Chevrolet builds Sonic B-Spec racer concept

by: Zach Bowman

 
Chevrolet Performance worked over the Chevrolet Sonic just for this year's SEMA show to create this B-Spec racecar concept. Built to conform to all of rules and regulations of the B-Spec subcompact classes in both the SCCA and the Grand-Am series, the five-door features new coilovers on all four corners with revised mounts, adjustable front stabilizer bar links and a rear axle shim kit. The requisite air inlet restrictor has also been shoved in place, and the ECM and EBCM have been recalibrated accordingly. That's exciting in all, but we're more thrilled about the fact that Chevrolet says the parts are intended for production as a kit any consumer can buy.

That would leave competitors to independently source pricey pieces like the roll cage, seat and associated harnesses. The automaker says some of the parts may change en route to production, including the lightweight 15-inch alloy wheels.

Underhood, buyers can expect to find a stock 1.8-liter four-cylinder mated to a factory five-speed manual gearbox. Look for the production kit to go on sale in the first quarter of 2013. Check the full press blast below for more information.

Scion FR-S Tuner Challenge declares a winner

 by: Seyth Miersma

We're all still a little taken aback at the sheer number of Scion FR-S mods we've seen at SEMA this year. Not only did the FR-S win the Best of Show award for the Sport Compact class, but based on gross tonnage the rear-drive Scion has got to be one of the most popular models in the tuner world today.

But of all the FR-S customs on display, it was this trio from Scion's tuner build-off that were up for the chance to win a fat $10,000 grand prize. We brought you the stories of Daniel Song, Chris Basselgia and John Toca last week, all of who built some pretty stellar, modded coupes.

Earlier on the show floor, Scion announced that Mr. Basselgia's "minty FReSh" car was the most well liked by the judges. We'd like to extend our congratulations to him, and to all of the hard working contestants.

Production-ready Lingenfelter LTA Camaro debuts in Vegas

 by: Seyth Miersma

Following the well-received concept version of the Lingenfelter LTA at SEMA all the way back in 2009, the specialist tuning company has finally brought along a production version of the car this year. Surprise... it's a convertible!

Ken Lingenfelter himself says that "overwhelming response after displaying conceptual versions of the LTA at previous SEMA Shows" has forced the company to offer up the real deal. Great news for enthusiasts of retro-themed performance cars, and Camaro fans in general.

Each LTA begins life as a model year 2010-2013 Camaro (including convertibles, obviously) and is then modified completely by Lingenfelter. The company will not be selling pieces of the body kit, for instance, as separate pieces. Lingenfelter will only deliver "...a complete, finished vehicle that's been re-done inside and out."

The LTA will be available in three grades, though the Level 3 LTA seen here would seem to be the one to have. This package includes a V8 engine tuned to produce some 655 horsepower, Brembo brakes, 20-inch "Honeycomb" wheels and a completely custom interior.

Hyundai goes bonkers with performance Velosters

 by: Seyth Miersma

Hyundai's news that it would be producing a new Re:Mix edition of the Veloster was passingly interesting, at least for fans of the sprightly hatchback. But that wasn't the only Veloster we saw at the SEMA show this year... far from it.

Much more pulse pounding is this Veloster Turbo Velocity Concept, a fire-breathing, Cosworth-tuned, free-breathing, turbocharged beast of a thing that outputs some 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Full details on the Hyundai Velocity Concept were reported here, though we suggest you take in all of its be-winged glory in our gallery of live images first.

While you're at it, have a gander at the Velosters presented by ARK Performance and the JP Edition Concept, as well. The "JP" in question stands for John Pangilinan, a mainstay of the tuning community, and his Veloster features a Mint Green shade of BASF that wouldn't look out of place on a Tiffany's box, as well as various fashionable interior and exterior upgrades.

Meanwhile, the ARK "Alpine" Concept has been sorted to accommodate the lifestyles of extreme winter sports athletes. That means an interior designed to stand up well to wet gear that's composed of Alcantara, WeatherTek material and some leather.

Scion shows off trio of SEMA-bound FR-S coupes

 by: Zach Bowman

In preparation for this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas, Scion approached three tuners with the chance to go head to head in a design competition. Each entrant received its own FR-S, $15,000 and three months to turn its show-car vision into reality. Judges at the show will score each ride on a variety of merits, and the winning builder will go home with a $10,000 check.

