SCION STORMS SEMA
A threesome of Scions earns accolades at the annual aftermarket trade expo
Scion participated in its sixth consecutive Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in early November, commanding a sizable presence at the premier automotive aftermarket products trade event on the planet. Among its stable, a trio of vehicles was honored with three unique high distinctions - Peter Colello's xB was awarded grand prize in the 2009 Scion Tuner Challenge, Cartel Customs' 2010 tC nabbed a Mothers Choice Award in the ninth annual Shine Awards, and Chris Rado's WORLD Racing time attack tC earned "Best Asian Import" at the seventh annual Gran Turismo Awards.
This year's xB Tuner Challenge brought together three innovative and creative visionaries and each was handed the keys to a new 2009 Scion xB to modify however they pleased. A cool $10,000 in prize dough was up for grabs for the vehicle judged to be overall winner.
Scion vice-president, Jack Hollis, announced that this year Colello and his firm Mummbles Marketing would take top honors with its well-rounded show car. Resplendent in BASF Teal Blue Pearl, Colello's winning box conversion flosses a BRS wide-body kit and 20-inch TIS rims to first grab your attention.
Under hood, the engine bay is dressed up with a wire tuck and boost comes by way of Descendant turbo setup, but it's the little touches, like the shaved exterior and interior, which really make the xB stand out. The interior is completed with over-the-top in-car entertainment, one of Colellos' signatures, that includes three seven-inch Pyle monitors, another 13-inch Pyle screen, a double-DIN Pyle source unit, and Mobile Spec amps, speakers and subwoofers.
For the Shine Award competition at the 2009 SEMA Show, an international panel of judges consisting of industry experts, hobbyists and past winners spent nearly two days non-stop deliberating over entries. When all was said and done, the superb 2010 Scion tC built by Jeremy Lookofsky and Cartel Customs was a runner up in the contest.
The Cartel tC impressed judges with a TRD supercharger kit, side-exit exhaust, full air bag system with relocated suspension points, and 22x8-nich custom Cartel-designed billet wheels wearing Toyo 435/30-22 tires. A three-inch roof chop and custom metal fabrication covered in a pearl white base with a two-tone completely make over the coupe's visual impact, while Alpine audio and an embossed upholstery finish the interior.
Started in 2001, the Shine Award honors uncompromising excellence in vehicle design. Judging is based on overall appearance, attention to detail, integration of custom and stock elements, paint finish, creative vision and execution of concept.
Finally, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) hosted its Gran Turismo(r) Awards during SEMA at the Palms Resort & Casino's Rain Nightclub, international Las Vegas hot spot and celebrity playground. In the sweepstakes, the "Best Asian Import" award was given to Rado's WORLD Racing Unlimited Front-Wheel-Drive tC.
The Scion coupe is a purpose-built competitor, outfitted with go-fast bits that include a turbocharged 2AZ-FE mill, XTrac sequential gearbox and massive forward wing element for serious front downforce. With Rado behind the wheel, the combo has netted the team a remarkable seven consecutive class wins and seven records out of the past seven events this season.
Once a year, the Gran Turismo Awards offer SEMA show exhibitors the opportunity to be included among the ranks of the famed Gran Turismo racing franchise, as one car is chosen to be added to a future Gran Turismo title and driven virtually by millions across the globe.
With more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibits, the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry professionals from more than 100 countries each year. The show serves the $31.85 billion automotive specialty-equipment industry, which enables consumers to personalize and enhance their vehicle's appearance, performance, comfort, convenience, safety and fun factor. Since customization and personalization are Scion cornerstones, SEMA is a natural fit for the automaker.
For more information, please visit www.scion.com and www.semashow.com.
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12.09
