More than Fahrvergnügen

Begun in 2008, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup is a single-make series sanctioned by the SCCA that takes place only in North America. As an entry-level series, the TDI Cup is open to drivers between the ages of 16 and 26.

The number of entrants is limited to 30 and, in 2009, a series of ten races was held at eight different venues (Virginia International Raceway and New Jersey Motorsports Park hosted two races each, while Miller Motorsports Park, Mid-Ohio, Autobahn Country Club, Mosport, Road Atlanta and Road America each hosted one race).

Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

“Since our inaugural TDI Cup series in 2008 we have received numerous inquiries as to whether or not we would offer a TDI Cup replica vehicle,” said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We’re thrilled to announce that a special edition Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition will be available in dealer showrooms early next year. What makes this special edition so unique is that it features the optional, race inspired, TDI Cup body kit package combined with our clean diesel engine. The Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition is one exceptional special model that is as fun-to-drive as it is to look at,” added Barnes.

Unveiled at last year’s SEMA show, the original Street Edition concept has moved around the country, being displayed at each of the TDI Cup races this year.

Specs

The actual production TDI Cup Street Edition features the front bumper, lower side skirts and rear valance found on the TDI Cup race cars. But there are functional differences as well: all Street Edition Jettas will feature the larger brakes (with red calipers), sway bars and sport suspension featured on the Jetta GLI.

The same 2.0-liter, 140 hp turbocharged direct injection engine that powers the regular Jetta TDI is also found under the hood of the Street Edition. Ditto the standard six-speed manual and optional DSG six-speed automatic.

Additional upgrades include cloth sport seats, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel and, last but certainly not least, 18” Charleston wheels in place of the standard 6.5J x 16” alloys.

Pricing

Pricing of the standard Jetta TDI begins at $22,270 and Volkswagen has stated that pricing on the Street Edition will start at “around” $25,000 – meaning all the extra goodies should amount to about a $3,000 premium over a run-of-the-mill TDI.

3d Carbon Mustang

Not your ordinary show

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (originally the Speed Equipment Market Association) was formed in 1963 by such automotive luminaries as Roy Richter of Bell Auto Parts (Cragar Equipment, Bell Helmets), Dean Moon of Moon Equipment Company and Ed Iskenderian of ISKY Racing Cams fame.

The association now consists of over 7,000 companies and annually sponsors the SEMA Show that is held every year in Las Vegas as part of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week. Unlike other auto shows, SEMA is reserved for manufacturers, buyers, exhibitors and members of the media and is not open to the general public.

Nonetheless, the annual SEMA extravaganza attracts more than its share of attention, in large part due to the many over-the-top concept vehicles that have become a mainstay of the show. So in that light, we present some of this year’s highlights:

Vaughn Gittin Jr Mustang

Ford

Ford is at the top of the list this year in no small part due to its position as featured automaker at this year’s show.

Paul's High Performance Mustang

Mustang

As part of the pony car’s 45th year, Ford recently launched a web site, www.the2010Mustang.com, that allows users to customize their own virtual Mustangs online. In just over 2 months, more than 1 million custom ‘Stangs have been created on the site.

At the SEMA show, itself, no fewer than eight Mustangs, customized by various companies, including Ford, will be present on the show floor.

mobsteel Taurus SHO

Taurus

The new 2010 Ford Taurus will appear at the show for the first time this year. Mobsteel of Brighton, Michigan has produced a menacing blacked-out version of the Taurus SHO, while MRT-Direct of Plymouth, Michigan has one that features a brilliant red exterior with candied cherry roof and a custom hood.

MRT Ford Fusion T4

Fusion

MRT-Direct also had a hand in customizing a 2010 Ford Fusion, giving a metallic blue model a black out roof, hood and spoiler while adding an intercooled turbocharger, coil-over suspension and six-speed manual transmission.

all images courtesy of Ford Motor Company

Here at LotPro.com it’s hard to get a jump on the rest of the media when it comes to many of the stories on this side of the pond we call the Atlantic. We could’ve written about the Lingenfelter Trans Am concept due to be unveiled at SEMA, but that’s been plastered all over the web. Ditto the story about “Maximum” Bob Lutz taking on all comers in a Cadillac CTS-V.

