Auto shows these days are all about the launches of various concepts, hybrids and electric cars. But not at SEMA, where you’ll find only the maddest and hottest products of the automotive aftermarket. It is an opportunity for the manufacturers and tuning houses to brag about their vehicles and demonstrate their capabilities. Listed here are five of the top muscle cars at the 2016 SEMA show.
Chevrolet Camaro SS Slammer
Slammed is the manner in which this Camaro arrived at the SEMA Show. With a triple-coated dazzling black paint job, sitting low on those hot-rod styled 22-inch chrome wheels at the front and 24-inch at the back. The adrenaline red interiors give it that extra oomph. The slammed nature of the Camaro SS can be altered with the air-adjustable suspension setup.
Under the hood is a custom painted engine cover which sits over a 6.2-litre LT1 V8 making 450bhp mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Beyond the lowered and chromed custom, this concept features a ground effects kit, black Chevrolet badges all around, tinted lamp housings, Brembo brakes, stainless-steel exhaust for that angry sound.
Chevrolet Camaro Turbo AutoX
Chevrolet showcased umpteen number of show cars this year at the SEMA. The Chevrolet Camaro Turbo AutoX, one among them, is something when you want to take your smallest displacing Camaro to autocross.
The concept has a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four under the hood. But what makes this car a perfect cone-killer are the lowered stiffer suspension set up added with larger stabiliser bars and a strut tower brace to this lightweight car. It gets 20-inch wheels and a front brake kit featuring six-piston callipers. Added to this list a new cold-air intake system, the six-speed manual transmission gets a short-throw shift kit and a screaming performance exhaust for autocross intentions. The ‘highlight marker’ colour is subdued with decals and a black integrated spoiler finished with a ground effects kit and hood vents. There's also a GoPro camera mount for recording yourself hitting those cones.
Dodge Shakedown Challenger
Mopar brought to SEMA one of the wildest dreams of the petrolheads. You buy a Dodge Challenger for its classic retro looks and this Shakedown shows us what the current Challenger should look like. Is it a new car with old style or an old car with a new heart? You decide.
The most iconic American car of ‘71 is supplied with a modern-day reliability and powerful powertrain. The 2017 Challenger headlamps and tail lamps look at home with the 1971 grille and body. Under that ‘71 inspired fully-functioning shaker hood scoop is a 6.4-litre HEMI V8 sending all the 485bhp to the tarmac via Viper’s Tremec six-speed transmission.
This is a car that will make Dominic Toretto proud.
Ford Mustang GT4 Turnkey
When you want to race your Mustang on track, this is the way to do it. Ford wants to go on an onslaught of European sports cars, by entering their GT4 racing series and has prepared the Turnkey GT4 for it. The GT4 spec means the car will be able to compete in Pirelli World Challenge’s GTS class, the GT4 European Series, and other worldwide series that use GT4 cars.
Developed by Ford and Multimatic, it is based on the Mustang GT350, packing a 5.2-liter V8 paired with a six-speed paddle shift gearbox with a twin-plate racing clutch. What remains to be seen is can the FIA compliant Turnkey put the money where its mouth is.
Ford GTT
What does the new Mustang dress up as this Halloween? The Ford GT of course. The California-based Zero To 60 Design tuning house prepared a tribute to the Ford GT, by making the new Mustang replicate the GT’s design cues calling the car Ford Mustang GTT.
The styling of the GTT is subjective as the rear end of the ‘Stang is now sporting twin tail lamps, big diffuser, central dual exhausts and an air scoop on the side to replicate the GT. A large gaping front with two white stripes running all over the centre of the car is the GTT’s style of replicating its hero. Of course, it’s hard to recognise the ‘tribute’ intentions for the uninitiated and does as much as the Batman mask makes you a superhero on Halloween.
