Stacy David - Industry News

Reborn El Camino Coming To The US

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 15:35:00 -0500

The once popular car-truck segment exemplified by the Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero is soon to be resurrected. The 2010 Pontiac G8 sport truck blurs the line between cars and trucks and is creating an all-new segment in the North American car market. This dramatically different vehicle blends the handling of a performance coupe with the cargo capabilities of a light truck.

Based on the all-new Pontiac G8 performance sedan, the newest member of the G8 family has a longer wheelbase and a cargo bed suitable for either work or play. The G8 sport truck is expected to arrive in showrooms in late 2009.

Another unique aspect of this new vehicle is the fact that it will be named by a consumer, and consumers can visit www.pontiac.com/namethiscar and submit their name ideas. “As an important part of the G8 family, we know that ‘sport truck’ doesn’t fully describe the vehicle’s ability to blur the lines between sports car and truck,” said Craig Bierley, Pontiac marketing director. “Because its fans will surely be as unique as the vehicle itself, we’re giving them a voice in selecting a name that reflects its appeal.” The winning entry will be announced April 15.

The G8 sport truck maintains the same exterior design as its namesake sedan. Flared fenders wrap around the 18-inch wheels to give it a wide stance. The roofline has a coupe-like profile that reflects the vehicle’s performance pedigree. The doors, roof and exterior panels aft of the B-pillars are unique from the G8 sedan. One-piece outer body panels give the vehicle a sleek appearance. Wrap-around taillamps and fully concealed tailgate hinges add to the sculpted look. A color-coordinated, soft tonneau cover conceals and protects items in the cargo bed from the weather.

The sport truck draws its strength from the same 6.0L V8 engine used in the G8 GT. It puts out 361 hp and 385 lb.-ft. of torque. The combination of a six-speed automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management technology provides both car-like fuel economy and an unexpected 0-to-60 time of 5.4 seconds.

While these performance numbers are respectable by sports car standards, the G8 sport truck offers flexibility unlike that of a sports car. A 73.9-inch cargo bed has 42.7 cubic feet of cargo space and a durable composite bedliner. It also can carry a payload of more than 1,074 lbs. and tow a 3,500-lbs. trailer.

Mobile-Electronics Trends for 2008

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:45:00 -0500

Around this time each year, mobile-electronics suppliers unveil their latest technologies, and retailers get the chance to see what will hit their shelves in the upcoming months—and what they can offer their customers in 2008.

The mobile-electronics industry has been going through drastic changes in the last several years as it faces increased competition from higher-quality factory audio systems and as automakers seek to profit by adding popular electronic conveniences, such as Bluetooth and iPod integration, that were previously the primary domain of the aftermarket. But the mobile-electronics aftermarket is built on offering new and existing car owners technology, products and performance that the OEMs either can’t or won’t deliver. So while many mobile-electronics retailers may not be selling as many headunits, amplifiers, speakers and other audio components as they were during the industry’s boom times in the ’80s and ’90s, the innovative technologies and the latest trends for 2008 that are mentioned here can provide savvy retailers ways to generate store traffic and repeat customers.

OEM Integration

Ever since auto manufacturers began offering “premium” sound systems in their vehicles—and making it more difficult to replace stock audio components by tying them in to other vehicle functions—mobile-electronics manufacturers have been answering the call by offering products that allow retailers to upgrade stock systems with more power and better speakers and add other features. For 2008, more mobile-electronics suppliers than ever are offering OEM-upgrade technologies, and the products themselves have become increasingly sophisticated to keep up with the corresponding complexity of stock audio systems and vehicles in general. These include amplifiers and other components with built-in “line out” converters that bring the amplified audio signal from a factory headunit down to “line” (unamplified) level and, more recently, dedicated components that actively filter out the signal processing that OEM systems add to the audio signal and can wreak havoc on the sound quality of specialty-equipment components. Some of the latest OEM-integration products will even allow the car owner to use a factory touchscreen to operate specialty-equipment or even fully control an iPod.

iPod Integration

One trend that continues for 2008—and shows no sign of slowing anytime soon—is iPod integration. While many other portable music players are available—and some vehicles now come with hard drives that can store hundreds of songs, as well as USB ports for easy access to even more MP3 music files—the iPod continues to reign as king of the road. In the past few years, iPod-integration products have evolved from bulky adaptors that required accessing music via the iPod itself (which is never a good idea while driving) to easy plug-and-play solutions, with the device completely controlled through the headunit.

