SEMA 2008 and all the clams you can eat! Sorry for the Bugs Bunny moment there, but it really feels as though I've traveled miles under ground to reach this automotive extravaganza called SEMA in fabulous Las Vegas Nevada! Okay, enough screaming, lets get on with what you are really here for.

For the past couple of years, one of the main attractions at SEMA has been the Scion build off challenge. In the past it has been a battle between project building teams that went head to head in a Scion battle to the death. Team Hybrid from California was the reigning champ for the last two years, but the big wigs at Scion decided to change things up a bit this year and try things out with individual builders. Just like recent years, Scion has changed the platform to which the builders will be working on, last years xA's are followed up this year by a fleet of tC's. Check out these works of art!

Starting from left to right, we'll introduce you to John Pangilinan and his Porsche Mexico blue widebody Scion tC. This eye catching tC is the loudest of the bunch sporting a one-off Jon Sibal widebody kit by DTM Autobody that really makes the body of the tC look aggressive. Filling these widened fenders, a set of custom made matte black J Line 11RL3 wheels were made to fit. These wheels are put to work with a set of Neo Chrome lug nugs that really make everything stand out. Engine modifications are plain to see when the hood is opened to an octopus like turbo manifold that is attached to a full Greddy turbo kit that totally explains it all. Inside the Scion, Pangilinan dressed things up with a set of pristine Recaro racing bucket seats, and a custom Rockford Fosgate audio set up.

Next up we have Mark Arcenal. If you aren't familiar with Mark Arcenal, I'm sure you are real stylish in your flashing LA Gear sneakers. Just kidding, Arcenal is notorious for being a sneaker designer/collector and even owns his own clothing boutique in San Francisco, Ca called Fatlace. He has also had his hands in a couple of high profile builds starting with his Nissan 240, and more recently with his Pontiac Solstice. This year Scion gave him the opportunity to put his creative abilities to the test with a Scion tC. This Autumn Copper colored B Magic widebody Scion really shows what a truly creative mind can do. Arcenal fitted the tC with Volk RE30's with giant four piston brakes that sport his Fatlace logo across them. The booming speakers in the trunk are ARC Audio prototype woofers and amps in a custom enclosure that take the place of where the rear seats once were and the cargo area. Arcenal's builds keep getting better and better!

The last of the trio of Scions comes from Eddie Hahm from Fast Eddie's garage. We remember Hahm's old Civic EG that was an internet favorite amongst the Honda community. Nowadays Hahm is putting together ground breaking new autos such as this years of early Bonneville Salt Flat inspired Scion tC that is the true definition of a hybrid build. This World War II aircraft inspired tC is modeled after post war hot rods, and high dollar post war coach-built automobiles of the 1930's. This build blends vintage with modern mechanics into a Scion tC. We were so skeptical about this build when we saw the original renderings, but we were blown away when we saw the Scion in person. The amount of custom fabrication that went into this build is so impressive, you would have to see it with your own two eyes to be able to appreciate it. Each rivet that was pressed into the brushed metal body of the tC really makes for a different look. There are so many one off accessories incorporated into this tC that we have never seen before that we feel will really change the way people look at the way we are building cars. We love love love love love this tC!

Stay Tuned for the conclusion to the Scion build off later in the week!

The Tanabe booth was killing it this year with this Top Secret Final Evolution widebody Toyota Supra. Flash bulbs were popping while spectators with camera phones were taking steps backwards to get the entire Supra in the frame. This Toyota was sporting a set of super wide SSR wheels, AP racing brakes and air suspension. Inside, Bride bucket seats and a Cusco cage make for eye-catching accessories while a fully built engine is hiding under the hood. Did we mention that this Supra is rocking a Final Evolution widebody kit? OMG! Top Secret FTMFW!

Mobil 1 has been on top of their game for years in the automotive industry. With experience with some of the worlds top racing teams, they definitely have a long list of high profile clientele. This was exactly the case this year at SEMA where Mobil 1 showed off two of the baddest rides in Las Vegas.

The first Mobil 1 vehicle featured in the booth was a complete build from Bulletproof Automotive. The highly coveted Nissan GTR was sure to make a huge splash this year at the SEMA show, we knew this way before getting our hands dirty here in Vegas. Mobil 1 hand picked this GTR for their booth well knowing that the Nissan would bring in tons of attention. This Nissan GTR is rocking a full carbon fiber Zele aero lip kit that includes the front lip, sideskirts, and rear lip that wraps around the titanium exhaust system that pokes through the openings at the rear. An impressive set of BBS LM wheels were fitted perfectly to clear the Endless brakes that not only upgraded the front, but also the rear braking systems. What's not to love with this extremely sexy Nissan?

