The Pininfarina 2ettottanta; yes, please.

Concept cars are a lot like Playboy centerfolds: they’re generally enhanced to focus on beauty over function, you usually can’t gets your hands on one and if you do, chances are it won’t meet your expectations. Like centerfolds, concept cars are meant to be things of ethereal beauty, unattainable to mere mortals. The best we can hope for is a trickle-down effect, where styling elements from concept cars (or centerfolds) make it to production cars (or your girlfriend). Each year, manufacturers highlight the work of their design studios at auto shows around the globe. Most of these concepts will never see production, but will live on the body panels and interiors of cars yet to be built.

In 2010, most automakers were still reeling from the global economic collapse of 2008-2009. Budgets that would have gone to funding concept car design (or even attending auto shows) disappeared as automakers struggled to pay employee salaries, keep the lights on and keep their doors open. Concept cars may not have been as flashy or over-the-top as in years past, but there were still plenty of concept car introductions last year. Here are 10 that Automotive News named as their favorites:

VW New Compact Coupe

More substance than flash, the VW New Compact Coupe debuted at the Detroit Auto Show, and is remarkable for its hybrid drivetrain and 45 mpg fuel economy.

Cadillac XTS Platinum

Another Detroit Auto Show introduction, the Cadillac XTS Platinum featured all wheel drive and a plug-in-hybrid drivetrain. Unlike most concepts, the XTS will most likely see production.

Mazda Shinari

As shown at the L.A. Auto Show, Mazda’s Shinari concept will never see production. What will see production, however, is the Kodo design language embodied by the Shinari, which replaces the stoned-guppy look of Mazda’s outgoing Nagare design. And that’s a good thing.

Nissan Allure

Also introduced in L.A., don’t expect to see the Allure at a Nissan dealer anytime soon. Instead,expect to see design elements (like the Ninja warrior inspired grille) on future Nissan sedans.

Audi eTron

Although this debuted at Frankfurt in 2009, I guess it was close enough to the 2010 show circuit to include it in the mix. Audi will build the eTron, and they’ve already warned us that it’ll be the most expensive product in their lineup. You can’t expect 3,319 ft lb of torque, or a zero to sixty time of 4.7 seconds to be inexpensive, I suppose.

Subaru Impreza Concept

Debuted at the L.A. Auto Show, the Impreza concept gives us a good idea of what future Subaru styling will look like. Expect to see this “Confidence In Motion” design theme carried across both Impreza and Legacy product lines.

Porsche 918 Spyder

Introduced at this year’s Geneva Auto Show, Porsche has given the green light for production of the uber-hybrid, based on customer demand. Expect over 700 combined horsepower, a fuel economy of 78 mpg and a price tag north of $600,000 when the car is built.

Alfa Romeo 2ettottanta

Shown at Geneva to mark Pininfarina’s 80th anniversary, the Alfa Romeo / Pinninfarina 2ettottanta gets my vote for concept I’d most like to see built, but with a pronounceable name. Given Alfa Romeo’s financial struggles, it isn’t likely that the 2ettottanta will see production, but we can still hope that design cues trickle down to the next Alfa Spyder. Assuming there is one.

Toyota Sienna Supreme Swagger Wagon

Shown at SEMA, the Swagger Wagon Supreme is an example of an ad campaign gone too far. The ads were funny for about 15 minutes, now they’re just pathetic. Toyota isn’t going to build this beast, so if you want one, better phone B.A.D. Company to get your own copy built. Just paint it black and include a stripper pole on the inside, OK?

Jaguar CX75

Shown at the Paris Auto Show, the Jaguar CX75 demonstrates that Jaguar can still build stunning cars. The concept used for electric motors, one at each wheel, generating a combined 780 horsepower. Two small gas turbine generators (non functional on the concept) would, in theory, charge the batteries. Sadly, all this beauty is for naught, as Jaguar has no plans to produce the CX75.

November 2, 2010; Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Welcome to the 44^th Annual 2010 SEMA Show, ‘the greatest motor vehicle show in the world’.

Meeting in the 1-million+ square foot Las Vegas Convention Center just off the Las Vegas Strip, SEMA draws more than 100,000 automotive aftermarket buyers and 1,850 manufacturers from the United States and over 100 countries in the world.  It is the largest gathering of small businesses in the United State.

You’ll see displays of the latest offering for your car or truck from these companies, plus more than 1,000 vehicles are on display featuring many of these products ready to drive off the convention center floor.

The SEMA Show exits to serve the specialty-equipment market.  Automotive retail professionals and custom vehicle builders meet to find out the new trends for the year ahead.  The SEMA Show is ‘eye-candy’ for the enthusiast who loves new cars, classic cars, new trucks, classic trucks, hotrods and custom vehicles.

