The RM500 Genesis Coupe. Image: Hyundai Motor America

We couldn’t make it to this year’s SEMA show, since no one picked us up hitchhiking on I-95. Instead, we’re at the mercy of the manufacturers, many of which flood our mailboxes with press releases on the latest SEMA decal kit or paint job. Some build cars that we’d really like to drive, and topping that list is the Hyundai Genesis Coupe built by Rhys Millen Racing (RMR). In fact, we’d go so far as to say it’s a car that Hyundai itself should be building.

The RM500 Genesis Coupe. Image: Hyundai Motor America

RMR started out with a 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, then shoehorned in a 5.0-liter Hyundai Tau V-8, good for 450 horsepower thanks to some tuning and an RMR exhaust. Next came some tasteful carbon fiber trim, which RMR will be bringing to market soon. To ensure the RM500 handles and stops as good as it looks, RMR bolted on 19-inch forged HRE wheels and used Brembo carbon ceramic rotors in all four corners.

The RM500 Genesis Coupe. Image: Hyundai Motor America

Inside, the driver and passenger get Sparco Chrono sport seats and an RMR interior suede package, which gives the Genesis Coupe an upscale feel. The car is sprayed in black, which only adds to its “don’t mess with me” demeanor.

The RM500 Genesis Coupe. Image: Hyundai Motor America

John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, is said to be a big fan of the 5.0-liter Genesis Coupe, but that doesn’t mean it will see production. Hyundai has dismissed the car as “too expensive to build,” and believes that a V-8 Genesis Coupe may steal buyers away from the Genesis R-Spec sedan. We’d beg to differ, since a 5.0-liter Genesis Coupe could be positioned to combat the Ford Mustang GT and the Nissan 370Z, something the current 3.8-liter Genesis Coupe doesn’t do well.

The RM500 Genesis Coupe. Image: Hyundai Motor America

Production versions would have to see some cost saving measures, so things like the HRE wheels and giant carbon-ceramic brakes would likely get the axe. The oil cooler and rear differential cooler would probably be cut, too, since these are only needed for serious track duty. Still, there’s enough of the good stuff left over to make a V-8 Genesis Coupe interesting, and we’d bet that Hyundai could bring one to market for around the same $30k starting price of a Mustang GT.

SEMA is off to a big start this year featuring astonishing aftermarket modifications to everything from a common Chevrolet Camaro to a Bugatti Veyron. SEMA represents some of the best offerings from automotive aftermarket vendors around the world. At SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) you can expect to see the hottest rides tailored for the enthusiast market in addition to meeting great people who keep the wheels of the aftermarket world spinning, literally in some cases. We bring you some exclusive images from our partners at Luxury Auto Direct magazine below. Enjoy!

The current Mazda2. Image: Mazda Motor of America

When it comes to the current batch of minicars available in the United States, the Mazda2 is among the most entertaining to drive. Like all things Mazda, the car handles better than you expect it to, belying its economy car roots. In fact, the Mazda2 wants to be driven hard, and like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, rewards drivers who know to carry speed into corners. With modest horsepower, preserving momentum is the key to good lap times.

Maybe that’s a politically correct way of saying that the Mazda2 needs more power. Acceleration from 1.5-liter, 100 horsepower four-banger is modest at best, although no worse than it was from the old Mazda Protege with the base engine. Proof that more power in the Mazda2 is a good thing can be had by watching videos of a “Mazdaspeed2” entered into this year’s One Lap of America. Equipped with a tuned Mazdaspeed3 engine good for around 300 horsepower, the car was unbelievably quick and capable of impressive lap times.

Since it was a privateer effort, and not a factory-backed build, mechanical problems limited the car to a 42nd place finish in this year’s One Lap. The car drew crowds at every event, often accompanied by comments like, “Mazda should build this,” or “where can I buy one?”

Now comes word, via Left Lane News, that Mazda itself is working on a 2013 Mazda2 Turbo. We won’t call it a Mazdaspeed2, since it’s way to early to speculate on whether the car will get the full Mazdaspeed treatment. Tuners are getting up to 160 horsepower from the current Mazda2 via the addition of turbos, software, intake and exhaust, but don’t expect Mazda to push a car with a factory warranty that hard. Even 140 horsepower would be a 40 percent jump in output, and it would certainly add to the Mazda2’s entertainment value.

There’s no word yet on when or if the car, expected to debut at this year’s SEMA show, will see production. We’ve got our fingers crossed.

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

The 2010 SEMA show in Las Vegas is back and packed full of new vendors with creative ideas to draw the most attention. One credible company that provides top-quality aftermarket exhaust systems for motorcycles and sports cars, Akrapovic, has an interesting booth at this year’s SEMA show. One of the main attractions is a new Ferrari 458 Italia hanging from the ceiling.

One of our sponsors, PSI – Precision Sport Industries located in Winter Park, FL (an official dealer for Akrapovic products), was able to demonstrate to us the remarkable build quality that goes into Akrapovic products from an installation they performed on a BMW M6 just recently.

Akrapovic Automotive Products Make Their Debut at SEMA 2010

-04 November 2010

Akrapovic is proud to introduce our line of automotive exhaust systems to North America today at SEMA. SEMA 2010 also marks the world premiere of Akrapovič titanium exhaust systems for the Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche 911 Turbo (997 FL), Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG, Nissan 370Z, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.

Giovanna is known for supplying high-end wheels for some of the most expensive cars around. For SEMA this year Giovanna proves that they are one of the ‘big-players’ in the automotive aftermarket game with one of the most talked-about booths at the 2010 SEMA show. They had on display Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. Our partners LuxuryAutoDirect.com were there to capture the bliss and were so kind to share the photos below with us. Enjoy!

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!

The SEMA show is the world’s largest automotive aftermarket venue and this year it has kicked off with a bang with many OEM auto manufacturers bringing some surprises.

For one, Toyota has brought out all types of ‘modified’ vehicles that will appeal to all of its fan-base including Scions and Lexus vehicles galore. From a 680 horsepower Nascar-Themed Camry to a 505 horsepower Tacoma that sports a supercharged 5.7-liter V8 from the Tundra. Even the infamous ‘Swagger Wagon’ Toyota Sienna will be in true ‘swagger’ form.

Other auto makers such as Audi will make this year’s SEMA show a first for them bringing out even more horsepower in the form of a 710 horsepower V10 R8 Spyder developed in part by Stasis engineering. Chevy has a few secret projects of their own and Hyundai is pimping its new Equus luxury vehicle into a VIP status symbol.

Be sure to hit us up later for exclusive 2010 SEMA photos.

Check out the videos below showcasing some of the preliminary highlights of this years SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV.