Automotive Innovation
From suspension breakthroughs to slick bolt-ons and next-gen wiring solutions, this curated collection of fresh hardware gave attendees a first look at what’s about to hit the streets—and the shelves. With awards on the line and plenty of eyeballs walking the floor, companies brought their A-game, packing the display cases with smart engineering, clean design, and purpose-built upgrades. Whether you’re a pro builder or garage warrior, this was the place to get hands-on with the future of hot rodding.
The inaugural High Performance Expo (HPX) brought together a powerhouse lineup of vendors, builders, and performance innovators. Amid fierce competition from dozens of standout products, two companies took home the top PerformancePlus HPX honors—showcasing the cutting edge of high-performance innovation.
There’s a new name making waves in the high-performance and motorsports world: HPX. The High Performance Expo, presented by the North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA), brings fresh energy and forward-thinking focus to the industry. Held at the Charlotte Convention Center, HPX delivers a dynamic experience for automotive professionals, racers, fabricators, and performance enthusiasts alike. Built as a bridge between business and passion, HPX sets out to connect the key players in performance engineering, aftermarket innovation, and motorsports culture—and it’s already making a strong impression.
George and Leslye Jones’ ’67 Camaro convertible is one of the finest examples ever to turn a wheel. Built by the crew from Greening Auto Company (and others), this is an effort worthy of pride and praise.
Rich Oakley is not your average hot rod builder. There is no room for cookie cutter cars in the Retro Rides by Rich shop in Archdale, North Carolina. In fact, he prefers to be one step ahead of the norm when it comes to building his personal rides. Loosely inspired by the Tony Nancy 22 Jr., his Model A highboy comes equipped with an attitude. “The car has a loud, rude nature. That’s what I like about it, the way it shakes, smells, and of course, the noise,” Oakley says. It has an aggressive stance, and those six Holley 94 carburetors are an indication that the roadster might have a chip on its shoulder.
The automotive world lost a true legend with the passing of Alex Xydias in 2024. Born in 1922, Xydias was not just a figure in hot rodding; he was a driving force whose innovations and passion forever changed the landscape of the industry. His life was a journey of relentless pursuit—of speed, of innovation, and of community.
While it may be somewhat of a surprise that muscle cars have become some of the most highly prized cars on the market today, the prices people are paying for them really have enthusiasts reeling. With some cars easily surpassing the million-dollar mark at the Barrett-Jackson auctions and others swelling in value in the wake of it all—well beyond the prices paid for the most treasured of European exotics—muscle cars have been transformed into commodities. That’s a good thing and a bad thing.
During the muscle-car wars of the ’60s and early ’70s, few companies produced motors that were surrounded by the kind of aura that ebbed and oozed like a fog around Mopar. Engines like the 426 Hemi, 426 Max Wedge and 440 Six Pack were among the most coveted and feared of the era. It says something of a car company’s commitment to power and performance when a multi-carbed 440 big block is not the most wanted engine in a manufacturer’s lineup. So it was with Mopar, because for many, the 440 was the engine you got if you couldn’t afford or couldn’t find the car you wanted with a Hemi.
Every creative endeavor, from fine art to mechanical invention, requires some type of high-wire act—a unique and delicate balance between vision, creativity and capability. When the cogs align, and the elusive look rises to the forefront, there’s no questioning the purity of its origin.
EFIJY… It’s the show car that has taken the world by storm. Everyone from hot rodders to corporate leaders is reveling in the execution of this great design exercise. The only sad part is, this car will not see production, because it was truly an exercise in design, an effort from the car-loving designers who by day create fully functional and very popular Holden automobiles for the Australian motoring public, and who by night lust for the curvaceous lines of times past and tinker away on hot rods in their home garages. Yes, the design team at Holden is laced with true car enthusiasts, and it shows in their daily work. Even more so, it shows in the EFIJY show car they created in a mere eight months.
