Chevrolet Unveils More Concept Cars and Trucks for SEMA

Chevy’s SEMA presence is now up to about half the size of its gigantic Detroit auto show footprint. That’s how big a business aftermarket parts and accessories have become for GM generally and Chevy specifically. The Chevy, AC Delco, GM Certified Service, and GM Performance Parts catalogs combined carry a million part numbers that are racking up $6 billion in revenue—that’s billion with a B. Hence Chevy’s jumbo SEMA display will feature some 20 vehicles and 25 crate engines. We’ve already covered some of what will be there—the Corvette Carbon 65 edition, the Colorado ZR2 Midnight and Dusk editions, and the Centennial Silverado and Colorado editions and the vintage C-10 built to match them—as for the rest, read on …

Camaro ZL1 1LE

The car that laid down the 7:16.04 Nürburgring lap will be on display, along with a Camaro on its side showing off all the 1LE components that can be purchased à la carte for patient souls who prefer or need to build their 1LE one paycheck at a time. All parts fit any sixth-generation Camaro. We’d recommend starting with the bushing replacement kits, which remove most of the rubber (and hence handling compliance) out of the suspension, and the reversible upper strut mounts, whihc allow for quick, easily reversible camber changes at the track.

Camaro ZL1 Drag Development Car

Last year Chevy showed a Camaro SS upfitted with performance parts designed to showcase how an owner might optimize an SS for NHRA drag racing duty. Many of the parts developed in that exercise are now available. For this year’s exercise the team is looking at what one an owner might do to a ZL1 to transform it from a handling-track star to a quarter-mile killer. Highlights again include a small brake kit to fit within 16-inch wheels that accommodate the tall sidewalls preferred for low-pressure sticky-tire launches. A smaller supercharger pulley speeds up the blower for more boost, and a larger throttle body further hastens airflow into the engine. Breathing is further enhanced by a cold air intake and performance air filter that inhales through the vacant eye socket left by removing the left headlamp. American Racing headers, revised engine and transmission-shift calibrations, and Magnetic Ride Control shocks programmed to foster more rearward weight transfer during launch round out the kit. Expect to see many of these parts on sale at this time next year.

Camaro SS Trans Am TA4 Race Car

Trans Am racing’s TA4 class is designed to bring back the glory days of American pony/muscle car rivalry. Todd Napieralski competes in this class, and he managed an impressive second-place finish at Road America last year. A TA4-Spec Camaro race car will be on display at Chevy’s SEMA stand, complete with ZL1 1LE Multimatic DSSV shocks and suspension, ZL1 rear cradle mounts, and a ZL1 1LE rear spoiler.

Silverado Performance Concept

This concept features a 5.3-liter engine topped off with the supercharger from an LT4 engine. Most of the rest of the modifications are already available in Chevy’s vast catalog of customizing parts, including the air dam, suspension lowering kit, cold air intake, performance six-piston Brembo calipers clamping 16.1-inch front rotors, and a high-flow sport exhaust system.

Silverado 3500 HD NHRA Safety Safari

Chevrolet is the official truck of the NHRA, and this giant Duramax diesel-powered HD concept was built to celebrate that relationship. Major upgrades include a modified replacement hood, an elaborate graphics package, and every conceivable tool a safety crew would need to rescue a racing driver after a crash—including a “jaws of life” device. It also features some Midnight Edition trim (like black bowties) that are not offered on HD trucks from the factory. The wheels are the best part because they apparently started out as 22.5-inch dually wheels that were machined down to 22s.

Luke Bryan Suburban

Country music aficionados will recognize the collaborator lending his name to this truck, which seeks to render the title of his Kill the Lights album’s smash hit “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” in sheetmetal, glass, and rubber. The HFE badging alludes to that song title. This seven-passenger Suburban has been converted into the ultimate mobile hunting blind by removing all cargo-area glass, transforming the liftgate into a side-opening tailgate complete with a spare tire mount, and reversing the third-row seat so it faces the ducks, deer, and other forest creatures. Other interior touches include orange-anodized and dark carbon accent trim, two-tone gray seats featuring orange piping, and ventilation holes for the seat coolers poked in a camo pattern, a light platinum colored “Taffeta” headliner.  A roof-mounted Thule Canyon roof basket carrier features special fishing rod holders. The Hunter Bronze paint incorporates lighter colored camo graphics at the bottom that fade to solid color midway up the truck. Providing extra off-road capabilities are a set of 22-inch Chevrolet Accessories wheels with orange-painted insets wearing 35-inch-tall off-road tires, a 6-inch suspension lift, skidplate extensions, and a locking rear differential. On-road performance is only enhanced by a cold air-intake system and a Chevrolet Performance front six-piston Brembo brake system upgrade. An accessory grille with orange painted inserts, anodized orange tow hooks, a Baja Designs roof-mounted light bar, a custom lower fascia, and the de riguer black Bow Ties round out this attractive and functional package. If only the budget had allowed for engineering a ’60s vintage three-way tailgate, Luke could back up to his favorite pond and fish off the tailgate …

Traverse SUP Concept

This recently redesigned Traverse three-row CUV pays homage to the fast-growing sport of stand-up paddleboarding (see Motor Trend’s sister publication SUP if you’re an enthusiast). Taking it from the top, a Riviera Paddlesurf board is mounted to a Chevy accessory carrier supplied by Thule. The whole car gets an aquatic-themed graphics package color-keyed to the board accented by dark gray fascias, rockers, and wheel opening trim, gloss black body moldings, black foglamp bezels, and tinted wheels. Further accessorizing from the Chevy catalog includes 20-inch black wheels, a black grille insert and Bow Ties, assist steps, and embroidered headrests.

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