EVENTS
By John Stewart

’13 Mustangs, Camaro Convertible and Subaru BRZ Cars Revealed

’13 Mustang Fires Up Musclecar Wars

Ford displayed a modernized line of Mustangs that feature a new exterior, updated technology and new driver tools for 2013. The ’13 Mustang, in all its variations, will go on sale in the spring of 2012. Perhaps most interesting to enthusiasts will be the Boss 302 and 650hp Shelby GT 500.

The ’13 Boss 302 drew considerable attention at the show, paying homage to the ’70 Boss 302 with a hockey-stick graphics package. The newest Boss engine yields 444 hp and 380 lb.-ft. of torque but is designed to deliver a smooth idle and low-end torque for comfortable around-town driving. A race-inspired clutch with upgraded friction materials transmits power with a short-throw, close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission. Power is delivered to a 3.73-ratio rear axle with a torque-sensing (Torsen) limited-slip differential.

	The Subaru BRZ concept is thought to be very close to what will appear in showrooms in May.

Working to make the Boss the best-handling Mustang ever, an enhanced version of the GT suspension is used, with higher-rate coil springs on all four corners, stiffer suspension bushings and a larger-diameter rear stabilizer bar. Boss models are lowered by 11 mm in front and 1 mm at the rear versus the Mustang GT. Adjustable shocks and struts will be standard on all Boss Mustangs. Pirelli PZero summer tires are sized specifically for each end of the car, with the front wheels receiving 255/40ZR19 tires while the rear gets wider 285/35ZR19 rubber. Brembo four-piston calipers are matched with 14-in. vented rotors up front. In back, standard Mustang GT brakes are upgraded with a Boss-specific high-performance pad compound.

The GT 500 represents another move in the game of one-upmanship in the musclecar world. Carroll Shelby was on hand to give the crowd a wave at pre-show media days—a fitting moment to announce more about the Shelby GT500, described as “the ultimate Ford Mustang with the most powerful production V8 engine in the world.”

Ford says that the GT500 will be geared for everyday drivers and track-day enthusiasts alike. The newest Shelby offers 650 hp, top speeds of 200-plus mph and optimized vehicle systems.

The 5.8L V8 aluminum-block engine produces 650 hp and 600 lb.-ft. of torque. The 3,850-lb. car also stays exempt from the gas-guzzler tax.

	Land Rover’s Defender concept vehicles show a new Defender, due in 2015, that may or may not come to North America.

The new Shelby GT500 also has new down-force-generating front grilles, an aggressive splitter, a new quad exhaust system and new forged-aluminum wheels.

Next Up for Subaru: BRZ

Subaru revealed a “concept” called the BRZ—Subaru’s edition of a car jointly developed with Toyota that will also be offered by Scion. The auto show audience was told that the concept is very close to the actual vehicle as it will appear in Subaru showrooms in May.

The driveline seems to be all Subaru, with its trademark horizontally opposed boxer four-cylinder engine. The engine is a normally aspirated 2.0L. Brakes are by Brembo, and the suspension is STI-developed.

The Scion version of the joint venture was revealed November 30, and it’s likely that a SEMA Measuring Session will take place in the spring. Subaru/Scion tuners should stay tuned for more information on that subject. Word is that the BRZ and the Scion will be driftable rear-wheel-drive cars.

Regardless of how the two companies decide to divvy up the packaging and marketing chores, the new BRZ promises to carry on the WRX tradition of seriously fun, relatively affordable sport-compact cars.

The Next Defender?

	General Motors Vice President of Global Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy Chris Perry unveils the ’12 ZL1 Camaro convertible at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Land Rover unveiled two concept vehicles intended to signal what the company might do about replacing the beloved military-grade Defender 4x4s, which were never adapted to comply with North American federal regulations. The two DC100 concepts unveiled were designed to retain essential elements of Defender and allow Land Rover to discuss and inspire dreams of a future Defender. The concepts were designed around 2.0L, four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines with hybrid and plug-in capabilities.

Both concepts feature three-across front seating for increased versatility. The middle seat lifts to reveal a secure stowage area, while the outboard passenger seat can be folded away to increase carrying capacity. Historically, Land Rovers have been designed to accommodate a large catalog of accessories and upgrades.

Both interiors feature rugged, durable and sustainable modern materials designed for comfort. Those chosen for the DC100 are the latest in high-tech, tough fabrics that will survive a lifetime of the roughest treatment. In the shorter-wheelbase DC100 Sport, the materials are more luxurious, featuring leather with a subtle Tribal Tech pattern, referencing a legacy of exploration.

What the future holds for Defender fans in North America remains unclear. Land Rover confirmed its global intention to launch a new Defender in 2015 but with no current decision on whether or not the next generation Defender will come to the North American markets.

ZL1 Camaro Convertible

Chevy revealed the ’12 Camaro ZL1, now available as a convertible. The ’12 Camaro ZL1 Coupe accelerates from 0–60 mph in 3.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 184 mph. Pricing starts at $54,995, including Performance Traction Management and Magnetic Ride Suspension.

	Olivier Francois, head of Fiat Brand Worldwide and chief marketing officer of Chrysler and Fiat groups, reveals an Abarth edition of the Fiat 500. This tuned version offers better handling and a 1.4L multi-air engine. The Abarth is intended to further the Fiat 500’s image as an enthusiast-oriented vehicle. At the 2011 SEMA Show, the Fiat 500 was named “Hottest Sport Compact” of the Show.

“From the original Camaro to the current Corvette ZR1, Chevrolet has a long history of delivering world-class cars that outperformed competitors at several times the price,” said Chris Perry, General Motors vice president of global Chevrolet marketing and strategy.

“The ZL1 is no exception. There are very few cars at any price that can match the power, features and track capability of the Camaro ZL1.”

Chevrolet spokespeople noted that for the price, which includes the $900 delivery fee, the ZL1 compares favorably to much more expensive cars, such as the Audi R8 GT and the Mercedes SLS AMG.

The heart of the Camaro ZL1 is a supercharged 6.2L engine, SAE-rated at 580 hp and 556 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most-powerful production Camaro ever. The LSA engine features a Roots-style blower with an efficient four-lobe rotor set and compact intercooler. The ZL1 also features a standard dual-mode exhaust system, with vacuum-actuated valves in the exhaust pipes for a refined exhaust note at low speeds as well as a free-flowing system for peak performance. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission.

Fiat 500 Abarth Edition

Just two weeks after the diminutive Fiat 500 was named “Hottest Sport Compact” at the 2011 SEMA Show, head of Fiat Brand Worldwide and Fiat Chief Marketing Officer Francois Olivier unveiled the 500 Abarth at the L.A. Auto Show. Aimed at enthusiasts, the Abarth is named after Carlo Abarth, who tuned and raced the original Fiat 500 when it was first introduced in 1958. 

EVENTS
By John Stewart

’13 Mustangs, Camaro Convertible and Subaru BRZ Cars Revealed

’13 Mustang Fires Up Musclecar Wars

Ford displayed a modernized line of Mustangs that feature a new exterior, updated technology and new driver tools for 2013. The ’13 Mustang, in all its variations, will go on sale in the spring of 2012. Perhaps most interesting to enthusiasts will be the Boss 302 and 650hp Shelby GT 500.

The ’13 Boss 302 drew considerable attention at the show, paying homage to the ’70 Boss 302 with a hockey-stick graphics package. The newest Boss engine yields 444 hp and 380 lb.-ft. of torque but is designed to deliver a smooth idle and low-end torque for comfortable around-town driving. A race-inspired clutch with upgraded friction materials transmits power with a short-throw, close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission. Power is delivered to a 3.73-ratio rear axle with a torque-sensing (Torsen) limited-slip differential.

	The Subaru BRZ concept is thought to be very close to what will appear in showrooms in May.

Working to make the Boss the best-handling Mustang ever, an enhanced version of the GT suspension is used, with higher-rate coil springs on all four corners, stiffer suspension bushings and a larger-diameter rear stabilizer bar. Boss models are lowered by 11 mm in front and 1 mm at the rear versus the Mustang GT. Adjustable shocks and struts will be standard on all Boss Mustangs. Pirelli PZero summer tires are sized specifically for each end of the car, with the front wheels receiving 255/40ZR19 tires while the rear gets wider 285/35ZR19 rubber. Brembo four-piston calipers are matched with 14-in. vented rotors up front. In back, standard Mustang GT brakes are upgraded with a Boss-specific high-performance pad compound.

The GT 500 represents another move in the game of one-upmanship in the musclecar world. Carroll Shelby was on hand to give the crowd a wave at pre-show media days—a fitting moment to announce more about the Shelby GT500, described as “the ultimate Ford Mustang with the most powerful production V8 engine in the world.”

Ford says that the GT500 will be geared for everyday drivers and track-day enthusiasts alike. The newest Shelby offers 650 hp, top speeds of 200-plus mph and optimized vehicle systems.

The 5.8L V8 aluminum-block engine produces 650 hp and 600 lb.-ft. of torque. The 3,850-lb. car also stays exempt from the gas-guzzler tax.

	Land Rover’s Defender concept vehicles show a new Defender, due in 2015, that may or may not come to North America.

The new Shelby GT500 also has new down-force-generating front grilles, an aggressive splitter, a new quad exhaust system and new forged-aluminum wheels.

Next Up for Subaru: BRZ

Subaru revealed a “concept” called the BRZ—Subaru’s edition of a car jointly developed with Toyota that will also be offered by Scion. The auto show audience was told that the concept is very close to the actual vehicle as it will appear in Subaru showrooms in May.

The driveline seems to be all Subaru, with its trademark horizontally opposed boxer four-cylinder engine. The engine is a normally aspirated 2.0L. Brakes are by Brembo, and the suspension is STI-developed.

The Scion version of the joint venture was revealed November 30, and it’s likely that a SEMA Measuring Session will take place in the spring. Subaru/Scion tuners should stay tuned for more information on that subject. Word is that the BRZ and the Scion will be driftable rear-wheel-drive cars.

Regardless of how the two companies decide to divvy up the packaging and marketing chores, the new BRZ promises to carry on the WRX tradition of seriously fun, relatively affordable sport-compact cars.