Now there are even “discless” headunits—aftermarket radios without a CD mechanism that are designed primarily to accommodate an iPod or to access music on some other medium, such as SD cards. For 2008, the number of discless headunits has increased, mainly due to demand for them in 2007. Plus, mobile-electronics manufacturers are building iPod integration into all sorts of products, from signal processors to amplifiers.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Another continuing trend that looks to pick up momentum in 2008 is Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, particularly as laws banning handheld mobile-phone use proliferate, such as the one that goes into effect in California this summer. While Bluetooth products have been a profitable add-on for mobile retailers over the past several years, equipment suppliers are offering hands-free connectivity at lower price points but with added features for 2008.

For example, as portable devices begin to converge and phones double as music players (think of the iPhone), wireless streaming of music has become possible using a Bluetooth standard called Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP). More Bluetooth suppliers are offering A2DP products in 2008, and more car-audio manufacturers have introduced radios that have built-in or add-on A2DP capability in anticipation of the technology becoming more mainstream and increased consumer awareness of the technology. In addition, instead of devices that simply allow a car owner to send and receive calls and talk hands-free while driving, more aftermarket Bluetooth products are adding valuable features, such as caller ID, access to a phone’s address book and even control of Bluetooth devices through a factory headunit and using factory steering-wheel audio controls.

Navigation

The in-car navigation category is also poised for continued growth in 2008, as nav systems have come within the price range of more consumers. Fueling this expansion is the popularity of portable navigation devices over the last few years. In fact, portables have become so much the navigation system of choice among consumers that most of the full-line mobile-electronics suppliers are shifting their strategies to emphasize the portable segment of the market and all but abandoning in-dash systems.

For some of these companies, the trend has been to offer the best of both worlds by introducing portable systems that integrate with a headunit. That way, the portable can offer the features of an in-dash unit when it is docked with a companion headunit, such as voice prompts over a car’s speakers and muting of the audio, but it is still able to be moved from vehicle to vehicle.

Another major nav trend for 2008 is piping in services and information to the cockpit. For example, several navigation system suppliers recently announced partnerships with content providers, such as MSN Direct, so that car occupants can get on-demand information on fuel prices, movie theater locations and other such “location-based” services. Mapping data is also becoming more sophisticated in the latest navigation systems for 2008, with lifelike 3D images displayed for items, such as large buildings and other landmarks, that can help drivers get their bearings.

Mobile Video

Mobile video has been a boon to retailers for a decade now—and a relief to parents when they take long road trips with their kids. As is usually the case with consumer-electronics technology, prices for mobile video products have fallen over the years as competition has increased. Plus, custom applications that took hours of labor, such as installing a videoscreen in a headrest, have become packaged, plug-and-play products that are within the price range of more consumers. This year, several companies are offering mobile video products that cost much less than in the past, as well as DIY solutions that appeal to those who are willing to take on installation themselves to save a bit of money.

Another important trend to watch in 2008 will be the increasing availability of live TV in vehicles. Sirius launched its Sirius TV technology in Chrysler and Dodge minivans last year, for example. And with the FCC scheduled to cease analog TV broadcast in February 2009 and the new digital television standard taking over, at least one large mobile-electronics supplier is readying a mobile DTV receiver that will finally make broadcast TV feasible in a moving car.

Easy-Add Amplifiers

When it comes to performance, whether it’s horsepower or audio firepower, more is usually better. But it typically takes time and money to add extra power to either a vehicle’s engine or audio system. That’s why several car-audio suppliers have come up with simple ways for car owners to add power to their audio systems and get the boost that only an outboard amplifier can provide. While most car audio amplifiers require substantial wiring and sometimes a large spot in a vehicle for mounting, a new style of amplifier has emerged that allows for a quick plug-and-play installation, little modification to a vehicle and less space to be taken up. In essence, this allows a retailer to add power to an existing audio system—and make an appreciable difference in sound quality—in less time.

Consumers Keeping Their Cars Longer

Mon, 3 Mar 2008 20:55:00 -0600

Consumers are holding onto their light trucks a bit longer than they have in the past. Vehicle registration data recently released by R.L. Polk & Co. shows that in 2007, the median age of all light trucks registered in the United States reached 7.1 years, a steady increase from 6.8 in 2006 and 6.6 in 2005. According to the Polk data, the surge of SUVs and pickups purchased in the '90s is pushing up the median age of light trucks on the roads today.

Still, car owners are holding onto their vehicles two years longer. Although remaining flat over the last two years, the median age of cars registered in the United States stayed at 9.2 years in 2006 and 2007 while increasing from the 9.0 years in use for 2005. Of the 248 million vehicles currently on the road today, the biggest percentage of cars and light trucks were purchased new in the late '90s and early this decade, respectively.

