Welcome to Motoring Monday, I’m Sam Haymart for TestDrivenTV
We’re at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas this week bringing you wall to wall coverage from the floor with all the hot cars, parts, and events.
The annual Specialty Equipment Manufacturer’s Association show is where car manufacturers show off hot concepts, parts makers bring their new go-fast goods, and tuners unveil their latest creations.
So lets get started!
Scion FR-S T1
While the Scion brand seems to be shrinking in the marketplace, it’s always huge at SEMA each year. And this year, they have a cavalcade of cars and concepts.
The Scion FR-S T1 built by Jeremy Lookofsky of Cartel Customs is the closest thing to a vehicle that could be built in production we’ve seen yet. The targa roofed FR-S opens the possibilities for a removable roof, something the car could really use.
Painted in a two-tone color theme with a black targa top and Azzuro California Blue bottom, the FR-S T1 gets a custom fabricated steel wide body and integrated rear spoiler. The look actually leans into the 1970’s just a bit with its presentation.
It’s lowered of course with a coil over suspension and 19” wheels all around, showing off a nice set of nickel plated Wilwood brakes. A high-mounted custom center exhaust exits the rear fascia.
That’s because under the hood, the FRS-T1 engine has been massaged with a slick Greddy street turbo kit, something all FR-S’s should come with.
A custom leather interior really richens the cabin experience with hides wrapping the seats, dash, door panels and trunk. The removable top stows neatly in the rear compartment where the rear seat once resided.
Three Scion FR-S builds are the subject of the Scion Tuner Challenge. We’ll bring you a special report on that later this week.
Riley Hawk Scion xB
The 1970’s seems to be a theme with Scion this year at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. And nothing says this more than the shagadellic Riley Hawk Scion xB.
The custom build by Scott Kanemura of KMA Productions is a hearty back slap of 1970′s mock and style right down to the rich, thick shag carpeting on the floor.
Themed by the visions of professional skateboarder Riley Hawk, the interior and exterior is oozing with 1970′s excess from the paint work to its port hole windows at the rear.
Non-functional side-pipes add a sense of flair along with chrome Cragar style wheels and white-letter tires. Functional is a hidden cargo area created with an INNO rack system. Skateboards can be stored inside or hung on the tail-gate while at the park.
Inside you will find acres of tasteless wood-grain, tufted tuck-n-roll seat upholstery, and even an 8-track player and storage console for tapes. A built-in CB radio is there to keep on top of your good buddies. But don’t think the future and present has been left behind.
The cabin blends in modernism with a Pioneer Sound System and the ability to play guitar through the audio system using an iPad mini as mixer. There’s also a rear-facing flat-screen monitor and rear seat tables for laptop computers.
Kind of reminds me of those Pinto van wagons of the 1970’s which sported the bubble window and similar stripes. Kinda dates me don’t it.
Ford Transit Vandemonium
Ford is into the van scene this year at SEMA with their all new full-sized Transit series, rolling out a collection of concept builds called “vandemonium”.
They start with the Vegas Off-Road Experience Transit which plays to the tourist crowd. To be used for guest transportation at events, the Transit is up-fitted with fender flares, off-road tires and wheels, and LED lighting all around.
Taking on a “van-conversion” theme is the Designed Travel Transit. Waldoch Crafts and 3dCarbon worked together to create a tasteful road trip van with a rich interior lined with hickory wood floors and leather.
A Formula DRIFT Transit will actually serve duty as a track safety and support vehicle. Equipped with fire and safety equipment for first responders, it will be first on the scene when needed. Getting it there quick is a cold-air intake, high-performance exhaust, and suspension.
The collection of vans wouldn’t be complete with out a limo coach. The Business Class Transit is all-black inside and out, built by Detroit Custom Coach. Extra large, this VIP Transit can seat up to eight in first-class style.
Last but not least, it wouldn’t be SEMA without something from Galpin Auto Sports. Their Transit Skyliner features include custom designed “throne” seats, a 52” TV, and yes there is a cocktail bar and matching luggage.
Vans have been making a comeback at SEMA the last couple years. We’ll bring you more detail on these and the many others all this week.
