Designed by women, for women, three mockups of the Ford Mustang GT donated to the “Mustang Build Powered by Women” appearing at this year’s SEMA are ready to be voted on.

Aimed at shedding light on women working in the automotive industry and encouraging more to take the same path, the one-off ‘Stang is a collaberation between the SEMA and Ford. The cars pictured are the options viewers may choose from. When voting finishes and a decision is reached the car will be prepared for the upcoming SEMA show in Las Vegas late this October.

After being shown, the Mustang is bound for auction on eBay with the proceeds going to the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The three designes are in our gallery below and will be called High Gear, Chromatic and Fast Metal. You can vote on the designs at the Hot Rod site.

GALLERY: SEMA “Mustang Build Powered by Women” 

Ford is donating a 2013 Mustang GT as part of SEMA‘s “Mustang Build Powered by Women” project, which is designed to shine the light on women working in the automotive aftermarket industry and to hopefully encourage more women to seek the same career path.

The American automaker is also lending its leading female designers to work with Theresa Contreras of the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) to develop three design renderings for the build project. Those three designs will then be posted online through Source Interlink Media’s websites so that fans can vote on their favorite. Voting will begin on May 23 and will end on June 3, and the winning design will be announced on June 5.

Building of the project will take place at Source Interlink Media’s Headquarters out in El Segundo, California starting in July and ending sometime in August. Source Interlink will also have several of its female employees involved in the build and it’s expected that every facet of the car will be customized from engine to interior to sound system and paint. After the project finishes the Mustang GT will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

“Ford Motor Co. is enthusiastic about sponsoring the SEMA Mustang Build,” said Sherry Kollien, SBN project vehicle Coordinator for Ford. “The Mustang is the ideal vehicle for the project given its broad demographic appeal and its ability to be customized to fit the unique needs of all consumers, enthusiasts and women across multiple life stages. We have long known that women have more than 50 percent decision-making power in vehicle purchase decisions, but increasingly they are customizing to match their own unique personalities.”

For the past two years, SEMA has worked with the U.S. Senate to designate a day as “Collector Car Appreciation Day”, and this year it will fall on July 13.

This will be the third year of the annual event, which has been organized to help raise awareness on the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in today’s American society. Undoubtedly, classic car restoration not only provides plenty of jobs in an undersaturated industry, but are jobs that are well-paying and highly-skilled.

“In the previous two years, the U.S. Senate helped launch national Collector Car Appreciation Day by passing resolutions at our request,” said SEMA Vice President of Government Affairs Steve McDonald. “As a result, thousands of Americans have gathered at car cruises, parades and other events to celebrate our nation’s automotive heritage. By taking part in these events around the country, these automotive enthusiasts and related businesses ensured that their passion was honored and recognized.”

It is expected that on July 13, collectors and car enthusiasts worldwide will host hundreds of events throughout the U.S. SEMA’s Automotive Restoration Market Organization, which is working with individuals, car clubs, and businesses to organize events such as car cruises, club gatherings, and even educational seminars to celebrate the day.

This year’s SEMA Show is distant on the calendar, but it’s never too early for builders to release sneak previews of what they’re working on.

Swedish car designer Bo Zolland will be putting his spin on a classic 1968 Chevrolet Camaro for this year’s show, and judging by the pictures, it’s going to be a real winner.

Zolland, who recently renamed his firm from Vizualtech to Zolland Design AB, is previously known for his Jaguar E-Type Growler Concept, that is heading off to limited production as the Lyonheart K. But unlike the classy, clean bodylines we see in the Jaguar concept, this Camaro is all-American mean muscle.

Clearly the custom Camaro will sport a nice widebody with a sleek coat of black paint. It appears that the doors were cut down to lower the beltline; which is contrary to what we see with conventional hot-rod builders that tend to chop the roof of their cars. Nonetheless, from what little we see of this Camaro, it’s already looking great.

Under the hood will be a LS3 V8, supercharged of course, while the factory brakes and suspension have been swapped out for some more modern counterparts. We can’t wait to see this creation in person this year in Las Vegas.

[Source: Motor Authority]

SEMA is a long way off, but this could help you curb your anxiety until November. Creations n’ Chrome has teamed up with Gurnade Design Firm to show off this detailed renderingof their upcoming Ford Mustang project to debut at the 2012 SEMA Show.

Creations n’ Chrome built numerous Mustangs for SEMA and Ford as recently as 2010 and 2011. Last year, they also built the unique Blue Angels Ford Mustang that claimed $400,000 at a charity auction. This year, however, it seems that they are after a retro look. Given how big of a hit the 1993 Cobra R was at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year, this project should have quite the crowd around it.

