Bedliners can be sprayed on, rolled on or dropped in, all for a custom fit, all to protect a truck bed and, oftentimes, to better protect and help stabilize items placed on the bed.

Spray-type systems can offer such versatility (depending on the type) as custom colors or applying the compound to other vehicles or even vehicle areas, or to other surfaces such as trailers, marine craft, boat ramps, swimming pool walkways, even animal enclosures or shed roofs.

With a top speed of 200.3 mph the Brabus GLK V12 set a new speed record for street-legal SUVs on the Italian high-speed test track. The special model, powered by a 12-cylinder, twin turbo engine with 740 bhp / 552 kW, celebrated its world debut at the Dubai International Motor Show in December.

Brabus, Bottrop, Germany, built the high-performance SUV based on the Mercedes GLK-Class. Its starting price is a mere plus-$568,000.

The displacement engine, lubricated with synthetic motor oil, delivers 5,500 rpm and produces a peak torque of 1,350 Nm (995 lb.-ft.) at 2,100 rpm, limited in the car electronically to 1,100 Nm (811 ft.-lb.).

The right front-end treatment can give any vehicle a whole new personality. Whether they’re looking to personalize or protect, your customers might love a face lift for their ride.

Today’s restyling market is all about personalization. Drivers want their car, SUV, van or truck to be unique and remarkable, and the endless array of grille insert or grille guard choices makes it easy to offer drivers something their neighbor doesn’t have—as well as more profits for you.

Take advantage of the current popularity of the offroad look and show your SUV and truck-driving customers one of the many grille guards for new models as well as old favorites. Dress up a luxury coupe or sports car with a grille insert that complements the car’s lines and stance.

Bedliner systems, coatings and equipment —  spray-on, drop-in, roll-on, etc. — were created to protect truck beds and give them longer life, as well as protect the sundry items people place, lay, set, shove or throw into the beds. Like any safeguard, each has its benefits based on driver preference. Following are some of the bedlining systems to consider as you show your clients what might best be suited to their own purposes.

Often the first thing we think of when we want to grow our restyling shop’s sales is to find some hot new marketing technique. But sometimes the better approach is to spend a little time brushing up on the basics.

For instance, about a year ago, top golfer Tiger Woods dedicated nine months to revamping his golf swing. He hired respected trainer and coach Hank Haney to teach him how to improve his overall performance by relearning his basic approach.

If a pro like Tiger is willing to go back to basics, maybe we can all learn something from reviewing and refining our base techniques.

Whether you diversify or specialize, offering quality and service allows shops to get what they deserve.

Price-cutting competitors are like rust on a steel awl: as soon as you clean it off, it starts forming again. As soon as one cheap restyler goes out of business, another one takes his place.

And, just like insidious oxidation, price-cutters can’t be ignored. If you don’t pay attention, they’ll erode your shop’s business.

When WD-40 Co. requested Pedders to make a contribution to the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS/RS that will benefit children’s charities, we didn’t have to ask twice. The WD-40™/SEMA Cares Camaro will bring a classic American pony car back in style, and be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Show and Auction Jan. 18-24 in Scottsdale, Ariz., to benefit Childhelp™ and The Victory Junction Gang™ Camps.

The Camaro rides on GM’s billion-dollar global rear-wheel drive ZETA chassis. This chassis has been under the Holden-built Commodore for almost three years and in the second year for Pontiac G8 production. The 2010 Camaro is built on ZETA II, a revised version of the same chassis.

Exhaust upgrades have been a staple since the early days of hot rods. Then, it was quickly determined that better pipes meant more power. Not long after that, those new pipes were made better looking and the aftermarket exhaust industry started blowing smoke.

Adding a more effective and better looking exhaust is still right up there next to new wheels in the upgrade business. So we checked in with a number of manufacturers on their product and how they appeal to the restyling marketplace.

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.— based MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust’s Robert Wilson backed up our thoughts by saying, “For most enthusiasts out there, one of the first modifications to their newly acquired vehicle is an aftermarket exhaust.”

Smokin’ looks

Performance plus!

Aftermarket performance accessories aren’t left just in the hands of speed and performance shops. Restylers consistently install aftermarket exhausts and suspension systems, chips and modules, gauge clusters, air intakes, performance tires and wheels, and a host of other add-ons to make trucks more powerful and cars faster and more road-lovin’ and road—huggin’.

Performance upgrades often are easy upsells to customers who want their vehicles to look sharp, fast or powerful, then want to back it up with reality. So restylers are just natural providers of bolt-on performance products.