Pontiac G8 GT SEMA Edition

• Looks like: The Nightmare Before Auto Show Season
• Defining characteristics: Halloween-themed color scheme
• Ridiculous features: Halloween-themed color scheme
• Chance of being mass-produced: Zero … we hope; the regular G8 GT we can’t wait for

We’re once again breaking our self-imposed rule of not showing any tuner-special cars that you won’t be able to buy at a local car dealership because … well, it’s still a Pontiac G8. We can’t get enough of the Aussie-imported V-8-powered, rear-wheel-drive sedan, no matter the jarring colors.

The cool thing about this show car is that it is pretty much exactly what we’ll get when the G8 GT goes on sale, except for the paint, a lowered suspension, enhanced brakes and 20-inch wheels. Although we’d like to see these wheels available as an option. Two more photos below.

Navigation That Scores: Infiniti G35 Wins With Users

The navigation system offered in the Infiniti G35 is the highest-rated factory-installed system in terms of consumer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Associates, which surveyed more than 14,000 motorists who have a factory-installed system in their car.

The system in the Lexus IS 250/350 finished second, while the Acura TL’s was No. 3 in the rankings. The Infiniti G35 and Acura TL systems offer a choice of voice or touch-screen activation, while the Lexus offers voice activation only.

While voice activation is considered the most technologically advanced, it's not the method of choice for nav systems, said Mike Marshall, director of emerging automotive technologies for J.D. Power. He said touch-screen activation was the top choice for 64 percent of nav system users, while 24 percent preferred voice activation, 5 percent favored knob controls and 4 percent wanted to use buttons or dials.

New Electric Car Upstart Drops $200 Million

A former software industry guru has an idea to bring electric cars to the masses, and he’s putting his money where his mouth is. Actually, he’s putting $200 million, raised from a small group of investment groups, into undisclosed test beds that will experiment with one crazy idea.

The concept is that this new venture will sell or lease electric cars, then charge a monthly fee to the owners for the battery refills that they’ll need every 100 miles or so. Think of it as Netflix for the road. A series of refilling stations will be networked in test countries and cities — again undisclosed — telling drivers where to pick up a fresh battery pack, which can be changed in the same amount of time it takes to fill up a gas tank.

Everyone seems very pleased with themselves in the story, despite the fact there aren’t many (or any) of the actual electric cars for sale yet, or even in development as far as we know, and without addressing larger geographic areas, the U.S. will most likely only see such tech in large cities.

$200 Million for Electric Cars? (BusinessWeek)

Question of the Day: What's Faster to 60 MPH?

Since SEMA officially kicks off tomorrow and we’ve already been inundated with reports on some of the production and concept cars showing up there, we figured today would be a good day to answer one reader’s question about speedy, specialized hatchbacks.

The reader’s inquiry was which hatchback is faster to 60 mph: the Mazdaspeed3, Dodge Caliber SRT4 or Mini Cooper S.

Which is faster from zero to 60 mph, the Mazdaspeed3, Caliber SRT4 or Mini Cooper S? (Ask.cars.com)

Dodge Avenger Stormtrooper Concept

• Looks like: The fleet vehicle for the Galactic Empire
• Defining characteristics: A white-out of add-ons
• Ridiculous features: Um ... it’s named after a sci-fi institution
• Chance of being mass-produced: Zero, mainly because George Lucas would sue

Earlier today we promised we wouldn’t post about the wild tuner concepts from SEMA that had zero shot of making it to production. We lied. This custom job of a Dodge Avenger is just so over the top we had to share. The company did such a good job of whiting out a regular Avenger with just enough black highlights that we think any rank-and-file “Star Wars“ geek would have to be impressed.

The lone feature we don’t understand is the “blue magic” tint to the glass. Perhaps some fanboy out there can help us out. Luckily Dodge did provide a number of photos of this homage to a galaxy far, far away.

