Gallery: the best of SEMA 2012

Words: Pat Devereux

Photos: Andy Tipping   

As any true trendspotter will tell you, you have to look for clues early to get a sense that a new trend might be on the way. That's why we are here at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. If it's happening now or going to happen soon, chances are there will be some car or product at SEMA pointing the way.

The problem is, finding the clues at SEMA is usually like trying to find a bad stitch in a Persian rug. With more than 40 miles of stands in two massive, double-decked halls, plus vast outside expanses of show and event space, you have to look long and hard to find the really good stuff.

But not this year. The first trend is that the big three US manufacturers, plus Toyobaru, really dominated the show. All four have traditionally had a substantial presence, but you got the idea that they were there with a real purpose this year. Instead of flights of super-chromed fantasy, all their stands were packed with interesting and cool products that you can - and want to - buy now.

To save you the trouble of having to visually trudge around every press pack and stand online, we've whittled down the show into some trendy chunks. Take note of these and let's revisit them in a year to see where they went.

While the reborn Cobra Jet Mustang Concept, complete with a twin-turbo 1,500bhp V8, signaled that there isn't going to be any end to the horsepower race anytime soon - GM and Dodge also brought out their big guns - it was the sweep of tuned Focuses, Fusions (the new Mondeo to us) and Escapes (new Kuga) that really stood out.

From TG US's own (and new GRC champion) Tanner Foust-tuned Focus ST - some nice suspension upgrades, a Mountune engine and a big exhaust - through to the Cosworth and Ford Racing effort that puts out over 330bhp, it was very encouraging to see the smaller cars getting the biggest slice of attention.

Maybe it's because it's too new or maybe because it already looks super good as standard, the tuned Fusions didn't work as well as their creators hoped. The bodykits and lurid paint jobs just didn't sit right on a car that is almost too good looking for this kind of treatment. Particularly the green Monster one. Looked like a woman wearing a kid's make-up.

The warmed over Kugas were much more successful, though. Throw on some bigger wheels and/or some lifestyle furniture like a bike rack and surfboard and they looked immediately more purposeful. Less family runabout, more urban escape pod.

All this is good news for Americans looking to downsize into something interesting. But it's great for us Brits, too as it will make it all the easier and cheaper for us to tune our Fords here. Economies of scale at work in our favour here.

While the reborn Cobra Jet Mustang Concept, complete with a twin-turbo 1,500bhp V8, signaled that there isn't going to be any end to the horsepower race anytime soon - GM and Dodge also brought out their big guns - it was the sweep of tuned Focuses, Fusions (the new Mondeo to us) and Escapes (new Kuga) that really stood out.

From TG US's own (and new GRC champion) Tanner Foust-tuned Focus ST - some nice suspension upgrades, a Mountune engine and a big exhaust - through to the Cosworth and Ford Racing effort that puts out over 330bhp, it was very encouraging to see the smaller cars getting the biggest slice of attention.

Maybe it's because it's too new or maybe because it already looks super good as standard, the tuned Fusions didn't work as well as their creators hoped. The bodykits and lurid paint jobs just didn't sit right on a car that is almost too good looking for this kind of treatment. Particularly the green Monster one. Looked like a woman wearing a kid's make-up.

The warmed over Kugas were much more successful, though. Throw on some bigger wheels and/or some lifestyle furniture like a bike rack and surfboard and they looked immediately more purposeful. Less family runabout, more urban escape pod.

All this is good news for Americans looking to downsize into something interesting. But it's great for us Brits, too as it will make it all the easier and cheaper for us to tune our Fords here. Economies of scale at work in our favour here.

While the reborn Cobra Jet Mustang Concept, complete with a twin-turbo 1,500bhp V8, signaled that there isn't going to be any end to the horsepower race anytime soon - GM and Dodge also brought out their big guns - it was the sweep of tuned Focuses, Fusions (the new Mondeo to us) and Escapes (new Kuga) that really stood out.

From TG US's own (and new GRC champion) Tanner Foust-tuned Focus ST - some nice suspension upgrades, a Mountune engine and a big exhaust - through to the Cosworth and Ford Racing effort that puts out over 330bhp, it was very encouraging to see the smaller cars getting the biggest slice of attention.

Maybe it's because it's too new or maybe because it already looks super good as standard, the tuned Fusions didn't work as well as their creators hoped. The bodykits and lurid paint jobs just didn't sit right on a car that is almost too good looking for this kind of treatment. Particularly the green Monster one. Looked like a woman wearing a kid's make-up.

