October 31 - November 3, 2006
Las Vegas, NV
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General Motors Flexes American Muscle At Sema With All-New Pickups And SUVs, Celebrity Cars And Hot New Accessories
LAS VEGAS – Enthusiasts seeking the perfect vehicle to personalize will hit the jackpot with this year’s GM portfolio at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, which features all-new, full-size pickups, SUVs, crossovers and cars tricked out for the streets to the slopes and every conceivable surface in between. They include a one-of-a-kind Chevy Silverado off-road concept designed in conjunction with NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. – a successor to Junior’s “Big Red” Silverado – and a low-riding Orange County Choppers Silverado hauler concept inspired by the styling cues of the famous bike-building Teutul family.
This year’s GM SEMA lineup also heralds the return of three formidable numbers – 4-2-7 – as in the Chevy Silverado 427 – a concept that demonstrates the new Silverado’s powerful performance parameters. Under the hood of the Silverado 427 is GM Powertrain’s 7.0-liter LS7, the same Gen IV small-block V-8 that powers the Corvette Z06.
"Talk about American muscle – our all-new family of full-size SUVs dominates the segment, and our all-new, full-size pickups are positioned for similar success,” said Michael Jackson, GM North America vice president of marketing and advertising. “Our new pickups were designed and built with personalization in mind, and it’s great that customizers and enthusiasts agree.”
Twenty-seven vehicles will be on display all week in the GM SEMA booth, including 14 Chevrolets; two Cadillacs; four GMCs; two HUMMER H3s; two Pontiac Solstices; two Saturns; and one Buick Lucerne partner vehicle. There will also be a top-secret performance car, developed in conjunction with one of GM’s more notable celebrity partners, in the stand.
Cadillac teams up with DUB magazine for a unique spin on the Escalade EXT. In addition to the three Silverado concepts, Chevy features pickups and SUVs decked out for both on- and off-road adventures and that pay homage to Chevy’s relationships with the U.S. Ski Team and Major League Baseball. GMC shows off a Sierra NFL Crew Cab with an NFL interior and exterior theme; a Sierra Texas Extended Cab to fend off pesky competitors in the biggest-selling pickup market in America; a Yukon Denali XL “Big Max” that’s the most capable, feature-packed, powerful Denali ever; and a Sierra All Terrain Crew Cab.
Crossover SUVs get their due at SEMA, too: The Cadillac SRX Sport, which receives a significantly redesigned interior for ’07, gets a Seventh Avenue makeover by upscale women’s clothing designer Dana Buchman. The Saturn Outlook Adventure shows how accessories can help the all-new crossover complement a customer’s outdoor lifestyle.
And speaking of the outdoors, HUMMER brings two H3s to Vegas – an E85 ethanol-capable model with available genuine HUMMER Accessories; and the H3 Open Top, with a canvas roof by ASC and decked out with real HUMMER accessory products.
In addition to trucks and SUVs, GM will feature a 1969 Chevy Camaro customized by “Mr. October” himself, Reggie Jackson, and Buick makes its first custom partnership appearance in the 43-year history of SEMA with Rick Bottom’s street-smart interpretation of the Lucerne full-size sedan, the CXX Luxury Liner. Buick has 10 other customized Lucernes spread throughout the show.
Two ultra-performance versions of the hot-selling Pontiac Solstice will be on display, a GXP-R concept and a Sports Car Club of America race-prepared Solstice Club Sport Z0K. The newest star of SCCA, Solstice finished its debut season with three National Championships – one in Showroom Stock B Club Racing, and one each in C Stock Open and C Stock Ladies Solo autocross competition.
The GXP-R is a concept of a new turbocharged Solstice model that would include restyled front and rear fascias, a more aggressive spoiler, 19-inch cast chrome wheels and multiple other enhancements.
In addition to the Solstice, Saturn will show off Gravana Speed Shop’s interpretation of the Saturn Sky roadster. Gravana, working in conjunction with GM Design, has pushed the Sky’s styling to the limits with its highly customized concept treatment that enhances the sleek, crisp and modern lines of the production vehicle while providing a cutting-edge visual design appeal.
GM also will show off a growing portfolio of crate engines and accessories designed and engineered specifically for GM vehicles by GM. GM’s accessory portfolio for the full-size pickup trucks and SUVs is proof that these vehicles were designed with personalization in mind. It is the most comprehensive ever, with more than 100 products designed in concert with the trucks at the GM Accessory Design Studio.
New electronics offerings include the industry’s first application of noise-canceling headphones; a portable overhead DVD entertainment system with a whopping 10-inch screen; an advanced, long-range remote start system with a LCD key fob readout that provides key vehicle information, such as fuel level and tire pressure; and Personal Audio Link, an innovative iPod integration accessory that lets users tote their personalized playlist in their personalized vehicle.
Jackson said shows like SEMA help showcase the ingenuity of GM engineers and designers, and let customers know what they can create in their own garages. "We're providing our aftermarket partners, our own accessories and Performance Parts operations and automotive enthusiasts with the best vehicle canvas on which to create parts, pieces and components that look cool and go fast,” he said. “These vehicles feature beauty, race-proven technology and production components that real people can buy and drive – today.”