2008 Cadillac Escalade Sport Concept

• Looks like: The Escalade your local NFL running back drives
• Defining characteristics: Mesh grille and 24s
• Ridiculous features: This is understated for SEMA
• Chance of being mass-produced: Probably not much chance of this being a production model, but perhaps some of the accessories will be available

The Escalade was the first Cadillac to feature the bold new grille that has made its way across the lineup. That grille is wild, and its standard. The custom mesh grilles we’re seeing at SEMA look almost subdued in comparison. Actually, we’re pleasantly surprised that this concept isn’t as garish as it could have been.

Besides ridiculously large wheels — 24 inches — the Sport concept is lowered just two inches, has more horsepower — 550 — features a high-performance exhaust system and has retractable side steps. To say we’re surprised by this show of restraint is an understatement. A shot of the SUVs backside is below. Feel free to give us your feedback.

2008 Cadillac CTS Sport Concept

• Looks like: A beefier Cadillac CTS
• Defining characteristics: Hood scoops and a mesh grille
• Ridiculous features: The idea that the new CTS’ grille needed more-radical styling
• Chance of being mass-produced: The Sport itself might not become a model, but it could serve as a precursor to the next CTS-V

Cadillac has added very little to enhance the performance of the new Cadillac CTS in this Sport concept, but interestingly enough it could be an early look at the next seriously beefed-up CTS-V. Since the V line came to the new generation of Caddies, they’ve brought bright grillwork. That’s definitely the trademark styling here, as well.

The Sport concept also gets 20-inch polished wheels, stronger brakes and a Corsa cat-back exhaust with modified tips that integrate into the rear bumper, which is a look we actually like. That can’t be said for the hood scoops, which get decked out in wire mesh as well. That’s just too much mesh for our mesh-meter. A few more photos are below.   

2008 Chevy HHR Panel SS Concept

• Competes with: Mazdaspeed3, Dodge Caliber SRT4, HHR SS non-panel
• Looks like: A HHR Panel with bigger wheels
• Drivetrain: 260-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, five-speed manual transmission
• Hits dealerships: Early 2009 

Chevy calls this a concept but then goes around and whispers that the HHR Panel SS will be a limited edition production model sometime in the future, namely 2009. We’re a bit boggled at that late date, as a fully windowed HHR SS will be out in 2008 with the exact same powertrain.

We were surprised the HHR Panel even made it into production, so this almost seems logical. What else is there to say about this concept? Um…it has 20-inch wheels? OK, we admit, we’re only a few cars into the SEMA show preview and we’re getting bored. And remember, this attitude exists even though we’re just covering cars and concepts likely to go into production, not all the radical custom stuff of interest to even fewer people.

2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbocharged

• Competes with: Mazdaspeed3, Dodge Caliber SRT4, VW GTI
• Looks like: Last year’s Cobalt SS
• Drivetrain: 260-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, five-speed manual transmission
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2008

We know. You’re asking: What’s so special about a 2008 Cobalt SS that was a pricey underachiever the past few years? Well, Chevy has swapped out a 215-hp supercharged four-cylinder for a 260-hp turbocharged four-cylinder that the company says now lives up to the SS badging.

We won’t ask why they gave the SS badging to the old supercharged version if it didn’t live up to the name, but we guess this is an improvement. All told the Cobalt now has the same set-up as the Chevy HHR SS due out early next year and the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Red Line roadsters, except that those last two are rear-wheel drive.

The limited nature of these trims means most buyers won’t be too concerned about the new power to an otherwise unremarkable compact coupe. However, there are fans out there. We’d expect prices to be only slightly higher than last year’s SS Supercharged $20,795 despite the improvement in power.

Big Names Coming to Specialty Show

Toyota will use the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas this week to introduce the 2009 Corolla and Matrix, while Chevy will have a new Cobalt SS that goes on sale in the second quarter of next year as well as an HHR Panel SS that goes on sale for the 2009 model year — vehicles aimed at the youth and, especially, the tuner markets.

Most new vehicles are unveiled on the major auto show circuit — Detroit, L.A., Chicago and New York — each year to determine public reaction, but the annual SEMA industry trade show will also play a role in attracting the attention of consumers — especially the youth market.

SEMA has always been the place where those who make and sell performance and dress-up parts, components and accessories to customize cars have chosen to display their latest wares.