The warmed over Kugas were much more successful, though. Throw on some bigger wheels and/or some lifestyle furniture like a bike rack and surfboard and they looked immediately more purposeful. Less family runabout, more urban escape pod.

All this is good news for Americans looking to downsize into something interesting. But it's great for us Brits, too as it will make it all the easier and cheaper for us to tune our Fords here. Economies of scale at work in our favour here.

While the reborn Cobra Jet Mustang Concept, complete with a twin-turbo 1,500bhp V8, signaled that there isn't going to be any end to the horsepower race anytime soon - GM and Dodge also brought out their big guns - it was the sweep of tuned Focuses, Fusions (the new Mondeo to us) and Escapes (new Kuga) that really stood out.

From TG US's own (and new GRC champion) Tanner Foust-tuned Focus ST - some nice suspension upgrades, a Mountune engine and a big exhaust - through to the Cosworth and Ford Racing effort that puts out over 330bhp, it was very encouraging to see the smaller cars getting the biggest slice of attention.

Maybe it's because it's too new or maybe because it already looks super good as standard, the tuned Fusions didn't work as well as their creators hoped. The bodykits and lurid paint jobs just didn't sit right on a car that is almost too good looking for this kind of treatment. Particularly the green Monster one. Looked like a woman wearing a kid's make-up.

The warmed over Kugas were much more successful, though. Throw on some bigger wheels and/or some lifestyle furniture like a bike rack and surfboard and they looked immediately more purposeful. Less family runabout, more urban escape pod.

All this is good news for Americans looking to downsize into something interesting. But it's great for us Brits, too as it will make it all the easier and cheaper for us to tune our Fords here. Economies of scale at work in our favour here.

The cartoonish lines might make it look like a huge toy, but now that's exactly what the Camaro can be with the launch of the Hot Wheels edition. Aping the 64th scale model's radical styling, the production car - a $6,995 upgrade package available on both the V8 and V6 coupes and convertibles - features a ZL1 spoiler and grille, 21 wheels and the all-important Hot Wheels flames.

Even though it's hard to take seriously, you just know it'll sell. But to make sure it has rarity value, GM, just like Hot Wheels does with its special editions, is only going to sell it from Jan to June next year. Big kids form an orderly queue here.

Elsewhere on the GM stand, the Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition marks almost the end of the line for the current edition of the people's supercar. With the new model set to debut in Detroit in Jan, this won't be ‘the fastest and most capable convertible in Corvette's history' for long.

The cartoonish lines might make it look like a huge toy, but now that's exactly what the Camaro can be with the launch of the Hot Wheels edition. Aping the 64th scale model's radical styling, the production car - a $6,995 upgrade package available on both the V8 and V6 coupes and convertibles - features a ZL1 spoiler and grille, 21 wheels and the all-important Hot Wheels flames.

Even though it's hard to take seriously, you just know it'll sell. But to make sure it has rarity value, GM, just like Hot Wheels does with its special editions, is only going to sell it from Jan to June next year. Big kids form an orderly queue here.

Elsewhere on the GM stand, the Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition marks almost the end of the line for the current edition of the people's supercar. With the new model set to debut in Detroit in Jan, this won't be ‘the fastest and most capable convertible in Corvette's history' for long.

The cartoonish lines might make it look like a huge toy, but now that's exactly what the Camaro can be with the launch of the Hot Wheels edition. Aping the 64th scale model's radical styling, the production car - a $6,995 upgrade package available on both the V8 and V6 coupes and convertibles - features a ZL1 spoiler and grille, 21 wheels and the all-important Hot Wheels flames.

Even though it's hard to take seriously, you just know it'll sell. But to make sure it has rarity value, GM, just like Hot Wheels does with its special editions, is only going to sell it from Jan to June next year. Big kids form an orderly queue here.

Elsewhere on the GM stand, the Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition marks almost the end of the line for the current edition of the people's supercar. With the new model set to debut in Detroit in Jan, this won't be ‘the fastest and most capable convertible in Corvette's history' for long.

The cartoonish lines might make it look like a huge toy, but now that's exactly what the Camaro can be with the launch of the Hot Wheels edition. Aping the 64th scale model's radical styling, the production car - a $6,995 upgrade package available on both the V8 and V6 coupes and convertibles - features a ZL1 spoiler and grille, 21 wheels and the all-important Hot Wheels flames.

Even though it's hard to take seriously, you just know it'll sell. But to make sure it has rarity value, GM, just like Hot Wheels does with its special editions, is only going to sell it from Jan to June next year. Big kids form an orderly queue here.