So that leaves us with what is arguably a very niche story, from across the water, regarding Grégory Guilvert’s prize for winning this year’s Peugeot THP Spider Cup.

Peugeot THP Spider Cup

Originally established by Peugeot Sport as a one-make series offering a level and competitive field of open-cockpit sports cars, the class served its first two years as the opening act to rounds of the Le Mans Series, where it competed at some of Europe’s most famous racing circuits, as well as FIA and WTCC events.

Although the front clip of the Spider resembles Peugeot’s 207, the rest consists of a purpose-built chassis that is currently awaiting homologation for the FIA GT Championship’s new GT4 category, which covers vehicles for a number of one-make challenges.

The Prize

Soon after clinching this year’s THP Spider Cup (ahead of the final round, no less with Guilvert winning 11 of 12 races so far), driver Grégory Guilvert traveled to Le Castellet to claim his prize – a test session in one of the Le Mans-winning factory LMP1 Peugeot 908 HDi’s.

Here is his reaction: “It was the 908’s brakes that most impressed me to begin with; that was a big step for me. I was also surprised by the steering. To get a good feeling for the car, you need to go quite quickly, just as you do with a road car whose power steering gets stiffer as you pick up speed. I was therefore forced to push harder, but I felt more and more comfortable with every run, and it was such an incredibly exhilarating experience. It was a fantastic prize, and Nicolas Minassian gave me a great deal of advice. Maybe I’ll do another season with my Spider in 2010 to perhaps win a chance to do the same thing again next year.”

At LotPro.com we see where Ford Motor Company will be celebrating this year’s SEMA show, scheduled to run from November 3rd until November 6th in Viva Las Vegas, Nevada, by introducing the first rear-wheel-drive application of the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6.

Delivering an estimated 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque, the company’s latest application of its EcoBoost technology sets out to disprove the long-held belief that “There’s no replacement for displacement.”

“EcoBoost technology shows that there is a viable replacement for displacement,” said Dan Kapp, director of Ford Powertrain Research and Advanced Engineering, who will be part of a SEMA “Driving Green” technology briefing panel discussion during the show. “As consumers’ demand for fuel efficiency continues to grow, and our commitment to delivering best-in-class fuel economy remains steadfast, it’s important to show that performance does not need to suffer as a result.”

“Hot rod builds provide blank canvases for SEMA member companies and SEMA is uniquely positioned to demonstrate that horsepower and green power can coexist without sacrificing performance or the cool factor,” said John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of Vehicle Technology. “This ‘34 EcoBoost hot rod is a fantastic example of modern green technology being applied in a manner that any performance enthusiast would love.”

Australian Ford Falcon

The next application

Sometime next year, the first production rear-wheel-drive application of EcoBoost technology will appear on a more mundane but hardly less important platform, the Ford F-150. Further down the timeline, the next application of rear-wheel-drive EcoBoost technology will be in the guise of a 2.0-liter I-4, which will be offered in the company’s Australian-market Falcon sedan sometime in 2011.

’34 Ford

Built in collaboration with Detroit Street Rods, the rear-wheel-drive configuration that will displayed at SEMA includes the aforementioned 3.5-liter V-6 coupled with a Tremec five-speed manual tranny. The stock Honeywell turbochargers were repackaged to fit in the engine bay of the all-steel replica body, while the entire system dyno tested by Ford Powertrain. In addition to the production engine, the fuel pump, ECM, fuel pump module and processor as well as drive-by-wire throttle were all production units.

The body is from Steve’s Auto Restoration and both the body and fenders are from brand-new tooling that was designed, stamped and manufactured by Experi-metal in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The all-steel replica also features full fenders, running boards, electronic power windows, air conditioning and custom bumpers.

Generating excitement

At LotPro.com we realize that it isn’t hasn’t been that often, lately, that we get to report on any positive news coming from the Pentastar down the street. Aside from the Dodge Challenger and its iconic Jeep brand – including the new Grand Cherokee, scheduled to go on sale next year, most of Chrysler’s fleet is showing its age. Add to that the fact that the new offerings from its latest owner Fiat are nearly a year away and you have the specter of a company that is currently, for all intents and purposes, treading water.