The one-of-a-kind Mustang will be in the Spectra Chrome booth at this year’s SEMA Show, packing the new HRE Vintage Series wheels and “something special and supercharged” under the hood. We’re guessing we’ll be seeing some new-age Ford powerplant running this classic Fox Body Mustang.

How would you like to help design Nissan‘s next Z car? You can do just that – using Facebook – as Nissan announces Project 370Z.

Putting Z enthusiasts in the driver’s seat of design, Nissan launched this initiative as a chance to showcase how many options are available in this car. Using a 2013 370Z as a base, this car will be built in several different stages – power, handling/brakes and interior and exterior. To put in your two cents about each section, post your thoughts on Nissan’s Performance Facebook fan page with wall posts, likes and comments. These responses will be reviewed each voting session, and the upgrades and accessories with the most fan support will be picked for that particular phase.

“Car companies build project vehicles all the time, but we thought it’d be interesting to harness the power of social media to reach out to Z enthusiasts – the people who are doing this to their own cars everyday,” said Jon Brancheau, vice president, Nissan Marketing, NNA. “Together we’ll create a vehicle that expands on the already outstanding performance and style of the Nissan 370Z with a balance of street and track ready modifications.”

The final result will be making its grand debut in a grand setting this May during ZDayZ – in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. If you can’t make it to that momentous day, not to worry – the Project 370Z will be making an appearance at other Nissan events, such as ZCON 2012 and SEMA.

Check out a short video about Project 370Z after the jump.

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Honda is moving ahead with plans to deliver a higher performance version of the CR-Z. In fact, according to a report by Temple of Vtec, CR-Z project leader Norio Tomobe-san has confirmed the car is already in development.

The first rumors of a CR-Z “Type R” came from Honda itself, with the release of the CR-Z Hybrid R concept at least year’s SEMA Show, delivering 200-hp thanks to a turbocharged version of the standard engine. Fast forward 12 months and Honda once again had something to show at SEMA, this time a supercharged version of the factory 1.5-liter 4-cylinder Integrated Motor Assist hybrid engine. Honda PR reps have also hinted to AutoGuide that this supercharged version is the more likely path.

GALLERY: Honda CR-Z Hybrid R Concept

[Source: vtec.net]

Yakima debuted their new WHISPBAR roof rack system at the 2011 SEMA Show last week, and AutoGuide got an exclusive look at their new portable wind tunnel, which Yakima brought along to SEMA to showcase the reduction in wind noise that their new WHISPBAR can bring.

AutoGuide got a demo of the wind tunnel itself and we had the chance to take some video as well. Check it out after the jump.

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Ever since Lexus first began participating at the SEMA Show the team from Five Axis has been around. Showing just what’s possible when you’re not constrained by styling that must appeal to all types or by volume manufacturing, creative boss Troy Sumitomo has been crafting wild one-offs for years. Initially some rather wild tuner-style cars, more recently the design house seems to have developed its own identity, showcased most recently in the “Project GS” concept based on the all-new 2013 Lexus GS. With an extra wide body, massive 20-inch wheels and a low-low stance, this unique interpretation of the new GS is easily the best reason yet why Toyota should hire Sumitomo.

GALLERY: Five Axis Project GS

For many show-goers, SEMA isn’t just about cars. If that includes you, then we’re sure you’ll enjoy our gallery of show models. Static shots not your thing? Then we’ve also included a video walk-through of the show.

GALLERY: SEMA Show Models

Watch the video after the jump:

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See AutoGuide’s complete 2011 SEMA Show coverage here

It wouldn’t be the SEMA Show without plenty of lifted pickups and this year’s aftermarket expo did not disappoint. In addition, several extra-custom creations were on display from the likes of Ford, Chevy, Ram and Toyota. Of note was Ford’s Matchbox styled F-350 brush truck; Ram’s 392 Quick Silver and a selection of Toyota Tacoma and Tundra pickups.

Check out the gallery of well-over 100 photos below.

GALLERY: Trucks of the 2011 SEMA Show

Plus, check out AutoGuide’s complete 2011 SEMA Show coverage here.

Another SEMA Show has come and gone and we’ve got the videos to prove it. From modified Civics, to Ferraris and everything in between. And let’s not forget the models.

Watch all of AutoGuide’s 2011 SEMA Show Videos after the jump and check out the complete coverage here:

SEMA Show models

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Modified Civics of SEMA

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Rhys Millen Hyundai Genesis Coupe 5.0L and Supercharged Genesis Coupe

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Lexus GS F-Sport

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Modified Mustangs of the 2011 SEMA Show

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Scion Tuner Challenge iQs

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Mazda MX-5 Spyder, Mazda2 Turbo

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Hot Wheels Camaro, Copo Camaro

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Ricky Carmichael Chevrolet Sonic Concept

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Ford Fiesta B-Spec, Focus ST.R Race Cars

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Chevy Sonic Super4 Concept

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