Auto Trends

The Las Vegas 2007 SEMA SHOW was last week, featuring some of the newest creations from car manufacturers. Of interest in this highlight is the phenomenon that manufacturers are taking upon themselves to create “tuner” versions of their makes. This allows buyers to have all the go fast goodies and exterior upgrades and highlights right off of the showroom floor. The big question is, are they worth the extra money over the stock versions… you be the judge!

Hummer H3R (Concept)-

 Photo by Allen Q and Flickr.com

Hummer is a pretty cool beast in stock form, but the Hummer H3R racing version is quite a nice showcase for what a Baja 1,000 off road racer should look and perform like. The Hummer, actually features a transformation beyond the usual bolt-ons (induction, exhaust, etc.) that special edition models usually consist of. Hummer built its H3R platform using the 505 horsepower LS7 7.0 liter V-8 from the General’s Corvette. Here are a few of the highlights of the H3R’s power train:

• Hydra-Matic 4L60 electronically controlled four-speed transmission

• Custom valve covers

• Custom ignition coil covers

• Custom air induction system with dual air boxes

• Custom rear dual exhaust system, complete with four outlets

• Eaton front locking differential

• Enhanced cooling system with an enlarged radiator

The LS engine gives the Hummer plenty of torque to pull through most any situation and the stock chassis has been re-designed to accept the increased power. Here are a few highlights of the Hummer’s improved suspension and handling:

• Rotora high-performance brake package

• Performance Modified suspension with Tenneco/Rancho four-inch lift package

• Rancho reservoir shocks

The H3R also offers an improved exterior look and feel to give the concept an individuality from the original H3. Here are a few of the headlining exterior highlights:

• Forward-tilting hood with a see through Lexan insert

• Deluxe Power-operated hood hinges

• Racing paint scheme with custom H3R badging

• Off-road lighting package with a newly styled light bar

• Extended wheel flares with quick-remove fasteners

• Starr Lighting HID headlamps

• Clear front corner lamp lenses

• Front “bull” bar

• Body-color gas “Jerry” can mounted on the spare tire carrier

• Twenty-inch wheels

• Mickey Thompson Bear Claw 35-inch off-road tires

• Fixed quarter window inserts

• Auxiliary 20-gallon fuel tank

• Rocker protectors

• Under body shield

• Side-window weather deflector

• Hitch receiver cover

• Body-color grill

The H3R gets quite a face lift in the interior region as well to compliment its enlarged ponies under the hood, strong stance, and exterior “bling”. Interior highlights include:

• Re-trimmed interior with brushed metal accent

• Front racing seats with five-point safety harness for both seats

• Weather-resistant seat material

• Washable rubber floor covering replaces carpeting

• Simpson window safety net

• Navigation radio system

• Off-road integrated display gauge (compass, inclinometer, altimeter, and timer)

• Auxiliary performance gauges

• Second-row seats deleted (weight reduction)

• Cargo-area spare tire mount

• Roadside assistance package

• Designer first-aid kit

Cadillac CTS Sport Concept-

 Photo by Jalopnik at Flickr.com

With BMW, Audi, and Lexus on top of the luxury car market, Cadillac is determined to set the CTS Sport Concept as a major player. To help in this, Cadillac offered a glimpse at their new CTS-V Sports Concept. To the dissatisfaction of the classic Caddy power lover’s, the CTS-V Sports Concept was unveiled with only a 304 Hp 3.6L direct injection V6 engine, instead of the 400 hp 6-speed V-8. To help keep buyers minds off the relatively small displacement, the Cadillac received a few bolt-on, go fast, stop fast goodies, including:

• Corsa cat-back exhaust with rectangular outlet tips

• High-performance brakes and drilled/slotted rotors

Beyond these few actual power adders, the new caddy has plenty of performance “looks” to help make-up for its limited performance potential:

• Modified hood with wire mesh inserts

• Unique front and rear fascias with carbon fiber and wire mesh inserts

• Carbon-fiber front fender extractors

• Unique rear deck spoiler

• Export-model tail lamps, with clear lenses

• Headlamps with unique housing finish

• Polished, forged 20-inch wheels

• Roof-mounted ‘OnStar’ antenna

• Brake ducting with LED lights

Words like “ridiculous”, “ugly”, and “too much mesh” were used to describe the new tuner exterior of the concept. They did approve of the new exhaust ports however, but that was the extent of it. To add to the tuner exterior, Cadillac also added a few “tuner” touches to the interior, such as:

• Carbon-fiber interior trim plates

• ‘BlueConnect’ Bluetooth integrated into the headliner

• Recaro sport seats with leather trim

All-in-all we have to ask if a Cadillac CTS is really the right vehicle to a tuner package to its line up. What do you think?

Saturn Astra “Tuner” Concept-

 Photo by WorldCarFans.com

A very unlikely candidate as a tuner was showcased this year. The lean, not so mean, long wheelbase, and wide track, Saturn Astra Concept. The 2008 European-inspired base platform has a somewhat peppy 1.8 liter 160 horsepower Ecotec engine that has been made slightly stronger (up 20 horsepower) using the basic tuner recipe of a few popular “bolt-on” performance goodies, including:

• Newly designed exhaust header manifold

• Cold-air intake

• Modified throttle body

With performance not the highlight of this tuner edition Astra, the exterior modifications of the base XR three-door were actually rather impressive and suiting. Of the numerous exterior goodies applied to give the Astra a racier look, the 19-inch OPC wheels and lowered body set the car. Additional race-look goodies were also installed to give the Astra a unique character, such as:

• New front and rear fascia extensions

• New grille surround finish

• Tinted windows

• Tinted headlamps and tail lamps

• Rear center-outlet exhaust

• Production side moldings delete

• OPC rocker panels

• OPC rear spoiler

Saturn then added a nice interior package to give the driver a feel that the car is a lot faster than it actually is… and to tell you the truth, if looks could increase horsepower, the concept Astra would be a worthy adversary to the Subaru WRX. The interior highlights include:

• High-performance Recaro seats

• Unique interior trim

• Unique sill plates and parking brake handle

• GMA pedals

• Blaupunkt high performance sound system

Perhaps in todays ever increasing gas prices, looking cool has become more important than actually proving it. But the Hummer H3R is definitely an exception to this rule…