Chicago native John Toca's Carbon Stealth FR-S boasts a Vortech Supercharger as well as a host of Cusco suspension bits. A full body kit, wheels and a suite of high-end audio components define the coupe, while a custom alcantara interior and leather Reacaro buckets add to the show car's flavor.

If we had to pick a winner right now, it would probably be Daniel Song's FR-S GT (above). The Orange County, California resident decided to eschew the typical show car regimen for a pared-down GT racer look. The car features a widebody kit penned by JONSIBAL along with a full roll cage, a Sparco racing seat and plenty of carbon fiber. Song's FR-S uses the same Vortech Supercharger as Toca's creation.

Of course, we're fond of Chris Basselgia's "minty FReSh" FR-S, too. With its wild paint, a full leather interior retrim and a stack of audio gear, it's easy to write this car off as just another show queen, But Basselgia shoved in a custom billet intake as well as an Eaton blower for a little more pep. Full Neo Motorsports 6-piston calipers are also part of the recipe.

Lingenfelter Retrokits ape 1969 Camaro, with or without RS hideaway lights

by: Zach Bowman

 

If by some miracle you find the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro too modern for your tastes, Lingenfelter has a solution. Behold the company's new Retrokits packages; full aesthetic workovers designed to give the Chevrolet a few tweaks from the '69 RS playbook. Those include an entirely new front fascia, complete with a chin spoiler and the buyer's choice of either exposed headlamps or hidden RS-style units. Lingenfelter swapped the original wheels for pieces designed to invoke the rally pieces found on the original '69. From where we sit, we're not sure the look is an improvement, and the stick-on chrome dress-up for the rear quarter gills certainly don't do the machine any favors.

Camaro owners may buy the Retrokits package for installation by a local body shop or have Lingenfelter do the work in house. Prices start at $6,850, not including the man-hours to bolt the bits in place. Ask Lingenfelter to paint and install, and you'll be looking at a sticker of around $8,550. Zing.

600-hp G-Power 1 Series is excessively cool

by: Zach Bowman

 

Save some unforeseen circumstance we've yet to encounter, you'll never hear us turn down shoving extra horsepower at a vehicle. The minds at G-Power seem to understand that concept better than most and have just finished pumping a full 600 horsepower into the BMW 1 Series M Coupe. The team is calling their newest creation the G1 Hurricane RS, and the car makes use of a supercharged version of the same V8 that powers the BMW M3. Likewise, the tuner's engineers plucked the dual-clutch gearbox from the larger M for service in the G1 Hurricane.

With 427 pound feet of torque on hand, the smallest of the G-Power line can bolt to 125 miles per hour in around 12.7 seconds on its way to a top end of 205 mph. The company threw in a set of carbon ceramic brakes to help bring the wicked 1 Series down from speed, which also helped reduce unsprung weight by half. Further weight reductions come in the form of a carbon fiber hood and trunk lid. G-Power plans to build just 30 examples of its wild little 1 Series M Coupe, so if you want one, you better get on the phone now. Head over to the G-Power site fore more information.

Hyundai shows SEMA-bound Veloster by Ark Performance

by: Chris Tutor

 
Want your car to reflect as well as enable your active lifestyle? Then you may want to check out the ARK Performance "Alpine" concept coming to this year's SEMA show.

Ark began with standard 201-horsepower Hyundai Veloster Turbo and, using various bits from the Ark catalog, ramped power up to 232 horses with a torque boost to 240 pound-feet. The extra oomph comes from an ARK exhaust, test pipe and turbo up-pipes, a K&N intake, Nitrous Express Proton kit, Ark oil cooler and a Koyo radiator.

Beneath the coupe is an Ark coilover system, big brake kit and strut bar. The wheels are Gram Light 57Xtremes.

But SEMA is as much about looks as it is about fast. An Ark/Adro body kit and CF Rally Wing was covered in Custom Pearl White by Beyond Coachworks. JPM Coachworks outfitted the Veloster with a matching "Alpine Edition" interior featuring custom seats, instrument panel, steering wheel and headliner. Alcantara, mildew-repelling Italian leather and WeatherTek material. A Seibon Carbon hood and deck lid are accented by 180 Customs head and tail lights.