Elsewhere on the GM stand, the Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition marks almost the end of the line for the current edition of the people's supercar. With the new model set to debut in Detroit in Jan, this won't be ‘the fastest and most capable convertible in Corvette's history' for long.

Couple of things to note here. First one is that Jeep is about to go all in on the power war. First sign of this is that it is offering massive 5.7 and 6.4-litre HEMI V8 conversion kits for the Wrangler. As absurd as that sounds - like fitting an outboard motor to a mosquito - we like the idea. Power has never really been the big problem for the Wrangler. Handling has. So it will be entertaining to see how long one of these hot-motor'ed Willy's descendants can stay on all four wheels. Seconds is our bet.

Talking of seconds, the other sign of Jeep's pursuit of power was the Grand Cherokee SRT8 ACR. Basically an SRT8 GC with everything but the driver's seat removed and a roll cage installed, the ACR name is the giveaway bit. The last vehicle in the Chrysler stable to use that suffix was the Viper. It stands for American Club Racer and the SRT team takes that moniker very seriously. A racing Jeep might sound like it's on a par with an ocean-going anvil, but it's so wrong it's right.

Speed was also clearly on FIAT's mind when it dreamt up its concepts for the show. It's mini streamliner concept, complete with café racer and micro trailer, didn't make a jot of sense, but looked great all the same. From its spun aluminium wheels to its three-inch lowered roofline and neat side-exiting pipes, it looked neat and fun. Words you want people to associate with your smallest car, so job done.

Couple of things to note here. First one is that Jeep is about to go all in on the power war. First sign of this is that it is offering massive 5.7 and 6.4-litre HEMI V8 conversion kits for the Wrangler. As absurd as that sounds - like fitting an outboard motor to a mosquito - we like the idea. Power has never really been the big problem for the Wrangler. Handling has. So it will be entertaining to see how long one of these hot-motor'ed Willy's descendants can stay on all four wheels. Seconds is our bet.

Talking of seconds, the other sign of Jeep's pursuit of power was the Grand Cherokee SRT8 ACR. Basically an SRT8 GC with everything but the driver's seat removed and a roll cage installed, the ACR name is the giveaway bit. The last vehicle in the Chrysler stable to use that suffix was the Viper. It stands for American Club Racer and the SRT team takes that moniker very seriously. A racing Jeep might sound like it's on a par with an ocean-going anvil, but it's so wrong it's right.

Speed was also clearly on FIAT's mind when it dreamt up its concepts for the show. It's mini streamliner concept, complete with café racer and micro trailer, didn't make a jot of sense, but looked great all the same. From its spun aluminium wheels to its three-inch lowered roofline and neat side-exiting pipes, it looked neat and fun. Words you want people to associate with your smallest car, so job done.

Couple of things to note here. First one is that Jeep is about to go all in on the power war. First sign of this is that it is offering massive 5.7 and 6.4-litre HEMI V8 conversion kits for the Wrangler. As absurd as that sounds - like fitting an outboard motor to a mosquito - we like the idea. Power has never really been the big problem for the Wrangler. Handling has. So it will be entertaining to see how long one of these hot-motor'ed Willy's descendants can stay on all four wheels. Seconds is our bet.

Talking of seconds, the other sign of Jeep's pursuit of power was the Grand Cherokee SRT8 ACR. Basically an SRT8 GC with everything but the driver's seat removed and a roll cage installed, the ACR name is the giveaway bit. The last vehicle in the Chrysler stable to use that suffix was the Viper. It stands for American Club Racer and the SRT team takes that moniker very seriously. A racing Jeep might sound like it's on a par with an ocean-going anvil, but it's so wrong it's right.

Speed was also clearly on FIAT's mind when it dreamt up its concepts for the show. It's mini streamliner concept, complete with café racer and micro trailer, didn't make a jot of sense, but looked great all the same. From its spun aluminium wheels to its three-inch lowered roofline and neat side-exiting pipes, it looked neat and fun. Words you want people to associate with your smallest car, so job done.

Couple of things to note here. First one is that Jeep is about to go all in on the power war. First sign of this is that it is offering massive 5.7 and 6.4-litre HEMI V8 conversion kits for the Wrangler. As absurd as that sounds - like fitting an outboard motor to a mosquito - we like the idea. Power has never really been the big problem for the Wrangler. Handling has. So it will be entertaining to see how long one of these hot-motor'ed Willy's descendants can stay on all four wheels. Seconds is our bet.

