SEMA 2009: GM Concepts at the 2009 SEMA
By Vincent Aubé, MSN Autos
SEMA, the world’s largest trade show for customized vehicles and parts is now in full swing. The show is a window of opportunity that is not to be missed by car manufacturers; they often show up to this November shindig with plenty of ideas. Just like Ford, Toyota and many others, GM is taking advantage of the situation to show off its colorful designs. Despite the fragile economy the number one American manufacturer needs to show that all is well – especially to custom car enthusiasts. This is the year of the Camaro and the General is expected to put a lot of emphasis on its new pony. No fewer than five Chevy Camaros will be officially introduced by GM, plus a Silverado, a specially equipped Corvette Grand Sport and even two Hummer H3s.
Gallery: GM's racy concepts at the 2009 SEMA show
Jay Leno’s Camaro
It’s no secret that the famous talk show host loves cars. His car collection from different eras is priceless. For the 2009 SEMA, Chevrolet engineers fitted a V6-powered Camaro with two turbochargers, which crank out 425 horsepower. That’s pretty much the same power as the V8-powered SS, but the fuel consumption is much closer in line to the base V6. The concept comes equipped with a sport suspension, Brembo brakes, exclusive rims, plus revised exterior styling.
The Camaro Synergy Design
This special edition of the Camaro foreshadows a new model set to arrive in 2010. It will be offered in this special Synergy Green paint, along with other accessories that will be available in dealerships. This one is mean-looking! As for the choice of 21-inch rims, you be the judge.
The Camaro Dusk Design
Designed to appeal to tuners, the Dusk design is equipped with BBS 21-inch rims, exclusive side skirts and a rear spoiler fin borrowed from the SS model. With its Berlin blue body, GM hopes to appeal to more refined consumers. The exterior look is complimented by a high-performance exhaust system and Brembo brakes. Inside, the black and Sedona interior maintains the sophisticated theme. The included Boston Acoustics sound system, wireless internet connection and iPhone dock are sure to please tuners.
The Camaro Chroma
The Chroma concept offers a range of accessories not yet available at Chevrolet dealerships. The silver strips, 21-inch rims and rear tail spoiler are expected on future production models. The Chroma concept also comes with a red engine cap, a Hurst gearshift lever, and Brembo brakes in addition to replacement parts for the exhaust pipes.
Camaro Graphics
In addition to the above-mentioned four concepts, Chevrolet showed a Camaro outfitted with a different design each day of the show. In the months prior to SEMA, Chevrolet ran a Facebook contest which invited entrants to use different stripes to create their own custom design. The contest’s best designs were then dressed up daily on a silver Camaro.
Other Concepts Aside from the Camaro, Chevrolet also showed off its version of an extreme off-roading truck, similar to the new F-150 SVT Raptor. For now though, the Silverado ZR2 is just a concept but it would definitely give the Ford truck a run for its money. As for the Corvette brand, Chevrolet is introducing a sports car equipped with many extra accessories, some of which are borrowed from the ZR1, and outfitted in a new exterior colour. Finally, despite announcing the sale of HUMMER, GM displayed a pair of H3s. The H3 Moab concept is geared for off-roading fans while the H3T Sportsman is clearly intended for collectors and cruisers.
Posted by: MarkinVan | 2009-11-09 2:12:02 PM
How about the 2002 GM EV-1 electric car? That goes 150 km per charge, accelerates faster than an equivalent gas powered car, costs $20 a month to charge, and would have costed $20,000 to buy when mass produced. Why is that not a production vehicle right now, EIGHT YEARS LATER?
Posted by: johncando | 2010-02-13 7:58:34 PM
Shift two added to keep up to buyers ,Mustang out sold for three months in a row,Toyota must be getting it by now?