Hatchbacks may not offer the same kind of thrill as sports cars and muscle cars. They also don’t have the utility of SUVs and pick-ups. Heck, they’re not so much for luxury, either. But at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show, hatchbacks will have their turn in the spotlight as a host of custom-modded hatches will be making their way to Las Vegas.
This list comprises most of the vehicles you’ll see. There are Scions iQs, Ford Fiestas, Ford Focus, and even a Lexus CT200h. Not only are these vehicles modded to the brim, but they also give us an idea on all the possibilities that come with aftermarket works being done on hatches.
The people who think that hatches aren’t cool enough should take a good look at this list and if they don’t change their minds, then they really need to check themselves before they wreck themselves.
But for those like us that enjoy modded hatchbacks, this list will tell us all the vehicles we need to look out for at the SEMA Auto Show.
Check out the 2011 SEMA Auto Show: Hatchbacks after the jump.
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The Mazda Turbo2 won’t be the only green Mazda getting some attention at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show. 3D Carbon has arrived with its own Mazda2 tuning package to share the spotlight. Painted in a very cool Spirited Green Metallic paint, the 3dCarbon Mazda2 is highlighted with a vinyl graphic design courtesy of Sticky Fingers Design and darkly tinted side and rear windows.
The colorful additions to the Mazda2 are joined by a body kit manufactured in a high-pressure polyurethane injection molding. The body kit includes a front air dam, side skirts, a rear lower diffuser, and a Mazda2 Touring-spec upper rear spoiler. The exterior kit is topped off with a new set of 18" FIVE:AD S6:F Gunmetal wheels wrapped with Yokohama S.drive 215/35R18 tires. The vehicle will also be equipped with an Eibach Springs Pro-Kit that improves handling as well as visual appeal.
Unfortunately, 3dCarbon has decided not to match up their exterior modifications with equally pleasing engine updates. In fact, they did aboslutely nothing to increase the vehicle’s output. It’s too bad, it would’ve been cool to see the same 2.3-liter Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) turbo engine found in the Turbo2 displayed underneath the hood of the Mazda2 by 3D Carbon.
Updated 11/09/2011: Check the picture gallery to see new images of the Mazda2 by 3dCarbon from the SEMA Show.
There’s no chance you can wipe the smile off of the Mazda 2Turbo’s face because quite frankly, this is the most awesome Mazda 2 we’ve ever seen.
Details behind the car’s specs have yet to be revealed - we actually found the photos on Mazda’s Flickr page - although the caption it came with pretty much sums up what this car is all about: “One of our most powerful turbocharged engines in our lightest platform. ’Nuff said!”
The name seems to suggest that the race-spec hatch will come with a turbocharged engine that could potentially be akin to something a lot more powerful than the car’s existing 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 100 horsepower.
Exactly what kind of powertrain lies under that hood? At this point, it’s anybody’s guess. But if we were to take a little stab at it, we’re guessing that it could be somewhere along the lines of a 2.3-liter unit that pumps out 244 horsepower. It seems a little outrageous given the car’s current capabilities, but then again, that’s what the SEMA Auto Show is all about.
Whatever the case may be, we’re itching to find out what the Japanese automaker has in store for us with this gnarly little beast that’s already looking like it’s armed and ready to tear up race tracks from here to Timbuktu.
Updated 11/09/2011: Check the picture gallery to see new images of the Mazda Turbo 2 from its official at the SEMA Show.
In today’s world, spec series racing is only limited to the virtual world of Gran Turismo. Sure, it’s a fun and affordable way to get some racing burn on a race track, but the truth of the matter is, it’s constrained to nothing more than video games. Real world racing of this kind costs a lot of money and resources, and people that have neither of those things are left out of luck.
Despite the fact that there are no B-spec professional series out there, Honda and Mazda are setting a goal of providing close racing in affordable cars by jointly announcing the formation of "B-Spec" Showroom Stock racing. The performance divisions for each brand – Honda Performance Development and MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development – recently unveiled their entries for a proposed new low-cost B-Spec series, using the Honda Fit and the MAZDA2 as their respective platforms.
As one of the fastest-growing segments in the entire automotive industry, B-segment vehicles have grown in popularity because they’re affordable and, more importantly, have enjoyed a tremendous following from younger demographics. That success has translated into the idea of producing cheap(er) B-Spec racers with the Fit and Mazda2 being two of among a number of other hatchbacks that would fit into this category. Other vehicles include the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, and Chevrolet Aveo.
Continued after the jump.
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Small cars don’t have to be boring, just ask owners of the legendary Mazda MX-5. This car doesn’t have the power of a sports car or the size of a supercar, but it sure is fun to drive, more so than some of its larger car counterparts.
Mazda has been known to be small car lovers over the years, as they take these tiny chassis and make them fun to drive. Take the MazdaSpeed 3 for instance. It wasn’t large and it wasn’t as powerful as a Ford Mustang, but it had to be one of the best driving vehicles on the road.
Mazda hopes that their new Mazda 2 Evil Track will continue this small sporty car theme, as it takes the base 2 and adds a touch of speed to it. Imagine what would happen if the cute little green Mazda went to prison and you get the idea of what this Evil Track is all about.
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