Concept

A company best known for creating bicycles is dipping its toes in the electric car business with a new concept called the SIN. No, it’s not named after the immoral act; “SIN” is actually a hat tip to the “contemporary urban sprawl of Singapore.” On that note, the Biomega SIN is a simplified electric vehicle that takes a shape similar to a lot of mobility concepts we’ve seen in recent years. A production model is planned for the future, but for now, it’s only a concept that just made its debut at the China International Import Expo.

The São Paulo Motor Show in Brazil is always a good place to find interesting models that don’t usually make their way to the U.S. Nissan is known for having a big presence in the event, and this year’s no different. The Japanese automaker brought the Frontier Sentinel Concept — we call it the Navarra here — to The Land of Drizzle. The Frontier Sentinel is a rescue concept truck is described as “sturdy enough to go on missions in the most extreme and remote areas.” In other words, it would make for a sweet ride in the U.S., provided Nissan makes it production-ready in the first place.

The Chevrolet Silverado ZH2 is a military, heavy-duty version of the popular Silverado pickup truck. Developed by General Motors’ new military defense unit, it’s powered by a next-generation Hydrogen fuel cell and advanced battery systems.

Remember the Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 from 2016? GM Defense just revived the project, but it’s now using the bigger Silverado truck and newer technology. Okay, so it’s just a concept for now, but it could become a full-time military vehicle in the future. More importantly, the tech under the shell could find its way into the fuel-cell production car that GM promised to deliver by 2022. Until that happens, let’s see what this truck is all about.

Introduced in 2008 as a replacement for the Chevrolet Cobalt (and its Pontiac G5 and Saturn Ion doppelgangers), the Cruze is two years into its second-generation as of 2018. Available in both sedan and hatchback body styles, it’s offered with two gasoline engines and a diesel engine in other markets. But, unlike its predecessor, it isn’t offered in performance-oriented guise yet. This could change soon, as Chevy unveiled a beefed-up concept car at the 2018 Sao Paolo Motor Show.

Powered by an engine that generates almost 300 horsepower, the concept goes by the name Cruze Sport6 SS. The "SS" badge, most famous for adorning the Camaro, is not new to compact GM cars, having been used on the Cobalt SS, a 260-horsepower coupe sold until 2010. On top of the beefed-up engine, the Cruze SS also features more aggressive exterior features and a sportier interior. It actually looks ready to go into production, but the fact that Chevy chose to unveil it in Brazil without much fuss on social media may be a sign that it’s not going into production anytime soon.

Volkswagen wants to start selling a pickup smaller than the Amarok which it plans to call Tarok and which is previewed by this very close to production concept it revealed at 2018 Sao Paulo International Motor Show in Brazil.

The vehicle revealed in Sao Paulo is nearly identical to the production model it previews, and we really expect VW to only operate major changes to the front fascia in its transition from study to series production.

Judging by the fact that its interior is identical to that of the VW Tharu, a China-only SUV related to the Skoda Karoq and Seat Ateca, it’s pretty clear the project is already in the advanced stages of development - there is nothing even remotely concept car-like about the way it looks inside.

The plan is to reportedly just sell it in Brazil, where it would sit below the Amarok in the company’s pickup hierarchy. On the local market, it’d rival models from Fiat and Renault; no plans have been announced to sell it outside Brazil yet, but it seems unlikely VW won’t try to push it in other markets as well.

Kia has brought a bold modified example of its yet to be launched, all-new K900 to the 2018 SEMA show in Las Vegas. The look of the vehicle has been transformed by DUB, a famous name on the aftermarket scene, specializing in big rims and other accessories. However, it seems somebody over at dub is stuck in the year 2002 because the way the car is modified could only be described as droll and old-fashioned by late-2018 standards. Sure, it stands out, but it may not necessarily attract the right kind of attention.

Pizza chain Pizza Pie is once again digging into its bag of marketing gimmicks with the introduction of the Toyota Tundra PIE Pro. Built in collaboration with Toyota, the Tundra PIE Pro is, quite seriously, a zero-emission pickup with a robotic pizza-making factory in the truck bed. Unfortunately, the Tundra PIE Pro is nothing but a concept, dashing our hopes and dreams of one day seeing this creation pull up in our homes with a fresh pan of Pizza Hut’s finest.

The 2018 SEMA Auto Show was completely lit. Automakers far and wide presented versions of their models in various states of tune. Honda was on-hand at the event, bringing with it a number of Civic Type R concepts, a Ridgeline camper, and the obnoxiously cool Rugged Open Air Vehicle Concept. As awesome as they are, none of these concepts caught my attention more than the Honda Pedal Car. It’s probably a side-show attraction at best, but I don’t care, it looks awesome as hell, and I want one stat.

After the PB18 E-Tron, no one really expected Audi to reveal a new supersport car. Yet, it did - the Audi RSQ e-tron. It’s animated, though. Like, cartoon type of thing “animated.” Designed in conjunction with Fox, the new Audi RSQ e-tron is bound to appear in the next animated movie Spies in Disguise, starring none other than Will Smith. As many of you may recall, this is not the first time for Audi and Will Smith to appear together on the big screen. The actor had that astonishing futuristic autonomous Audi for the movie I, Robot. Obviously, right now, the driving part isn’t really possible.

Redesigned for the 2019 model year, the Acura RDX looks sportier than ever and boasts enough luxury features and state-of-the-art tech to give the German competition a run for its money. Unfortunately, it’s only marginally more powerful than its predecessor, even in the new, sportier A-Spec trim. This is where the Graham Rahal Performance update comes in, adding some extra grunt for the 2018 SEMA Show.

