While we should be excited to see Ford show off a new, updated cop car, the Police Interceptor Stealth Concept already has us checking our rear-view mirrors. The full details on this cop cruiser were released yesterday, but seeing it under the bright lights at SEMA only serves to kick up the nervous anxiety to 11.

The man behind the car, Ford designer Melvin Betancourt, says he drew inspiration from the SR-71 Blackbird stealth plane. The blacked-out finish and hidden blue and reds, coupled with the potential for hosting a 365-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 under the hood are more than enough to cause speed-limit scofflaws to think twice about pushing harder on that gas pedal.

It's not only the outside that incorporates the idea of stealth design. The interior features a police radio hidden in the console, along with the on-board computer and the glove box has a hidden space to hide weapons. Slow down and check out the Stealth concept in our high-res gallery, below.



Photos copyright ©2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

If you've ever heard of the Dacia Sandero, it's probably from Clarkson teasing James May about it on Top Gear. The no-nonsense, bare-bones hatchback – sold alternatively as a Renault in markets where its budget subsidiary Dacia doesn't exist – is a favorite of Captain Slow.

In South America, the Sandero also comes as a crossover version called the Stepway, and taller though it is, it's just as decidedly spartan. That didn't stop Renault from drumming up some excitement over the budget range, however, with the show car you see here.

Envisioned as a successor to the current model and closer to a junior Duster, the Sandero Stepway Concept dials up the glitz factor just a touch with a sporty body kit, three-tone paint scheme and enough blue LEDs to light up the trendiest of night clubs. Also, some flower decals... for some reason. The result is something akin to a futuristic cup of cappuccino, and you can check it out in further detail in the high-resolution image gallery below.



[Source: Renault]

Airhead Kustoms is going big for the 2010 SEMA show. Calling its creation the Pit Boss, Airhead Kustoms has teamed up with Cars by Kris to transform the rugged 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty into the ultimate tow and support truck. The already lofty power numbers of the stock pickup have been given a boost thanks to the addition of a Snow Performance water/methanol injection system, Nitrous Express diesel nitrous system and an AFE Power cold air intake.

Sorting out the ride and handling is a DJM Suspension setup that uses front lowering beams, a rear flip kit and beefy shock absorbers. Hellwig anti-roll bars and Firestone Ride-Rite air helper springs further aid in keeping this Pit Boss in check.

Inside, the Super Duty interior has been upgraded with a custom headliner and leather upholstery. A Rockford Fosgate sound system and a Dashboard Devices in-dash computer provide plenty of entertainment and information. The Pit Boss was built to get a race car to the track but the interior keeps things cozy once you are there. Have a look for yourself in our high-res gallery below.



Photos copyright ©2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

If you own a 2011 General Motors vehicle equipped with OnStar and you also carry an iPhone or Android-based phone, then you are in for a treat. Two new apps have just been released for your smartphones: myChevrolet and OnStar MyLink. OnStar MyLink works with the onboard OnStar system in your car and offers location-based services, such as a GPS parking reminder and vehicle reference material. The MyLink app also features a searchable database of warning lights, dashboard indicator lights and a variety of commonly searched features from the owner's manual.

The myChevrolet app takes things a step further. Working in conjunction with the OnStar app, the myChevrolet application allows you to lock or unlock the doors, start the engine and access a wealth of diagnostic information. The app allows you to see fuel level, remaining oil life and current tire pressure.

These features aren't just for Chevy owners either; the app is available for Buick, GMC and Cadillac models, as well, in the form of myBuick, myGMC and myCadillac. All of the apps are available as a free download from the phone's respective app marketplace. The full details are available in GM's press blast, after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

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This is what happens at SEMA: you're strolling the aisles minding your own business, you turn your head and then a cluster of mighty malicious metal rocks you like a pow! straight out of vintage Batman. Holy Toledo! In this case it was the Savini Wheels booth, loaded up with a sedan and four coupes that should be parked outside the Legion of Doom. A Rolls-Royce Ghost inscribed with the ominous phrase "The Omen Machine" (probably meant for Lex Luthor), sits among a Lamborghini Murcielago with white-carbon-fiber-accented rims, Mercedes SLS AMG, Bentley Continental GT and a Ferrari 458 on a delicious set of spokes.

We couldn't get any more information on the cars or wheels because the hall wasn't open yet... but what more do you need? Beastly cars for bad, bad men are in the high-res gallery below.