COPYRIGHT:2010:HARVEY SCHWARTZ

IMAGE CAPTIONS

1.      AutoMeter Gauge Cluster Display

2.      AutoMeter LED Readout Display

3.      Blue Coaster 1948 Ford on Display at Dynamat Booth

4.      Las Vegas Convention Center Signage

5.      Deusenberg V8 Poster Girl

6.      Ford F-150 Drifting Action

7.      Ford F-150 Drifting Action

8.      Ford GT Drifting Action

9.      Deusenberg V8 on Display at Mother’s Polish Booth

10.  Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth Yellow Custom Hotrod

11.  Edelbrock 555 M/T V8

12.  Edelbrock Custom Manifold Display

13.  Factory Five GTM Kit Car Built Off a Gen II C-5 Corvette 0-60 in 3sec.

14.  SEMA Foot Traffic

15.  2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 Liter V8 on Display at Ford Booth

16.  Fully Customized Jeep 4X4X4 Wrangler

17.  Hawk Brakes Poster Girls

18.  Hellwig Anti-Sway Bar Display

19.  Jacked-Up Custom Classic Truck on Display at Spray On Chrome Booth

20.  JBL/Doug’s Headers/Patriot Exhaust on Display at their Booth

21.  K&N Twin-Turbocharged 2007 Dodge Viper 2,200hp Build For Silver State Racing

22.  MagnaFlow Exhaust Piping Under 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T on Display

23.  MagnaFlow Exhaust Poster Girl Signing Her Poster

24.  Mooneyes Product Display

25.  2011 Mustang Supercharged 5.0 Liter Custom Built by Roush

26.  Roush Supercharger close-up

27.  Crash Test Dummies on Display at Seat Belt Planet.com

28.  Ford F100 on Display at Street Trucks Magazine Booth

29.  1955 Custom Chevy Bel Air

30.  1961 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Twin-Turbocharged V12 on Display at BASF Booth

31.  Interior of the 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

Our partners at LuxuryAutoDirect.com have shared a few Live photos of vehicles at this year’s SEMA show. For 2010, SEMA has had a comeback in participation which is a good sign for things to come in the automotive industry from several different angles. Here are a few images vehicles at the 2010 SEMA show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Enjoy!

Our sponsor Vossen Wheels had the chance to go to SEMA this year and to put on display their popular monoblock wheels as well as some of their Vossen Forged designs. Even though the economy kept some vendors away from SEMA this year, it was still a big hit and the images from Vossen’s booth are yet more proof of that concept.

About Vossen Wheels

With over a decade of experience in the automotive industry, Vossen Wheels has finally filled the void for those who are looking for a high quality one-piece wheel. With sizes ranging from 19″ to 22″ and widths up to 11″, Vossen Wheels has designed its models to target the luxury automotive community with their versatile fitments and styles. All Vossen Wheels feature a stainless steel lip up to 4″ inches deep that give each wheel that highly sought after multi-piece look while still being light weight. All Vossen Wheels offer tire pressure sensor capability and clearance for most high performance brake upgrades. Each Vossen Wheel is backed by a two-year manufacturer’s warranty, which proves that we stand behind our product 100%. Vossen Wheels are the perfect accessory for those who are looking to stand out in a crowd, while also maintaining comfort and proper style.

Contact Vossen Wheels

Vossen Wheels
2000 NW 96 Ave
Miami, FL 33172

info@vossenwheels.com
888-463-7778

Every car enthusiasts dream, a hot car and a hot female to along with it. Maybe a few kids and a dog if you are the SUV type. Nonetheless, the girls at this year’s SEMA show are just as of a big hit as Chip Foose’s latest creation on display. If you into this kinda thing I wont knock it. Below are a couple extensive photo galleries of SEMA girls at the 2008 SEMA Auto Show.

Gallery after the jump…

AutomotiveAddicts senior editor, Harvey Schwartz, goes to this years 2008 SEMA Auto Show – ‘EYE CANDY FOR THE ENTHUSIAST’

Las Vegas, NV: November 4, 2006: Las Vegas Convention Center-
Customized cars, hotrods, exotics, trucks, anything on four-wheels, is on display for the next four days at the SEMA Show. SEMA (Specialty Automotive Manufacturers Association) is the trade organization for the world-wide automotive aftermarket industry. Everything that you buy for your vehicle after your initial purchase is part of the automotive aftermarket.

Image gallery after the jump

About 1,900 automotive aftermarket manufacturers meet in Las Vegas every year around this time to show their new and innovative product line to the tens of thousands of retail buyers and customizers from around the world. Last year’s sales figures exceeded $30-Billion.

Unfortunately, with the dramatic slowdown in the auto retail sector, sales for the aftermarket should also decrease, but no one knows by how much.

Nonetheless, this year’s show was spectacular, eye-candy for the enthusiast who enjoys seeing a vehicle taken to the extreme in paint color, exterior styling, horsepower, performance and interior enhancements to make the ride even more fun and enjoyable.
The SEMA Show is the world’s largest automotive show with more than 1,800 custom cars and trucks on display, inside and outside of the giant Las Vegas Convention Center for all to see.

COPYRIGHT:2008:HARVEY SCHWARTZ

Yesterday highlighted several Chevy Camaro Concepts at the 2008 SEMA Auto Show in Vegas and today we have a few versions of various Dodge vehicles including the new Challenger to showcase.

Some of the various Dodge Challengers that can be found of the floor of this year’s SEMA show include a Mopar Underground Targa and Blacktop Challenger, several old-school Challengers, Group Five Limited twin-turbo G5/R, and a big SR10 Challenger Concept. Other Dodge/Plymouth vehicles include the new Dodge Ram’s in a few different configurations, the Chip Foose Terracuda, and a view down Mopar Alley with some oldies but goodies.

Enjoy the images (after the jump)

The opening of the SEMA 2008 Auto show today highlights several versions of the new Chevy Camaro including a LS7 Concept, Camaro GS Race Car Concept, Camaro Black, Camaro Convertible and a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Camaro.

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro has made a hit already at the 2008 SEMA Auto Show. Below are several images from autoblog where they witnessed the many versions of the Camaro displayed at the 2008 SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas, NV.

click below for hi-res image