But if the latest news from Auburn Hills is any indication, Chrysler is determined to make the most of what it currently has and this includes the vehicles it plans on displaying at this year’s SEMA show, scheduled to run from November 3rd until the 6th in Sin (what happens in, stays in) City, Nevada.

Here are the rides Chrysler will display:

Mopar Dodge Challenger 1320 Image Vehicle

Chrysler calls this particular exercise “exploring a street-legal Drag Pak Challenger.” Sounds fun to us.

Named for the 1,320 feet on a quarter-mile drag strip, this one-off Challenger features a 426 Hemi® V-8 that generates 556 horsepower and 540 lb-ft. of torque. Equipped with long-tube headers and a free-breathing exhaust system, electric outlets allow exhaust gasses to bypass the muffler system. Power to the pavement is supplied by a six-speed manual transmission via a Dana 60 differential with a selectable ARB locking mechanism.

Mopar police wheels (widened for the rears) are clad with Mickey Thompson street-legal drag radials, with all this power kept in place by four-corner Mopar adjustable coil-over kit. To ensure this Challenger is no shrinking violet, the 1320 is adorned with Acidic Hue, a non-metallic yellow paint and trimmed in matte black graphics.

Performance is enhanced by lightening the body with the following carbon-fiber components: bulged hood with Hemi scoop, front spoiler, and grille panel/headlight surround. And while the interior has been stripped of the rear seat, center console and radio, it also sports Dodge Viper seats, sports steering wheel and Hurst shifter.

Dodge Ram Bianco

The color may be vanilla, but the Ram Bianco is anything but. The extensive modifications to what was once a Ram 1500 Sport include a body kit, specially modified fender flares, hard tonneau and lowering kit, with everything, including the Mopar 22” wheels, painted using several coats of Arctic Ice pearl.

A cold air intake and dual exhausts add to the 5.7-liter Hemi’s performance, while the interior receives white and black Katzkin seats with matching door trim, Piano Black and Arctic Ice accents as well as a Kicker audio system.

Jeep Wrangler Overland

The Overland is Chrysler’s vision of the ultimate moveable campsite. One can almost hear the driver shouting as it flies across the desert, “RV! We don’t need no stinking RV!”

Cargo capacity for the Overland is increased by eighty-sixing the rear seats in favor of a large, flat, rubberized utility floor, while the cargo rack has been augmented with the addition of a two-person ARB Simpson II roof-mounted tent plus touring awning.

Clearing the occasional pesky boulder has been accomplished through the addition of an AEV Nth Degree 3-inch lift package and Full Traction rear sway bar. This customization makes the necessary room for aggressive 35-inch tires mounted to 17-inch Mopar off-road wheels.

With desert duty in mind, an AEV heat-reduction hood has been added and, to make those occasional river crossings safer, an AEV snorkel kit is also part of the package.

Jeep Lower Forty

Last, but certainly not least, the Jeep Lower Forty looks akin to something out of a Mad Max movie. With the goal of achieving additional ground clearance without altering the center of gravity of a production Wrangler Rubicon and sans a lift kit, the design team resorted to removing a great deal of the original vehicle’s sheet metal in order to augment the standard wheel/tire combo with 20” forged aluminum alloys and 40-inch x 13.5 inch tires.

Three inches were chopped from the windshield frame and a 10 degree rake was added. The front and rear fender flares are both 1” wider and located 4” wider than the stock body. A new carbon-fiber hood with power dome and drop-down “Jeep”-logoed tailgate top it all off.

On the inside, a new custom roll cage was tied directly to the frame rails and the spare tire relocated to the cargo floor. The console and instrument panel were color-matched to the Red Eye No. 3 exterior paint, while the seats received Katzkin leather skins while the carpeting was removed and replaced by spray-in truck-bed liner.

Mechanicals for the Lower Forty include a 5.7-liter Hemi mated to a Getrag 238 six-speed manual along with a Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear axles.

