Car reviews

Maserati is ending production of the current-generation GranTurismo by rolling out the GranTurismo Zeda, a one-off creation that commemorates the model’s more-than-a-decade-long run in the market. The Maserati GranTurismo Zeda comes with a lot of exclusive touches, none more prominent than a unique paint finish that separates its aesthetics from just about every GranTurismo model that has hit the market in the last 12 years. There are currently no plans to offer the Maserati GranTurismo Zeda to the public, but a limited-production run in the future hasn’t been ruled out quite yet.

The 2020 Ford Mustang Jack Roush Edition is a high-performance version of the sixth-generation Mustang designed by Roush Performance. Unveiled at the 2019 SEMA Show, the Jack Roush Edition is more than just another beefed-up Mustang. This special-edition model celebrates the legacy of its founder, Jack Roush, who was recently inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Although it’s not particularly more aggressive than other Roush-made Mustangs, the Jack Roush Edition is the most powerful vehicle created by the American firm. Rated at 775 horsepower, it packs more punch than iconic Mustang nameplates like the Shelby GT500 and the Shelby Super Snake. Let’s find out more about this powerful beast in the review below.

Unveiled at the 2019 SEMA Show, the 2021 Silverado HD Carhartt Special Edition is, in fact, the road-going, street-legal offspring of the Silverado 2500 HD Carhartt concept car shown back in 2016. Only this time, you will be able to actually get one from your Chevy dealership, provided you show enough patience to wait until the fall of 2020 when deliveries are slated to kick off.

Details are scarce for the time being and the 12-month waiting window is certainly far from appealing, but there are plenty of reasons to jump for joy. The Silverado HD Carhartt Special Edition is based on the Silverado 2500 LTZ, which means that in theory, it should be available with a V-8 engine. The only question is which one, as Chevy is offering a choice of two V-8s for the LTZ: a 5.3-liter and a 6.2-liter.

A year after unveiling a tricked-out TRD version of the Avalon, Toyota is back at it with an even more radical setup for its resident full-size four-door sedan. It’s called the Toyota Avalon TRD Pro Concept, and it’s loaded to the brim with track-spec modifications that enhance every detail of the sedan.

From aerodynamic modifications to powertrain enhancements, the Avalon TRD Pro Concept has them all. It’s a fitting homage to TRD’s 40th anniversary, though it would probably be even cooler if Toyota has plans to produce it in some capacity. For now, we can enjoy the Avalon TRD Pro Concept for what it is: a glimpse into what a full-blown, track-spec Toyota Avalon could look like if it was left in the hands of TRD. Maybe someday we can also find out what it feels like to drive.

One of the baddest and meanest trucks to have graced this year’s SEMA Show is this Ford F-250 Super Duty Baja Forged by LGE-CTS Motorsports, a California-based aftermarket company. There is nothing to not like about this truck. It looks vintage, it has the ‘Baja’ identity, and it has the old-school persona attached to it. The Baja Forged Super Duty is an all-in-one mobile command center, workshop, and campsite that will be utilized as a chase truck for the Baja Forged Ford Ranger that was launched by the company at last year’s SEMA Show. Such is the versatility of the truck that even Ford calls this the “Swiss army knife for the modern adventurer.” Need we say anything more about it?

Nissan unveiled a Time Attack-spec Nissan 370Z built by Z1 Motorsport in conjunction with Nissan Motorsport that is bound to take the world of time attack racing by storm. With 750 horsepower on tap thanks to a pair of Garrett turbochargers, this 370Z is one of the craziest you’ll ever see. The widebody is made entirely out of carbon fiber, the interior is bare, and, to shed even more weight, the body was acid-dipped. In other words, the guys at Nissan and Z1 Motorsport stopped at nothing in their mission to turn what many consider an outdated sports car into a record-breaking track beast.

The Nissan Frontier Desert Runner doesn’t have the racing pedigree of the Nissan Global Time Attack TT 370Z or the sheer tuning audacity of the Nissan Kicks Street Sport, but if you’re looking for a rugged version of Nissan’s long-standing pickup with some serious off-road chops, the Frontier Desert Runner should be right up your alley. Developed by the Nissan Motorsports team in collaboration with MA Motorsports, the Frontier Desert Runner is teeming with purpose-specific upgrades that help enhance the pickup’s already impressive form and functionality. Nissan has yet to give any indication of potential production plans for the tricked-out pickup, but that could come soon if there’s decent enough demand for it. For now, though, the Nissan Frontier Desert Runner takes center stage at the 2019 SEMA Auto Show.

