line). The price for this newly tuned engine is 46,900 euros, which comes to about 250 euros for each additional horse.
Novitec Rosso is a tuner with top engineering capabilities. This tuning work includes aerodynamic improvements and the largest street-legal brake parts with steel discs and six-piston brake calipers. The press release provides all the nitty details.
Further pricing quotes were not released but you can expect them to be astronomical for this is as exotic as tuning gets.