The Next Defender?

	General Motors Vice President of Global Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy Chris Perry unveils the ’12 ZL1 Camaro convertible at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Land Rover unveiled two concept vehicles intended to signal what the company might do about replacing the beloved military-grade Defender 4x4s, which were never adapted to comply with North American federal regulations. The two DC100 concepts unveiled were designed to retain essential elements of Defender and allow Land Rover to discuss and inspire dreams of a future Defender. The concepts were designed around 2.0L, four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines with hybrid and plug-in capabilities.

Both concepts feature three-across front seating for increased versatility. The middle seat lifts to reveal a secure stowage area, while the outboard passenger seat can be folded away to increase carrying capacity. Historically, Land Rovers have been designed to accommodate a large catalog of accessories and upgrades.

Both interiors feature rugged, durable and sustainable modern materials designed for comfort. Those chosen for the DC100 are the latest in high-tech, tough fabrics that will survive a lifetime of the roughest treatment. In the shorter-wheelbase DC100 Sport, the materials are more luxurious, featuring leather with a subtle Tribal Tech pattern, referencing a legacy of exploration.

What the future holds for Defender fans in North America remains unclear. Land Rover confirmed its global intention to launch a new Defender in 2015 but with no current decision on whether or not the next generation Defender will come to the North American markets.

ZL1 Camaro Convertible

Chevy revealed the ’12 Camaro ZL1, now available as a convertible. The ’12 Camaro ZL1 Coupe accelerates from 0–60 mph in 3.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 184 mph. Pricing starts at $54,995, including Performance Traction Management and Magnetic Ride Suspension.

	Olivier Francois, head of Fiat Brand Worldwide and chief marketing officer of Chrysler and Fiat groups, reveals an Abarth edition of the Fiat 500. This tuned version offers better handling and a 1.4L multi-air engine. The Abarth is intended to further the Fiat 500’s image as an enthusiast-oriented vehicle. At the 2011 SEMA Show, the Fiat 500 was named “Hottest Sport Compact” of the Show.

“From the original Camaro to the current Corvette ZR1, Chevrolet has a long history of delivering world-class cars that outperformed competitors at several times the price,” said Chris Perry, General Motors vice president of global Chevrolet marketing and strategy.

“The ZL1 is no exception. There are very few cars at any price that can match the power, features and track capability of the Camaro ZL1.”

Chevrolet spokespeople noted that for the price, which includes the $900 delivery fee, the ZL1 compares favorably to much more expensive cars, such as the Audi R8 GT and the Mercedes SLS AMG.

The heart of the Camaro ZL1 is a supercharged 6.2L engine, SAE-rated at 580 hp and 556 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most-powerful production Camaro ever. The LSA engine features a Roots-style blower with an efficient four-lobe rotor set and compact intercooler. The ZL1 also features a standard dual-mode exhaust system, with vacuum-actuated valves in the exhaust pipes for a refined exhaust note at low speeds as well as a free-flowing system for peak performance. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission.

Fiat 500 Abarth Edition

Just two weeks after the diminutive Fiat 500 was named “Hottest Sport Compact” at the 2011 SEMA Show, head of Fiat Brand Worldwide and Fiat Chief Marketing Officer Francois Olivier unveiled the 500 Abarth at the L.A. Auto Show. Aimed at enthusiasts, the Abarth is named after Carlo Abarth, who tuned and raced the original Fiat 500 when it was first introduced in 1958. 

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY
By Steve Campbell

	Bob Moore is the co-founder and current chairman of SEMA’s Business Technology Committee and a tireless advocate for the use of standardized data and building a shared data system.

As the co-founder and current chairman of SEMA’s Business Technology Committee (BTC), Bob Moore is also a tireless advocate for the use of standardized data and building a shared data system. He has been working in the automotive aftermarket since 1976 and is a partner with Jerry McCabe in J&B Service, a consulting company that specializes in the automotive specialty-equipment market. Moore is a member of the SEMA Board of Directors, serves on its executive committee and serves as a volunteer for a variety of industry organizations. He spent some time with SEMA News recently to discuss progress the association is making with respect to business technology.

SEMA News: When we spoke last year (see “A Few Words With Bob Moore” in the December 2010 issue of SEMA News; you were adamant about the need for the industry to embrace data standards, particularly the Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) and the Aftermarket Catalog Enhanced Standard (ACES). Could you refresh us about those systems?

Bob Moore: ACES and PIES are the formats that the replacement-parts industry has adopted for sharing data. Even the acronym PIES refers to sharing: Product Information Exchange Standard. It is a way to share information about the products themselves between trading partners. While the standardized formats make it very easy to translate information into an electronic document, ACES and PIES do not assure valid and accurate data. They are just standardized ways to publish and share information. Accuracy is absolutely up to the creator of the product, who is also the creator of the data.

As the chairman of the BTC, I have sometimes been criticized for being so singularly focused on getting the data right and creating methods for sharing it. And I plead guilty, because if the data isn’t available and correct, it doesn’t matter how slick your website is or how well your searches are optimized or how hip your social media is. If the data isn’t there, or it is wrong, your customers can’t find the parts they want.

I fully understand people’s frustration over why we’re talking more about mobile applications, cloud computing, localized advertising and those kinds of cutting-edge things, but without accurate, shareable data, the value of those things is undermined. It’s like buying the best Blu-ray player on the market but not having discs to put in it.

SN: You’ve also been outspoken regarding how electronic catalogs are formatted, especially concerning automotive specialty-
equipment parts. Where do you see the pitfalls with the current forms of electronic catalogs?

BM: Electronic cataloging, as it is understood by almost everybody in the industry, is driven by year, make and model searches. That’s fine when you’re dealing with basic replacement parts, but it’s a little more problematic when you’re dealing with specialty and performance products. We have more complicated data issues than standard replacement parts do. Sure, we have application considerations, but more often we have product and performance considerations that have to be taken into account.

We need the ability to do different kinds of lookups for the SEMA community. If, for example, you’re building a high-performance engine and you need to run a cooling hose close to the exhaust manifold, you may need to search for a hose that will perform at extreme temperatures, that accommodates particular types of fluids, or that has a specific internal diameter. Or perhaps you need something with all of those characteristics and maybe for a particular brand. The classic year, make and model doesn’t cut it in these instances. But because the technology we use has been adapted primarily from the replacement-parts industry, that’s how lookups have been historically done. SEMA is out to change all that.

The fact is, we all lose sales if we can’t answer specific questions about fitment or finish or performance. We need to be able to do these sorts of enhanced product searches that are rare in the replacement-parts environment. This is something we are working very hard on in developing the SEMA Data Cooperative. The BTC is going through every product category in the SEMA segment to develop searches that are meaningful to our customers. If you are shopping for an air filter, for instance, what are the most important searchable product attributes? You might care about how small a particle you can filter, airflow rates and other specific performance data that can have an affect on other components in your engine.

To obtain that, you have to have category-specific experts—manufacturers—who can list the important search criteria for a whole variety of parts. We will define each of those by product segment and put them into a SEMA standardized form in order to optimize the selling of those products. Again, though, you have to have the data to be able to search for those items.

	Electronic cataloging is currently driven by year, make and model searches. Moore believes that the specialty-equipment industry needs the ability to do different kinds of lookups.

SN: You mentioned the SEMA Data Cooperative. Is that the same as the SEMA Data Pool. If so, how will it help address these issues when it finally comes to fruition?

BM: Yes, it is the same thing. We’ve changed how we refer to the industry initiative in part because of how the initiative has evolved. It really is a cooperative effort by the trade association in conjunction with the creators of data—the manufacturers—and the receivers of data—resellers and consumers. The SEMA Data Cooperative will help the industry make more information about more products available so consumers can make better and more informed decisions about buying our products. It will also make it easier for the makers of parts to populate more places with product information—more websites and more point-of-sale systems.

Ours is very much a discretionary business. If somebody can’t find the product he wants, either online or in a store, the money that might have been spent on a performance part could be easily diverted into a new TV, a barbeque grill or any other avocational product. You only have so much time to make the sale, and if the customer can’t find what he’s looking for, he’s apt to spend his money elsewhere.

SN: What about quick-response codes (QRC). In this age of smartphones and camera-enhanced technology, can they help in this process when they’re used in ads?

BM: They can be very valuable—if they’re used correctly. But if all a QRC does is take you to the manufacturer’s home-page, what benefit do you really deliver? You could probably find that information quicker by just entering the manufacturer’s name in a search engine. If, on the other hand, you have a QRC on a product, such as a serpentine belt, and the code takes you to a video on how to install that belt onto a specific engine, that’s a different story. That makes QRCs extremely valuable.

Unfortunately, some businesses think it’s cool to have QRCs in their ads but don’t really use them to their full potential. If consumers find that they are repeatedly just dumped at a manufacturer’s homepage and left to dig out the information they are looking for, they will stop scanning the codes. It’s very much the boy who cried wolf; eventually, the townspeople
stop coming.

Same thing with mobile computing or cloud computing. These are all fabulous things, wonderful tools. But absent good data and the ability to quickly provide deep dives into product attributes or services, such as installation videos, they’re not really living up to their potential.

SN: The SEMA Data Cooperative and the building of a system for comprehensive searchable product attributes is obviously a huge undertaking. How is it all going to be paid for?

BM: The SEMA Board of Directors and SEMA staff have identified this as a critical strategic issue for us to attack as an industry. This is exactly the sort of thing that a trade association ought to be investing in. It will potentially expand the market for our parts and can create multiple paybacks to its constituencies. Within certain parameters, the Board of Directors has authorized the funding to set the standards and to create the broad infrastructure to accommodate the system, but it will require each manufacturer to also make an investment on their own part to ensure that their data is accurate, shareable and complete.

We can’t do that for them. We can tell them the smart items to concentrate on, and we can show them how to do it and how to get it into compliant formats. We can even create the repository and a method to share it in the receiver-required formats. But still, every fuel pump manufacturer has to be able to say this part number pumps this many gallons per hour, and every fuel-filter manufacturer has to be able to say this filter allows and filters this size particulate matter, and then every fuel-injection company has got to be able to say this is the required fuel delivery with particulate matter no larger
than this.

