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Ten eye-catching cars at SEMA 2014

The SEMA show has officially opened its doors for 2014, and here are 10 cars that have caught our eyes so far in no particular order.


Honda Fit Kylie Tjin Special Edition

There were at least eight different Jazzes — sold as the Fit in the US and Japan — in Honda's SEMA contingent this year, but it was the pale green Kylie Tjin Special Edition that caught our eye.

With its wider-than-normal fenders, 18-inch alloy wheels and impossibly low riding suspension, the Tjin Fit will have policemen and policewomen around the world reaching reflexively for their citation pads.

Khaki green leather seats aside, the Kylie Tjin Special Edition keeps much of the Jazz's interior as is. Yes, there's a massive subwoofer and amp encroaching on the boot's sides, as well as a basketball rack, but given the outlandish exterior, we're surprised pop-down TV screens aren't hitting passengers every 15 minutes and that the magic seats in the rear haven't been replaced by a hot tub.

Toyota Sleeper Camry

It looks like a regular post-facelift Toyota Camry, but in fact it's a 634kW drag racer. Click here to read all about this wolf in sheep's clothing.

Scion FR-S T1

Quite a number of us would like Toyota to make a convertible version of the 86, but this targa top 86 — or Scion FR-S, if you live Stateside — is probably the closest we'll get for a little while yet. We have more details about the Scion FR-S T1 here.

Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car Drag Racer

The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, with its 527kW/881Nm 6.2-litre supercharged V8, is one seriously quick car. But the road car's 328km/h top speed and 11-second quarter mile (400m) time are nothing compared with this Funny Car version.

The previous-generation Charger R/T Funny Car won the 2011 and 2012 NHRA (National Hot Road Association) Funny Car World Championships and, with around 5200kW on hand, was capable of consistently hitting 515km/h.

Ford Mustang GT King Cobra

Take one 2015 Ford Mustang GT and kit it out with three of Ford Racing's available performance packages (the drag, handling and super packs) and cover the body with a snakeskin finish, and you have the King Cobra.

The car's heavy-duty half shafts, rear sub-frame kit and high-performance bushings come straight from the drag pack, while the handling pack brings new rear shock absorbers, stabiliser bars and drops the ride height by about 2.5 centimetres.

A 2.3-litre supercharger, intake manifold, air inlet system, high-flow fuel injectors, air-to-liquid intercooler and a new ECU are all a part of the super pack, which boosts the 5.0-litre V8 from 324kW/542Nm to over 450kW.

Ford claims that at the Milan Dragway in Michigan, the King Cobra was able to complete the quarter mile (400m) in 10.97 seconds.

Scion x Riley Hawk Skate Tour xB

The Scion xB, or Toyota Rukus in Australia, is a big box grafted onto the platform of the previous-generation Corolla.

Inspired by skateboarder Riley Hawk, son of Tony Hawk, the x Riley Hawk Skate Tour xB seems like an escapee from the 1970s with its brown and orange paint job, fish bowl-style side window, and retro alloy wheels and tyres.

On the inside the Tardis-escapee feel is heightened by shag-pile carpet on almost every available surface, woodgrain dashboard and centre tunnel tunnel, manual windows, dark brown leather seats, CB radio, T-bar shifter, and eight-track player. There are a few modern touches, primarily in the boot, where there's a large Pioneer sound system and pop-up LCD screen.

Kia Ballast Point Sedona and Tim Love Toyota Tundra

Looking at souped up vehicles all day sure does make one hungry and thirsty. Thankfully Kia and Toyota have attendees covered.

Named after celebrity Texan chef Tim Love, the Toyota Tim Love Tundra has a tray that's fitted out with a 27-inch Solaire grill with infrared burners, two cutting boards, two beer taps, and wine and cold storage boxes.

A Rockford Fosgate sound system complete with six 6.5-inch speakers, three amplifiers, three LCD TVs, a PlayStation 4, an Apple TV unit and two subwoofers is on hand to keep patrons entertained as they wait for Tim Love's meat dishes to be prepared.

To slake our thirst, there's a specially modified version of the Kia Sedona, known as the Carnival down under. The Ballast Point Sedona is completely reworked aft of the B-pillar, with the entire rear cabin gutted, cut open and replaced by a custom steel frame that houses the wooden refreshments serving area.

Where there was once space for kids and all their soccer gear, there's now two beer taps fed by four half-barrel kegs of beer. While a regular Sedona/Carnival can seat up to seven people, the Ballast Point version only has one seat, as the front passenger's seat has been removed to accommodate more beer.

1965 Ford Mustang Hoonicorn RTR

Developed by racecar drivers Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin, the Hoonicorn RTR is based the original 1965 Ford Mustang.

Underneath a body that supposedly draws its inspiration from both rally and DTM cars, the Hoonicorn RTR features a 6.7-litre Roush Yates Ford V8, which generates 630kW of power and 976Nm of torque. Delivering all that fury to ground is a six-speed sequential transmission and a Sadev all-wheel-drive system.

Built for Gymkhana, the Hoonicorn RTR is fitted with a roll cage and rides on 18-inch alloy wheels clad in 295/30 rubber.

1965 Batmobile

On display at this year's show is, what we believe to be, one of the George Barris-designed Batmobiles used by the live action Batman series staring Adam West.

The original Batmobile was based on the 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car, but was repainted and repurposed for the TV show.

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