Three Pair and a Trax: Chevrolet Shows its Full SEMA Concept Hand

Chevy anted up several SEMA concepts in the days leading up to the biggest event in Las Vegas, but on the eve of the big show it showed its full hand: three pair (Camaros over Colorados over Silverados in terms of our interest level) and a Trax concept. You can decide if it's a winning hand.

The design brief for this one was pretty simple and straightforward: Make it look like a crazy car-designer illustration brought to life. The most crucial elements therefore are the staggered-fitment "Enormous Custom Wheels"—22s in front, 24s in back. They're wrapped in super-low-profile rubber (245/30R22 in front and 275/25R24 in the rear) and snuggled way up in the fender openings thanks to a custom air suspension. The exterior is mostly de-badged and enhanced with an accessory front splitter and the rear diffuser from Chevy's ground-effects kit (the rocker extensions are not used here). The upper and lower front grilles are prototype parts, the head and taillamps are tinted, and of course all the bowties are black. The Dazzling Black tri-coat paint features gloss white flakes to add depth and sparkle when viewed from different angles.

Backing up the hi-po looks are a few performance upgrades, including accessory cold-air induction and low-restriction exhaust, and a performance brake package featuring currently available six-piston front and concept four-piston rear calipers—all painted bright red of course. The engine compartment is fully dressed with a panel kit that perfectly frames the red Camaro-branded valve-cover dress-up plates on the stock LT1 6.2-liter V-8 and the matching cold-air intake filter. There's also a Chevrolet Performance axle-back stainless steel exhaust system that enables better breathing and a deeper growl. It reduces backpressure up to 25 percent over the stock system.

There's a whole lot more Adrenaline Red inside, where the seats and everything from about the armrests up appear to have been dipped in bright red, with black below that belt line. It's a striking look designed to coordinate nicely with the similarly designed '69 Chevelle Slammer unveiled over the weekend.

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This concept is designed to show a little love to the Camaro's entry 2.0-liter turbo engine. As the lightest offering, it gives the Camaro the most ideal front/rear weight balance and hence constitutes the best choice for autocross enthusiasts—hence the AutoX moniker. To lower its lap times the car gets a new accessory suspension upgrade that lowers the car by 0.75 inch and sharpens the damping (the kit is comprised mostly of 1LE parts that come standard on the V-6 or SS 1LE factory suspensions). These bits are augmented with an accessory strut-tower brace and 20-inch accessory wheels shod in four rear 285/35R20 performance tires for added grip. The brakes are upgraded with a six-piston front brake kit (six-piston calipers chomping 14.6-inch two-piece slotted rotors), and the engine gets a cold-air intake, performance exhaust with a polished 4-inch outlet that reduces back pressure by 14 percent, a stage kit, a heavy-duty cooling package, and daytime-running-lamp-delete air scoops.

To look the part, the Camaro RS trim level gets upgraded with a vented hood and front splitter from the SS, accessory side rockers, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, sport accessory grilles, black bowties, a carbon fuel door, and concept Shock Yellow paint with AutoX stripes and decals. The taillamps are dark-tinted, and export-market side-markers are fitted. There's even a tow-hook and low GoPro camera mount to capture that perfect run (or the dramatic spins). Inside you'll find 1LE Recaro seats with five-point harnesses mounted to a bolt-in belt bar, black suede-trimmed steering wheel and short shifter from the 1LE package, black suede knee pads to brace against, carbon-fiber instrument panel inserts from the ZL1 and a host of other blacked out or sueded bits and pieces.

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Los Angeles is the center of the midsize truck market, with something like one out of every 18 Colorados sold ending up there. So it seemed natural to partner with some surf-specialists, like Costa Mesa, California-based Hurley, to develop the ultimate L.A. surfer pickup. Company founder Bob Hurley's son Ryan now serves as creative director for the firm, and he worked with Chevy designers to develop ideas like the equipment drying rack in the bed, which is a Thule roof rack mounted to a custom drawer slider for easy access when the Pyzel surfboards are mounted to the rack above the Bimini-style shade cover.

To guarantee sufficient traction on beaches, the concept starts with Z71 Trail Boss special edition underpinnings and knobby 17-inch Goodyear DuraTrac tires on black wheels mounted with spacers to increase the track width. An enhanced suspension lift kit buys some additional ground clearance, and if that's not quite enough lift, skid plates protect the undercarriage. The engine gets a SEMA-de-riguer performance air intake (inhaling through a concept snorkel that will allow the Colorado to keep breathing when the base of the windshield is under water!) and a Chevrolet Performance exhaust.