While every automaker in the U.S. has been suffering as of late, things have not been nearly as bad for Ford as they have been for either Chrysler or General Motors. One of the big reasons the glass house is still standing tall can be directly attributed to CEO Alan Mulally who chose to mortgage Ford to the hilt shortly after he took over. Armed with this cash, the company has been able to continue operating at near normal (for these times) levels.

Bringing back the Taurus

One of Mulally’s early decisions at Ford was to bring back the Taurus nameplate. Unfortunately, there was no new vehicle the nameplate could be pinned on. Instead, ford stuck it on what was, up until then, the Five Hundred – a decent enough sedan, but one with looks that were, at best, forgettable.

2010 Ford Taurus

Due to hit dealer showrooms in July of this year, the sixth generation of the Taurus is not only one of the most significant production debuts at the show, it is also one of the biggest hits at NAIAS this year. And while the latest model to carry the Taurus name may not be the styling breakthrough of the original, the new styling gives it a distinctive sporting flavor that was totally bereft in its last incarnation.

The newest Taurus shares its platform architecture with the Lincoln MKS. With a 3-inch lower roofline, a longer wheelbase and shorter front and rear overhangs, the vehicle’s stance is much more purposeful. Under the hood, Ford offers a carryover 3.5 liter V-6 mated to one of two new six-speed automatic transmissions. While this is the only engine offered at this time, don’t be surprised to see Ford’s 355 horsepower 3.5 liter direct-injected, twin-turbocharged EcoBoost engine offered as an option sometime in the near future.

Options on the latest Taurus include massaging seats, push-button start, adaptive cruise control as well as Ford’s Microsoft-developed SYNC infotainment system.

2010 Ford Shelby GT500

The grand finale of Ford vehicles being driven on stage during this year’s press preview was the new GT500 with ol’ Shel himself, now 89, riding shotgun while Mark Fields, Ford’s President of the Americas, declared it to be “the best Mustang ever.”

And while we can’t attest to it being “the best” yet, it is certainly the most powerful. This ‘stangs 5.4 liter V-8 pumps out 540 horsepower, 40 more than the current model, and 510 lb.-ft. of torque with a redline of 6,250 rpm. And while gearheads everywhere are salivating over those numbers, Ford also has one for those tree huggers in the audience: this engine also garners an additional 2 mpg over the previous version.

On the outside, the new Mustang looks both rounder and more aggressive at the same time. The six individual taillights are an especially nice touch. Evoking the 1967 and 1968 models, they blink in sequence like the 1965 Thunderbird.

Inside, the all-new interior of the GT500 features leather seats, real aluminum on the instrument panel and Alcantara inserts on the seats and steering wheel. The instrument panel is softer than the previous generation as well as seamless – which should result in fewer annoying squeaks and rattles.

2009 Ford Flex by Mobsteel

Now for something completely different.

Although just a small part of the introduction in Detroit, we couldn’t resist a plug for the guys at Mobsteel in Brighton, Michigan.

Originally introduced at the last year’s SEMA show, this was the hometown unveiling of their interpretation of the Flex. It features a black-on-black Mobsteel paint job featuring SEM Color horizons paint. Other custom trim includes Mobsteel fascias, shaved door handles, Mobsteel machined badges and rear exhaust with color matched headlight and taillight buckets.

The Mobsteel Flex rides on 24-inch forged 2-piece wheels and low profile Pirelli P Zero Nero tires.

“Nelly” Flex

Rapper Nelly got to see his customized 2009 Ford Flex for the first time on Tuesday when it was unveiled as part of Ford’s press conference. Working with Ford Designer Melvin Betancourt, they created, according to Betancourt, “a custom-color blue car with a white roof, a great sound system, 22-inch wheels, an exhaust system with a little bit of a rumble on it, and a personalized interior.”

Inside, the Flex features black Tuscany leather with Katzkin® seats and blue stitching that picks up the unique blue exterior color. In addition, Nelly’s Flex features the industry-exclusive Ford SYNC™ technology and a CIM LIIV™ wireless Internet entertainment system, which enables passengers to enjoy web surfing, online games, e-mail, downloaded movies, music and live television.

