After the success of Ford’s 2008 Mustang Cobra Jet, Ford announced at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show the return of the car for 2010. In a “SEMA Special” silver with a charcoal Cobra Jet graphics package, the new turnkey race car is ready for NHRA competition.

“The 2008 Cobra Jet was a great car, it did everything we wanted it to do,” said Brian Wolfe, director, Ford North American Motorsports. “We’re really proud of the car, but then again we’re always trying to make the next one better. With the 2010 Cobra Jet, we had the luxury of a longer development cycle and the result is absolutely stunning. Where the 2008 Cobra Jet was an extremely potent starting point for NHRA Stock competition, the 2010 will enhance the car further. We are all excited to see the new Cobra Jet in competition.”

The new model uses a 425-hp supercharged 5.4-liter V8 direct from the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog. Ford also plans to make another engine available, with an aluminum block and 475-hp. A six-speed manual transmission (the same found in the ‘08 model) will be standard equipment, however, there will be an option to upgrade to a 5-speed Liberty manual unit or a race-spec auto-box. In addition, the Cobra Jet will get an NHRA certified roll cage and lightweight racing brakes. The car will also get launch control.

Only 50 2010 CJs will be built.

GALLERY: 2010 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

There was no doubt that the focus of Ford’s SEMA Show booth was the all-new 2010 Mustang, with a total of nine modified Stangs, plus the all-new Cobra Jet model. Ford originally scheduled eight cars, but it looks like Galpin Auto Sports snuck in a second entry. The cars were built by tuner shops, race shops and even in-house, with most of the cars featuring parts available to the public – rather than one-off custom items made just for the SEMA Show. After all, the Mustang continues to be the most popular car to modify in the world.

First up is the 3dCarbon Mustang, which recreates the “Boy Racer” Mustang that the shop first built back in 2005, based on the previous generation car. Bright red with white stripes, this car takes take the Stang’s classic lines and add some wild sport compact-themed aerodynamics. Still, in person it was somewhat underwhelming. What is more impressive, however, are the rest of the car’s modifications with a complete Steeda suspension setup, a Brembo brake upgrade and NC Forged three-piece 22-inch wheels.

The only convertible of the bunch is from Galpin Auto Sports and as much as we mocked the Ford Vehicle Personalization Mustang when we first heard of this lineup of cars for SEMA, the Galpin car is our new whipping boy. It’s not all bad, with a pretty aggressive widebody conversion although as much as we like the wheels (a set of massive Forgiato rollers), they just don’t seem right on a Stang. The real travesty, however, is out back where an overly ornate rear diffuser just makes us nauseous. Under the hood there are 550 ponies thanks to a Ford Racing super pack, and as silly as those wheels might look, the rear 345 tires will be needed with all that power.

For more on Ford’s 2009 SEMA Show Mustangs and galleries of each car, follow the jump:

Continue Reading…

One of the many Camaros on display at the 2009 SEMA Show is the Formula Drift Camaro SS. Sponsored by Hankook Tire and displayed prominently at the General Motors booth, the car was built by BR Racing, Luke Lonberger and Conrad Grunewald Racing and will compete in next year’s Formula D drift championship piloted by none other than Conrad Grunewald.

In race-prepped form, the Camaro gets a GM Performance LS-A suercharger along with an AEM Universal EMS to make in excess of 600-hp at the rear wheels. The heavy beast has also been put on a diet with a striped out interior and a full cabon fiber body made by Seibon Carbon.

The car will also sport a set of custom Forgeline three-piece wheels and will (obviously) run on Hankook tires  of the Ventus R-S3 variety.

GALLERY: Hankook Tire, Formula Drift Camaro SS

After much speculation, Porsche has finally announced that it will introduce a light weight Boxster Spyder model at the LA Auto Show. Designed with inspiration from the iconic Carrera GT, the Boxster Spyder gets lower side windows for that chop-top roadster look and also comes with a unique single clamshell rear with two bulges to really accentuate the two-seater nature of this sports car.

But what really makes the Spyder special is its light weight chassis and more powerful engine. In total 176 lbs of weight has been cut from the car, to deliver a curb weight of just 2,811 lbs. Power comes via the same direct-injection 3.4-liter flat-six as in the Boxster S, but with a 10-hp jump to 320-hp. Combined with Porsche’s new dual-clutch PDK transmission, the car can hit 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds.

The Boxster Spyder will be priced from $61,200 and will go on sale in February of next year as a 2011 model.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: Porsche Boxster Spyder

See a video of the Boxster Spyder in action and the official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

To our surprise, the number of Nissan GT-Rs at this year’s SEMA Show is much lower than expected, with the Camaro being the obviously dominant vehicle. One of the nicest GT-Rs on display is the Black Bison model from Japanese tuner WALD.

We found the car over at the Jonari booth, the company that distributes WALD (along with other brands like Rinspeed and even Mansory) in North America. The pristine white GT-R features the full WALD aero kit including side skirts, rear fender arches, a new front bumper with carbon fiber accents, a carbon rear wing and a carbon diffuser. Also included in the build are a set of 22-inch WALD P13F wheels with Yokohama Advan tires, WALD lowering springs and a full titanium exhaust from Arqray Japan.