It is critical to get all of the information into a shareable condition so that when a consumer is shopping for all three, every pertinent retail website has the comprehensive information. Otherwise, that consumer has to log onto three, four or five different websites to track down all the data. If we put all this information together in a single source, retail websites will be able to sell complete systems, even though the components come from different manufacturers.

	Mobile computing, cloud computing and QRCs are all wonderful tools, Moore says, but absent good data, they’re not really living up to their potential.

SN: It sounds like a truly transformative initiative, something that could change the whole industry.

BM: Bingo! If there is a reliable source for information on all product lines, it is going to spur whole new enterprises. If we do a good job of stimulating this industry to get its data together, to get populated and get it in shareable condition, there will be an explosion of applications that will enable people to do all kinds of cool stuff. I’ll give you one example:

There are some products that are very difficult to sell online. Typically these products require a high degree of customization for consumers to get products exactly the way they require them. A good example is seat covers. Some conditions are based on the vehicle, so of course its year, make and model matter, but so does whether you have a bench or bucket seats. Then there are myriad preferences the consumer has: Do they want fabric or leather? In what color? Do they want it embroidered with a particular logo on the headrest?

Software developers have developed something called configuration software that streamlines and automates the process of ordering such items. Without this software, it would be virtually impossible to sell such items online. But again, configuration software won’t work without the availability of accurate, shareable and complete data.

SN: It would seem that the industry should be hopping up and down to get at this type of system.

BM: A robust SEMA Data Cooperative would create the same type of potential for online buzz that the SEMA Show does in Las Vegas each year. It’s exactly the kind of thing that the association ought to be investing in.

SN: So in the long run, they are not only going to be sharing their product information with more channel partners and consumers more effectively, but they are also going to be able to do so at a lower cost than if they came up with their own, independent systems.

BM: That is the ultimate goal of the model. Using any technology—QRCs, mobile computing, localized online advertising, any of it—the fuel that powers it is the information that you have available about your products. That is the reason that I am such an advocate for getting the data right first. It just means that all of the other stuff that we are trying to do will work better.

California Air Resources Board:

Despite being approved by bipartisan and overwhelming majorities in the California Assembly and Senate, legislation that would have given small-business owners a voice on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown. Introduced by Assemblymember Curt Hagman, who represents the Diamond Bar district in which SEMA headquarters is located, the bill would have created a requirement for one CARB member to have been a small-business owner within the past five years. CARB is a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency that is charged with the task of attaining and maintaining healthy air quality, protecting the public from exposure to toxic air contaminants and issuing air-pollution rules and regulations. The SEMA-supported measure recognized that the regulations issued by the Board directly affect small businesses and would have ensured that the rights of small-business owners were represented.

New York Restoration/Customization Shops:

SEMA is working with restoration and customization shop owners in New York on legislation to exempt these facilities from the scope of the state’s Motor Vehicle Repair Shop Act. Specifically, the bill would exclude shops whose activities primarily consist of restoring, rebuilding or customizing specialty motor vehicles or motor vehicles at least 25 years old. The purpose of the bill is to differentiate businesses that restore and customize specialty collector’s automobiles from typical motor-vehicle repair shops. According to the bill’s sponsor, “These types of businesses do not repair vehicles used for daily transportation, but rather restore classic cars close to their original look and feel.”

Pennsylvania Street Rods:

Legislation has been reintroduced in Pennsylvania to amend the definition of street rod to include materially altered vehicles 40 years old and older. Currently, only vehicles of the ’48 model year or older (and reproductions of these vehicles) can qualify for this specialty designation. The bill has been referred to the House Transportation Committee for consideration.

SEMA Action Network:

The SEMA Action Network (SAN) announced that it had launched a streamlined website, www.semasan.com, to make it easier than ever for SAN members to find the information they need to help protect their passion. The intent with the new website design is to make the comprehensive set of tools and resources more readily accessible to the thousands of vehicle enthusiasts who rely on the SAN daily for updates on threats and opportunities facing the hobby. The SAN is a nationwide partnership between enthusiasts, vehicle clubs and members of the specialty automotive parts industry who have joined forces to promote hobby-friendly legislation and oppose unfair laws. With more than 60,000 North American members, the SAN is the premier organization defending the rights of vehicle enthusiasts. SAN is free to join, with no obligations or commitments.

Federal Update 

Low-Volume Vehicle Production:

Representative John Campbell (R-CA) introduced a bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to enable low-volume car manufacturers to provide a range of specialty vehicles for customers nationwide. The legislation directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a regulatory structure to facilitate the production of these cars. SEMA worked with Rep. Campbell to craft the “Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act” (H.R. 3274). Vehicles produced by low-volume manufacturers include replica street rods, customs and sports cars that are primarily used in exhibitions, parades and for occasional transportation. The U.S. currently has just one system for regulating cars, which is designed for companies that mass-produce millions of vehicles. The legislation creates an alternative regulatory framework for American manufacturers producing 1,000 or fewer vehicles a year. This approach acknowledges the unique circumstances associated with limited-edition cars. Vehicles produced would meet current emissions standards. Companies would be permitted to install clean engines already certified by another manufacturer.

Bonneville Salt Flats:

SEMA and the Save the Salt Coalition, a diverse group of racing enthusiast organizations, urged the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to require a mandatory salt-replenishment program of the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF). For decades, the BSF has been shrinking as salt brine was transferred to an adjoining mining operation to remove potash. A prototype program from 1997 to 2002 demonstrated that the remaining salt brine could be pumped back onto the salt flats to stabilize the landmark and its underlying aquifer. The BLM allowed the program to expire. The Coalition is working with the mine owner to reinstitute the program, subject to BLM’s approval. The Coalition will also be pursuing supplemental salt-replenishment programs to be implemented by the racing community and the BLM. The BSF is a registered National Historic Place managed by the BLM. Hundreds of speed records have been set at this unique geological site over the past 100 years.

Warranty Denials:

SEMA urged the Federal Trade Commission to expand its rules on warranty denials to clarify vehicle manufacturer responsibilities and consumer protections. The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing its rules and guidance documents on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a 1975 federal law that governs consumer product warranties. The Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer alert in 2010 confirming that it is illegal to void a warranty or deny coverage based on the mere presence of an aftermarket part. SEMA recommended that the Federal Trade Commission issue a supplemental alert to specifically reference installation of specialty parts, since the 2010 alert generally described straight repair/maintenance issues. SEMA also recommended that the Federal Trade Commission’s definition of “consumer product” be clarified to include specialty parts. SEMA urged that auto dealerships be required to put in writing why a warranty is being denied. While the law requires that consumer warranties be written in a single, clear and easy-to-read document, there is no corresponding requirement for warranty denials. Under the law, it is the dealership’s obligation to diagnose a problem and demonstrate that the aftermarket part caused the damage or defect.

Ethanol Content in Gasoline:

A SEMA-supported bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives requiring the EPA to seek independent scientific analysis on the effects of 15%-blend ethanol gasoline (E15) on vehicles and engines. The review would include an evaluation of the short- and long-term environmental, safety and performance effects of E15 on both on- and off-road vehicle engines. Last January, the EPA decided to allow the use of E15 in vehicles manufactured after 2001, based solely on a limited study by the U.S. Department of Energy. Ethanol increases water formation, which can then create formic acid and corrode metals, plastics and rubber. SEMA opposes the introduction of E15 due to concerns that corrosion will harm automobiles of all ages, including special-interest collector and historic vehicles. The EPA has no procedure in place to ensure that misfueling does not occur nor any plan for ensuring that regular gasoline continues to be available for older vehicles.

State Sales Tax:

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to require companies that sell goods via the Internet and catalogs to collect sales tax in the same manner as “brick-and-mortar” retailers. The Marketplace Equity Act (MEA) is similar to the Main Street Fairness Act introduced earlier this year. Both bills would allow states to force retailers to collect sales tax from consumers even when the companies otherwise have no physical presence in that state. The Main Street Fairness Act requires states to participate in the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement, which sets uniform tax rules. To date, 24 states are full participants. In contrast, the MEA would set minimum federal rules and then allow states flexibility in establishing individual rules. Both bills authorize a “small-seller exemption.” The current threshold for the Main Street Fairness Act is $500,000 and below. The MEA bill’s threshold is less than $1 million in total sales or less than $100,000 in sales in a particular state. Under a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision, states cannot currently force retailers to collect use taxes unless the company has a physical presence in the state (“nexus”).

Regulatory Burdens:

SEMA-supported legislation has been introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate to reduce the cost of burdensome regulations on business owners and job creators. The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011 would require federal agencies to conduct a cost-benefit analysis when issuing new rules. Although a few laws already permit such analysis, the legislation would overturn the prohibition contained in other laws, such as the Clean Air Act, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Endangered Species Act. The data and evidence gathered in the analysis would be subject to judicial review. Agencies would generally be required to adopt the “least costly” approach to achieving policy goals established by Congress. The House Judiciary Committee has approved the House bill.

Illegal HID Conversion Kits:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is impounding illegal imports of noncompliant high-intensity discharge (HID) conversion kits, light sources and ballasts. CBP is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to pursue enforcement. As reported by SEMA for a number of years, the NHTSA has determined that it is impossible to produce HID conversion kits (converting a halogen system to HID) that would be compliant with the federal lighting standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. The NHTSA is specifically concerned that HID conversion kits can produce excessive glare to oncoming motorists.

Members of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus gathered again in November to meet with SEMA government affairs staff and enjoy the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

From top row left: Representative Terry Calloway (Kansas), Assemblyman Richard Carrillo (Nevada), Assemblyman Curt Hagman (California), Representative Gordon Hendrick (Montana), Assemblyman John Oceguera (Nevada), Senator Andy Sanborn (New Hampshire), Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (California), Senator Ted Gaines (California). Bottom row from left: Senator Mark Manendo (Nevada), Representative Elaine Bowers (Kansas), Representative Nancy McLain (Arizona), Representative Gail Finney (Kansas), Senator Mo Denis (Nevada), Assemblyman Tony Mendoza (California), Representative Joe Pitre (New Hampshire), Representative Laurie Sanborn (New Hampshire), Senator Peter Bragdon (New Hampshire), Delegate Gary Howell (West Virginia).

