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Auto sleuth: Hot off the press trends and gossip
Posted 5 hours ago

In case there's an opening

One of the easiest and quickest ways to make your ride stand out from the pack is with a shiny new aluminum grille insert, but where do you begin your and search and what types of features should you be looking for? That's the million-dollar question, but take a close look at the products offered by B-Cool Billets based in Perris, Calif. The company says that it uses more substantial material than its competitors, which, B-Cool says, means a higher-quality appearance. Visit www.b-coolbillets.com to see what grilles are offered (you can also call 951-943-6800) and to read over the installation instructions before you begin, which, from the samples we examined, just require a hole or two to be drilled. B-Cool Billets makes all its own products with its own tooling at its own facilities. There are new applications for the 2009 Dodge Journey (pictured), Jeep Liberty, Nissan Titan and the redesigned Scion xB and xD models.

u Can you have too much lip?

We could quite literally fill this entire newspaper with photos and descriptions of every wheel design available for sale right now on the planet, but the goal here is to present you with leading-edge stuff and not some company's cookie-cutter wheel that you've seen a thousand times before somewhere else. No, aside from the very catchy music on the company's makeshift Web site (a new one is in the works), which is where you'll find a wheel catalog to flip through, Hipnotic Wheels has a treat for drivers looking for the most wheel lip they can find. In fact, the new Masterpiece wheel is all lip, from the front edge right to the back edge. That's right, there's no inner/outer wheel halves, just a one big shiny drum with the spokes that seem to disappear into the rim area. As of this writing, there's no information on sizing although the company tells us that they're hopeful production will ramp up by May, so stay tuned. In the meantime, view the online catalog of other wheels at www.HipnoticWheels.com or call 866-604-8700.

u Stuck with that bumper?

Chevrolet did a great job styling the latest Tahoe sport utility vehicle. It's tough, smooth and stylish all at the same time. However, the same look doesn't suit all drivers, which is one reason USA Wholesale Connection sells a restyled fibreglass bumper cover with provisions for fog lights. Located in Compton, Calif., the company sells new front bumper covers and body for a variety of other vehicles, too. Call 310-631-3108 to get your hands on a full-line catalog. All bumpers and body kits are delivered in a white gel-coat finish and will require preparation for paint to match the rest of the vehicle. USA Wholesale Connection also sells restyling products such as replacement grilles (the Tahoe pictured here has one) sold through the Fenomeno Motorsport brand. Visit usawholesaleconnection.net for more information.

u Plasma: a cut above

If you've ever used a plasma cutter or watched someone else use a plasma cutter, you know it's tough to go back to metal shears and a reciprocating saw for slicing up metal. A plasma cutter makes it look so easy. In fact, the new Powermax30 from Hypertherm Inc., based in Hanover, N.H., can zip through one-quarter-inch thick steel plate at a rate of 84 centimetres per minute and is rated to cut metal up to 3/8-inch (9.5 millimetres) thick. For working on the project vehicle, metal sculpting or even working on the job site, the nine-kilogram Powermax30 is a deal with a street price in the US $1,200-$1,300 range. An optional carry case and shoulder strap show just how portable this unit really is. The 30-amp unit can actually run on household current or 230 volts, which enhances versatility. The big plus of a plasma cutter over a torch, for example, is that plasma cutters don't overheat surrounding metal. That means you can cut thin gauge sheetmetal with minimal