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R

Based on Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor, the modified “R” version was developed by Ford Racing specifically to race in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Using stock components of the F-150 SVT Raptor including the transmission, brakes and frame, the race version has more suspension travel, better approach and departure angles as well as racing specification seats, safety cage and harnesses.

2009 Troy Lee Mazda6

Featuring a custom paint job by Troy Lee Designs and body modifications by Funktion USA, this new Mazda6 features 18” Momo Strike wheels, Hoosier tires and deep-tinted windows. Performance mods include Eibach springs, cross-drilled 6-piston brakes by Wilwood Engineering and custom brake fabrication by JD Performance.

Dodge Challenger Blacktop

To a basic 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, the “Mopar Underground” added custom spoilers and a black-on-black racing stripe paint scheme. Modifications include a Mopar coil-over suspension and strut tower brace. The Blacktop rolls on 22” Dodge Viper wheels from Factory Reproductions with 265/35 R22 front and 305/30 R22 rear Dunlop tires.

Performance enhancements include a cat back dual-exhaust and cold air intake while inside, the Challenger features bright red Katzkin leather seats and a Mopar Kicker audio system.

And Last but not Least…

Dodge Challenger SRT 10 Concept

Realizing that the 425 Horsepower might not be quite enough for some enthusiasts, Chrysler’s in-house performance organization, Street and Racing Technology, put together what has to be the ultimate Challenger.

Power for the SRT 10 comes from the Dodge Viper 8.4 liter V-10 engine with 600 horsepower and 560 lb. ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a Tremec TR-6060 6-speed manual transmission with Dodge Viper gear ratios. A single-piece 4” steel drive shaft connects the transmission to an aluminum differential with torque-sensing limited-slip.

Bringing all this power to a halt are silver-painted Brembo fixed calipers that feature six pistons in front and four pistons in back that clamp down on 2-piece 390mm vented rotors in front and 355mm vented rotors in the rear. Wheels are fully-forged Alcoa aluminum (20×9 front, 20×10 rear) with Pirelli P-Zero 275/35R20 tires in front and 275/40R20’s in back.

In a nod to the 1970 HEMI Cuda, the “10” also features a shaker hood – only this time, it’s constructed of carbon fiber, as is the deck lid and various aerodynamic bits fitted to the body.

HUMMER H3R Concept

Introduced at the 2007 SEMA show and giving a nod to team HUMMER, the H3R is equipped with the 505 HP 7.0 liter V-8 from the Corvette ZO6. A production version isn’t “in the cards”, according to GM (there’s a news flash, considering what that would do to their CAFE).

In addition to the engine modification, the H3R has a forward-tilting, power-operated hood equipped with a Lexan see-through insert, wheel flares with quick-disconnect fasteners, HID headlamps, light bar and custom dual rear exhaust with four outlets. Twenty inch wheels, 35 inch off-road tires and a body color jerry can mounted to the spare tire complete the package.

Inside, the HUMMER features a re-trimmed interior with brushed metal accents and trim, front racing seats with five-point safety harnesses and weather-resistant seat material as well as a washable rubber floor covering. All this luxury and performance can be enjoyed by two people at a time, since the second-row seats were removed as part of the customization.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Big Red” Chevy Silverado

Originally introduced at the 2006 SEMA show, this 2007 Silverado crew cab features an off-road-ready suspension, custom 20-inch wheels and a custom interior. Earnhardt collaborated with GM designers and the truck sports all-new front-end sheet metal and rear fenders. For those with the temerity to get in Dale Jr.’s way, Big Red comes standard with a locomotive horn.

2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Two-mode Hybrid

Unlike the flex fuel vehicles that GM produces, the Tahoe Two-mode actually delivers on the promise of better fuel economy and more miles for your hard-earned dollar. Because it is a true parallel hybrid, the Tahoe Two-mode iteration can actually drive in electric-only mode in the city under light loads. At stop lights and in line at McDonald’s, the Chevy’s engine will shut off, reducing fuel consumption even further. For the SAE show, the Tahoe appeared in “green” green.