SEMA: Scion xB L-Con City Safari Pick-Up

Toyota’s American offspring is all about body conversions at this year’s SEMA show. Along with the xD Dalek speedster Scion also presented the Sage Vaughn xB L-Con City Safari concept –we’ll call it xB pick-up for short. Unfortunately, Scion hasn’t released many details on the xB pick-up but hey, it’s not as if you’re ever going to see any of these roaming around the streets of Manhattan or anything. -Image gallery after the jump

• SAGE VAUGHN - SCION xB L-CON CITY SAFARI DETAILS
• • Truck conversion
• • Custom black TRD wheels
• • Lowered 3”
• • Super white fog lights (8)
• • Safari cage and bumper with rear step
• • Bed liner
• • Beard rear facing seats
• • Graphics by Sage Vaughn
• • Door graphics by “Lou”
• • Paint and body by Third Element Designs
• • Custom interior by Advanced Specialties
• • PA system

Hyundai Concept Genesis Coupe – Coming To 2007 L.A. Show

In a surprise move toady, Hyundai released the first official sketches of the Concept Genesis Coupe which will be unveiled at the 2007 L.A. Show in mid-November. As the Korean carmaker points out in the Spartan press release, the Genesis Coupe concept hints at Hyundai’s long-rumoured rear-wheel drive sports coupe. Well, judging by the teaser sketches, it looks like it may very well be worth the wait. -Press release & one more image after the jump

PRESS RELEASE: LAS VEGAS, October 30, 2007 – Concept Genesis Coupe (shown here as an exaggerated sketch) will make its world debut at the 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show on Weds. November 14. Concept Genesis Coupe hints at design direction for a future rear-wheel drive sports coupe from Hyundai.

Via: Autobog.com , Source: Hyundai

SEMA: 50 Cent’s Customized 500 Hp Pontiac G8

Rap stars, basketball players, singers, TV personas –you name it, every one is entitled to pimp a ride at SEMA. Curtis Jackson (ok, 50 Cent) on his behalf teamed up with Pontiac and New York-based tuner shop, Unique Autosports to build this one-off 2008 G8. Unlike the “officially” customized G8 that we showed you earlier today (click here), this Pontiac has received some major modifications under its hood as it is equipped with a 500 Hp LSX 427 c.i. V8 engine that uses GM Performance Parts LSX cylinder block as its foundation.

In terms of appearance, 50 Cent’s dream G8 gets custom paint and exterior appointments, as well as a re-trimmed interior outfitted with a high-end audio system, 22-inch chrome alloy rims in Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires, tinted glass and a Borla stainless steel exhaust system. -Images and details after the jump

PRESS RELEASE - 50 CENT'S NEW WHIP IS A 500-HORSEPOWER PONTIAC G8 CUSTOMIZED BY UNIQUE AUTOSPORTS

With lyrics that don’t pull punches and themes that are brutally honest, rapper 50 Cent (a.k.a. Curtis Jackson) has risen to the top of the hip hop scene. He’s also a passionate car enthusiast with a penchant for Pontiacs – his video for the song “Amusement Park” featured the G6 GXP and G8 concept cars.

Now, 50 Cent has teamed up with Pontiac and New York-based tuner to the stars, Will Castro, and his shop, Unique Autosports (the same shop featured on the television show “Unique Whips”), to build a one-of-a-kind G8 performance sedan. It debuted at the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

“Partnering with Pontiac has given me the opportunity to create something truly unique – a customized performance vehicle I am really proud of,” said 50. “The G8 is like none other and it pushes the boundaries of what people think a car has to be.”

The new G8 – which goes on sale nationally in early 2008 – is totally customized, with custom paint and exterior appointments, as well as a re-trimmed interior outfitted with an audio system that shakes the ground as much as 50 Cent’s three albums shook up the charts. The car is powered by an LSX 427 engine dyno-tested to more than 500 horsepower and assembled only with components available from the GM Performance Parts catalog or GM Parts.

Rockin’ the spot

The LSX 427 engine uses GM Performance Parts’ affordable, durable LSX cylinder block as its foundation. The engine assembly was filled out with a variety of production-based components used on the Corvette Z06’s 7.0L LS7 engine, including a forged steel crankshaft, lightweight titanium connecting rods, racing-derived aluminum cylinder heads and a complete LS7 intake/throttle body/fuel injection system. Engine operation is handled with GM Performance Parts’ new stand-alone LS7 crate engine controller.

Detroit-area Thomson Automotive oversaw the assembly, dyno testing and installation of the engine. From there, the car was shipped to Unique Autosports, on New York’s Long Island, for the rest of its transformation, which included:

• An all-new Spies Hecker Torch Red exterior paint job accented with a bold Ebony graphic that mimics the shape of Pontiac’s “dart” insignia; the graphic runs over the top of the car, starting at a point on the front fascia
• Twenty-two-inch chrome wheels from NC Forged that have a deep-dish, seven-spoke design
• Low-profile Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires
• Dark-tinted taillamps
• Tinted glass with Llumar film
• Custom “50 Cent Unique Autosports Edition” exterior badging
• Borla stainless steel exhaust system

“The most interesting aspect of the project is what we didn’t do to the exterior,” said Will Castro. “We didn’t add a body kit, spoilers or lower the car. The G8 has the right stance and appearance, so we only accented the original form with details that made it unique to 50 Cent.”

Inside, the G8’s black, leather-covered seats were re-trimmed with perforated red leather inserts – with similar trim used on the armrests. The 50 Cent/Unique Autosports logo was embroidered into the seat headrests and custom floor mats. The finishing touch for the G8 is an 800-watt JBL audio system, with complementing amps and a subwoofer.

“A first-class audio system was a must for 50 Cent, and this one rocks the spot,” said Castro. “In fact, the G8 itself just-plain rocks and makes a great platform to build a custom, high-performance street car.”