Leaded Fuel Ban on Competition Motor Vehicles Threatened In Canada

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:20:00 -0600

The Department of the Environment has issued a proposal to terminate the current exemption from environmental restrictions for leaded gasoline used in competition motor vehicles. If approved, the regulation would require a ban on vehicles using leaded fuel by January 1, 2009, resulting in the likely demise of all international drag racing competition in Canada.

New Autobody Painting Rule Protects Hobbyists and Environment

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:50:00 -0600

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a rule to regulate paint stripping operations that use methylene chloride and surface coating, and auto body refinishing operations that use paints containing hazardous metal compounds. The rule targets hazardous air pollutants (HAP) which the agency believes may cause cancer or other health disorders. The rule applies to most coating activities that emit HAP but, notably, the EPA followed SEMA’s recommendation and exempted low-volume operations such as when hobbyists restore or customize one or two cars. The EPA incorporated a number of other SEMA suggestions to make the rule as friendly as possible for companies that have spray-coating operations.

The EPA rule establishes “best practices” (spray booth, spray gun cleaning, etc.) for minimizing HAP emissions during surface coating operations. All shops are effectively required to have a filtered spray booth or prep station and use high-volume low-pressure (HVLP) or equivalent spray equipment. Spray guns are required to be cleaned manually or with an enclosed spray gun washer. The EPA believes many shops have already implemented these best practices.

According to the EPA, those facilities that have not yet done so could recover the cost of new equipment through a more efficient use of labor and materials. The EPA notes that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) already requires spray finishing operations to be performed in a booth or similar enclosure (although the new EPA rule could necessitate the use of more efficient filters than currently used).

Owners and operators are required to provide training for their painters on how to properly spray surface coatings and clean equipment. The EPA has established minimum criteria required for in-house training, similar to existing programs offered by I-CAR (The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair ), STAR (the Spray Technique Analysis and Research program), or other certification organizations. Painters would be required to complete refresher training and be re-certified every five years.

Existing operations have up to three years to purchase equipment and complete the initial training of employees. As recommended by SEMA, the EPA will rely on self-certification for training programs. Nevertheless, companies subject to the rule must send the EPA a one-time notification form stating that they are in compliance with the rule or will be within the allotted three years. Companies will have two years to submit the notification form which will contain contact information and a brief description of the operation: number of spray booths, average number of employed painters, etc. (SEMA will publish a sample notification form and EPA contact information when it becomes available). Companies will be required to maintain in-house records verifying painter training/certification, filter replacement, a plan to control paint stripping chemicals, etc.

SEMA worked closely with a number of member companies, other trade associations and the EPA to craft a rule that should have minimal impact on the hobbyist community. As a result, the regulation does not apply to paint stripping and surface coating performed by individuals as part of a hobby, or for maintenance of their personal vehicles so long as those activities do not exceed two motor vehicles (or the equivalent in pieces) per year.

Additionally, the rule does not apply to painting done with an airbrush or hand-held, non-refillable aerosol cans. As noted above, paint training is self-certified. The EPA did not pursue an earlier proposal that would have required individuals to produce a training certificate in order to buy paints and coatings. The rule is expected to take effect in January 2008, but as noted most businesses will have up to three years to comply with its various provisions.

EPA Rejects California Greenhouse Gas Regulations

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:55:00 -0600

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has denied California’s waiver request to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from automobiles starting in 2009. The CO2 rules were issued by the California Air Resources Board and adopted by 12 other states. The EPA overturned the regulations on the same day that President Bush signed into law an energy bill to raise the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards for passenger cars and light trucks by 40% to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. SEMA worked with the automakers and other industry associations as part of the CAFE Coalition to help negotiate a compromise to the new fuel economy standard.

Under the new federal law, the amount of renewable fuel used will increase to at least 36 billion gallons. According to the EPA, the new CAFE law and renewable fuel provisions will achieve greater greenhouse gas savings than the California program. Additionally, the federal approach provides a national solution, as opposed to a potential patchwork of state rules.

Under the Clean Air Act, California may seek a waiver to establish its own air quality rules (which can then be adopted by other states). This is the first time the EPA has completely rejected a waiver request. The agency noted that previous waiver petitions covered pollutants that predominantly impacted local and regional air quality. The EPA reasoned that a national framework for addressing greenhouse gases is necessary since the emissions are global in nature and impact every state.

California intends to appeal the EPA decision. Additionally, the Supreme Court recently directed the EPA to study the problem of greenhouse gases, paving a path to for EPA to potentially recommend even more stringent regulations if, in consultation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it deems them necessary.

