Mods

Toyota must be getting sick of people calling it dull, because for sheer absurdity, no vehicle we saw at the 2010 SEMA Show impressed like Toyota's Swagger Wagon Supreme concept. Based on the new 2011 Sienna, this stretched out concept takes moving people to the next level.

The Swagger Wagon Supreme features a wheelbase that's been stretched by 44 inches, creating much more room for people and gadgets, but essentially retaining its seven-seat configuration. From the front seats to about the tailgate, the Sienna's carpet has been replaced with wood flooring. The second row captain's chairs … Read more

Whether you're a fan of its vehicles or not (and we're pretty split here at Car Tech), Scion's booth at the SEMA Show is always a treat. With the automaker's support of the aftermarket and a veritable army of customizers putting their individual spins on their xBs, tCs, and xDs, the Scion booth is always home to crazy customs and tricked-out tuners. Scion sent us a preview of this year's show cars, which includes a nautical themed xB dubbed The Squid and an All Stretched Out xB that's been extended by 48 inches into … Read more

Yesterday, we took a sneak peek at some of the custom Ford vehicles that will be on hand at the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. However, that list was all Fiestas, Explorers, and Fusions. Where were the Mustangs?

Today, Ford delivers with an all-pony car preview of a few of the custom Mustangs, most of which started life as 5.0 GT models, that we'll see at the show. From the pink Creations n' Chrome convertible to the street-warrior-themed MRT custom coupe, it's always a thrill to see the completely different directions the customizers take when … Read more

Hyundai hit the 2008 SEMA Show hard with an ultraluxe selection of its then-new Genesis Sedan. In 2009, it was the Genesis Coupe's time to shine and the automaker made the sports car available to almost any tuner who wanted one--keeping the best, of course, at its own booth. At the 2010 SEMA Show, Hyundai continues its aftermarket blitz with the new flagship Equus, giving one example to the guys at Dub for their trademark treatment of big wheels, big style, and big sound. Another Equus benefits from Hyundai's longstanding relationship with Rhys Millen Racing, getting a … Read more

Ford's booth at the SEMA Show is never a disappointment. Often it's filled to the brim with custom Mustangs, crazy F-Series pickups, more Mustangs, the occasional low-slung GT, and a few classic Mustangs. This year, however, it appears that Ford is giving center stage to the smallest of its lineup, the 2011 Ford Fiesta, bringing no fewer than eight examples of the little guy to the show in the desert. Other freshly updated models will also have their time in the aftermarket spotlight, including the Taurus SHO, the new Explorer, and the Edge, featuring upgrades running the gamut … Read more

It wouldn't be the SEMA Show without a few tire-smoking drag racers. Toyota throws its hat into the ring early, previewing the heavily modified Tacoma X-Runner RTR. The "RTR" stands for Ready to Race. Obviously, Toyota means business with this project pickup truck.

Toyota calls the RTR a "parts bin" build, meaning that nearly all of the components that went into the project are available Toyota products--supposedly, only the traction bars and driveshaft are non-OEM parts.

Starting with the larger Tundra's standard 5.7-liter V8 and automatic transmission, Toyota's gearheads bolted a TRD … Read more

Audi of America has announced that it will be exhibiting at the 2010 SEMA Show, which is significant because this will be the first time that the premium automaker has participated in this very aftermarket-focused event.

Now, we've seen more than a few R8s and S5s at the SEMA Show in years prior, but these vehicles have always been brought by third-party purveyors of parts and accessories, not the automaker itself. This time it's personal, as Audi of America will have a presence on the show floor--alongside the likes of Ford, Hyundai, Honda, and others--unveiling new dealer-installed accessories, … Read more

The Joby Gorillatorch Blade is the latest in a line of hands-free flashlights that includes the Gorillatorch Original and the Gorillatorch Flare. While all three 'torches feature Joby's trademark flexible, bendable legs--a feature that originally debuted on the Gorillapod line of tripods--the Blade differentiates itself with an all-new chassis for the lamp and a few new features. It's also the most expensive, which may be a turn-off for casual users.

Starting with the Gorillatorch Blade's flashlight, the unit features an anodized black aluminum tube chassis that's about 6.25 inches long and 1.33 inches thick. The unit is IPX-5 water-resistant, which means you could probably douse it with a hose or rinse it in a sink, but you probably don't want to go submerging it. The unit's design also lends a bit of inherent shock-resistance. Dropping this guy onto concrete may mar the finish, but the functionality probably won't be affected.

Located at the business end of the lamp is the CREE XLamp XP-C LED. When Joby calls this guy ultra-bright, it's not just blowing smoke. Standard output from this LED is 65 lumens, which matches the output of the Gorillatorch Original and proved to be more than bright enough for most of the uses we could think of. However, for users who need even more brightness, the Blade also features a boost mode that doubles the output to 130 lumens for a moment or for up to a three-minute burst. By twisting the head of the flashlight, users are also able to adjust the cone of light emitted by the Blade, widening it to a 160-degree flood or narrowing it to a 30-degree spotlight.… Read more