GALLERY: WALD Black Bison GT-R

One of the most surprising vehicles a this year’s SEMA show (and a refreshing change from the excessive number of Camaros) was the dry carbon widebody Nissan GT-R. Hidden away on the back side of the 3T Motorsport booth, the car was built by AIT Racing, which specializes in aerodynamics for a long list of vehicles.

On display, the AIT car sorted a set of HRE wheels with racing slicks, but the car’s street tires measure 335 in the rear!

In speaking with a 3T rep, he told us that the car is mostly stock under the hood. There is, however, a KW suspension setup, and those HRE wheels.

We look forward to hearing more about this car in the future.

GALLERY: AIT Racing Carbon Fiber Widebody Nissan GT-R

Hurst Performance Vehicles used the 2009 SEMA Show to expand its product lineup significantly with the introduction of Performance Series versions of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. Both cars appeared in predominantly white livery with black and gold detailing.

The Hurst Performance Series Camaro features a Magnusson Supercharger, Hurst Competition/Plus shifter with a Hard-Drive shift handle and AirSpeed spoiler. The kit also includes an Eibach suspension, Magnaflow exhaust system, Hurst black-chrome forged wheels with BF Goodrich KDW tires and a unique Katzkin leather interior. Output from the Camaro’s V8 engine has been raised to 600-hp! Just 50 Performance Edition Camaros will be built.

As for the Performance Series Mustang, it will come with a Roush supercharger, Willwood brakes, Eibach coilovers and sway bars, a Magnaflow exhaust, a new front lip spoiler, 20-inch wheels and BF Goodrich KDW tires. Of course, there will also be a Hurst Competition/Plus manual shifter with a gold anodized Hard-Drive shift handle. A Katzkin leather interior is also a part of the package. Power from the supercharged 4.6-liter V8 is rated at around 435-hp.

“I am very pleased to officially announce that Hurst is once again mixing it up in the middle of the muscle car wars,” states Nate Shelton, Chairman of Hurst Performance Vehicles.  “Hurst made
history by building some of the most collectible muscle cars ever for Ford, GM and Mopar, and we are doing it again!”

“We have been stunned by the overwhelming success of the Hurst/Hemi-Challenger; collectors and dealers have snapped up every single one that we can build,” said Ron Flint, President of Hurst
Performance Vehicles. “For the lucky few that step up, a Hurst/Mustang or Hurst/Camaro may prove to be the best investment they’ve ever made.”

GALLERY: Hurst Performance Series Camaro

Toyota actually bothers to spell out in its press release on the Hard Kandy Yaris, that it is aimed at attracting the attention of female buyers. We kind of thought the pink and white interior and exterior was a bit of a give away, but…. whatever….

The custom Yaris also gets a custom body kit, as well as a set of 18-inch wheels and a Corporate Accessories Department (CAD) rear spoiler. There’s even an aftermarket sunroof, because Toyota doesn’t offer a sunroof on the Yaris.

Some the car’s interior is absolutely hideous, like the pink center console and center stack. On the other hand, we love the Alcantara seats and door inserts.

Toyota CAD supplied an interior lighting kit, along with sport pedals and a new shift knob, as well as a Blu-Logic Bluetooth hands-free system. Alpine Eletronics donated an iPod touch screen interface, while West Coast Customs installed a media center that offers 3G internet service.

For more on the Hard Kandy Yaris, see the car’s full specifications after the jump.

GALLERY: Toyota Hard Kandy Yaris

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Hideous? Absurd? Why of course it is! This is the SEMA Show after all. Known throughout the world for some of the most extreme show cars that are destined to be thoroughly mocked before being retired to collect dust in a backlot warehouse, the Toyota Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer is just such a vehicle.

Starting life as a 2009 Tacoma Double Cab Long Bed PreRunner V6 with a five-speed automatic, this pickup was built to showcase serious off-road performance as well as a gamer’s dream play center. Toyota shipped the truck off to The B.A.D. Company, which removed the center door pillars and created a single gullwing door on each side. With the doors open, two side rails with seats can be attached, while four 24-inch LCD screens fold out, allowing for four-way Xbox 360 gaming action. Gamers will also be treated to some serious audio with a 2,250 watt Kicker setup.

In terms of driving performance, the 4.0-liter V6 gets a TRD supercharger to deliver 304-hp and 334 ft-lbs of torque, while the stock wheel and tire setup was tossed in favor of a set of 16-inch TRD wheels with 295/75/16 BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A Tires.

The list of additional modifications is incredibly long and we won’ get into it all here, but feel free to check out all the specs after the jump.

GALLERY: Toyota Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Built as a tribute to country music duo Brooks and Dunn, Toyota unveiled the Midnight Rider Tundra Tailgater at the 2009 SEMA Show. Out back, the truck’s bed folds out to reveal a complete tailgating station with countertops, a BBQ, an ice chest and even a draft beer tap. Oh, and let’s not forget an external audio system and a 42-inch flat screen TV.

But the modifications don’t stop there, with this Tailgating machine receiving a long list of toys, ranging from fender flares and a 3-inch lift kit, to a set of 20-inch Mickey Thompson “Classic look” wheels and 35-inch tires. There are also some particularly gaudy western silver door handles as well as a bronze cast and chrome plated Brooks and Dunn steer’s skull logo.

GALLERY: Midnight Rider Tundra Tailgater