Monochrome matte and gloss "sea foam" paint and plenty of Hurley logos distinguish the exterior, along with sport assist steps, a modified accessory sport bar with mounts for two color-coordinated long boards, and clever storage ideas like a hidden lock box integrated into the rear step bumper. There's also a prototype RFID bracelet "activity key" like the one on a Jag F-Pace: Lock your keys in the car, touch this bracelet to the rear bowtie to lock and alarm the truck while disabling the key inside. Another trick bit of prototype exterior ornamentation: The front grille's "glow-tie," a bowtie with perimeter illumination.

Perhaps Hurley's greatest contribution was inside, where the seats are upholstered with inserts made of Hurley "Ventiprene" material, sort of a breathable neoprene. The rest of the interior is custom trimmed in Hurley colors, patterns, and sewn-in logos.

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Naturally the basis for a track support vehicle like this would feature a burly 2.8-liter Duramax diesel with the towing package, which is more than up to the task of lugging around the race car prop shown with the truck: Chevy's Chaparral 2X VGTGran Turismo game concept vehicle, mocked up and introduced at the 2014 L.A. auto show. Most of this truck's features are cosmetic, starting with the grille that includes light-up lettering spelling out Chevrolet. The graphics package includes matte appliques in "satin graphite" on the hood and tailgate plus various "66" logos (honoring the year the high-wing Chaparral 2E came to dominate Can-Am racing). Colorado Performance 20-inch wheels, Colorado Redline tow hooks, round-bar rocker-guards, and an accessory hard tonneau cover round out the exterior package. Inside are floor liners with metal badging and some of the hard trim is painted to match the wheels.

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How can a person earn the really big bucks plowing parking lots and driveways in the winter? With a totally boss rig like this, sporting a gorgeous state-of-the-art stainless steel plow blade and plenty of angry grizzly bear logos on the blade, the box fenders, and the headrests. Setting the blue and silver paint and graphics package off are a set of chrome trailer mirrors and 20-inch "Look Share" chrome wheels shod with aggressive Goodyear DuraTrac tires. A leveling kit ensures an even stance for the truck when the plow is attached. The spray-in bedliner features an "Alaskan" logo on the bulkhead, and there is special roof and plow lighting. The concept builds on a production Alaskan Edition offered on 2017 Silverado HD Work Truck and LT models that includes the available snowplow prep package, 18-inch wheels with max-traction DuraTrac tires, and smoked amber roof marker lights.

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Based on the production High Desert package offered on 2017 Silverado 1500 LT, LTZ, and High Country models, this concept emphasizes functional style and performance. It features an all-new, lockable and water-resistant cargo system that is mounted over the roll-formed, high-strength steel bed to add dual side storage bins and a three-piece hard tonneau cover. Inside, a cargo divider can be raised to secure smaller items or lowered to access the full length of the bed floor.

The High Desert model variant is also the first Silverado offered with Magnetic Ride Control suspension, which aims to improve body motion control as sensors read the road every millisecond, fine-tuning the damping every 5 milliseconds or so. Other SEMA updates include an illuminated black bowtie grille emblem, all-weather floor liners, performance brake kit, and a performance exhaust kit that adds 7 hp and a throatier note to the 6.2-liter V-8. The 22-inch wheels are accessory items, as are the Chevrolet grille insert, performance air intake, and painted engine cover.

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B-segment CUVs are all the rage these days, but most—like the Chevy Trax—are strictly for on-road use. The Trax Activ seeks to add a bit of off-road cred by fitting a mild suspension lift kit that adds 1.6 inches of ground clearance, and then fitting bigger off-road-ready tires with a 29.5-inch diameter wrapped around a set of Chevy accessory 18-inch wheels with offsets that provide 3.1 inches of additional track width. Fender flares cover the widened footprint. The concept has a custom Satin Sandstorm exterior color, the front and rear fascias feature skid-plate-look inserts and red tow hooks, new rocker panel trim includes red inserts, and the calipers are painted red to match. The bowties are blacked out, and the roof sports a rack with a Thule basket and auxiliary LED lighting. Inside, accessory all-weather floor liners complement the Jet Black interior, which also features unique Satin Graphite accents.