2011 SEMA Show New Products Spotlight Exhibitor Achievement

The winners of the New Products Showcase Awards were announced during the New Products Breakfast held at the 2011 SEMA Show. The event recognizes the most cutting-edge automotive products either on the market or about to hit the market. Nearly 2,000 new products were submitted this year for consideration.

Criteria that ranked high on the judges’ selection for the New Products Showcase Awards included superiority of innovation, technical achievement, quality and workmanship, consumer appeal and marketability.

Best New Collision, Repair and Refinish Product Winner: Eagle Abrasives Inc. Super Assilex 4025 Steve Reynolds Blvd. Norcross, GA 30093 888-683-2453 www.EagleAbrasives.com		Runner Up: Collision, Repair and Refinish Product Gema OptiFlex 2 4141 W. 54th St. Indianapolis, IN 46254 317-298-5000 www.itwgema.us
Runner Up: Collision, Repair and Refinish Product Plio Grip by Valvoline Like90 Turbo Pad for Bumpers 3703 Parkway Blvd. Salt Lake Cty, UT 84120 818-519-7297 www.Like90.net		Best New Engineered Product Winner: Baer Brake Systems Full Floating Rearend Conversion 2222 W. Peoria Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85029 602-233-1411 www.Baer.com
Runner Up: Best New Engineered Product Aeromotive Inc. Camaro Stealth Fuel System 7805 Barton St. Lenexa, KS 66214 913-647-7300 www.AeromotiveInc.com		Runner Up: Best New Engineered Product Fuelab Electronic Fuel Pressure Regulator 826A Morton Ct. Litchfield, IL 62056 217-324-3737 www.fuelab.com
Best New Exterior Accessory Product Winner: Cargo Ease Inc. Cargo Ramp/Brake System 22 John St. Hagersville, N0A1H0 Canada 905-768-2650 www.cargo-ease.com		Runner Up: Best New Exterior Accessory Product Bestop Inc. TrekStep Side Mounted Step 2100 W. Midway Blvd. Broomfield, CO 80020 800-845-3567 www.Bestop.com
Runner Up: Best New Exterior Accessory Product Rhino-Rack USA Roof Mounted Cargo Basket 7025 S. Fulton St., Ste. 135 Centennial, CO 80112 303-706-9700 www.rhinorack.com		Best New Merchandising Display Winner: MacNeil Automotive Products  TechFloor Retail Display 1 MacNeil Ct. Bolingbrook, IL 60440 800-943-9250 www.weathertechdirect.com
Runner Up: Best New Merchandising Display Flex-a-lite Consolidated Flex-a-chill–Radiator Coolant Additive (POP) 7009 45th St. Court East Fife, WA 98424 253-922-2700 www.flex-a-lite.com		Runner Up: Best New Merchandising Display Access Roll-Up Covers Access Truck Bed LED Light Display 3000 Hwy. 281 S.E./P.O. Box 508 Jamestown, ND 58401 800-233-4655 www.accesscover.com
Best New Mobile-Electronics Product Winner: Escort/Beltronics Radar Detectors, ESCORT Live! 5440 W. Chester Rd. West Chester, OH 45069 513-870-8500 www.EscortInc.com		Runner Up: Best New Mobile-Electronics Product Del City Sealed Window Crimp Connector P.O. Box 3102 Milwaukee, WI 53201-3102 800-654-4757 www.delcity.net
Runner Up: Best New Mobile-Electronics Product Metra Electronics Corp. ASWC 460 Walker St. Holly Hill, FL 32117 800-221-0932 www.metraonline.com		Best New Off-Road/4-Wheel Drive Product Winner: MSD Ignition Atomic EFI 1490 Henry Brenam El Paso, TX 79936 915-857-5200 www.msdperformance.com
Runner Up: Best New Off-Road/4-Wheel Drive Product Flex-a-lite  Daystar Products International Can Cam Fuel and Water System 841 S. 71st Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85043 800-595-7659 www.daystarweb.com		Runner Up: Best New Merchandising Display ProRYDE Suspension Systems SuperBLOK 3-in-1 Leaf Spring Blocks 6100 Baker Rd. Minnetonka, MN 55345 888-813-7933 www.ProRYDE.com
Best New Packaging Design Winner: MacNeil Automotive Products Ltd.TechCare 1 MacNeil Ct. Bolingbrook, IL 60440 800-943-9250 www.weathertechdirect.com		Runner Up: Best New Packaging Design Auto Meter Products Auto Meter Custom Shop Gauge Set 413 W. Elm St. Sycamore, IL 60178 866-248-6356 www.autometer.com
Runner Up: Best New Packaging Design Preval vFan Portable Airbrush System 1300 North St. Coal City, IL 60416 877-753-0021 www.preval.com		Best New Performance-Racing Product Winner: COMP Performance Group COMP Cams Sprint Car Front Drive Kit for LS Applications 3406 Democrat Rd. Memphis, TN 38118 800-999-0853 www.compcams.com
Runner Up: Best New Performance-Racing Product Auto Meter Products Ultimate DL Playback Tach System 413 W. Elm St. Sycamore, IL 60178 866-248-6356 www.autometer.com		Runner Up: Runner Up: Best New Performance-Racing Product   Ace Fuel Systems Adjustable Fuel Injector 206 N. Kansas Columbus, KS 66725 800-325-3888 www.asnuinjector.com
Best New Performance-Street Product Winner: SCT Performance SCT iTSX for iPhone 4150 Church St., Ste. 1024 Sanford, FL 32771 888-684-2588 www.sctflash.com		Runner Up: Best New Performance-Street Product Auto Meter Products Universal GPS Speedometer Interface 413 W. Elm St. Sycamore, IL 60178 866-248-6356 www.autometer.com
Runner Up: Best New Performance-Street Product COMP Performance Group FAST EZ-EFI Jeep 4.2L/6 Cylinder Kit 3406 Democrat Rd. Memphis, TN 38118 877-334-8355 www.compcams.com		Best New Powersports Product Winner: COMP Performance Group Inglese EFI Throttle Body Insert Hidden Metal Screen Filters 3406 Democrat Rd. Memphis, TN 38118 866-450-8089 www.compcams.com
Runner Up: Best New Powersports Product Skyjacker Suspensions ’10–’12 Polaris Ranger Crew Rear Winch Mount Kit 212 Stevenson St. West Monroe, LA 71292 318-388-0816 www.skyjacker.com		Runner Up: Best New Powersports Product Warn Industries Inc. 1700 XT Portable Winch 13270 S.E. Pheasant Ct. Milwaukie, OR 97222 503-722-1200 www.warn.com
Best New Street-Rod/Custom-Car Product Winner:    Classic Instruments Inc. SkyDrive 1299 M-75 S Boyne City, MI 49712 800-575-0461 www.classicinstruments.com		Runner Up: Best New Street-Rod/Custom-Car Billet Specialties Inc. Billet LS Valve Covers 500 Shawmut Ave. La Grange, IL 60526   8772404187 www.billetspecialties.com
Runner Up: Best New Street-Rod/Custom-Car  Eddie Motorsports Billet Aluminum Underhood Kit for 1955–1957 Chevrolets 11479 Sixth St. Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 888-813-1293 www.eddiemotorsports.com		Runner Up: Best New Street-Rod/Custom-Car Billet Specialties Inc. Billet LS Valve Covers 500 Shawmut Ave. La Grange, IL 60526   8772404187 www.billetspecialties.com
Best New Tire and Related Product Winner: Continental Tire the Americas Continental Cross Contact LX20 1830 MacMillan Park Dr. Fort Mill, SC 29707 704-583-3900 www.continentaltire.com		Runner Up: Best New Tire and Related Product  Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. Discoverer A/T3 701 Lima Ave. Findlay, OH 45840 419-423-1321 www.coopertire.com
Best New Tools and Equipment Product Winner: PH2 Solutions Inc. PH2 Validator 111 Northfield Ave., Ste. 204 West Orange, NJ 07052 973-902-5517 www.ph2solutions.com		Runner Up: Best New Tools and Equipment Product  Las Vegas Tool LLC EASYPULLER  1191 Center Point Dr. Henderson, NV 89074 702-809-8008 www.lasvegastool.com
Runner Up: Best New Tools and Equipment Product  Schley Products/SP TOOLS Air Hammer Ball Joint R&R Tool 5350 E. Hunter Ave. Anaheim, CA 92807 714-693-7666 www.sptool.com		Best New Van/Pickup/ Sport-Utility Product Winner:  EZ Connector Inc. EZS7-02 1010 E. Walnut Tulare, CA 93274 559-686-5889 www.EZConnector.com
Runner Up: Best New Van/Pickup/ Sport-Utility Product Daystar Products Internationa lShock and Steering Stabilizer Armor 841 S. 71st Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85043 800-595-7659 www.daystarweb.com		Runner Up: Best New Van/Pickup/Sport-Utility Product Specialty Products Co. Leaf Spring Silencer 4045 Specialty Pl. Longmont, CO 80504 800-525-6505 www.spcalignment.com
Best New Interior Accessory Product Winner:   Auto Meter Products Universal 3 Gauge Mounting Solution 413 W. Elm St. Sycamore, IL 60178 866-248-6356 www.autometer.com		Runner Up: Best New Interior Accessory Product    LOKAR Performance Products Billet Aluminum Tremec Shifter Levers for the TKO 500 and TKO 600 10924 Murdock Dr. Knoxville, TN 37932 877-469-7440 www.lokar.com
Runner Up: Best New Interior Accessory Product  Bully Dog Technologies RAM Mounting Systems for Bully Dog GTs and WatchDogs 2839 Hwy. 39 American Falls, ID 83211 940-783-9914 www.bullydog.com		Runner Up: Best New Tools and Equipment Product  Las Vegas Tool LLC EASYPULLER  1191 Center Point Dr. Henderson, NV 89074 702-809-8008 www.lasvegastool.com
Best New Wheel and Related Product Winner: ToplineProducts Verde Custom Wheels | V39–Parallax 4651 State St. Montclair, CA 91763 909-628-7500 www.tradeunion.com		Runner Up: Best New Wheel and Related Product Las Vegas Tool MGP Caliper Covers MGP Caliper Covers 616 Marsat Ct. Chula Vista, CA 91911 877-995-0003 www.calipercovers.com
Runner Up: Best New Wheel and Related Product iForgedPerformance Alloys/Forgestar Wheels CF10 Rotary Forged Carbon Fiber Edition 1161 N. Knollwood Cir. Anaheim, CA 92801 714-826-8249 www.iforged.com		SEMA News—January 2012 Innovation on Display 2011 SEMA Show New Products Spotlight Exhibitor Achievement Criteria that ranked high on the judges’ selection for the New Products Showcase Awards included superiority of innovation, technical achievement, quality and workmanship, consumer appeal and marketability.

