[Bumblebee86]

Press Release

Toyota Tundra Hot Rod

The growing popularity of retro/old school hot rods in the aftermarket world has inspired Toyota to take a Texas-built Tundra Regular Cab full-size pickup and prove that a present day economical work truck could realistically be made into an American hot rod. Toyota also wanted to show consumers that Tundra is a truck that not only works hard, but plays hard too. The result is the Tundra Hot Rod, which takes a fun look at what a Toyota Tundra pickup truck might have looked like if it had been part of the iconic 1950s and '60s hot rod era.




Toyota assisted Phoenix-based project partner Sucker Punch Sally's by providing a flat black Tundra Regular Cab 4x2 for the hot rod conversion. The exterior received candy red hotrod flames, Bonneville moon hubcaps, a custom 1950's Toyota logo in the grille, and a custom cherry bomb exhaust.




Sucker Punch Sally's also went old school inside with the installation of a full custom tuck 'n' roll interior. Additional interior modifications include a custom headliner, dash pad, and carpet along with hand-turned brass dashboard controls. The interior is topped off with a custom curly maple wood cargo deck.



Fender Guitars also made significant contributions to the project. Inside, the Tundra Hot Rod features Fender Guitar custom radio knobs and installed in the truck bed is a polished wood floor, using the Fender Custom Shop's finest flamed maple. Sucker Punch Sally's also added custom aluminum side panels and railing.



Toyota's partnerships with Sucker Punch Sally's and Fender Guitar will allow the Tundra Hot Rod to be seen beyond the 2009 SEMA Show by a wide range of audiences as the truck is scheduled to be displayed at a minimum of 55 various consumer events over the next year.



Toyota Tundra Hot Rod Features

Sucker Punch Sally's (suckerpunchsallys.com)

• Candy red hotrod flames
• Bonneville baby moon hubcaps
• Cherry bomb exhaust
• Custom 1950's Toyota logo in grille
• Full custom tuck 'n' roll interior
• Custom headliner, dash pad and carpet
• Hand turned brass dashboard controls
• Custom curly maple wood cargo deck
• Custom aluminum side panels and railing

Fender Guitar (fender.com)

• Fender Guitar hand turned brass dashboard controls
• Flamed maple wood flooring in truck bed

[Bumblebee86]

PRESS RELEASE:

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Nov. 4, 2009 – Saleen Performance Vehicles today unveiled the first in its 2010 premiere line of high-performance cars, the 2010 Saleen S281. The introduction took place at the annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This is the second Saleen vehicle launched this year, following the 2010 435S introduced in August.





The S281, based on the 2010 Ford Mustang, displays a premium level of design consideration, both exterior and interior, with performance to match. It builds on the Saleen tradition of offering limited-edition, high-performance vehicles for enthusiasts who are looking for an exhilarating driving experience, with refined driveability for real-world road conditions.

"For more than 25 years the Saleen name has stood for excellence in design, engineering, and driving dynamics," said Mike Shields, CEO of Saleen Performance Vehicles. "The new S281 is an excellent example of what those words mean when we craft concepts into real cars. Our team has done a terrific job; I'm proud of them and proud to be offering this car to our customers."



The S281's exterior design features carefully crafted sculptural detailing, with lines and forms that flow naturally and suggest suppleness, power and agility. It features an understated yet imposing grille and front fascia, and a refined treatment of the familiar Saleen extended rear fascia and trunk lid with a simple, elegant, integrated wing.

"Our goal was to create the most visually enticing American sports car ever," said David Byron, design director at Saleen Performance Vehicles. "Ford provided the perfect launching pad with the 2010 Mustang, which allowed our team to create a car that's world class and authentically Saleen. We painstakingly toiled over every bend and break in the body and every stitch and fold in the interior."



The S281's 4.6-liter V8 engine is equipped with a Saleen Series VI.5 twin-screw supercharger and dual-stage intercooler. It produces 485 hp and 460 lb.-ft. of torque, sent to the rear wheels through a short-throw, five-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential with 3.73:1 final drive ratio.

The Saleen Racecraft suspension system is new, and includes specially tuned, single-rate front and rear springs; nitrogen-pressurized front struts and rear shocks with a wide range of damping adjustments; and a specially tuned front sway bar with performance pivot bushings.