Early Run On New Dodge Challenger

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:30:00 -0600

Dodge dealers began taking orders for the new Challenger SRT8 on Monday, December 3, accepting deposits from more than 6,000 prospective owners by Wednesday, according to an AutoWeek report. Dodge sources say that the automaker will produce less than 10,000 units in its first run.

Additional Challengers will follow with lesser engine options than the SRT8’s 6.1L V8.

Hot Wheels Design Director Alec Tam

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:50:00 -0600

Attendees at the recently concluded 2007 SEMA Show were bound to notice that Mattel’s Hot Wheels brand has kicked off its 40th Anniversary celebration, which will extend throughout 2008. The marketing-savvy toy company partnered with SEMA at the Las Vegas event to present the brand’s logo, as well as the slogan, “Fueling the Passion for Hot Wheels” on everything from T-shirts and Show programs to banquet and awards paraphernalia.

In addition, Mattel introduced its Hot Wheels Design Awards at the Show, honoring four customized vehicles that epitomize the brand’s values of speed, power, performance and attitude.

Yet a more personal link between SEMA and Hot Wheels exists within the ranks of Mattel’s creative team. Alec Tam, the company’s director for Hot Wheels design, was a recipient of a SEMA Scholarship when he was earning his bachelor of science degree in transportation design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, though, he was well on his way to finalizing his vocation long before he ever began his formal studies. Alec’s father, Paul Tam, was a Hot Wheels designer in the ’70s, and he set the foundation for his son’s love of cars and design in general.

“He brought his work home and sketched cars all the time,” the younger Tam said when we spoke with him recently. “I thought it was pretty normal for any dad—until I grew up and realized that he was doing really cool stuff.”

Part of Tam’s in-home experience was his father teaching him to draw. “It was almost like I didn’t really have a choice,” Tam said, laughing. “I was actually kind of good at it, so I just followed it as a career path. I always enjoyed car design and being around cars in some way, shape or form. Anything with wheels, really.”

The Hot Wheels phenomenon was born in 1968 when Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler happened to see a customized El Camino in the company parking lot. Mattel had developed a wheel that made its toy vehicles faster than any of the competitive products at the time, but the styling of the El Camino sparked an idea. “I want that car,” Handler said to one of the company’s designers, and that began one of the most successful toy and collectible legacies in history. Now, 40 years later, the Hot Wheels consumer demographic includes everything from toddlers to octogenarians—anyone, in short, who enjoys custom vehicles—and includes the full gamut of vehicle types.

“Hot Wheels is one of the few places where you don’t get jaded,” Tam said. “Take a look at some of our fantasy cars. Some of them are ground-up Hot Wheels design concept cars. They’re for kids, but that’s where we stretch our imaginations. In any one day, you could see one designer working on the latest custom Camaro that’s got 22-inch rims and another trying to figure out how to stuff an airplane engine into a MINI Cooper. Those are the kinds of things that kids love. They aren’t things you can do in a real car company or even in a lot of car customization circles. It’s something that you might only be able to do at Hot Wheels because kids are open to those things.”

The “real” car designers are also open to those things, apparently. Tam said that the Hot Wheels Designer’s Challenge was created in order to honor its automotive partners and have them actively participate in the brand’s 40th anniversary celebration. The challenge will result in a new line of Hot Wheels vehicles that will spring from creations submitted by designers from participating manufacturers that included Dodge, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Lotus and Mitsubishi.

“We recognized that they have some incredible design horsepower at those car studios,” Tam said, “and we thought it would be great to see if there were any Hot Wheels guys in there. We had a judging panel of Hot Wheels marketing and design management, as well as journalists. There were a lot of good entries and a lot of people in the individual design studios who were very passionate about Hot Wheels. It just so happens that the ones who won were hard-core Hot Wheels collectors or people who fondly remembered growing up with Hot Wheels.”

In fact, a surprising percentage of car builders, hobbyists and hot rodders cite Hot Wheels as their first exposure to custom cars. And that trend seems to be continuing today.

“I would love to say at the end of the day that I had an impact on a kid’s life, on them staying in custom-car culture or car design or even wheel culture in some way, whether it’s skate boarding or bikes or anything like that,” Tam said. “I learned a lot of good things through my love of cars: getting my hands dirty. Seeing tasks through. Being focused. Solving problems. A lot of those are inherent in the custom-car culture. I would be proud if a kid stayed in it long enough to become a man or woman who learned how to do those things.”

Tam and the other designers make it a point to attend local, national and even international car shows of all kinds in order to keep abreast of the trends that appeal to the amazingly broad spectrum of the Hot Wheels audience.

