Las Vegas — The 57th annual SEMA Show returned to the Las Vegas Convention Center last week. For those who don’t know, SEMA stands for the Specialty Equipment Market Association. It’s all about the ways you can customize and add performance to your vehicle.
Brakes. Charging cables. Exhaust systems. Headlamps. Motor oil. Shocks. Sound systems. Superchargers. Tires. Wheels. It was all on display at the SEMA Show!
This year’s SEMA Show was the largest since the 2019 show before the pandemic. There were 2,400 exhibits occupying 1.2 million square feet of exhibits, vehicle displays, education, events, demonstrations and activations. In addition, an estimated 165,000 attendees were there to soak it all in.
Mark Biernacki, an engineer from Stellantis, introduced me to the 1967 Plymouth GTX Electromod Concept. It shows a potential future for the Mopar e-Crate propulsion system that allows enthusiasts to build or convert classic and current cars and trucks into BEVs.
“We took a classic car and tried to convert this to a classic with the modern technology,” Biernacki explained. “We installed an electric motor, a charger into it and a battery. One unique thing about it is we converted it into a north-south configuration so you still use the drive shaft and all of that stays the same. We did some changes with the carbon fiber hood and some changes in the interior. We changed the seats out and added a center console.”
Markus Kleis from Meguiar’s told me about their new car care products for 2025. Some highlights include their paint, glass and dash detailer spray along with their hybrid ceramic wash and wax spray.
“Paint, Dash and Glass is all-new,” Kleis said. “You can use it to wipe down basically your entire interior. It’s a really fun, easy product. We’ve got some new air freshener triggers. You can kind of freshen up in between using the whole car refreshers. One of the most exciting products is our new Trim kit. This is a restoration kit, there’s nothing quite like it out there. There’s a scrubbing solution in there that deep cleans the trim and then you have the trim shield that you put on there that lasts for 250 plus washes. A very, very durable product.”
The SEMA Future Tech Studio is gaining in popularity during the transition to electric vehicles. The displays showcased a combination of components and tools for new propulsion technologies, as well as 25 unique vehicles that exemplify the future of automotive innovation.
Aces Jasmine Ballesteros from Torque Trends told me about their new Torque Box for EVs. Their dual-motor TorqueBox® is 1/3 to 1/2 of the transmission weight it is replacing, reducing overall weight. That allows for extra driving range.
“It’s always great at SEMA because they are open to new product,” Ballesteros said. “This is our dual-motor TorqueBox and its torque vectoring capable. It’s basically two gear reduction units in one. You can basically slap in two different motors on either side and operate it independently. They are going to be connected to each of the wheelbase. We can do up to 1,000 horsepower on either side.”
“This is our new 2.0 TorqueBox, it’s commercial grade. A lot of commercial don’t really need that much gear reduction. Their electric motors are big enough so their RPM is low. What they need is the torque. We will have a new product we’re targeting next year at SEMA to showcase that.”
Dave Mahlmeister introduced me to TeslaTap, an adapter that allows EV owners to plug their vehicles into Tesla superchargers. It offers convenience so EV owners can charge faster.
“We do the final assembly and testing here in the United States,” the owner of TeslaTap explained. “We’ve had the original TeslaTaps out since 2017. We’re kind of number one in the world as far as quality on those. Everyone kept hounding us to come up with one for the DC so we finally did it. We wanted to do a little bit more than normal because all of the single safety in them. We went ahead and added a double safety to it. It will stop charging before you pull the handle out rather than stop charging as you are pulling it out.”
Stellantis also showed off their Ram 2500 Power Wagon Concept which builds upon the most capable production off-road pickup with an array of available Mopar and custom accessories. The bold Satin Stealth Sand exterior stands out with a contrasting Matte Deep Black box with 3-D topographical map pattern, accented by bright Header Orange accents including tow hooks front and rear and much more.
“In the past year, SEMA and allies have scored several victories for our right to repair, modify and enjoy the vehicles of our choice,” said Kyle Fickler, SEMA Chairman of the Board. “The Supreme Court’s recent Chevron decision limiting federal agency overreach, along with the movement in several states to decouple from California’s overly strict emissions and EV mandates, are noteworthy examples.”
Kia introduced their EV9 ADVNTR CONCEPT EV SUV. This truly unique all-electric 3-row SUV is designed to take life well beyond the beaten path. It features custom front and rear facias for a unique and rugged look and a reinforced rocker panels for increased capability and character. The EV9 ADVNTR EV SUV also features a 3-inch lift compared to the standard EV9 and a rugged tire and wheel combination.
Kia also showed off the PV5 WKNDR concept EV van. It is based on Kia’s recently debuted line of EV PBVs, or Purpose Beyond Vehicles, designed for small business and delivery functionality. Truly self-sufficient, the PV5 WKNDR EV van features solar panels and unique hydro turbine wheels that can recharge the batteries for many uses.
“There is no better venue to see the innovation, technology and drive at the heart of the specialty automotive market,” said Mike Spagnola, president and CEO of SEMA. “The SEMA Show is where trends emerge and take root, where new business opportunities materialize, and where industry businesses and entrepreneurs can go from “good to great.”
Toyota premiered many new concept vehicles at SEMA 2024. Here are two of them I checked out:
First, i’ll highlight the CALTY Land Cruiser ROX. Discover the Land Cruiser ‘ROX’, which redefines open-air adventure. This innovative concept, conceived and crafted by TMNA’s Calty Design Research Team, revives the spirit of iconic topless Land Cruisers, merging heritage with modern design to immerse passengers in the natural world.
Secondly, I’ll discuss the Modellista Overland Vision Concept. Known for its style and panache, Modellista stylists enhance this Land Cruiser with a sophisticated styling statement that seamlessly mixes function with form.
That’s a wrap from SEMA 2024. The SEMA Show will return to Las Vegas in 2025.
Stay with AmericaJR for more coverage from the 2024 SEMA Show…