The interior features new, leather sport seats with Ultra-Suede inserts, highlighted by chevron-like Ultra-Suede red tabs in the seatback bolsters, and unique treatments of the gauges, steering wheel, center console and shifter. There also are contrasting Saleen logos in the door panels, and Saleen logos in the door sill plates that illuminate when the door is opened.



Additional exterior highlights include unique, 20-inch, 7-spoke alloy wheels with Pirelli P-Zero Rosso high-performance tires, and Saleen S281 Supercharged fender badging.

[MARCUS_520i]

Those amplifiers in the back of the Tundra are sweeettt!!!
Were the pics personally shot or are they a press release?
If the former, then can we have some shots of the vintage-ish looking hot rod in the backdrop of the 1st 1962 Corvette pic, please?

[Bumblebee86]

Originally Posted by MARCUS_520i

Those amplifiers in the back of the Tundra are sweeettt!!!
Were the pics personally shot or are they a press release?
If the former, then can we have some shots of the vintage-ish looking hot rod in the backdrop of the 1st 1962 Corvette pic, please?

the pictures weren't personally taken. they are press release photos!!

[Bumblebee86]

Continued in the next post

[Bumblebee86]

[Bumblebee86]

[Bumblebee86]

- artist Jimmy Smith, done by Pinkees's Rod Shop of Windsor, Colorado

[Bumblebee86]

Exterior- satin paint; Premier 4509 Limited Widebody kit
Interior- contrasting saddle and black design; diamond-stitched suede inserts on the seats

[Bumblebee86]

PRESS RELEASE:

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 3, 2009 – Just one year after Ford unveiled the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor at the SEMA show, Ford today is announcing the long-anticipated power figures for the all-new 6.2-liter premium V-8 engine now available in this ultimate high-speed off-road performance truck.

When this optional powertrain in the Raptor arrives in showrooms in early 2010, the 6.2-liter V-8 will produce 411 hp and 434 ft.-lb. of torque, making Raptor the most powerful half-ton pickup available. Customers will now have the choice of two V-8 engines in the Raptor, Ford's proven 5.4-liter Triton V-8 or the new 6.2-liter V-8, which can be ordered beginning Dec. 1, with an MSRP of $41,995 including destination and delivery.




The F-150 SVT Raptor, launched in August with Ford's proven 320-hp 5.4-liter Triton V-8, is off to a strong start. Orders for the Raptor equipped with the standard 5.4-liter stand at more than 3,000, and the plant is at maximum capacity producing the ultimate high-speed off-road truck. In addition, Ford Racing will soon offer the 2011 FR Raptor XT, making Raptor even more capable in the rough stuff, but without giving up the control and comfort found in the production Raptor.

Considered an off-road-only pre-runner, the FR Raptor XT from Ford Racing builds upon the production Raptor's already impressive capabilities. The FR Raptor XT is nearly the same truck that finished the 2008 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, but with all the comfort and convenience you'd find in a production Raptor. Essentially, FR Raptor XT is a turnkey professional pre-runner.




Key specifications of the FR Raptor XT include:

* 500-hp (est.) 6.2-liter naturally aspirated engine
* Six-speed automatic transmission
* Electronically selectable 4x4; 4.56 gear sets; front and rear e-lockers
* A-arm with uni-ball front; four-link RR suspension
* 15-inch front/18-inch rear wheel travel
* Coil-over with bypass shocks front and rear
* Chromoly "4130" rollcage; extensive skid plating
* Full featured interior, including power windows/windshield and air conditioning
* Factory seating with five-point restraints
* Off-road beadlock wheel/tires
* Unique appearance package including tubular front and rear bumper and integral lighting




The FR Raptor XT joins Ford Racing's successful turnkey race Mustangs available only from Ford dealers. There will be a production run of 50 units carrying a price of $99,950. The FR Raptor XT is not street legal, and is intended for off-road use only. Production timing will be announced at a later date.