Talking of seconds, the other sign of Jeep's pursuit of power was the Grand Cherokee SRT8 ACR. Basically an SRT8 GC with everything but the driver's seat removed and a roll cage installed, the ACR name is the giveaway bit. The last vehicle in the Chrysler stable to use that suffix was the Viper. It stands for American Club Racer and the SRT team takes that moniker very seriously. A racing Jeep might sound like it's on a par with an ocean-going anvil, but it's so wrong it's right.

Speed was also clearly on FIAT's mind when it dreamt up its concepts for the show. It's mini streamliner concept, complete with café racer and micro trailer, didn't make a jot of sense, but looked great all the same. From its spun aluminium wheels to its three-inch lowered roofline and neat side-exiting pipes, it looked neat and fun. Words you want people to associate with your smallest car, so job done.

Couple of things to note here. First one is that Jeep is about to go all in on the power war. First sign of this is that it is offering massive 5.7 and 6.4-litre HEMI V8 conversion kits for the Wrangler. As absurd as that sounds - like fitting an outboard motor to a mosquito - we like the idea. Power has never really been the big problem for the Wrangler. Handling has. So it will be entertaining to see how long one of these hot-motor'ed Willy's descendants can stay on all four wheels. Seconds is our bet.

Talking of seconds, the other sign of Jeep's pursuit of power was the Grand Cherokee SRT8 ACR. Basically an SRT8 GC with everything but the driver's seat removed and a roll cage installed, the ACR name is the giveaway bit. The last vehicle in the Chrysler stable to use that suffix was the Viper. It stands for American Club Racer and the SRT team takes that moniker very seriously. A racing Jeep might sound like it's on a par with an ocean-going anvil, but it's so wrong it's right.

Speed was also clearly on FIAT's mind when it dreamt up its concepts for the show. It's mini streamliner concept, complete with café racer and micro trailer, didn't make a jot of sense, but looked great all the same. From its spun aluminium wheels to its three-inch lowered roofline and neat side-exiting pipes, it looked neat and fun. Words you want people to associate with your smallest car, so job done.

Couple of things to note here. First one is that Jeep is about to go all in on the power war. First sign of this is that it is offering massive 5.7 and 6.4-litre HEMI V8 conversion kits for the Wrangler. As absurd as that sounds - like fitting an outboard motor to a mosquito - we like the idea. Power has never really been the big problem for the Wrangler. Handling has. So it will be entertaining to see how long one of these hot-motor'ed Willy's descendants can stay on all four wheels. Seconds is our bet.

Talking of seconds, the other sign of Jeep's pursuit of power was the Grand Cherokee SRT8 ACR. Basically an SRT8 GC with everything but the driver's seat removed and a roll cage installed, the ACR name is the giveaway bit. The last vehicle in the Chrysler stable to use that suffix was the Viper. It stands for American Club Racer and the SRT team takes that moniker very seriously. A racing Jeep might sound like it's on a par with an ocean-going anvil, but it's so wrong it's right.

Speed was also clearly on FIAT's mind when it dreamt up its concepts for the show. It's mini streamliner concept, complete with café racer and micro trailer, didn't make a jot of sense, but looked great all the same. From its spun aluminium wheels to its three-inch lowered roofline and neat side-exiting pipes, it looked neat and fun. Words you want people to associate with your smallest car, so job done.

You know when a car is really hot at SEMA when it doesn't even need a stand of its own - they are scattered throughout the show on everyone else's booths. This year, that car was the Scion FR-S (Toyota FT86) and Subaru BRZ. There were so many of them it was almost harder to find stands that didn't have one on display than those that did.

Not that that was in any way a problem, as Top Gear's Performance Car of the Year obviously absorbs tuning attention like a plant absorbs water. Even though it was hard to pick a winner, Scion tried by staging a build off competition. All built with a tuning budget of $15k, the three contenders took three very different routes, but the light green Minty FReSh (geddit?) took the honours on the day.

But the real winner was another breathed on FR-S, this time by drift king RJ de Vera. Far more understated and tasteful - or as much as any orange car can be - it featured a beautifully minimalist spec and remarkable intent. If you play Forza on Xbox you'll be able to drive it soon as it's been snapped up to be included in a forthcoming download pack. Dorifto!

The other key bit of tuning news around the flat-four-engined car, was that the lusty WRX engine is almost a straight swap for the weedier standard unit. Engine mounts are the same, just the bulkhead needs the attention of a hammer. And then it's a goer apparently.

