By Della Domingo
 Accepting the 2012 SEMA Award with SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (second right) for each of their companies were: (from left) Mark Allen, Chrysler Design, Jeep, and Pietro Gorlier, Mopar president and CEO, for the Wrangler as Hottest 4x4-SUV; Ken Czubay, vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service at Ford, for the F-Series as Hottest Truck and the Mustang as Hottest Car; and Jaycie Dane, corporate manager of Scion, for the FR-S as Hottest Sport Compact. | |
To showcase the industry’s top trend-setting vehicle models, the SEMA Award will be announced and presented to winning automakers during the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, held November 5–8, 2013. Through the program, SEMA exhibitors that make products and accessories for today’s popular models will identify the vehicle platforms they believe are best for accessorizing and ideal for showcasing the coolest new products.
"The SEMA Show has always been about highlighting the industry’s most innovative new products and the trends that emerge each year,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. "The SEMA Award celebrates the new vehicle models that SEMA exhibitors expect will be the major trend-setters in the months ahead."
Show organizers will take a tally of every booth vehicle at the Show to identify the most popular vehicle models in four categories (Hottest Car, Hottest Truck, Hottest 4x4-SUV, and Hottest Sport Compact). With each booth vehicle representing one vote, the most prominent models will be named the SEMA Award winners for the year.
"SEMA Show exhibitors have traditionally served as the true visionaries of the industry," said Kersting. "They’re making a strong statement about what they see as the year’s hottest new cars and trucks through the vehicles they select and modify for display in their booths.”
The SEMA Show typically includes more than 700 qualified booth vehicles. Last year's SEMA Award winners were the Ford Mustang as the Hottest Car, the Ford F-Series as the Hottest Truck, the Jeep Wrangler as the Hottest 4x4-SUV, and the Scion FR-S as the Hottest Sport Compact. The 2013 winners will be announced and presented during a press conference at the SEMA Show. For additional information about the SEMA Award program, visit SEMA's web site.