Romik offers truck accessories for Kia Soul

The Kia Soul is a neat car. Its shape, especially from the rear, almost looks a bit SUV-like. So I immediately took notice when I saw a Kia Soul with some truck/SUV-like accessories at the SEMA Show.

This red Soul in the Shewood Automotive booth at SEMA wore a Romik front bull bar, side steps, and rear "max city bar," among other accessories, such as custom healights, aftermarket wheels, and chrome side trim and grilles, which are available through Sherwood Automotive.

These truck-like products are definitely unique for the Kia Soul. However, with the Soul's shape it, I get it. FYI, Romik products are available though Subcompact Culture sponsor, AutoAnything.


LINK
Romik USA
AutoAnything
Sherwood Automotive

Automobile magazine names 2010 Nissan Cube 'Design of the Year'

The people at Automobile magazine have given the 2010 Nissan Cube its "Design of the Year" award.

Although they admit the Cube isn't a beauty, isn't elegant, and not particularly original, they do say it has charm, and that it all just works.

I'd have to agree, too. In my review of the 2009 Nissan Cube SL, I said the Cube had a "funky, techie, avant-garde sort of personality." This car is, indeed, loaded with personality, and it does not look much like anything else on the road. I do suspect there will be a fair amount of controversy surrounding this choice, though.

LINK
2010 Nissan Cube - 2010 Design of the year (Automobile magazine)

VIDEO: Road Wrap—a great way to protect your vehicle's finish.

You're probably familiar with clear bra products that protect a vehicle's front end, mirrors, parts of the body, etc. from rocks. If so, you're probably familiar with the high cost, too.

While at the SEMA Show, I ran into a product called Road Wrap: A temporary clear film to protect your vehicle's finish when you need/want it.

You can use it on the front end of your car on the way to a car show—keeps bugs/grime off, and is cheaper than "blue painter's tape."

You could use it behind your fenders at the drag strip to prevent bits of rubber from attaching themselves to the vehicle's finish.

Or, if you're like me, you'll use it in on the leading edge of your hood and in front of your rear fenders where rock chips destroy the finish of your car when going skiing. (After six times up the gravel-coated roads of Mt. Hood, I'm down to the primer in some spots—the car is 10 months old!). Road Wrap will prevent this kind of stuff from happening.

The product adheres with a water-based adhesive that doesn't leave a residue. It goes on super easy and comes off just as simply, and it's disposable. Check out the video below for an example.

Road Wrap is available in two sizes: 18" x 100' and 6" x 100'; prices are $29.99 and $12.99, respectively—a lot cheaper than having to repaint the parts of your car that take the most abuse.

In addition to Road Wrap, the Louisiana-based company, World Class Concepts, LLC, offers Rug Wrap, which allows users to cover their floor mats in protective plastic, too.

No, I don't work for the company. However, this is a great product that deserves some attention.

LINK
Road Wrap

SEMA: Super shift knobs by CON2R

Who doesn't like a cool shift knob? While at the SEMA Show, I ran across an Oregon company—CON2R (pronounced "contour")—that makes incredible looking shift knobs. Take for example the above "Torqued Wrench" model. It's made from chrome-plated brass, is extremely solid, and feels good in the hand. Form and function.

Perhaps even more amazing is the "Black Widow" shift knob below. Yes, that's a spider inside the knob. Also made from chrome-plated bronze, it looks very delicate, yet it is very sturdy.


MSRP for these super shift knobs is $119.95 for the Torqued Wrench and $139.95 for the Black Widow.

CON2R makes a few other awesome shift knobs, a line of made-to-order custom steering wheels for hot rods, custom badges and more. Check 'em out.

LINK
CON2R

October 2009 subcompact sales

Another month, another big sales gain by Hyundai and Kia with the Accent and Rio, respectively. The biggest change from this time last year is the Accent—up more than double from 2008. Kia's Rio has sold nearly 75% more than this time last year. The only car showing a positive gain compared to '08 is the Accent, although the best-selling Vera is only down 6.6% compared to last year.

Best selling subcompacts thus far for 2009:

1.	Nissan Versa	(70,543)
2.	Hyundai Accent	(60,106)
3.	Honda Fit	(59,175)
4.	Toyota Yaris	(55,169)
5.	MINI	(39,172)

The big loser this month is Smart—down more than 70% compared to October '08. The slow-selling Scion xD is down 49.8% for the year. Predictably, nearly defunct Pontiac only sold 227 G3s.

Make/Model	Oct. '09 vs Oct. '08	Year to date	Cars sold in '09 to date
Hyundai Accent	+106.9%	+28.9%	60,106
Kia Rio	+74.8%	-16.5%	27,238
Nissan Versa	-1.5%	-6.6%	70,543
Toyota Yaris	-13.2%	-40.9%	55,169
MINI (all)	-20.8%	-14.8%	39,172
Suzuki SX4	-33.0%	-32.0%	18,949
Honda Fit	-44.9%	-15.3%	59,175
Scion xD	-48.8%	-49.8%	12,709
Chevrolet Aveo	-53.9%	-33.8%	32,945
Smart ForTwo	-70.4%	-35.5%	13,082
Kia Soul	--	--	26,300
Nissan Cube	--	--	16,849
Pontiac G3	--	--	5,417

SEMA: Rockstar Scion xD = Show car done right

The Rockstar Scion xD, located in the AEM booth, is truly a show car done right. It's over the top, but not too over the top. The build quality is high. The paint is amazing—look at the detail in the airbrushing. It all works, and is great.

Built by Cartel Customs, a company that has built several high-profile custom compacts in the past, this kitted xD rides on Tein coilovers and wears one-off, forged Vellano wheels—20"x8.5" front, 20"x11" rear—wrapped in Toyo tires. The car has an AEM intake and TRD exhaust, a lightweight Braille battery, and Wilwood front brakes. Interior amenities include custom upholstered front and rear racing seats, a harness bar, and more. The paint is worth mentioning again. The airbursh work is awesome. A truly impressive Scion show car. Cartel Customs is part of DragCartel Industries, a maker of import performance drag racing gear.

LINKS
Cartel Customs (DragCartel Industries)

SEMA: Super-sleeper VW Bug packs hidden 351 Ford V-8

Honestly, I walked past this car a couple of times before stopping. It looked like a fairly clean VW Bug convertible, nothing too terribly interesting. Well, I was wrong. Residing in the back seat is a 351 cubic-inch Ford V8. Oh, hai!

SEMA: More miscellaneous goodness from day two

Day two proved to be quite busy. There appeared to be a lot of people in attendance, and many people I spoke with said it was highly trafficked.

Here are a few more cars from the show:

SEMA: The Souls of the Kia booth

There have been an abundance of Kia Souls at this year's show. Some of the best examples would be found directly in Kia's booth.

The light blue Soul directly below (and above) was one of my favorite vehicles at the show. Wearing brown 20" wheels/tires, a baby-blue paint job, and a brown roof with a snowboard, this vehicle was really clean and unique. The interior was decked out with denim and the rear held a bunch of clothes. The car was also lowered quite a bit and featured the super-trick center exhaust with matching brown exhaust tips.


The flat-black Soul below was also really clean with its silver/gray graphic, lowered stance, big wheels/tires, and equally big sound system.

SEMA: The mighty MINIs of the show

The MINI Cooper is still gettin' love from customizers and tuners. Here are a few that caught my eye on day two of the SEMA Show.