[Bumblebee86]

PRESS RELEASE

GRAN TURISMO® AWARDS' "BEST OF SHOW" WINNER RACES AWAY WITH THE PRIVILEDGE TO BE FEATURED IN THE WORLD'S BEST-SELLING RACING FRANCHISE

Seventh Annual Awards Ceremony at SEMA Show Celebrates Car Culture by Honoring Automotive Excellence in Six Categories

LAS VEGAS, November 6, 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) hosted its seventh annual Gran Turismo® Awards at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show in Las Vegas last night to embrace the passion of customizing cars and showcase the efforts in the Gran Turismo® franchise, one of the top-selling video game franchises of all time with more than 53 million units shipped worldwide. Once a year, the Gran Turismo Awards offer SEMA show exhibitors the opportunity to be included among the ranks of the famed Gran Turismo racing franchise, as one car is chosen to be added to a future Gran Turismo title and driven virtually by millions across the globe. Many entries were received for this year's Gran Turismo Awards, but only one vehicle will be immortalized in Gran Turismo. After deliberation from the judges panel and Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi himself, the 2009 prestigious "Best in Show" was awarded to "Best Hot Rod" winner, Philip Koenen for his 1970 Ford Mustang "Trans-Cammer."



"The Gran Turismo Awards continue to seek out and reward automotive enthusiasts who demonstrate passion for outstanding design and performance, while also celebrating a strong collaboration with the gaming industry," said Kazunori Yamauchi, famed creator of the Gran Turismo franchise and President of Polyphony Digital. "We have been very pleased with the high quality of vehicles vying for the award the past seven years, and look forward to having this 1970 Ford Mustang 'Trans-Cammer' join our list of distinguished past winners as part of the Gran Turismo franchise."

The GT Award winning vehicles from the past two years, Brian Filoteo's high- performance Infinity G37 from 2008 and Marcel Horn's HPA Audi TT from 2007, were both available for guests to test drive in the latest version of Gran Turismo 5® shown at the event. Previous Gran Turismo Award winners can now be raced in past installments of the Gran Turismo series, including Gran Turismo®5 Prologue, available exclusively on the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) system.



About Judging For The Gran Turismo Awards

Prior to SEMA 2009, all exhibitors were invited to enter their vehicles into the Gran Turismo Awards, which honor five different categories comprised of: "Best Domestic Automobile," "Best European Import," "Best Hot Rod," "Best Asian Import," and "Best Truck/SUV." Judges consisted of various respected automotive journalists representing media outlets such as Motor Trend, European Tuner, and Import Tuner, with judging for each category based on a balance between performance, style, and speed. amauchi then bestows the "Best in Show" award honor to one of these five category winners.



About the Gran Turismo Award Winners

The seventh annual Gran Turismo Awards ceremony was held at the Palms Resort & Casino's Rain Nightclub, international Las Vegas hot spot and celebrity playground. Award winners, automotive industry VIP's and party guests were treated to a blistering live performance by California punk band The Offspring and music by DJ Z-Trip. Guests were also invited to test drive Gran Turismo 5 and the recently released Gran Turismo for PSP.

Koenen's "Trans-Cammer" received the "Best Hot Rod" award, and in addition to winning "Best of Show," we will have the honor of seeing this 1970 Ford Mustang in full high-definition glory as part of the automotive stable of a future Gran Turismo property. The "Best Truck/SUV" honor was presented to Scott Bailey and Tony Vanillo's Ford F250 Unlimited 2 Class short-course race truck. The "Best Asian Import" award was given to Chris Rado's World Racing Unlimited Front-Wheel-Drive Time Attack Scion TC.

The "Best European Import" award was given to KC Howet's 2009 Underground Racing Lamborghini LP560-4TT. The final category for "Best Domestic Automobile" was awarded to Nicholas Ashby's Moment Carbon Camaro.



About the Gran Turismo® Franchise

With more than 53 million units shipped worldwide, the award-winning Gran Turismo® franchise for the PlayStation®, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) is regarded as the best and most authentic driving simulator ever created due to its true-to-life graphics, authentic physics technology and design. Since the inception of the Gran Turismo franchise, famed creator Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony Digital Inc. in Japan have revolutionized the racing category as we know it today. His offerings provide the most realistic driving simulation in the industry and a unique medium for automotive manufacturers to showcase their products.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated all Gran Turismo properties "E" for Everyone. For more information about the ESRB, please visit Entertainment Software Rating Board.