Founded in 2017 by race-winning Honda IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, Graham Rahal Performance (GRP), which owns an Acura dealership, decided to meddle with compact luxury crossover. In an effort to add style, power, and performance to the RDX, GRP customized the SUV’s exterior and interior and upgraded the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. The end result is the most powerful third-generation RDX ever created, but it’s only for display purposes. At least for the time being.

Lexus was in attendance at the 2018 SEMA Auto Show with a number of show-stopping offerings, including a custom Lexus LS 500 F Sport. The new take on the LS 500 F Sport is far more subtle than you’d want it to be, but it does offer a glimpse of the LS 500 F Sport’s tuning potential. It comes with a full custom wrap, a new set of wheels, a performance brake kit, and an extensive aerodynamic kit that bolsters the LS F Sport’s appearance. For a car that acts as Lexus’ flagship sedan, these upgrades bring out a side of the LS that none of us get to see regularly. In other words, these upgrades are exactly what the doctor ordered.

The Dodge Super Charger is a concept car that marks the 50th anniversary of the second-generation Charger, produced for the 1968 to 1970 model years. Unveiled at the 2018 SEMA Show, the Super Charger is a restomod that combines the design of the original Dodge Charger with modern parts from Mopar and the Challenger SRT Hellcat and Demon. More importantly, it showcases a new Hemi V-8 engine that cranks out an incredible 1,000 horsepower.

The big news here is that the 7.0-liter mill is a crate engine that you’ll be able to buy from FCA starting in 2019. The Super Charger was created specifically for the massive mill, which was dubbed Hellephant as a tribute to the original Mopar 426 Hemi engine, nicknamed Elephant due to its size and power. Obviously, Hellephant combined both the classic Elephant and the modern Hellcat monikers. The Hellephant is also the first 1,000-horsepower crate engine offered by an OEM carmaker.

Continue reading to learn more about the Dodge Super Charger concept.

The 2018 SEMA Auto Show played host to a pair of custom-tuned Ram 1500 pickup trucks, including one that goes by the name “Low Down.” Based on the 1500 Big Horn trim level, the Low Down is what happens when you raid Mopar’s parts bin for equipment that can be used to give the 1500 Big Horn a more “slammed-to-the-streets” styling direction. It doesn’t do anything to emphasize the 1500 Big Horn’s masculinity, but it does give it a new urban look that plays well in the underground street racer culture. All it needs is a little nitro boost — perhaps machine guns, too? — and it’ll fit right into the kind of cars you normally see in the Fast and Furious franchise.

The 2018 SEMA show is here, and Nissan is headed to Vegas with a newly tuned iteration of its aging 370Z sport compact coupe. This latest build combines a selection of parts plucked from the factory, and the aftermarket, as well as a smattering of custom one-off, fabricated pieces that “may appear someday alone or packaged together at Nissan dealership parts departments.” Sounds great, but how does it fare amongst the best of the best in the desert?

Lexus is about to launch its first small crossover, the UX, and to show how one could be customized and be made more aggressive; it’s brought a striking UX 250h study to the 2018 SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The 2018 SEMA Auto Show is hosting a number of sick aftermarket creations, including a Lexus ES 350 F Sport that features updated styling and an interior that can capture the hearts of sommeliers the world over. The Lexus ES 350 F Sport is one of three custom-built Lexus models appearing at SEMA. It doesn’t have the sportiness of the LS F Sport Custom or the ruggedness of the UX 250h Custom, but the ES 350 F Sport Custom has something neither of its stablemates has: wine. Lots of it, too.

Volkswagen is bringing three Jetta sedans at the 2018 SEMA Auto Show. The flashiest of the three is the Air Design USA Jetta SEL, which takes its cues from all the accessories that Air Design offered for the sedan that was the rage back in the 1980s and 90s. The program is a perfect call back to those times, especially with the arrival of the A7 generation of the Jetta. The Volkswagen Air Design USA Jetta SEL takes its place at the SEMA Auto Show alongside H&R Special Springs Jetta R-Line and the decked out Jetta S by Jamie Orr.

Well known Volkswagen enthusiast Jamie Orr thought of a fantastic project with Volkswagen of America - to build an awesome custom Volkswagen Jetta S in six weeks’ time and present it at this year’s SEMA. With the photos of his astounding Jetta bathing the fields of social networks all around the world, I am here to tell you about the tiresome, but fun six-week voyage Orr had to take to finish this project. Right now, the White Silver Jetta S is exposed at the SEMA Motor Show, and it showcases a wide array of aftermarket parts. Orr was directly involved with the development of these parts as they basically did not exist six weeks ago. Not in their physical form, not as 3D rendering pieces on a PC, or even as ideas. Well, right now, they garnish the exterior of possibly the best car Volkswagen showcased at SEMA this year. This all-involving project was focused on crafting aftermarket pieces from the ground up.

The Nissan Kicks will be in attendance at the 2018 SEMA Auto Show, except that it’s not actually the Kicks in the traditional sense. The SEMA-bound Kicks also goes by the name “Sound Machine” for reasons that are pretty obvious if you’ve seen what it looks like. The Kicks Sound Machine is a DJ booth on four wheels that Nissan created with the help of Hollywood-based Vehicle Effects. The vehicle made its debut at the 2018 BET Awards back in July, but those attending SEMA will get to see it for the first time, including the bazillion speakers it has at its disposal.