“The SEMA Show is obviously the jewel in terms of the quality of the cars, the designers and the customizers involved,” he said. “But the ideas come from a lot of places. Obviously, the custom-car culture and car shows are really what drive us here in the United States. In general, if a car fits the speed, power, performance and attitude values of Hot Wheels, it’s considered. Then what it comes down to is whether it’s going to be interesting for kids or adults. I think that the SEMA Show really represents the pinnacle of that passion for custom cars.”

The challenge for Tam and the other designers is to continually come up with something new. Kids today have a lot of entertainment options, Tam pointed out, and while creating toys is a lot of fun, there’s also a significant amount of serious business involved.

“There may be a misconception that we don’t do serious design because we design for kids a lot of the time,” he said. “But I think you can’t get more serious than designing for kids. You’re designing for customers who can’t really tell you what they want, so you have to figure it out. That takes a ton of creativity. To me, that’s really pure design. It’s got to be fun; it’s got to be innovative. I think the misconception is that it’s not serious design because it’s toys. I would disagree with that any day of the week.”

Gas Prices Rise But Enthusiasts Still Buy

Mon, 3 Dec 2007 09:00:00 -0600

Consumers say they are changing their driving habits, according to a recent Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) survey, with 90% saying they are driving less, 31% carpooling more and 30% purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles. Another 75% said they are better maintaining their vehicle (which could translate to more money spent on maintenance products).

AAIA surveyed 500 people during the beginning of November when the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline hovered around $3.06. Now that prices have shot up to $3.15 a gallon ($3.44 in California), will consumers continue allocating disposable income to automotive specialty equipment? Data from SEMA’s Automotive Lifestyles survey may provide answers.

A survey of automotive magazine subscribers and magazine website visitors during October and November (when the national average for a gallon of gasoline was as low as $2.81 and as high as $3.16) showed that nearly one in four would wait until prices rose another dollar before spending less on specialty equipment, while 18% said they'd hold out until gas rose another two dollars. An astounding 14% said that prices would have to surpass $4 before they'd cut their specialty-equipment spending.

Best New Products Announced At SEMA Show

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:50:00 -0600

The annual awarding of the Best New Products took place at the SEMA Show on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, in Las Vegas, NV. Awards were presented in 12 categories. Winners and runner-ups are:

Best New Interior Accessory Product
Winner: PLX Devices Inc. – OBD Organic LED Gauge
Runner Up: Spotlight
Runner Up: Plasmaglow

Best New Exterior Accessory Product
Winner: Go Rhino! Products/Xtreme Racks – Step-N-Tow
Runner Up: MacNeil Automotive Products
Runner Up: Cruiser Accessories

Best Engineered New Product
Winner: JME Enterprises Inc. – Pro Series Mustang Suspension
Runner Up: Professional Products
Runner Up: KW Automotive North America

Best New Merchandising Display
Winner: Truck Accessories Group Inc. – Gear-it-up Counter Display
Runner Up: PIAA Corp.
Runner Up: HushMat

Best New Off-Road/4-Wheel-Drive Product
Winner: Rancho – MyRide
Runner Up: Wade Automotive
Runner Up: Innovate Motorsports

Best New Packaging Design
Winner: Auto Meter Products – Street Rod InterAct Display Rack
Runner Up: Cruiser Accessories
Runner Up: Shell Lubricants

Best New Performance-Street Product
Winner: Nitrous Express – “V” Gauge
Runner Up: Tesla Electronics Inc.
Runner Up: Stainless Steel Brake Corp.

Best New Performance-Racing Product
Winner: Comp Performance Group – Drag Race Torque Converter
Runner Up: Race Pumps
Runner Up: Vortech/Paxton

Best New Pickup/Van/SUV Product
Winner: Go Rhino! Products/Xtreme Racks – Step-N-Tow
Runner Up: Net Shape International LLC
Runner Up: Pilot Automotive Inc.

Best New Street Rod/Custom Car Product
Winner: Barry Grant Inc. – Demon 98 Carburetor
Runner Up: Experi-Metal Inc.
Runner Up: American Speed Co.

Best New Mobile Electronics Product
Winner: PLX Devices Inc. – OBD Organic LED Gauge
Runner Up: Audiovox Corp.
Runner Up: David Instruments Corp.