Vincent Wong of IForged Wheels has really done a number to this deceptive looking Porsche. What you may assume is a Porsche 997 sporting GT3 RS colors, is actually a Porsche 996 sporting 997 gear. Let us explain. This Porsche was originally born as a 996, remember those weird looking peanut headlights? Well that's exactly what this thing was sporting a few months ago until Wong gave this Porsche a complete make over with a 997 front and rear conversion. This meticulous build was completely documented and blogged all over the internet, in fact, you've probably seen our SEMA preview for this build. Along with the 997 conversion, Wong also added TechArt aero gear, and of course wheels from his own back yard in the form of a set of IForged wheels that were custom made for the build. Add this to the long list of cars we'd like to drive back home!

Another SEMA vehicle that was spoiled days before the show was Gene Tjin's 2009 Honda Fit. This year Tjin Edition becomes more family oriented for so many reasons. Gene Tjin, who plays Neil Tjin's younger brother not only on TV but also in real life has finally tried his creative hands again on another Honda! Many of you may not remember his first official build in the form of a full Bomex Honda Accord back in the late 90's, that was simply groundbreaking. Since then, Tjin has stuck to his guns in building some mean looking street cruisers. Now, Tjin has given up on that and gone back to his roots with Honda to build this aggressive looking Fit. Tjin's Mobil 1 sponsored Honda Fit is rocking a set of custom made Function Form coil overs that lower the stock ride height to a level that is a bit more acceptable as it sits low on a set of old school BBS RS wheels. Inside you'll be impressed by the peanut butter leather and the weather supplied by Webasto, as they give Tjin the luxury of checking out the sky directly above him with a custom installed moon roof. Other modifications include a full audio system that is all controlled by a Visteon navigation unit that sends the ear piercing sounds to a custom Realm Audio set up in the rear cargo area. The external body modifications are obvious with a complete color change, and Kenstyle aero gear to go along with the Honda sport bumpers to give the body of this Fit an aggressive look. Another clean build from the boys at the ever growing Tjin Edition crew!

Team ETC/Castrol's Cadillac CTS was debuted to the common public in Montreal two weeks ago at Montreal's largest tuner show SCP. But, of course you already knew that because we had excellent show coverage from that weekend (pats self on back). But in all seriousness, SEMA marks the first of the many stops that this Cadillac will be making across North America over the next year (2009), and what a way to push off, at the biggest automotive event ever! The CTS stretched its legs in the Performance Audio and Sound Magazine booth drawing crowds all day to the 1,500hp monster. This Cadillac was just as impressive in the United States as it was in Canada, Bienvenue au USA!

There are tons of air suspension kits available on the market today, but only one guarantees that your friends won't laugh at you when you are trying to flip your car over. Air Runner suspension has become popular in the VIP community over the past few years gaining respect for air ride set ups that are done properly. For example, the orange Dodge Challenger that was parked in their booth that was flexing its muscles as it showed off the suspension that allows the Challenger to be raised and lowered at the touch of a button. You'll notice this Challenger's body lines have been modified a bit, this is due to the widened rear fenders that bulge out, covering the super wide Forgiato wheels that were custom made for this Challenger. What an impressive build for a newly released vehicle!

If the Hyudai Genesis wrote a note to us that said: Do you love me? We would cirlcle YES one hundred times! We are absolutely in love with this new rear wheel drive Hyundai, the variety of Genesis builds in the Hyundai booth was stunning! Each of the Genesis coupes had a little something to offer everyone. The Genesis that really caught our eyes was this stunning red turbo charged model built by HKS. This Genesis was rocking a full Kenstyle lip kit that made the lines so aggressive, and a set of Volk Wheels and Brembo brakes make for stop and go. Under the hood an HKS turbo charger poked through the carbon fiber accessories and engine components to scare off anyone who thought this Hyundai would never make it. Hyundai Genesis this <3 is for you!

This is the end of day one at SEMA. This is also election day! Did you vote? Keep here for more updates all week and make sure to check out the Micro blogs that are updated all day long!!

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