Toyota and the Hot Rod movement aren’t two things you’d normally associate with each other, which is why a Hot Rod Toyota Tundra is the perfect concept vehicle for the SEMA Show. Built by Phoenix-based motorcycle shop Sucker Punch Sally’s, the Tundra gets a long list of design cues from the hot rods of the 1950s and ’60s.

The Regular Cab 4×2 gets some matte black paint, red flames and Bonneville moon hubcaps, along with a custom 1950’s Toyota logo on the grille. There’s also a classic cherry bomb exhaust.

The interior gets a long list of custom items like a bench seat, while Fender Guitars was sourced to build custom hand-turned brass control knobs, as well as a polished maple wood cargo deck.

The engine was left stock… which is too bad, because a carbureted NASCAR V8 would certainly have been a cool addition.

This truck is not, as previously thought, a tribute to country music duo Brooks and Dunn. A separate vehicle, the Midnight Rider Tailgater, was also built for that purpose.

GALLERY: Toyota Tundra Hot Rod

Thanks to tuner Five Axis, the Toyota Prius has never looked this cool. Now in its third generation, the 2010 Prius has gotten considerably better looking over the years, but the two modified versions on display this week at the 2009 SEMA Show take green motoring to a stylish new level.

Five Axis has built numerous Scion and Lexus SEMA vehicles for Toyota Motor Corp. over the years, but for 2009 the designers were called upon to get creative with Toyota’s flagship hybrid. The first of the two cars is called the Prius Aerius (Latin for “belonging to the air”), while the second is called the Prius Aemulus (meaning “envious imitation”). The Aerius is a pure show car, while the Aemulus is a street legal replica with slightly less exciting modifications. It will, however, be given to the Environmental Media Association (EMA) and auctioned off for charity.

Both cars get a Five Axis aero kit that has been made using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, to not only ensure it looks cool, but also to maintain the Prius’s amazing 0.25 drag coefficient.

The show car gets Five Axis FIVE:AD S6:F 19-inch wheels with clear covers to reduce drag, along with a set of Yokohama Super E-Spec low rolling resistance tires. The actual street car will get slightly less “bling” with factory rollers.

Outside, both cars get a truly amazing custom paint job that resembles the color of the sky, while the rear and side glass has been coated in 3M’s Crystalline Automotive Window Film to block 99.9 percent of UV rays.

Inside the Prius Aerius show car has its seat fabric replaced with 100 percent consumer recycled polyester, while the seatbacks are made of Polyurethane produced by Ultrafabrics that produces almost zero pollutants in the production process. The factory seats weren’t just tossed out either, but recycled to make business cards and cosmetics cases.

GALLERY: Five Axis Toyota Prius Aerius

As promised, import car tuner GReddy debuted its X-Gen Street Genesis Coupe at the 2009 SEMA Show. Apart from the wild and wacky paint job (a SEMA necessity), the modified 2.0T model is the kind of car we’d like to have in the driveway.

The philosophy behind the build was to improve performance in all areas. GReddy calls this its “Total Tune-Up” theme. First up is what’s under the hood, with a larger turbocharger and an intercooler setup that produces 350-hp and 320 ft-lbs of torque for a 0-60 mph time of under 6.0 seconds. The kit is fully available from Greddy and includes all the other components, like the downpipe, blow off valve, etc. GReddy also offers the sweet looking quad-exhaust system.

That exhaust fits nicely with the JP USA rear diffuser. The rest of the car’s aerodynamics are also directly from JP USA.

In terms of improving performance in other areas, the GReddy Genesis Coupe gets a set of 19-inch Volk Racing G2 wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes R888 tires. And inside those lightweight rollers is a GReddy big bake upgrade.

Be sure to check out the full gallery below.

GALLERY: GReddy X-Gen Street Genesis Coupe

Chrysler will stop production of the Dodge Viper in 2010 and replace it with its successor in 2012.

The announcement came on a day of extensive announcements about Chrysler’s plans for the next five years. The new Viper will be one of 11 all-new or redesigned Dodge vehicles that will debut by 2014.

Production on the Dodge Viper will halt in mid-2010,  and its replacement will utilize engineering from the Fiat Group which includes Ferrari and Maserati.

The question remains however whether the new car will even be called “Viper”. Also unclear is what this will mean for the approximately 100 employees at Chrysler’s Conner Avenue Assembly Pant in Detroit which produces the Dodge Viper.