2011 SEMA Show New Products Spotlight Exhibitor Achievement

The winners of the New Products Showcase Awards were announced during the New Products Breakfast held at the 2011 SEMA Show. The event recognizes the most cutting-edge automotive products either on the market or about to hit the market. Nearly 2,000 new products were submitted this year for consideration.

Criteria that ranked high on the judges’ selection for the New Products Showcase Awards included superiority of innovation, technical achievement, quality and workmanship, consumer appeal and marketability.

Best New Collision, Repair and Refinish Product Winner: Eagle Abrasives Inc. Super Assilex 4025 Steve Reynolds Blvd. Norcross, GA 30093 888-683-2453 www.EagleAbrasives.com		Runner Up: Collision, Repair and Refinish Product Gema OptiFlex 2 4141 W. 54th St. Indianapolis, IN 46254 317-298-5000 www.itwgema.us
Runner Up: Collision, Repair and Refinish Product Plio Grip by Valvoline Like90 Turbo Pad for Bumpers 3703 Parkway Blvd. Salt Lake Cty, UT 84120 818-519-7297 www.Like90.net		Best New Engineered Product Winner: Baer Brake Systems Full Floating Rearend Conversion 2222 W. Peoria Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85029 602-233-1411 www.Baer.com
Runner Up: Best New Engineered Product Aeromotive Inc. Camaro Stealth Fuel System 7805 Barton St. Lenexa, KS 66214 913-647-7300 www.AeromotiveInc.com		Runner Up: Best New Engineered Product Fuelab Electronic Fuel Pressure Regulator 826A Morton Ct. Litchfield, IL 62056 217-324-3737 www.fuelab.com
Best New Exterior Accessory Product Winner: Cargo Ease Inc. Cargo Ramp/Brake System 22 John St. Hagersville, N0A1H0 Canada 905-768-2650 www.cargo-ease.com		Runner Up: Best New Exterior Accessory Product Bestop Inc. TrekStep Side Mounted Step 2100 W. Midway Blvd. Broomfield, CO 80020 800-845-3567 www.Bestop.com
Runner Up: Best New Exterior Accessory Product Rhino-Rack USA Roof Mounted Cargo Basket 7025 S. Fulton St., Ste. 135 Centennial, CO 80112 303-706-9700 www.rhinorack.com		Best New Merchandising Display Winner: MacNeil Automotive Products  TechFloor Retail Display 1 MacNeil Ct. Bolingbrook, IL 60440 800-943-9250 www.weathertechdirect.com
Runner Up: Best New Merchandising Display Flex-a-lite Consolidated Flex-a-chill–Radiator Coolant Additive (POP) 7009 45th St. Court East Fife, WA 98424 253-922-2700 www.flex-a-lite.com		Runner Up: Best New Merchandising Display Access Roll-Up Covers Access Truck Bed LED Light Display 3000 Hwy. 281 S.E./P.O. Box 508 Jamestown, ND 58401 800-233-4655 www.accesscover.com
Best New Mobile-Electronics Product Winner: Escort/Beltronics Radar Detectors, ESCORT Live! 5440 W. Chester Rd. West Chester, OH 45069 513-870-8500 www.EscortInc.com		Runner Up: Best New Mobile-Electronics Product Del City Sealed Window Crimp Connector P.O. Box 3102 Milwaukee, WI 53201-3102 800-654-4757 www.delcity.net
Runner Up: Best New Mobile-Electronics Product Metra Electronics Corp. ASWC 460 Walker St. Holly Hill, FL 32117 800-221-0932 www.metraonline.com		Best New Off-Road/4-Wheel Drive Product Winner: MSD Ignition Atomic EFI 1490 Henry Brenam El Paso, TX 79936 915-857-5200 www.msdperformance.com
Runner Up: Best New Off-Road/4-Wheel Drive Product Flex-a-lite  Daystar Products International Can Cam Fuel and Water System 841 S. 71st Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85043 800-595-7659 www.daystarweb.com		Runner Up: Best New Merchandising Display ProRYDE Suspension Systems SuperBLOK 3-in-1 Leaf Spring Blocks 6100 Baker Rd. Minnetonka, MN 55345 888-813-7933 www.ProRYDE.com
Best New Packaging Design Winner: MacNeil Automotive Products Ltd.TechCare 1 MacNeil Ct. Bolingbrook, IL 60440 800-943-9250 www.weathertechdirect.com		Runner Up: Best New Packaging Design Auto Meter Products Auto Meter Custom Shop Gauge Set 413 W. Elm St. Sycamore, IL 60178 866-248-6356 www.autometer.com
Runner Up: Best New Packaging Design Preval vFan Portable Airbrush System 1300 North St. Coal City, IL 60416 877-753-0021 www.preval.com		Best New Performance-Racing Product Winner: COMP Performance Group COMP Cams Sprint Car Front Drive Kit for LS Applications 3406 Democrat Rd. Memphis, TN 38118 800-999-0853 www.compcams.com
Runner Up: Best New Performance-Racing Product Auto Meter Products Ultimate DL Playback Tach System 413 W. Elm St. Sycamore, IL 60178 866-248-6356 www.autometer.com		Runner Up: Runner Up: Best New Performance-Racing Product   Ace Fuel Systems Adjustable Fuel Injector 206 N. Kansas Columbus, KS 66725 800-325-3888 www.asnuinjector.com
Best New Performance-Street Product Winner: SCT Performance SCT iTSX for iPhone 4150 Church St., Ste. 1024 Sanford, FL 32771 888-684-2588 www.sctflash.com		Runner Up: Best New Performance-Street Product Auto Meter Products Universal GPS Speedometer Interface 413 W. Elm St. Sycamore, IL 60178 866-248-6356 www.autometer.com
Runner Up: Best New Performance-Street Product COMP Performance Group FAST EZ-EFI Jeep 4.2L/6 Cylinder Kit 3406 Democrat Rd. Memphis, TN 38118 877-334-8355 www.compcams.com		Best New Powersports Product Winner: COMP Performance Group Inglese EFI Throttle Body Insert Hidden Metal Screen Filters 3406 Democrat Rd. Memphis, TN 38118 866-450-8089 www.compcams.com
Runner Up: Best New Powersports Product Skyjacker Suspensions ’10–’12 Polaris Ranger Crew Rear Winch Mount Kit 212 Stevenson St. West Monroe, LA 71292 318-388-0816 www.skyjacker.com		Runner Up: Best New Powersports Product Warn Industries Inc. 1700 XT Portable Winch 13270 S.E. Pheasant Ct. Milwaukie, OR 97222 503-722-1200 www.warn.com
Best New Street-Rod/Custom-Car Product Winner:    Classic Instruments Inc. SkyDrive 1299 M-75 S Boyne City, MI 49712 800-575-0461 www.classicinstruments.com		Runner Up: Best New Street-Rod/Custom-Car Billet Specialties Inc. Billet LS Valve Covers 500 Shawmut Ave. La Grange, IL 60526   8772404187 www.billetspecialties.com
Runner Up: Best New Street-Rod/Custom-Car  Eddie Motorsports Billet Aluminum Underhood Kit for 1955–1957 Chevrolets 11479 Sixth St. Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 888-813-1293 www.eddiemotorsports.com		Runner Up: Best New Street-Rod/Custom-Car Billet Specialties Inc. Billet LS Valve Covers 500 Shawmut Ave. La Grange, IL 60526   8772404187 www.billetspecialties.com
Best New Tire and Related Product Winner: Continental Tire the Americas Continental Cross Contact LX20 1830 MacMillan Park Dr. Fort Mill, SC 29707 704-583-3900 www.continentaltire.com		Runner Up: Best New Tire and Related Product  Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. Discoverer A/T3 701 Lima Ave. Findlay, OH 45840 419-423-1321 www.coopertire.com
Best New Tools and Equipment Product Winner: PH2 Solutions Inc. PH2 Validator 111 Northfield Ave., Ste. 204 West Orange, NJ 07052 973-902-5517 www.ph2solutions.com		Runner Up: Best New Tools and Equipment Product  Las Vegas Tool LLC EASYPULLER  1191 Center Point Dr. Henderson, NV 89074 702-809-8008 www.lasvegastool.com
Runner Up: Best New Tools and Equipment Product  Schley Products/SP TOOLS Air Hammer Ball Joint R&R Tool 5350 E. Hunter Ave. Anaheim, CA 92807 714-693-7666 www.sptool.com		Best New Van/Pickup/ Sport-Utility Product Winner:  EZ Connector Inc. EZS7-02 1010 E. Walnut Tulare, CA 93274 559-686-5889 www.EZConnector.com
Runner Up: Best New Van/Pickup/ Sport-Utility Product Daystar Products Internationa lShock and Steering Stabilizer Armor 841 S. 71st Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85043 800-595-7659 www.daystarweb.com		Runner Up: Best New Van/Pickup/Sport-Utility Product Specialty Products Co. Leaf Spring Silencer 4045 Specialty Pl. Longmont, CO 80504 800-525-6505 www.spcalignment.com
Best New Interior Accessory Product Winner:   Auto Meter Products Universal 3 Gauge Mounting Solution 413 W. Elm St. Sycamore, IL 60178 866-248-6356 www.autometer.com		Runner Up: Best New Interior Accessory Product    LOKAR Performance Products Billet Aluminum Tremec Shifter Levers for the TKO 500 and TKO 600 10924 Murdock Dr. Knoxville, TN 37932 877-469-7440 www.lokar.com
Runner Up: Best New Interior Accessory Product  Bully Dog Technologies RAM Mounting Systems for Bully Dog GTs and WatchDogs 2839 Hwy. 39 American Falls, ID 83211 940-783-9914 www.bullydog.com		Runner Up: Best New Tools and Equipment Product  Las Vegas Tool LLC EASYPULLER  1191 Center Point Dr. Henderson, NV 89074 702-809-8008 www.lasvegastool.com
Best New Wheel and Related Product Winner: ToplineProducts Verde Custom Wheels | V39–Parallax 4651 State St. Montclair, CA 91763 909-628-7500 www.tradeunion.com		Runner Up: Best New Wheel and Related Product Las Vegas Tool MGP Caliper Covers MGP Caliper Covers 616 Marsat Ct. Chula Vista, CA 91911 877-995-0003 www.calipercovers.com
Runner Up: Best New Wheel and Related Product iForgedPerformance Alloys/Forgestar Wheels CF10 Rotary Forged Carbon Fiber Edition 1161 N. Knollwood Cir. Anaheim, CA 92801 714-826-8249 www.iforged.com		SEMA News—January 2012 Innovation on Display 2011 SEMA Show New Products Spotlight Exhibitor Achievement Criteria that ranked high on the judges’ selection for the New Products Showcase Awards included superiority of innovation, technical achievement, quality and workmanship, consumer appeal and marketability.