Best New Tools and Equipment Product
Winner: Warn Industries – Warn Works PullzAll
Runner Up: Cam Logic Technologies
Runner Up: Specialty Autoparts USA

Four Vehicles Capture Most Accessory Friendly Vehicle Design Awards

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:50:00 -0600

Three new vehicles and one new Hybrid vehicle were recipients of the 2007 SEMA Vehicle Design Awards announced at the SEMA Show. The awards honor the most accessory-friendly vehicles of the year in four separate categories: Car, Truck, SUV Hybrid. The Nissan Titan took top honors in the Truck category, the Cadillac CTS won in the Car category and the Hummer H2 won in the SUV category. The newest award for the most accessory-friendly Hybrid vehicle went to the Chevrolet Tahoe.

Each SEMA Vehicle Design Award recipient was part of a selection process that encompassed SEMA member companies and automakers who regularly participate in technology sharing programs. These programs consist of various data sharing, measurement sessions and technology transfer initiatives which provide valuable information for each specialty equipment manufacturer to be in sync with the launch of new vehicles.

The SEMA Vehicle Design Awards were established to honor those newly introduced vehicles that best exemplify the alliance between the OEMs and SEMA-member companies. The awards recognize and celebrate the vehicles that a select group of voting members has chosen as the most accessory-friendly vehicles of the year.

Performance Top Priority of Light-Truck Enthusiasts

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:30:00 -0600

More than three-quarters of light-truck enthusiasts customize their trucks to improve performance, according to SEMA research data. Of the 1200 light-truck owners queried for the SEMA 2007 Automotive Lifestyles survey, a staggering 86% somewhat agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “I customize my vehicle to increase performance.”

Performance is not the only reason why enthusiasts modify their light-trucks, however. Nearly as many see their truck as an extension of themselves and their individuality, with 79% somewhat or strongly agreeing that their vehicle is a way for them to express themselves, and 78% agreeing that they customize to set their truck apart from others on the road.

Along similar lines, 68% of enthusiasts somewhat or strongly disagreed when asked if their vehicle was only used for basic transportation. Additionally, 59% say they prefer to modify the appearance of their truck rather than the performance.

Look Before You Honk

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:55:00 -0500

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposed rule to clarify that no horn marking is required unless the horn control is situated in a location other than in the middle of the steering wheel. In this case, the location would need to be identified with a specified horn symbol in a color that stands out clearly against the background.

The NHTSA believes the motoring public expects the horn to be in the center, thus the driver only needs to be alerted when it is in a different location. Motor vehicle controls, telltales and symbols (including the horn symbol) are regulated under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 101.

Blogs, Forums and User-Generated Content Influence

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:55:00 -0500

The Internet has a big impact on the research and purchase decisions of those in the market for a new car, says a recent J.D. Power and Associates report. Nearly 69% of new-vehicle buyers who use the Internet to research their options will end up reading one or more forms of user-generated content—blogs, forums, photo-sharing sites—in their purchasing decisions. Consumer-generated content increasingly pops up on a buyer's radar as a new way to gather what is perceived as unbiased information.

Consumer ratings and reviews are said to be the most popular forms of consumer-generated content online, with 64% of respondents reporting usage, according to the J.D. Power report. Shoppers consider forums, blogs and enthusiast/question-and-answer/photo-sharing sites helpful, but use them less than consumer reviews and ratings.

SEMA market research reveals a similar trend in the specialty-equipment industry. Results from SEMA’s 2007 Automotive Lifestyles survey show that 52% of automotive enthusiasts turn to manufacturer websites to find information about custom parts and accessories prior to making a purchase. Coming in a close second are forums, with 45% of the respondents saying they visit these types of sites.

Internet retail store sites (35% of the vote) followed, although just 19% said that they actually purchase their products at online retail stores. Only 14% said they purchased over half of their specialty equipment at manufacturer websites. Enthusiasts research their purchases at manufacturer websites, but will sometimes turn to online retail stores to make the actual purchase.

Street-Rod & Custom Owner Spending Continues To Grow

Fri, 5 Oct 2007 10:10:00 -0500

Passionate street-rod and custom enthusiasts spend on average 32% more on parts and accessories than enthusiasts of other stripes, according to data from SEMA's 2007 Automotive Lifestyles survey. Participants in the survey say they spent $4,792 on average in the last 12 months customizing their car or truck, while those who identified themselves as street-rod or custom enthusiasts spent about $1,500 more than the entire group sampled.

Those identified as "Street-rod and custom enthusiasts" were defined as those that said they were “very interested” in street rods and customs and subscribe to at least one hot-rod-related enthusiast magazine. The Automotive Lifestyles survey as a whole was administered to automotive-enthusiast magazine subscribers, and those that visited enthusiast websites that posted the survey.

In 2006, specialty-equipment sales slotted for the street-rod and custom market reached $344 million, growing at 4.7% per year since 2000.