[Source: CNN, Motortrend]

The Lingenfelter Trans Am Concept wasn’t the only TA on display at the 2009 SEMA Show, with Kevin Morgan Designs debuting its version of the iconic car. Based on a slightly more modern interpretation of the Trans Am, the Kevin Morgan car takes its cues from the 1977-’78 model and is based on the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

The car certainly looks aggressive with a low slung front air dam and a massive gold Screamin’ Chicken on the hood. And of course, there’s a big ducktail spoiler and a stylish set of golf mesh wheels.

The team even went so far as to built a classic Pontiac logo into the car’s new front end.

On the whole, we like it more than the Lingenfelter design, although the gold interior accents are definitely excessive.

Kevin Morgan Designs has announced a deal with the Trans Am Depot and is expected to start offering the Phoenix Trans Am conversion in the near future.

GALLERY: Kevin Morgan Designs Trans Am

It wouldn’t have been our choice, but a panel of judges awarded the team at Mummbles Marketing as the Scion Tuner Car Challenge winner for their Teal Blue Pearl xB. Looking more like something we might have seen at SEMA in 2003, the Mummbles xB features a 9-piece widebody kit from BRS Autodesign with  shaved door handles. Seibon provided plenty of carbon fiber bits outside, while NRG has outfitted the interior with new seats, harnesses, a steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake lever. Under the hood, there’s a powerful Descendant turbocharger system.

Along with the glory and a stylish carbon fiber trophy, the Mummbles team gets a check for $10,000.

The runner up prize goes to the Bowls entry, which is easily the most creative xB f the group.  It takes design cues from the Japanese El Camino – a 1970 Toyota Crown pickup. Along with a custom trunk conversion, roll cage and special ADF 20-inch wheels, under the hood there are Crower cams, a TRD clutch and limited slip differential, as well as TRD brakes, a front strut tower bar and rear stabilizer bar. Also included is an Air Lift Company digital air ride kit.

Placing third out of third is the xB of Eneri Abillar. Much like the winner, it features a BRS widebody kit, along with plenty of custom modifications. Added goodies include a Greddy turbocharger, TRD strut tower bars and illuminated door sills, while the interior features a hard wood floor.

GALLERY: Scion Tuner Challenge Cars

The Mopar performance department at Chrysler went all out in building the Mopar Jeep Lower Forty, which is designed to deliver serious off-roading – just the way Jeep drivers like it. Starting life as a two-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, the gear-heads at Mopar decided to add on a set of 20-inch Mopar wheels and 40-inch tires, while keeping the car’s center of gravity as close to stock as possible. In order to do so, some serious body modifications were necessary, including moving much of the chassis higher into the vehicle. As a result, almost three inches had to be removed from the windshield, while the one-inch wider fender flares now sit 4-inches higher.

But the modifications didn’t stop there. Under a carbon fiber hood sits a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 and a Getrag six-speed manual transmission. To get all that power to the ground are new front and rear axles with 5.38 gears and ARB air lockers.

Other highlights include an integrated roll cage and in place of carpeting, the Mopar guys opted for a spray-in truck bed liner.

GALLERY: Mopar Jeep Lower Forty

NASCAR racing team Hendrick Motorsports chose the SEMA Show to officially debut its limited edition run of Camaro SS models, built to celebrate 25 years in the business. Called the Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary 2010 Camaro SS, each car will be built by famed Corvette tuner Callaway Cars. The ZR1-inspired muscle car was displayed prominently at the General Motors booth.

The package include a stylish aerodynamics kit with a front splitter, side skirts, rear spoiler and diffuser all made of carbon fiber. Another very cool item is the ZR1-styled hood that not only makes room for a little extra something, but lets you take a look at it too. The clear opening gives view to an Eaton TVS supercharger that raises the Camaro’s output from 426-hp to 582!

Additional modifications include Callaway springs, shocks and anti-roll bars, as well as a stylish set of Callaway wheels.

The vehicle is rated at a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds with a quarter mile pass of 11.89 at 120.1 mph!

Just 25 Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary 2010 Camaro SS models will be built for a price of $76,181 each.

GALLERY: Hendrick Motorsports 25th Anniversary 2010 Camaro SS

With the Wheel & Tire section at the 2009 SEMA Show drastically less impressive than in year’s past, Pirelli didn’t shy away and brought out a car that even frightens the Veyron. That’s right, the Italian-made Pagani Zonda… and not just any Zonda, but the Zonda R.