Exhibitors at the SEMA Show Choose the Hottest Car, Sport Compact, Truck and 4x4-SUV for 2011

Each year at the SEMA Show, a handful of vehicles are dominant amid the thousands on display. There is always one car, one truck, one sport compact and one SUV or off-road vehicle whose greater numbers make them the most visible in the huge exhibit spaces. To celebrate these standouts, SEMA exhibitors honored four vehicles with the SEMA Awards for the Hottest Car, Hottest Truck, Hottest 4x4-SUV and—new this year—Hottest Sport Compact at the 2011 SEMA Show.

The exhibitors themselves chose the ultimate winners, with the tally determined by displays of specific makes and models in exhibitor booths.

The four SEMA Award winners for 2011 were the Chevrolet Camaro for the Hottest Car, Ford F-Series for the Hottest Truck, Jeep Wrangler for the Hottest 4x4-SUV and Fiat 500 for the Hottest Sport Compact.

The 2011 SEMA Show featured more than 2,000 exhibiting companies. The numbers of these vehicles on display offered convincing proof of their ability to be accessorized. The SEMA Award winners are vehicles that consumers can confidently turn to for unlimited possibilities
in personalization.

To learn more about the SEMA Award winners, visit www.SEMA.org/semaaward. On the pages that follow, we have included comments from exhibitors about the award winners and just a few of the vehicles that represent the Hottest Vehicles of the 2011 SEMA Show.

Hottest Sport Compact of the 2011 SEMA Show: The Fiat 500 SEMA Chairman-Elect Nate Shelton (left) presented Pietro Gorlier, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care president and CEO, with the SEMA Award for the Fiat 500 as the Hottest Sport Compact at the 2011 SEMA Show.

After arriving in U.S. showrooms, the Fiat 500 quickly became a favorite of auto enthusiasts, specialty manufacturers and customizers nationwide. “In just its first year, our new Fiat 500 is prominent throughout this year’s SEMA Show, as it is the perfect canvas for customization,” said Pietro Gorlier, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care president and CEO. “We are honored by the SEMA Award recognition and excited by the creativity and enthusiasm of our fans and the specialty-equipment manufacturers who continue to make the Fiat 500 even more distinctive in the marketplace.”
“The Fiat 500 is sporty, stylish, cool and small, which is what attracted us to it,” said Ariel Pedrani, OEM sales manager for Coverking, which produces original-equipment neoprene seat covers and car covers for a wide range of vehicles. Pedrani said that the company also intends to produce fully printed car covers soon. “We are proud to be the OE supplier of custom seat covers and car covers for such a cool car!” he said.
“Brandmotion was one of two companies that was provided with a Fiat 500 from Fiat in its SEMA Design Competition last summer, based on the strength of our Fiat 500 Urban Loft proposal to focus on the needs of the urban lifestyle buyer,” said Jeff Varick, president of Brandmotion. “Fiat was not interested in traditional exterior-heavy customization proposals. We did a few small modifications to the exterior (Eibach springs, Magneti Marelli 18-in. wheels, two-tone paint), but the majority of our modifications—12 in all—were focused on practical modifications to the interior. The Fiat 500 offers a spacious-feeling interior and excellent urban practicality for such a small car.” “The Fiat 500 is the right car for the times we live in,” Varick said. “We were very pleased to be asked by Fiat to envision a future trim level for the brand-new 500 and to have such an exciting new vehicle in which to showcase Brandmotion products and capabilities.”
“The Fiat 500 responds very well to modifications, from street driving to road racing at a track,” said Zbigniew Szwalgin, vice president of engineering for Zeitronix. “We found it to be a hot, new sport-compact car. Using the Zeitronix Zt-2 Wideband AFR Meter and Engine Datalogging System, we were able to review engine potential and design a new product, The Timing Controller. Zeitronix also offers other products for the Fiat, including the Black Box Data Logger and the Ethanol Content Analyzer for E85 conversions. “I personally admire the car. It’s a small car done right. Its beautiful exterior design makes it über cute, and cute sells! But it’s not only looks. At this price range, weight and wheelbase, and with the right modifications, it will also be a hot road-racing car.”
Katzkin Leather is a supplier of high-quality leather seat designs for the Fiat 500 that complement and transform the car’s unique character. Katzkin also offers seat heaters, seat massagers and LiquiCell comfort pads. “The Fiat 500 is a high-personality car that breaks the paradigm that small cars aren’t cool,” said Dave O’Connell, chief designer for Katzkin Leather. “By design, it makes a solid and confident statement that it’s fun to drive and also enhances the experience of owning a truly unique vehicle. The car possesses a strong visual personality, both in terms of exterior and interior design. It’s very compact in size but very large and expressive in terms of vehicle character. At the same time, it offers almost a blank canvas as to which direction you could take it in terms of personalization. “It was a pleasure and an honor to have this vehicle in our booth at the SEMA Show, and it was a lot of fun to work on. We didn’t try to change the car at all. We just built on its inherent strengths of design and character. It shows the value and power of strong design and how important the role is for design to play in making products more desirable to your customers.”
“Broadfeet Motorsport Equipment chose to display a Fiat 500 to show that the automotive industry is not just about 4x4s and heavy-duty trucks anymore; that medium-size CUVs and small compact cars, such as the Fiat 500, have their place as well,” said Broadfeet Sales Manager Cesar Florez. Broadfeet Motorsport Equipment currently carries a front 2.5-in. A-bar and a rear bumper guard for the Fiat but may also offer other products in the future. “Congratulations to Fiat for making a cool vehicle,” Florez said. “We hope that it brings our company more sales and more challenging ideas. People loved the car at the SEMA Show, and the designs were great. Stay tuned for the 2012 SEMA Show. We have something up our sleeves, and we’ll be sure to surprise everyone.”

Hottest Car of the 2011 SEMA Show: The Chevrolet Camaro    SEMA Chairman Paul “Scooter” Brothers (left) presented the SEMA Award for the Chevrolet Camaro as Hottest Car of the 2011 SEMA Show to Chris Perry, General Motors vice president of global Chevrolet marketing and strategy.