John Hennessey is bringing some divine power to the 2019 SEMA Auto Show. The model is called the Hennessey Resurrection, but don’t confuse the perceived grace attached to its name. The Resurrection is a super-limited, take-no-prisoners, 1,200 horsepower Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 that can lay waste to any ill-fated automotive soul that gets in its way. Hennessey only plans to build 24 units of the Resurrection with each model priced at around $200,000. That’s right. If you want to be showered by the grace of the Resurrection, you need to pay up some serious cash for the opportunity. This is why it’s worth every penny.

The Toyota Supra has arrived at the 2019 SEMA Auto Show, and in true form, we’re not just talking about one Supra at SEMA. Nope. There are multiple Supras in attendance at SEMA, each wearing a different alter-ego. One of these models is called the Supra Heritage Edition. It’s the most subtle of the Supras in SEMA, but it’s also the one that we identify with the most. Part of the Supra Heritage Edition’s appeal is its connection to the aftermarket tuning world. Toyota created it as an homage to the tuning scene, something that past versions of the Supra were all very familiar with. Granted, the Supra Heritage Edition doesn’t boast any of the over-the-top madness that past custom Supras could claim, but as a celebration of the relationship between the nameplate and the aftermarket tuning scene, the Supra Heritage Edition is as good as it gets.

With a modern Ford Bronco just around the corner, TV personality and car collector Jay Leno gave new life to a first-generation Bronco Wagon with help from Ford Performance and various aftermarket tuning shops. Shown to the public at the 2019 SEMA Show, this Bronco retains the looks of the original SUV, but it features modern underpinnings with a supercharged V-8 built by Ford Performance. The story behind the vehicle is quite interesting, as it was left for Jay Leno as a joke by fellow TV host Craig Ferguson. Leno kept the vehicle in his garage unrestored until he decided that it deserves a new life.

Various companies and shops contributed to the project, starting with Ford Performance, FoMoCo’s very own performance division. Kincer Chassis, Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts, SEMA Garage, and LGE-CTS Motorsports.

Ford teamed up with RTR to tag-team the 2020 Ranger and has brought two fine examples to the 2019 SEMA show. One of those concepts was the Ranger RTR, and the other is the Ranger RTR Rambler. While the Ranger RTR is already up for sale, will the Rambler prove that it has what it takes to makes its way to the showroom floor? Let’s take a look at what the Ford Ranger Rambler by RTR is all about!

The Ford Mustang Mach 1 UNKL is a one-of-a-kind restomod project created by Ringbrothers and showcased at the 2019 SEMA Show. The company’s first Mach 1-based project, UNKL joins a long list of cool Mustang restomods built by the company in recent years. The apparently weird UNKL name has a simple meaning, as this build was made for a customer "who enjoys a close relationship with his uncle" and "pays tribute to his uncle’s influence on his passion for cars." It’s nice to see a meaningful message behind a car name. Well, let’s find out more about this interesting project in the review below.

RAM’s penchant for rolling out special edition trucks has paved the way for the truck brand to introduce a new run of special edition models that pay tribute to the five branches of the United States military. The special edition trucks fall under the RAM 1500 Built To Serve Edition name. Each of the five armed services — Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines — will receive their own special edition treatment. It’s unclear which of the five will get rolled out first, but the specific launches will take place every three months, beginning next week when the truck brand hosts its own Veterans Day celebration on November 11.

The 2019 Nissan Kicks Street Sport is a concept car developed by Nissan Motorsports and MA Motorsports for the 2019 SEMA Show. A more aggressive version of the small crossover, it looks a lot like a Nismo-built model thanks to its sportier stance and race-inspired upgrades inside the cabin. It even features a more powerful engine, although specific performance information is not available. Sadly, this beefed-up Kicks won’t come to a dealerships near you anytime soon. Here’s why you should be upset about it.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak is the fourth-generation drag car based on FCA’s two-door muscle car. Based on the modern Challenger, like all its predecessors since 2008, it features drag-specific upgrades and its certified for NHRA and NMCA competitions. In short, it’s a turnkey package that turns the streetable Challenger into an ideal dragster for both amateur and professional racers. Let’s find out what’s new for the 2020 model year in the review below.