Toyota Baja 4Runner Chase Vehicle
Off-road vehicles are huge at SEMA and this year Toyota has a floor full of exciting builds surrounding their participation in the BAJA 1000.
One of three chase vehicles that will actually serve duty in upcoming Baja 1000, is a 2015 Toyota 4Runner TRD custom built by well known off-road skunk works N-Fab.
The first thing you notice is its racing livery in red, black and white. For seeing at night out in the desert it’s outfitted with a full gambit of Rigid E-series light bars. Smittybilt provides their Beaver step, Gen 2 winch, and Defender rack.
A few custom touches on the Toyota 4Runner include an N-Fab rockrail with detachable FJ step and custom rear tailgate set with plenty of power-coating to go around.
Keeping it from getting lost in the desert day and night is a Lowrance 5” GPS system. Other interior fittiments include a carbon-fiber dash kit from Superior and a bank of accessory switches.
You might notice that suspension is TRD, straight from the Toyota parts bin, not some fully decked aftermarket system like many.
Toyota also has a number of race and show trucks here at SEMA this year we will be showing you, so stay tuned!
Test Drives
While our boots are on the floor here at SEMA this week, we didn’t forget to test drive some cars.
We enjoyed the high-fuel economy of the 2014 Ford Fusion Energi Plug-In Hybrid. The car has few competitors, offering the ability to be plugged in at night for about 20 miles of electric-only driving.
With the Fusion Energi we were able to achieve 62 mpg on a tank of gas starting each day with a full charge, and using that until the battery was depleted. Then the Fusion Energi goes to a hybrid gas electric mode.
Overall we were impressed with the drivability and the heavenly whisper quiet electric-only driving behavior. Priced at $42,685 it is a bit heavy on the wallet however.
Out back in the desert we had a blast in the 2014 Toyota 4Runner. One of the last body on frame sport utility vehicles on the market today, the 4Runner offers traditional truck-like capability and ruggedness.
Thus we had to go get it muddy like kids. The good part? It loves it just like a dog. In our back-trail excursions the 4Runner was unflappable, offering sure footed and confident driving.
And most importantly, it feels solid as a rock out here, something that cannot be said for some competing crossovers.
For our full reviews of these and many other test drives, log onto TestDriven.TV or our YouTube channel.
Money Shot
Now it’s time for our Money Shot where we take our favorite photo from this week’s news and we show it to ya.
The 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat with its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI engine as we all know now belts out 707 horsepower. This makes it the quickest, fastest and most powerful sedan in the world says Dodge. We’ll be seeing it at SEMA this week, count on it.
That’s it for Motoring Monday, but don’t go just yet, right after my final words here we have one more new car from SEMA to show you, that actually comes to a showroom soon.
But first click on the link right here to subscribe to our YouTube Channel where you will get all our updates from the SEMA Show this year in addition to our latest news and test drives. Don’t miss a thing.
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I’m Sam Haymart for TestDrivenTV, I hope you enjoyed the ride.
Scion tC Release Series 9.0
Each year Scion offers up a their Release Series vehicles in various models, and at SEMA this year we look forward to the new 2015 tC Release Series 9.0
One of the wildest yet, Release 9.0 comes in a two tone paint scheme of black and vibrant magma orange, designed by Jeremy Lookofsky of Cartel Customs.
Scion will produce just 2,000 of the tC Release Series 9.0 with an aero kit designed by Cartel, a center exhaust, an orange start button with the Cartel logo and orange front seat belts.
Orange stitching weaves its way through the steering wheel and seats, while orange paint adds a show car look to dashboard trims, door panels and shifter surround. Also included are Cartel logo floor and cargo mats.
Outside are special black alloy wheels, gloss black finish side mirrors, door handles, and emblems all around. A special Release Series badge adorns the mirror cover and a high-profile rear spoiler finishes the presentation out back.
The suspension gets TRD lowering springs, but these are special. Powder coated in matching orange, they will surely be something that owners will point out to their friends.
And they’ll be able to. After all this show car actually goes on sale starting at $23,190 for the manual transmission model and just a little bit more for the automatic, very soon.
Get with your Scion dealer now if ya want one, I think these will go quick.