Photos copyright ©2010 Jonathon Ramsey / AOL

The Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series isn't short in the tooth, but gussied up correctly it can still make a worthy meal for the autophile – even when it's dressed in everybody's-doin'-it matte gray. Continental tire's SEMA booth, showcasing its ExtremeContact DW and ExtremeContact DWS rubber, had this light-eating creature from Platinum Motorsports glaring from the corner. 'Roided-up skirts and splitters with carbon fiber trimmings abound, and every transparent plane has been remedied by the liberal application of tints. We'd buy that for it for a dollar, no doubt.

There was something else under covers that we'll be bringing you later. For now, the SL65 AMG was left to preside over a back-up band consisting of a Bentley Continental GT, a Maybach as black as the intergalactic void itself, and a BMW racer with a set of slick slicks. Enjoy the view in the galleries below.




Photos copyright ©2010 Jonathon Ramsey / AOL

Mazda is hard at work on the next-generation MX-5. We know the automaker has set a target weight of 2,200 pounds for the forthcoming roadster, and it plans to keep weight distribution at the magic 50/50 figure. A new report from Autocar, however, reveals a bit more information about what's in store for the new MX-5.

Mazda showed off a concept vehicle back in 2003, called the Ibuki, that previewed the styling of the current generation car and many believed that was all it revealed. However, the Ibuki concept featured a twin-backbone frame that can be found in the current Mazda RX-8. This layout allows for vital components, such as the powertrain, gas tank and exhaust system, to be placed between the front and rear axle. The twin-backbone setup also enables the automaker to produce an open-top car with the rigidity of a fixed-roof vehicle. If the next-generation MX-5 receives these updates, it will allow Mazda to take its iconic two-seater to new heights.

Takao Kajima, who was in charge of the suspension on the first generation car and then promoted to program manager for the second, says:

"The MX-5 must always be lightweight sports. The car has got bigger and heavier over the past decade, but it's now time to reverse the process and get back to basics."

Those words are pure symphony to the ears of Miata owners around the world. As for what Mazda is planning for the next-gen MX-5, consider us on the edge of our seat.



Photos copyright ©2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Behold one of the quickest-selling special edition vehicles in General Motors history – the Neiman Marcus 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible. A total of 100 models just like the one you see above sold in a scant three minutes, which is nothing short of astounding given the vehicle's lofty $75,000 price tag. With its show-car quality metallic purple paint (GM calls it Deep Bordeaux), unique red-trimmed wheels and high-end interior, the droptop is likely to be the nicest Camaro to roll out of Detroit anytime soon.

Don't let anyone tell you that exclusivity isn't worth something.

The Neiman Marcus 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is laying the groundwork for the production model, which is slated to land next year with a more manageable MSRP of around $30,000.



Photos copyright ©2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

Diesel is slowly making an impression here in the United States and Audi has been paying attention. Parent company Volkswagen has been selling a steady stream of diesels for many years, and the enthusiasm for the oil-burners has filtered up into the luxury segment. By 2015, Audi plans to have a diesel variant available for every volume product in its lineup.

This means we still won't see a production R8 V12 TDI, but it does mean we can look forward to seeing the A4, A6, A8 and Q5 with TDI variants. Currently, the A3 and Q7 are the only US Audis available with diesel engines. You've no doubt seen A3 TDIs rolling past you as you stop for gas, since the diesel version now accounts for nearly half of all A3 sales. 40 percent of Q7s have the diesel engine under the hood, and Audi is having trouble keeping either model in stock.

Automakers face stricter fuel economy targets in the coming years, and one way to improve their lineups' mile-per-gallon figures is by adding diesel versions across the entire range. Audi believes that by 2015, diesels will make up 20 percent of the U.S. sales volume – a vast improvement over the current 5.5 percent.



Photos copyright ©2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Chevrolet has made it clear that the company has a strong interest in helping owners get the most out of vehicles like the Corvette and the Camaro on a race track. While the epic Corvette Z06X Concept was seemingly envisioned as the Bow Tie answer to the Dodge Viper ACR-X, Chevrolet is showing the Camaro similar love via the SSX Concept. The car makes use of a host of carbon fiber in places like the trunk lid, hood, fenders and doors to keep weight as low as possible, and while the company isn't saying exactly how many pounds it managed to shed compared to the standard SS, we've got to imagine that the figure is far from insubstantial.

In addition to putting the Camaro on a diet, Chevrolet also took it upon itself to play havoc with the 6.2-liter under the hood by bolting on tricks like new CNC aluminum cylinder heads, sliding in a new camshaft and swapping in a dry-sump oil system. Make no mistake, with around 524 horsepower on tap, this dog will hunt. Hit the jump for the full press blast.


Photos copyright ©2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

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