[Photos 5A1 through 5A7]Focus RS8We've seen Focus subcompacts converted to rear drive and V-8 before, but this one was the cleanest and most intriguing yet. Built by Ford Racing Performance Parts (FRPP) and based on the European market Focus RS, the RS8 uses an all-new suspension with pieces inspired by Kugel Komponents' kit up front and a 8.8-inch solid rear axle in the back on coil springs. Four-wheel disc brakes and 18x8-inch European RS wheels inside Michelin rubber are supposed to keep this rocket planted to the ground and somewhat stoppable. The 420hp, fuel-injected Cammer itself is backed by a Tremec five-speed manual transmission. Where's the production version?
[Photos 5B1 through 5B2]FR100 Panel TruckBased on the same chassis as the FR100 pickup shown last year, the FR100 Panel Truck uses a '53 F-100 body over a tube chassis using the front suspension from the FR500 Mustang project and a modified IRS from the SVT Cobra. The UPS paint job just makes it that much more bitchin'. With an Eaton blower, the injected Cammer in this wicked panel is projected to make 600 hp ... which should be enough to challenge the 18-inch wheels and Goodyear Eagle F1 tires.
By the way, this truck is officially certified as a part of the UPS fleet as truck number 019530. If only we lived in a world where all UPS trucks were this nasty.
[Photo 6B]Viper SRT-10 CarbonThe Viper also got the lightweight treatment in the form of this Viper SRT-10 Carbon. Coming in about 150 pounds less than a standard Viper, this one uses a carbon-fiber hood, decklid, and custom hardtop along with lightweight 18- and 19-inch diameter wheels (18s in front, 19s in back).
More interesting than the diet were modifications made to the 8.3L V-10. A throttle-body for each of the cylinders, matching velocity stacks, a cowl induction air intake, oversize valves, and massaged heads pump the monstrous engine's output up to 625 hp from the stock 500. Remember when 500 hp used to seem like a lot?
[Photo 7B]Jay Leno's '55 Buick RoadmasterThis seemingly innocuous '55 Buick Roadmaster, owned by Tonight Show host Jay Leno, was on hand at SEMA to showcase the new 572 big-block. Leno bought this car when he was a struggling young comic in Los Angeles and supposedly lived in it for a while. It was saved from decrepitude by Leno's own shop in Burbank, California.
The stock appearance is completely deceptive; the chassis features a mix of C5 front and C4 rear suspension pieces, the wheels are really 17-inchers in diameter, and those wide whitewalls are really Z-rated performance tires. In other words, the car is totally a sleeper. That is, it's a sleeper until the moment the ignition is turned over and the 572's carburetor sucks in the hood and spits it out the exhaust system with a monstrous belch.
[Photo 7D]Pontiac GTO AutocrossAnd the award for the first modified '04 GTO goes to ... GM! Modifications to this Aussie wonder included 18-inch wheels and tires, the camshaft and heads from the Corvette Z06's LS6 V-8 on the 5.7L LS1 V-8 to thump output up to about 400 hp, front and rear fascia extensions, a rear spoiler, and a symmetrical dual exhaust. All the parts and pieces should be available as SPO accessories now that the GTO is on sale.
Toyota Builds A Small-Block[Photos 116-0403.SCUP 8 on disc]It's no secret that Toyota is running NASCAR Craftsman Truck races this year. But until SEMA it hadn't shown the engine it will use in the series-or in its soon-to-commence assault on the Nextel Cup series.
Toyota's OHV, pushrod racing V-8 displaces the full 358 ci NASCAR allows and looks very Mouse motor-like in many ways. That includes the siamese center exhaust ports in the aluminum cylinder heads, and that this engine can be bolted up to any Chevy small-block bellhousing without further modification.