About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its online and network services the PlayStation®Network and PlayStation®Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets, and distributes software for the PS one, PlayStation 2, PSP and PS3 systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

[Bumblebee86]

Delta Tech Engineering Kizashi





Road Race Motorsports Platinum Edition Kizashi






Westside's custom Kizashi

[Bumblebee86]

- carbon fiber hood, fenders, front and rear bumpers, side intakes, and deck lid spoiler
- billet aluminum is used extravagantly
- three different colors of BASF R-M Diamont paint - Afterburner Red, Agent Orange and Mission Brown
- Forgeline 3-piece wheels
- under the hood is a Roush 427 IR crate motor
- 560 hp + 540 lb-ft of torque; 7.0-liter V8; Bowler AOD transmission

[Bumblebee86]

[Bumblebee86]

PRESS RELEASE

RHYS MILLEN RACING CONVERTS GENESIS COUPE INTO PREMIER SPORTS CAR WITH MID-ENGINE V8 FOR SEMA

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., – As the centerpiece of this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) fabricated a Genesis Coupe with the award-winning 4.6-liter Tau V8 powerplant to develop the RM460 Genesis Coupe. The mid-engine configuration and enhancements create a 500-horsepower street car worthy of taking on any track or road course. Millen was drawn to the design similarities between the Genesis Coupe and the new Ferrari 599XX, which influenced the vehicle's classic low profile and race-inspired look. This marks the second year of the partnership between RMR and Hyundai creating show-stopping Genesis Coupes with the ultimate in aftermarket appeal.




"We've enhanced the original performance features and created a rear hatch for complete engine access and viewing pleasure," said Rhys Millen, owner, Rhys Millen Racing. "The Genesis Coupe platform combined with the Tau V8 borrowed from Hyundai's upscale Genesis sedan have allowed us to build a true show-stopper for SEMA. Placing the Tau V8 in the middle of the Genesis Coupe's architecture will improve vehicle handling, acceleration and braking and enhance the already dynamic driving experience."

The Tau V8 engine replaces the original back seat and maintains most of its original architecture with upgrades to eight individual throttle bodies and a set of JE pistons that bumps the compression ratio to 11.0:1. An engine management system by AEM has been added to speak to the factory Engine Control Unit (ECU) while maintaining all factory dash and gauge cluster functions. A Mendeola five-speed sequential transmission has been mounted to the V8 and tuned for a maximum speed of 182 mph. Suspension will be maintained by the original MacPherson strut dual-link front suspension and a five-link rear suspension setup, and upgraded with a KW coilover component.




"The RMR RM460 Genesis Coupe perfectly showcases the rear-wheel drive platform of the vehicle as well as the performance capabilities of the powerful Tau V8 engine, available in the 2009 North American Car of the Year Genesis sedan," said Michael Deitz, manager, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "Rhys Millen Racing has taken the best of both worlds – the Tau's flexibility and the Coupe's tuner-friendly driving architecture – to create a hybrid powerhouse for this year's show."

The RMR RM460 Genesis Coupe will showcase HRE 560 Series 20-inch wheels, Toyo T1R tires and an industry-leading high-performance braking system by StopTech. Modifications to the chassis have been made to better accommodate the engine, including an impressive custom rear glass hatch conversion allowing better access to the engine.

On the outside, the RMR RM460 Genesis Coupe will feature a RMR Signature Edition kit, a carbon fiber spoiler and custom carbon fiber rear hatch. Custom RM ONYX HD paint is provided by BASF. Inside the vehicle will have Sparco Chrono sports seats, Sparco Alcantara and carbon fiber interior panels, and Infinity Kappa Perfect Speakers and power amplifier.






RHYS MILLEN RACING

R. Millen Motor Sports Sales (RMR) was founded 15 years ago by Rhys Millen to fulfill a huge demand for quality aftermarket products created by the Millen Racing heritage. Similar to motor sport clothing merchandise to a race fan, RMR offers proven race products to street customers primarily based on its motor sports associations. Since its creation, RMR has built itself up become one of the industries most respected tuners for Toyota, Lexus and Mitsubishi. In addition to RMR's excellent relationship with auto manufacturers, the company has custom built many private vehicles for celebrities such as basketball star Dennis Rodman, actor Jason Priestley and rock star Alex Van Halen. RMR has also built cars and worked closely with the producers of the blockbuster hit franchise "The Fast and the Furious."

RMR currently offers more than 100 products that are designed and produced in its facility or private labeled exclusively for RMR. These parts are carefully designed to provide the customer with quick and easy installation instructions with the highest quality. In many cases, its parts have met or exceeded factory specifications allowing dealers to warranty their installation keeping the cars under the factory warranty.




HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 790 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America's Best Warranty. In addition, Hyundai Assurance is now offered on all new vehicles leased or purchased from a certified Hyundai dealer. The program is available to any consumer, regardless of age, health, employment record or financed amount of the vehicle. The program is complimentary for the first 12 months.