Restoration Market Sales Nearly Double Since 1994

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:30:00 -0500

As the average age of cars on U.S. highways increases, the restoration segment of the specialty-equipment industry is starting to include cars that don't necessarily fit the typical molds of "antique" or "classic." According to SEMA Research, sales at the manufacturer level in the restoration market have nearly doubled in the past 12 years, from $253 million to $475 million.

Despite the sales gain, actual market share within the industry has dropped slightly over 1% (from 4.63% in 1994 to 3.67% in 2006). Keep in mind that these figures represent only parts sales, not the labor involved in these often extensive restoration projects. SEMA research also estimates that there are approximately 300,000 restoration projects in various stages of completion across the United States at any given time, grouped primarily into four groups:

    * antiques manufactured prior to 1920
    * domestic vehicles manufactured from 1920 to World War II
    * post-WWII domestic vehicles
    * foreign vehicles

The number of amateur and professional restorations is likely to increase in the future as older cars continue to stay on the road longer than ever. According to R.L. Polk & Co., the number of vehicles 15 years old and older almost doubled from 1990–2002, growing from 20.6 million to 39.7 million. Additionally, the average age of cars on U.S. roads has increased to 9.2 years old, up from 8.3 years in 2000.

The restoration segment encompasses a wider variety of vehicles than any other niche of the specialty-equipment market. Consequently, there are a larger number of make/model parts required to meet the demands of this market.

Pickup Specialty-Equipment Trends

Thu, 6 Sep 2007 09:05:00 -0500

Pickup sales reached 1,576,875 units during the first seven months of 2007, 80% of these being fullsize models! Each one of these new pickup owners represents a potentially new, or possibly repeat, customer for specialty-equipment companies that sell products for these trucks. With that in mind, it's interesting to which trends are currently popular.

The following is a short excerpt from the 2006 SEMA Light Truck Personalization Report, which provides statistics on what parts and accessories pickup owners purchased in the past.

Although many of the percentages of installed accessories experienced minor fluctuations from 1988–2006, there were several products that saw rather large shifts.

    * The heavy-duty trailer hitch experienced a 17% increase from 1988–2006.
    * Running boards increased by 17%.
    * Side window drip guards increased by 20%.
    * The spray-in bedliner market increased 25% since 1999.
    * Custom/chrome bumpers had dramatically decreased between 1988 and 1999, from 67% to just 6%. However, the percentage jumped to 20% for 2006, indicating that the custom/chrome bumpers might be regaining some popularity.
    * The cap/camper shell has progressively decreased in popularity from 1988–2006, with an overall reduction of 20%

How Big Is The Hot-Rod Market In Your State?

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 10:50:00 -0500

What specialty-equipment market niche do you make products for? According to SEMA market research, about 12% of SEMA members surveyed said the hot-rod and custom market generates the greatest percentage of sales revenue for their company, second only to the light-truck market. For those companies in, or thinking about entering, the hot-rod market, SEMA market research provides vital statistics on the current state of this lucrative industry segment. The following is a short excerpt from the 2006 Hot Rod Industry Report:

Classic Car Registrations: It’s important to look at how many classic cars, hot rods, street rods and musclecars are currently registered in the United States. Unfortunately, not every state keeps this kind of information. Each state classifies passenger vehicles differently, and we were unable to obtain make and model data from several states.

The problem with this is that pre-'73 vehicles would include models not considered hot rods. For example, a '57 Toyota would fall into the model years we specified, but would not be classified as a hot rod. Of course, there are also probably many pre-'73 vehicles throughout the United States that are stored in garages or barns and are not even registered.

California, the birthplace of hot rodding, has 2,775,004 registered automobiles from model years 1871 through 1972. This represents 5.99% of the total number of registered vehicles in the state. The following chart shows the breakdown of registered vehicles of model years '72 and older. SEMA was able to obtain the registration data from 26 states, although the process proved more difficult than anticipated.

Most of the state departments of motor vehicles claimed they do not keep such records. This doesn’t seem possible, for in order to register a vehicle, one must indicate the make, model and year of the vehicle in order to pay the appropriate fees. Many of the motor-vehicle departments didn’t respond to voicemails, e-mails or formal request letters. Of the states that participated, many charged fees from anywhere between $35–$1,000 for the data. Others made the data available for free.

The table below breaks down the totals by state. California represents the highest percentage of pre-'73 (2,775,004), followed by North Carolina (1,033,224). The state with the least number of pre-'73 registered vehicles is Vermont (1,331).

