GM to Show Cool Concepts at This Weeks SEMA Opening

Photos

Chevys HHR joins a host of rival manufacturers to display its customized wares and aftermarket parts. (Photo: General Motors)

A unique grille treatment puts a racy spin on the HHRs otherwise zoomy personality. (Photo: General Motors)

Enhancing handling while appealing to the "bling, bling" crowd, 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy rims, wrapped around performance tires should get the blood coursing through the veins. (Photo: General Motors)

New HHR Concept a Real Head Turner

SEMA, short for the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), opens the doors to its 2005 show, held in the Las Vegas Convention Center, on Tuesday, the largest of its kind in North America. But what was once a varied assortment of niche manufacturers now includes the biggest players in the industry, using the opportunity to connect with the early adapting trend setters that frequent the event.

Among these manufacturers Detroits big three play a big role, with specially tuned versions of common rolling stock designed to inspire North Americas youth and young in heart to buy their products and customize them using OEM and aftermarket parts.

Expect DaimlerChrysler to make a big showing, with a bevy of tricked out Dodge Chargers and maybe a modified Jeep Commander, or two, while Ford would be crazy not to have at least one Fusion, possibly a new Lincoln Zephyr and no doubt a half dozen Mustangs to complement the hundreds of independent parts suppliers using Mustangs as display booth eye candy.

What about GM? As expected there will be many new production and concept cars on display, the former tuned to appeal to the SEMA crowds and the latter already exclusive enough to garner attention to their respective brands. No doubt, Pontiac will be displaying its Solstice, front and centre, and possibly its new G6 coupe and convertible models, while it would be crazy not to arrive with a tweaked Saab 9-3 SportCombi or 9-5. When it comes right down to it, GM has many new cars worthy of personalizing, but none fits the bill better than its HHR compact crossover.

A unique two-door HHR has been created, six inches longer than the stock HHR and with B-pillars that are canted forward substantially in order to give it a sportier appeal than the stock five-door HHR wagon. Its new grille and front fascia are distinctive, and form into a windshield which has been chopped four inches under stock. The new concept is also two inches wider in front and four inches wider in back, providing a solid stance on the road, while its ride height has been lowered by three inches in the front and three and a half inches in the rear.

While its cool to look at and unique enough in design to warrant fewer comparisons to Chryslers PT Cruiser, its whats under the hood that should cause palpitations of adrenalin among enthusiasts. Its already impressive 2.0-liter Ecotec four-cylinder gets bumped up from its stock 170-horsepower to a rather heady 270-horsepower via boost from a supercharger.

Enhancing handling while appealing to the “bling, bling” crowd, 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy rims, wrapped around performance tires should get the blood coursing through the veins, while a zebra-wood cargo bed and an audio system rigged for iPod integration make the HHR custom a cozy, warmhearted place to be.

Of course, GM and the other Big 3 players arent the only game in Vegas this week, with Hyundai using the event to unveil its all-new three-door Accent, prime for customization, Honda sporting its completely revised Civic, and every other imported brand debuting unique versions of their cars, trucks, SUVs, and crossovers.