Autoblog UK

Since 2004, a string of muscle cars from the sixties and seventies have been making a comeback. Mustangs, Challengers and Camaros can again be found in places other than America. Iconic names bristling with new technology sell well. All that's actually still missing is a retro version of the Firebird, Pontiac's last great cult car.

In 2009, General Motors announced Pontiac's demise due to the worldwide economic crisis. Unfortunately for fans, there won't be a successor to the Firebird. But in the USA, there's one customizer itching to turn dreams into reality. For many years, drag racer John Lingenfelter has belonged to the cream of the US tuning scene. At the SEMA show in Las Vegas, the Indiana-based tuner displayed a Pontiac 455 T/A built on Chevrolet Camaro underpinnings. Lingenfelter intends to gauge the public's response before finally deciding whether to put the Firebird into production. One thing in favour of this relaunch must surely be the performance of the V8 engine under the shaker scoop that should put out 655bhp.

Apart from souped-up cars, the SEMA Show in Las Vegas has, of course, the hottest girls of any motor show in the world. Some of the girls' body bits are far superior to any of the cars. This is Part 2 of Motor Show Girls in Las Vegas...

A quite special hot rod was on display at the SEMA Tuning show, a1934 Ford EcoBoost Hot Rod. This superb example is from tuning company, Detroit Street Rods. It's the first rear-wheel-drive EcoBoost car ever. Under its blue bonnet, a 3.5-liter V6 lump from Ford's EcoBoost range pumps out a colossal 400bhp. A ZZ Top album is ready and waiting in the CD player.

The biggest motorcycle show of the year was due to start in Milan on Tuesday morning, but Ducati likes to do things its own way on home turf and presented its fresh line-up of 2010 models at a special event on Monday night, attended by the world's media.

Italy's most iconic motorcycle manufacturer took two hours to reveal how it's dealing with the sales crash that has blighted the industry before introducing us to its new bikes. Put simply: Ducati's market share is up but, like everyone else, its sales are down.

Despite the economic doom and gloom, the press conference concluded positively with the unveiling of the new Multistrada 1200; Ducati's crucial offering to the adventure touring segment, one of the only areas of the market that's still growing. It's a bike that has all the right ingredients to challenge BMW's class-leading R1200GS, with stand out features like the trick new Ride Mode Selector, which adjusts the set-up of the bike to suit sport, touring, urban or off-road riding; plus keyless go - a first on a production motorcycle. Expect the new Multistrada in showrooms early next year, with prices starting from £10,995.

When we arrived at the show proper on Tuesday morning, the mood and atmosphere was more muted than we expected. The recession had clearly taken its toll - Honda and Yamaha has both stayed away - and it was left to BMW and Ducati to create the most impressive stands in the halls.

Ducati kicked-started the annual Milan motorcycle show this week when it launched the new Multistrada 1200, alongside three other freshly upgraded models, all due in UK showrooms next year.

Staging its press conference the evening before EICMA officially begins - albeit with a downscaled stage show compared to previous years - Ducati took 90 minutes to bring the world's press up to speed with its 2010 product line-up, the highlight of which is without doubt the all-new Multistrada tourer.

Packed with technology that makes the outgoing model look like a relic, the 150bhp 1198cc twin-cylinder Multistrada has the ingredients to take on BMW's big-selling R1200GS.

At the SEMA Show (Specialty Equipment Market Association) from 3rd - 6th November, the focus was on gas guzzlers – muscle cars, hot-rods, souped-up compact cars, mainly Japanese, and refined luxury European motors. But of course, there were also other highlights, sporting high heels. Here is Part One of Girls in Las Vegas...

At the world's motor shows these days, it's usually eco-cars and fuel efficient vehicles that are in the spotlight, but not at the SEMA in Las Vegas. It's all very different at the biggest tuning show in the world. Tuning experts of all kinds display their latest offerings at the SEMA Show, which this year extends to 180,000 square metres. By way of comparison, September's motor show in Frankfurt occupied around 190,000 square metres. This tuning show has been around since1967. It is not open to the public but is trade only. Manufacturers, tuners and dealers are at home here, whilst numerous professional backstreet tuners add to the lively scene. The Show is the 'Fashion Week' of the custom car industry.

Take 50% Camaro and 50% Corvette and you get a Ghepardo. Of course, this combination can only be found at the SEMA Tuning Show. Tuning experts at Caccia Custom Cars took a 2002 Chevy Camaro and a Chevy Corvette and created the Ghepardo. Chassis is courtesy of the Camaro, whilst engine and suspension are Corvette. The front end is a bit like the new Lexus and the rear is quite muscular. This 'Chevy on Chevy' is a real looker...

At the SEMA convention in Las Vegas, one vehicle in particular is attracting a lot of attention: the TRAX Subaru WRX STI. This automotive creation, the brainchild of artist and snowboard virtuoso Ken Block, is making its public debut in Las Vegas.

Responsible for the actual construction work are rally experts Vermont Sportscar. The WRX STI comes equipped with a set of special EXE-TC Group N shock absorbers, a modified 400bhp 2.5L four-cylinder boxer engine and a KAPS five-speed automatic gearbox. Particularly eye-catching are the four snow-cat tracks in place of wheels. These turn the TRAX WRX STI into an awe-inspiring apparition capable of undreamt-of performance, even on the toughest terrain. And as a sort of bonus, this Subaru comes with a sort of sleigh in tow, the ideal solution for a family snowboarding trip.

At motor shows around the world, exhibitors have recently vied with each other to present an image of modesty. Not so in the US gambling mecca of Las Vegas where the biggest names in auto tuning are currently flexing their muscles at the SEMA convention (3rd - 6th November). The American tuning and accessories industry had a turnover of over $30bn last year, a trend that looks set to continue. The abbreviation SEMA stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association. Trade representatives from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the event which is being held on 180,000 square metres of exhibition space.

There are around 2,000 exclusive models on display. This show has the lot, from beefed-up muscle cars and pick-ups to show cars and the full gamut of tuning components. To nobody's surprise, the Mustang once again registers as the most 'pimped' vehicle, with no fewer than eight different versions of the sports car on display. Probably the most interesting of these comes from the Ford Racing Team, who are producing the Mustang Cobra Jet in a limited edition of fifty units. Every single one of the 2010 version has been sold already, so a wistful glance at the gallery below will have to suffice.