SEMA members can receive a complimentary copy of the full-length 2006 Hot Rod Industry Report as a member benefit. In it readers will find detailed analysis of the hot-rod registration data presented above, including a deeper look at which years and vehicle makes are most popular. In addition, the report is filled with valuable facts and figures about the ever-growing hot rod industry. SEMA members can download the report by visiting www.sema.org/research.

Spy Photo — New Mini Cabrio: 2008'S Ultimate Summer City Car

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 10:45:00 -0500

"Ignore the European plates," says spy shooter Brenda Priddy. "This all-new MINI Cabrio was caught here in the States!"

Priddy says the convertible will arrive shortly after the launch of the MINI Clubman early next year.

"Sporting a 'multifunctional' fabric top, this car is going to be the ultimate summer city car for 2008," she says. "With a C-pillar at least as wide as on the current model, visibility to the rear won’t likely be improved, although we expect the new top to stow a bit better than on the current model."

Cars.com Picks Top 10 Used Cars For $10K

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:35:00 -0500

Consumers searching for wallet-friendly wheels don't need to sacrifice safety, reliability and cabin comfort, according to Cars.com. The site recently announced its list of the best late-model used cars shoppers can buy on a budget of $10,000. Consumers looking for used cars to purchase often turn to the Internet for information to help them make their purchase. In fact, SEMA research has shown that, after personal experience and magazines, consumers say that the Internet influences which vehicles they purchase. With that said, paying attention to which vehicles some websites are recommending could help to gauge the vehicles consumers will be buying.

Cars.com says that a lot of people don't want to commit to five years of monthly payments for a brand-new car. With that in mind, Cars.com crunched retail values for late-model used cars and factored in reliability ratings, safety equipment and crash-test scores. What began as a list of 215 contenders from 2002 models onward shrank to 40 finalists. To pare things further, criteria such as gas mileage, cabin comfort and driving refinement were also taken into account. Finally, the team took a hard look at how many of these used cars had key safety features such as side-impact airbags and antilock brakes installed.

These 10 cars top Cars.com's list of best used cars for $10,000 along with a brief description of why they chose that particular vehicle.

2005 Ford Focus: The restyled 2005 Focus offers nimble handling with few of the equipment recalls that beset the early-2000s original. With a manual transmission, the Focus returns highway gas mileage in the 30s.

2003 Ford Taurus: The Taurus is a sound used-car choice for families and sensible for young drivers, Cars.com comments. Both the wagon and sedan offer generous cabin and luggage space, not to mention top reliability and crash-test scores.

2003 Mazda Protégé: It's a fun little car, remarks Cars.com editors, with Mazda's trademark steering precision and affable styling that has yet to grow old. The 2.0L four-cylinder is quicker than consumers may think, and highway gas mileage rates in the high 20s.

2003 Mercury Sable: The Taurus' upscale twin offers slightly better reliability ratings and the same stalwart crash-test scores. Factor in standard antilock brakes and available side airbags—they were installed on nearly one-fifth of all 2003 Sables—making it a solid commuter car.

2002 Buick LeSabre: Cars.com states that the LeSabre is a comfortable car for drivers young and old, and the 2002 model came chock full of safety features: antilock brakes, side airbags and active head restraints were standard, and an optional electronic stability system—a rare safety feature five years ago.

2002 Chevrolet Impala: Chevy's 2000–05 iteration of the Impala arguably boasted sharper styling than its anonymous successor. Either of the two V6s provides adequate grunt, Cars.com says.

2002 Ford Windstar: Minivan lovers can fill the Windstar with up to seven people, and there are plenty of bells and whistles for those who want them—from power-sliding doors and rear parking sensors to power front seats and heated leather upholstery.

2002 Honda Accord: The sixth generation, built from 1998–2002, delivered excellent reliability and respectable crash-test ratings. High-ticket safety options were widely incorporated: side airbags came on 46% of 2002 Accords, and ABS made its way into nearly 60%. Combine the stick shift and four-cylinder for highway gas mileage in the high 20s; it drops to the mid-20s with the V6 and automatic.

2002 Honda Civic: The Civic combines thriftiness and refinement in a way few others can, making it an excellent choice for those who often drive solo, Cars.com notes. The four-cylinder won't impress anyone with its performance, but it turns out highway gas mileage in the mid-30s.

2002 Oldsmobile Aurora: Cars.com comments that the Aurora is proof you can buy a used luxury car for around $10,000. The restyled early-2000s model earns high marks for reliability and crashworthiness. It says that most examples should have all the luxury consumers need; leather upholstery, a power driver's seat and automatic climate control came on all models, as did antilock brakes and side airbags.