The R model is a track-only version and thanks to a complete carbon fiber body weights just 2,359 lbs. And motivating that chassis is a 6.0-liter V12 engine that makes 750hp and 524 ft-lbs of torque. Pagani claims a 0-60 mph time of just 2.7 seconds.

Getting all that power to the ground is made possible thanks to an ultra-light magnesium Xtrac gearbox, operated by paddle shifters. Gear changes fly by in just 20 milliseconds. To put that in perspective, the current fastest gearbox in a street car is found int he Ferrari F430 Scuderia, which changes gears in 60 ms.

Making the car a true track machine is the fully adjustable suspension, as well as adjustable aerodynamics. Pagani says the Zonda R can be set up to produce as much as 3,307 lbs of downforce – which is, theoretically, enough to to allow the Zonda R to drive upside down and still stick to a surface.

Alternatively, the car can be adapted for high speed, with a top speed rating of 217 mph.

As this is a dedicated track machine, the Zonda R comes equipped with a roll cage and an FIA homolgated racing seats with five-point safety belts.

Other state-of-the-art items include Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and an inconel exhaust – the same sort of exhaust used of Formula 1 cars.

The Pagani Zonda R will be produced in a limited number with Horacio Pagani signing each vehicle. The cost of ownership is extraordinary, with an MSRP of 1,460,000 Euros or roughly $1.9 million.

And considering that price, please also take note of the idiot we captured in the photo above, giving the carbon fiber fender a good knock with his fist. If you know this guy, please do the same to him…

GALLERY: Pagani Zonda R

Along with a host of wild and wacky Camaros at the General Motors booth at SEMA, the General also built five in-house muscle cars that are noticeably more subtle. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t as impressive. In fact, one of the most original Camaros of the dozens on display at SEMA is included in this bunch. Called the “Jay Leno Camaro” this car was designed by the famous late night prime time comedian himself. At first it doesn’t look all that special, but in true Leno style, the real surprise is under the hood. There you’ll find a V6 in place of the big 6.2-liter V8. That might sound underwhelming, were it not for the two Turbonetics T-3 turbochargers that help boost the V6 engine to about 425-hp (the same as the Camaro SS). Under normal driving conditions, the engine gets V6 fuel-economy, but when required it delivers performance like the V8.

Next up is the Camaro Synergy, which, believe it or not, is a color that Chevy will offer for the Camaro in 2010. Much of the rest of the car’s add-on parts can also be bought though your local Chevy dealer, including the 21-inch wheels, ground effects kit, Cyber Grey Rally hood stripes and a cold air intake. Chevy also plans to offer the rear spoiler in the near future. Along with these modifications, the Camaro Synergy also gets a Pedders coilover kit, Brembo brakes and a custom Jet Black and Synergy Green interior.

Another favorite of ours is the Camaro Chroma, in Summit White with a nice silver stripe package. All the parts on this car are either currently offered through GM or will be offered in the near future. Those parts include a set of 21-inch wheels, a “Blade” rear spoiler, a ground effects package, rear fender graphics and a new front grille. There’s also a cold air intake, shorty headers and a performance exhaust, as well as a Victory Red engine cover and Hurst short throw shifter.

The Camaro Dusk concept is designed to be sporty and sophisticated, with much of the car’s highlights being inside the cabin. The interior gets a stunning Jet Back and Sedona leather treatment that really helps class-up the car. It also features plenty of convenience options for younger buyers with a Boston Acoustics sound system, an iPhone cradle and WiFi connectivity. Outside there’s a custom ground effects package that Chevy says may enter production. Other highlights include a set of 21-inch BBS wheels, a lowering kit and an SS spoiler. To help give the car’s exterior a more premium look, many of the exterior details have also been painted to match the color of the wheels.

Finally, there’s the Camaro Graphics car, which will showcase one of four potential new grahics packages on each of the four days of the SEMA Show. Chevy launched a graphics campaign in October to let customers and enthusiasts choose the next graphics package and this car is being used to showcase the four finalists. Chevy also launched a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/chevycamaro) dedicated to the campaign where you can vote for your favorite.

GALLERY: The Jay Leno Camaro

GALLERY: Camaro Synergy

GALLERY: Camaro Chroma

GALLERY: Camaro Dusk

Official release after the jump:

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