The Camaro has a great-looking high-performance body and, in the case of our display car, a convertible top that revealed our products in their natural habitat,” said Cam Benty corporate vice president of marketing for B&M Racing & Performance. “The display car belongs to TV celebrity Guy Fieri—a longtime friend of the company and a former spokesperson for Flowmaster. We have been helping Guy upgrade and personalize his car with aftermarket components from B&M Racing, Hurst and Flowmaster. The bright-yellow Camaro convertible was the perfect way to show off our products, including the console-mounted shifter from Hurst. The Flowmaster axle-back exhaust system tucks neatly under the rear valance and uses the factory styling and mounts, so it’s perfect for our purposes.” Benty said that the company has a multitude of new products on the drawing board, with the Camaro being one of its central modern-musclecar target platforms.
“We are honored that our Camaro received the SEMA Award for the Hottest Car this year,” said John Fitzpatrick, marketing manager, Chevy Performance Cars. “It’s especially meaningful to receive an award that represents the views of those leaders and visionaries in the specialty-equipment industry that help drive consumer trends in the marketplace.”
“The Chevrolet Camaro has proven to be a hugely popular platform for Extreme Dimensions,” said Geoffrey Brown, the company’s marketing manager. “It’s a timeless design that lends itself to a wide range of aftermarket aerodynamic options. With Extreme Dimensions winning the GM Design Award at last year’s SEMA Show, it only made sense for us to bring the new Camaro convertible to the Show this year. We have been able to design and manufacture a number of body kits based off the gorgeous factory lines of the Camaro, and they all look fantastic. “Although there were hundreds of incredible vehicles built for the SEMA Show this year, it is no surprise that Chevrolet walked away with this award. The Camaro is an iconic vehicle that will never cease to amaze its audience. The beautiful design matched with its fantastic performance make it a tuner’s dream. Congratulations to Chevrolet for making yet another generation of the Camaro that is rightfully sure to go down in the books as one of the most talked about vehicles at the SEMA Show for many years to come.”
“The Camaro is a great car from the factory, with a lot of potential for additional improvements and customization to a particular customer’s wishes,” said Jason Haines, project director for Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. “It has a broad audience of customers, and GM had to make it work for all of them. That leaves room for us to customize the vehicle the way each customer wants. “The Camaro engine allows the use of a wide array of available performance products, often with little or no changes. Having a broad base of other aftermarket and GM Performance Parts to work with also helps. One company can’t supply everything that everyone wants for the vehicle, so having a broad range of companies involved expands what we can all provide. “The ZL1 Camaro takes the factory Camaro to a new performance level, and we look forward to expanding on that even further. It’s great to see the Mustang and the Camaro in such fierce competition between the OEMs. Nothing brings out great products—both in the OEM world and in the aftermarket—like great competition.”
Grant Products International manufactures a complete line of custom steering wheels and accessories for the automotive aftermarket as well as the marine industry, heavy-duty trucks and the RV/motorhome industry. Its newest products include an expanded offering of steering wheels and styling rings for airbag-equipped vehicles, and Grant is a Tier 2 supplier to the automotive original-equipment industry. Dennis Noonchester, the company’s president, said that the Camaro’s styling was what brought his company to select the Chevy for its booth display at the 2011 SEMA Show. “It has excellent curb appeal,” he pointed out, “and the very attractive body kit and stripe package were a great draw for our booth.”
Richard Heinz, owner/president of Race Ramps, said that the ’12 Camaro displayed in the company’s 2011 SEMA Show booth was unique and had all the qualities he was looking for to attract attention to the exhibit. “I ran into Rick Adams, the gentleman who owns the car, at a track event at Road America,” Heinz said. “It had a killer paint job, and Rick had done something very original with his car: He created a T-Top Camaro. You can’t order that out of the box from the factory, and the combination of the top, the paint job and other modifications he made was very attractive. He did a lot of suspension work, some custom exhaust and other underbody features. That was perfect for us, because we were trying to highlight our Portable Pit Stop Ramp, which raises the entire vehicle off the floor 14 in. We combined that in our display with another new product—a lighted mirror that is used to show off the underside of cars at car shows. It was a marriage made in heaven.”
“The Camaro is such a great vehicle for aftermarket upgrades that we had to include it in our booth,” said Dan Nicholas, vice president sales/marketing for Jet Performance Products. “It’s one of those cars that is great stock but so much better after the aftermarket gets a piece of it. It has that great musclecar stance that catches your eye. So many people came by the booth and stopped to take pictures of the car and then were shocked to learn how many upgrades we had done to it.” Jet Performance Products include performance programmers, performance modules, mass air sensors and skip-shift eliminators, and the company is working on several products for the Camaro that it plans to show off at the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council Media Trade Conference to be held January 24–26 at the Embassy Suites LAX South Hotel in El Segundo, California. “I am so happy that Camaro won the award,” Nicholas said. “I think back several years ago at the SEMA Show when everything was truck-based and the only car stuff was sport compact. It’s so good for the market to have musclecars back in front.”
“The Camaro offers massive fenderwell space,” said Joe Jimenez, business development manager at Velocity Wheel. “That provided a great platform for two new Velocity Wheel products. The fifth-generation Camaro looked very impressive with our big 26-in. Dcenti DW-29 chrome wheels and our wide Dcenti D9000 255/30R26 tires. Velocity Wheel has a huge array of new and exciting wheel styles to fit the fifth-generation Chevy Camaro.”
“The Camaro signifies performance and excitement and is a great platform to display what can be done with Akzo-Nobel Coatings’ Wanda brand of automotive refinish products,” said Mark Rapson, business manager of Trade Brands North America for AkzoNobel. “The Camaro has a very distinct look and style lines. The right colors and styling selection are important to help reflect and enhance the distinctiveness of the vehicle and highlight our coatings. The Wanda Refinish team worked to develop the perfect color pallets that would best emphasize the car’s style features and attributes. Wanda garnered a lot of attention and positive feedback throughout the show, thanks to the Lingenfelter Signature Series Camaros and the fantastic Wanda paint finishes on the vehicles. The SEMA Award certainly brings our efforts to the forefront, and we’re pleased to be a part of the recognition.”
Wossner Pistons chose to display Gary Shellum’s Camaro for the performance and tastefulness of the completed project and the phenomenal power the car can put down to the ground and yet remain a docile street car when just cruising around town,” said John Noonan, Wossner Pistons sales manager. “The car is fitted with a Lysholm supercharger, and VIS and JBA supplied the carbon-fiber hood and carbon-look lid and deck. The car is also fitted with USW 22-in. wheels, an NX Nitrous system, an Airlift air-ride suspension, Whiteline suspension bushings, Wossner Pistons and an AEM methanol-injection system. Wossner is proud to have worked with Gary on his car. He did it with class and performance, and that combination is often overlooked for shock and awe.”
“The musclecar wars are back, and nothing says it like Chevy’s commitment to the Camaro,” said Doug Evans, executive vice president and group publisher for Source Interlink Media. “When you think of musclecars, you think Camaro. Many of our 60-plus titles and 100 websites are devoted to musclecars of the ’60s and ’70s. The Chevrolet Camaro of today is a fantastic car that provides us the opportunity to speak to a whole new generation of enthusiasts in addition to our loyal reader base that may drive a vintage version and also wants a new model. “The designers at GM did a great job of capturing enough styling cues from the first generation of cars to give the current version a nostalgic feel while incorporating all the features and performance you’d expect from a new vehicle. In addition, the Camaro is friendly to the aftermarket and offers the consumer dozens of ways to personalize his car using parts and components built by SEMA-member companies. “We have several magazines that include Camaro content, including Motor Trend, Automobile, Hot Rod, Car Craft, Popular Hot Rodding, Super Chevy, GM High Tech Performance and Chevy High Performance.
David Hamburger, director of marketing for SLP Performance Parts Inc., said that the Chevrolet Camaro has been a core part of SLP for 25 years. SLP was the Tier 1 supplier and final assembler to GM for the ’96–’02 Camaro SS, building more than 45,000 of the cars. SLP has continued the tradition of designing and manufacturing performance parts and packages for the fifth-generation Camaro, and sales continue to strengthen. “The Camaro is a fun car to work with,” Hamburger said. “We are able to design and manufacture high-performance parts and appearance items, and our staff is constantly able to add more content each time we play with the Camaro. SLP would like to congratulate GM for producing the outstanding product that won the SEMA award.”
Wossner Pistons chose to display Gary Shellum’s Camaro for the performance and tastefulness of the completed project and the phenomenal power the car can put down to the ground and yet remain a docile street car when just cruising around town,” said John Noonan, Wossner Pistons sales manager. “The car is fitted with a Lysholm supercharger, and VIS and JBA supplied the carbon-fiber hood and carbon-look lid and deck. The car is also fitted with USW 22-in. wheels, an NX Nitrous system, an Airlift air-ride suspension, Whiteline suspension bushings, Wossner Pistons and an AEM methanol-injection system. Wossner is proud to have worked with Gary on his car. He did it with class and performance, and that combination is often overlooked for shock and awe.”

Hottest Truck of the 2011 SEMA Show: The Ford F-Series SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) congratulated Martin Smith, Ford Motor Co. executive design director, in recognition of the Ford F-Series pickup as the winner of the SEMA Award for Hottest Truck at the 2011 SEMA Show.

“Ford has done a great job with the F-Series in design, performance and the quality Ford is known for,” said Deric Dupey, sales director for Ground Force. “It also suits our product just as well—designed and manufactured to produce the best performance without sacrificing quality. Ford trucks offer a wide variety of uses, with options that allow them to be daily commuters, weekend-warrior haulers, on-site contracting trucks—they’re everything and anything you need them to be. “Being in the suspension business for more than 20 years, Ground Force supplies lowering suspensions to give the F-150 that lowered stance as well as a sports-car feel without sacrificing ride quality. We also have brought out a new line of leveling kits that raise the front of the vehicle, allowing for larger wheel and tire fitments, and our R&D department is always at the drawing table developing new, innovative products that are must-have items for F-Series trucks. “The SEMA Award really speaks for itself. Congratulations to Ford. We are honored to be part of the Ford program.”
“Each year manufacturers from the specialty and performance industry have come to the SEMA Show with an explosion of new products and new styling trends displayed on the cars and trucks they view as the most popular trendsetting models,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA’s president and CEO. “Once again, the exhibitors’ hands-down favorite truck was the F-Series. Given its history at the SEMA Show, it comes as no surprise that the F-Series has emerged once again as the one exhibitors identified as the most accessory-friendly truck.”
The THI family of companies—Extang, TruXedo, UnderCover, BedRug and Advantage Truck Accessories—manufactures a wide selection of tonneau covers and bed protection for all of the F-Series offerings. “The Ford F-Series remains the most popular truck in America,” said Steve Kelley, vice president of sales for Extang. “With multiple bed-length choices, the step gate and various cargo-carrying accessories, it basically needs only a tonneau cover and bed protection to complete the package! Combined with America’s best-selling tonneau covers, we thought the Ford F-Series represented us best at the SEMA Show this year. They are great trucks to drive and depend on, and we have many in our fleet across the THI group. In addition to the four F-Series trucks that we displayed in our SEMA Show booth, we also had many others with THI products on display in other areas, including our new F-450 Super Duty. We were able to work with some terrific folks to show our products on their trucks.”
Vortech  Engineering selected an ’11 SVT Raptor F-150 for its exhibit at the 2011 SEMA Show because of the performance profile of Raptor owners and the way Vortech’s new supercharger system for the truck packaged perfectly under the hood. “Our display SVT Raptor debuted our high-output supercharger system,” said Gil Cormaci, marketing director for Vortech Engineering. “Our surveys have shown that the owners of these pickups are very interested in power adders due to the fact that many of these trucks are driven hard off-road. The high-output centrifugal supercharger system with air/water charge cooling provides a 45% increase in horsepower and 40% additional torque. “Congratulations to Ford’s SVT Team with their product content on this popular truck.”
“We make chrome accessories for vehicles that are the best-selling models in the United States,” said Aaron Fowles, general sales manager for Pacific Rim and Trim International. “The F-Series definitely qualifies. The F-Series also presents a fairly dramatic change in showing ‘before chrome’ and ‘after chrome’ attributes. “We make chrome wheel skins that snap over the OE steel or alloy wheel. We also make ABS snap-on grilles, door handles, mirrors and tailgate handles. One of the most important attributes to us is the fact that the Ford F-Series keeps the same body style and wheels for extended years.”
Warn Industries has been a Tier 1 supplier to Ford for decades and today works with Ford to provide 4WD disconnect products for F-150 and Super Duty vehicles. “Warn included a Ford vehicle in our booth in recognition of our long-time partnership with Ford and to honor Ford for having the number-one-selling truck in the United States for 34 years straight,” said John Stransky, Warn Industries Inc. president. “We also wanted to display our PullzAll in action this year. The Super Duty provided a perfect fit for demonstrating the PullzAll, lifting an engine from the bed of the truck in our booth. “Warn Industries was honored to win the Ford Product Excellence Award for the project vehicle that was displayed in our SEMA booth this year. That vehicle will be used at numerous events and shows. Warn has worked with Ford on project vehicles for a number of years, and we appreciate their support in being able to showcase a great truck that represents both companies.”
“The Ford F-Series has been one of the best-selling trucks of the past six decades, and we felt that their truck outfitted with our new Century Optimus fiberglass truck cap and our Pace Edwards Bedlocker electric retractable tonneau cover would attract the most attention in our booth,” said Dennis DeLeonard, vice president of sales, marketing and business development for Truck Accessories Group. Truck Accessories Group LLC (TAG) includes Leer, Raider, Century, Pace Edwards and State Wide Aluminum. The member companies are manufacturers of a wide variety of fiberglass and aluminum truck caps, tonneaus and rigid retractable truck bed covers for pickups as well as aluminum-framed windows used in the truck cap and trailer industries. TAG companies offer their products through independent retailers and distributors throughout the world. “We currently supply a full line of products for Ford vehicles, and we are always adding exciting new products to our portfolio,” DeLeonard said.
Roll-N-Lock Corp. chose a ’10 F-150 for its SEMA Show display, noting that the company offers F-Series applications of its E-Series electric retractable tonneau cover, M-Series manual retractable tonneau cover and Cargo Manager bed divider. “We wanted to showcase our number-one-selling application and specifically call attention to a unique design modification that we have recently brought to market,” said Dan Beaulaurier, director of sales and marketing for Roll-N-Lock Corp. “This modification allows the tailgate locking device that is integrated into our tonneau cover to work seamlessly with Ford’s optional tailgate step. Roll-N-Lock Corp. will absolutely continue to include applications for all Ford F-Series trucks as we bring new product designs to market.”
“Bully Dog is known for being first to market with our tunes,” said Brittany Schwartz, marketing team coordinator for Bully Dog Technologies. “So with that being said, why would we not tune the hottest-selling truck on the market right now? Our booth vehicle was the Ford EcoBoost. These trucks are amazing straight from the company, with their turbocharged, direct-injected engines. Combine the power output and fuel efficiency of these engines, and you have got a truck to get excited about! Add the Bully Dog tune, and you can see an increase of 42 hp and 55 lb.-ft. of torque over stock! “Bully Dog offer tuners for both gas and diesel F-Series trucks: the Diesel GT and Gas GT. We would like to thank Ford for continuing to push the vehicle industry. Not only from the number of new vehicles the company has added to its line, but to the marketing efforts Ford is doing. As a small company, we look to Ford for inspiration and are excited to see how far it can take its EcoBoost engine.”
Roll-N-Lock Corp. chose a ’10 F-150 for its SEMA Show display, noting that the company offers F-Series applications of its E-Series electric retractable tonneau cover, M-Series manual retractable tonneau cover and Cargo Manager bed divider. “We wanted to showcase our number-one-selling application and specifically call attention to a unique design modification that we have recently brought to market,” said Dan Beaulaurier, director of sales and marketing for Roll-N-Lock Corp. “This modification allows the tailgate locking device that is integrated into our tonneau cover to work seamlessly with Ford’s optional tailgate step. Roll-N-Lock Corp. will absolutely continue to include applications for all Ford F-Series trucks as we bring new product designs to market.”