You know when a car is really hot at SEMA when it doesn't even need a stand of its own - they are scattered throughout the show on everyone else's booths. This year, that car was the Scion FR-S (Toyota FT86) and Subaru BRZ. There were so many of them it was almost harder to find stands that didn't have one on display than those that did.

Not that that was in any way a problem, as Top Gear's Performance Car of the Year obviously absorbs tuning attention like a plant absorbs water. Even though it was hard to pick a winner, Scion tried by staging a build off competition. All built with a tuning budget of $15k, the three contenders took three very different routes, but the light green Minty FReSh (geddit?) took the honours on the day.

But the real winner was another breathed on FR-S, this time by drift king RJ de Vera. Far more understated and tasteful - or as much as any orange car can be - it featured a beautifully minimalist spec and remarkable intent. If you play Forza on Xbox you'll be able to drive it soon as it's been snapped up to be included in a forthcoming download pack. Dorifto!

The other key bit of tuning news around the flat-four-engined car, was that the lusty WRX engine is almost a straight swap for the weedier standard unit. Engine mounts are the same, just the bulkhead needs the attention of a hammer. And then it's a goer apparently.

You know when a car is really hot at SEMA when it doesn't even need a stand of its own - they are scattered throughout the show on everyone else's booths. This year, that car was the Scion FR-S (Toyota FT86) and Subaru BRZ. There were so many of them it was almost harder to find stands that didn't have one on display than those that did.

Not that that was in any way a problem, as Top Gear's Performance Car of the Year obviously absorbs tuning attention like a plant absorbs water. Even though it was hard to pick a winner, Scion tried by staging a build off competition. All built with a tuning budget of $15k, the three contenders took three very different routes, but the light green Minty FReSh (geddit?) took the honours on the day.

But the real winner was another breathed on FR-S, this time by drift king RJ de Vera. Far more understated and tasteful - or as much as any orange car can be - it featured a beautifully minimalist spec and remarkable intent. If you play Forza on Xbox you'll be able to drive it soon as it's been snapped up to be included in a forthcoming download pack. Dorifto!

The other key bit of tuning news around the flat-four-engined car, was that the lusty WRX engine is almost a straight swap for the weedier standard unit. Engine mounts are the same, just the bulkhead needs the attention of a hammer. And then it's a goer apparently.

You know when a car is really hot at SEMA when it doesn't even need a stand of its own - they are scattered throughout the show on everyone else's booths. This year, that car was the Scion FR-S (Toyota FT86) and Subaru BRZ. There were so many of them it was almost harder to find stands that didn't have one on display than those that did.

Not that that was in any way a problem, as Top Gear's Performance Car of the Year obviously absorbs tuning attention like a plant absorbs water. Even though it was hard to pick a winner, Scion tried by staging a build off competition. All built with a tuning budget of $15k, the three contenders took three very different routes, but the light green Minty FReSh (geddit?) took the honours on the day.

But the real winner was another breathed on FR-S, this time by drift king RJ de Vera. Far more understated and tasteful - or as much as any orange car can be - it featured a beautifully minimalist spec and remarkable intent. If you play Forza on Xbox you'll be able to drive it soon as it's been snapped up to be included in a forthcoming download pack. Dorifto!

The other key bit of tuning news around the flat-four-engined car, was that the lusty WRX engine is almost a straight swap for the weedier standard unit. Engine mounts are the same, just the bulkhead needs the attention of a hammer. And then it's a goer apparently.

You know when a car is really hot at SEMA when it doesn't even need a stand of its own - they are scattered throughout the show on everyone else's booths. This year, that car was the Scion FR-S (Toyota FT86) and Subaru BRZ. There were so many of them it was almost harder to find stands that didn't have one on display than those that did.

Not that that was in any way a problem, as Top Gear's Performance Car of the Year obviously absorbs tuning attention like a plant absorbs water. Even though it was hard to pick a winner, Scion tried by staging a build off competition. All built with a tuning budget of $15k, the three contenders took three very different routes, but the light green Minty FReSh (geddit?) took the honours on the day.

But the real winner was another breathed on FR-S, this time by drift king RJ de Vera. Far more understated and tasteful - or as much as any orange car can be - it featured a beautifully minimalist spec and remarkable intent. If you play Forza on Xbox you'll be able to drive it soon as it's been snapped up to be included in a forthcoming download pack. Dorifto!

The other key bit of tuning news around the flat-four-engined car, was that the lusty WRX engine is almost a straight swap for the weedier standard unit. Engine mounts are the same, just the bulkhead needs the attention of a hammer. And then it's a goer apparently.

You know when a car is really hot at SEMA when it doesn't even need a stand of its own - they are scattered throughout the show on everyone else's booths. This year, that car was the Scion FR-S (Toyota FT86) and Subaru BRZ. There were so many of them it was almost harder to find stands that didn't have one on display than those that did.

Not that that was in any way a problem, as Top Gear's Performance Car of the Year obviously absorbs tuning attention like a plant absorbs water. Even though it was hard to pick a winner, Scion tried by staging a build off competition. All built with a tuning budget of $15k, the three contenders took three very different routes, but the light green Minty FReSh (geddit?) took the honours on the day.

But the real winner was another breathed on FR-S, this time by drift king RJ de Vera. Far more understated and tasteful - or as much as any orange car can be - it featured a beautifully minimalist spec and remarkable intent. If you play Forza on Xbox you'll be able to drive it soon as it's been snapped up to be included in a forthcoming download pack. Dorifto!

The other key bit of tuning news around the flat-four-engined car, was that the lusty WRX engine is almost a straight swap for the weedier standard unit. Engine mounts are the same, just the bulkhead needs the attention of a hammer. And then it's a goer apparently.

Something else that would probably improve when hammered is the Kawaii Drive Project. Essentially a custom shop that adds teenage schoolgirl bling to Priuses, it offers two models, each more hideous than the other. Looking like something Blue Peter would have produced in the ‘80s with lots of sticky-backed plastic, this duo of taste-free rides would make even Paris Hilton swoon. Wrong. Completely and utterly wrong.

Something else that would probably improve when hammered is the Kawaii Drive Project. Essentially a custom shop that adds teenage schoolgirl bling to Priuses, it offers two models, each more hideous than the other. Looking like something Blue Peter would have produced in the ‘80s with lots of sticky-backed plastic, this duo of taste-free rides would make even Paris Hilton swoon. Wrong. Completely and utterly wrong.

Also teetering on the wrong side of the fence, but just managing to land on the right side were these car covers from Coverking that have the picture of the car underneath printed on the outside. Now you can put a Porsche cover on your repmobile and fool your neighbours that you've come into the money. The only problem is, how long it would last in the UK before someone tagged it.

Also teetering on the wrong side of the fence, but just managing to land on the right side were these car covers from Coverking that have the picture of the car underneath printed on the outside. Now you can put a Porsche cover on your repmobile and fool your neighbours that you've come into the money. The only problem is, how long it would last in the UK before someone tagged it.

If it's weight not paint you want to save, Carbon Revolution's world first production one-piece carbon fibre wheels are what you need. Tipping the scales at a smidge over 15lb each - roughly half the weight of a typical alloy wheel - the Australian-made CR9s will fit directly onto a Porsche 911. Or they will if you have a spare £10k it'll cost you for a set. And, yes, they are repairable.

There's always one car at SEMA that outshines all the others for sheer brilliance and ingenuity. This year that car is the remarkably gorgeous Mach Forty. It started life as a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang and has, over the past three years and many hundreds of thousands of dollars (they are not saying how many, but it's a lot) become an amalgam of the original car and a 2006 Ford GT.

The end result is little short of perfect. Featuring a supercharged flex fuel-adapted GT engine that can drink anything from moonshine (really) to avgas and produce 800hp while doing so, plus bespoke everything else, it is the machine every muscle car wants to be when it grows up.

The owner could have bought any number of supercars instead of the Mach Forty but he spent the cash on building this one-off instead as he didn't want a modern-looking car. A Morgan would have been a cheaper, faster route to that end. But without a fraction of the charisma of this fabulous Ford.

There's always one car at SEMA that outshines all the others for sheer brilliance and ingenuity. This year that car is the remarkably gorgeous Mach Forty. It started life as a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang and has, over the past three years and many hundreds of thousands of dollars (they are not saying how many, but it's a lot) become an amalgam of the original car and a 2006 Ford GT.

The end result is little short of perfect. Featuring a supercharged flex fuel-adapted GT engine that can drink anything from moonshine (really) to avgas and produce 800hp while doing so, plus bespoke everything else, it is the machine every muscle car wants to be when it grows up.

The owner could have bought any number of supercars instead of the Mach Forty but he spent the cash on building this one-off instead as he didn't want a modern-looking car. A Morgan would have been a cheaper, faster route to that end. But without a fraction of the charisma of this fabulous Ford.