“We are honored that our Jeep Wrangler was named hottest SUV at the SEMA Show,” said Gorlier. “The Jeep Wrangler is an icon that has been around for nearly 70 years. No one comes close to matching its legendary capability.” Custom parts and accessories for the Jeep Wrangler remain in high demand as owners look for ways to make their Wranglers more their own. Enthusiasm for the Wrangler has led to its winning of multiple industry awards, including the SEMA Most Accessory-Friendly SUV in 2007.
The Jeep Wrangler has never been just a vehicle,” said Brian Godfrey, marketing manager for Fox Racing Shox. “It’s an enthusiast connection to a culture, similar to the way Harley-Davidson enthusiasts connect to theirs. Jeep owners personalize their vehicles with aftermarket parts to fit what they like and intend to do with them. They’re like blank canvases, and the culture only begins with the vehicles. Now, with four doors, the wife and kids can come, too, and that has really expanded the scope of the customer base immensely. “Fox manufactures high-performance shock absorbers and steering stabilizers to fit stock and aftermarket suspension kits. We also work closely with a majority of the aftermarket suspension-kit manufacturers to develop shocks specifically for their kits. With our vast knowledge from off-road racing suspension dominance, we have created products to take the Jeeping experience to the next level.”
“There are so many ways to fit and attach customized parts to the Wrangler, and since Jeep came out with the Unlimited, the longer wheelbase has made all the difference getting up obstacles much easier,” said Scott Doughty, Mountain Off-Road Enterprises CEO. “We manufacture specialty Jeep-only aftermarket parts, and since the Wrangler can be customized so many ways, I see why it was chosen for the SEMA Award. People want to see what our products will look like on their own Jeep, and showing our Wrangler in our SEMA booth is what sells our products. “We have been around since 1995. We manufacture parts going from CJs all the way up to JKs. We make bumpers, fenders, oil and transmission skidplates, a dual battery tray and a new retractable Hide-A-Step that shortens the step up into the Jeep Wrangler by 11 in. but is also removable with two quick-disconnect pins. “SEMA exhibitors couldn’t have picked a better vehicle. The Wrangler is a story of the American Way. Congratulations, Jeep Wrangler!”
“The Jeep Wrangler provided the perfect platform to display our intake kit and toolbox while drawing attention to our booth,” said Mike Morrow, vice president of marketing for Spectre Performance. “We manufacture a true cold-air induction system that draws air from the firewall area and a sheetmetal toolbox that installs into the cavity that formerly housed the air filter. We’re also considering other sheetmetal components similar to those that we manufacture for the old-school musclecar market. The Wrangler is a versatile and popular platform for both the true off-road enthusiast and the occasional weekend off-roader.”
The Jeep market is a very important part of our business, and the Jeep JK is a build we are very proud of,” said Lee McGuire, director of marketing and operations for Skyjacker Suspensions. “Not only do we use it at various shows, but it also gets taken out and really used at events and on the trails. You have the ability to add so many suspension accessories and upgraded components to make it a truly great trail-ready vehicle. We offer 2-in. leveling kits, 2.5- to 7-in. suspension kits, dual steering stabilizers, shocks, front and rear track bars and grab handles. We really have any suspension upgrade or component you could want to make your JK into a capable vehicle on-and off-road. “Our Jeep JK project Green Hornet includes a number of other accessories and components in the build to really show why the Wrangler is such a sought-after vehicle to customize. All the added accessories just show what you can really get out of the right combination of products on your Jeep.”
“The Jeep Wrangler is the ultimate off-road vehicle and consistently improves on the iconic status that it has developed,” said Vinson Pratt, marketing manager for TeraFlex Inc. “It lends itself to modification and customization while enhancing the entire outdoor experience of the vehicle owner. “TeraFlex manufactures suspension lift systems, low-range gear products, heavy-duty axle components and body protection equipment—all for and exclusive to the Jeep Wrangler. Each and every item that we supply solves a unique problem or enhances the users’ overall experience with their Jeeps. Because of our daily use of the Jeep Wrangler, we are constantly brainstorming and developing new products, and we average a new product for the Wrangler every four to six months. “The Jeep is more than just a vehicle. It won our hearts on foreign battlefields and came home to work with us in our fields and farms. The SEMA Award confirms the great legacy of this vehicle and the huge aftermarket following that it continues to build.”
Jeep was the foundation of what made Rancho successful in the early years, and Jeep products continue to be significant to our Rancho and DynoMax customers,” said Joe Pase, director of performance for Tenneco Inc. “We wanted to convert our existing Jeep Wrangler JK to a JK8 pickup. We’re thrilled that we took that approach, as customers and brand fans really appreciated our designer’s creativity. It was the talk of the SEMA Show. “The Wrangler is one of the most customized vehicles. Consumers love to modify them and make their Wranglers suit their personal tastes. To that end, we produce Off Road Rancho lift kits, Rancho shocks, under-Jeep protection and differential covers, bumpers and doors. We also produce a full suite of DynoMax performance exhaust systems, including systems that feature our newest technology—the DynoMax VT muffler. “We would like to say congratulations and thank you to our friends at Jeep for building another fantastic vehicle.”
“The Jeep Wrangler has earned a cult-like following of enthusiasts,” said Marc Cloutier, marketing manager for MBRP Inc. “Aside from its inherent capabilities both off-road and as urban transport, the sheer numbers of the vehicles on the road make it a worthy target for aftermarket product development. Even better, a greater-than-usual percentage of Jeep Wrangler owners accessorize and personalize their vehicles and are eager to invest in them. They have made MBRP’s Off Camber Fabrications division the fastest-growing manufacturer of off-road accessories specializing in Jeep vehicles, particularly the Wrangler models. “MBRP offers eight different performance exhaust systems for the Wrangler. All of them feature our unique muffler design that draws out every bit of available power and provides a rich, mellow exhaust note. Our Off Camber Fabrications division also produces nearly 40 different Wrangler accessories, ranging from bumpers to rock rails on through to roof racks and fire extinguisher mounts. All have proven themselves in the most extreme environments."
Bestop manufactures a wide assortment of products but is best known for its soft tops for early through current Jeeps. The company also makes bumpers, doors, seating, steps, storage and many other companion items. “For more than 50 years, Bestop has earned its living with Jeep products,” said Jim Chick, the company’s director of sales and marketing. “Bestop’s core product—soft tops for Jeep—is at the heart of the company, which has been a long-running supplier to Jeep and the aftermarket. We recently released a whole new style of soft-top called Trektop NX that opened a new segment of styling for the Jeep TJ and JK platforms. We wouldn’t think of having a display without a heavy Jeep presence because of Jeep’s longevity in the marketplace as the vehicle of choice for fun and accessorizing. “Congratulations to Jeep, and thanks for creating and supplying the world’s most accessorized vehicle for so many years in a row!”
“The Jeep Wrangler is an iconic vehicle,” said Carter Reed, marketing manager for BDS Suspension. “From its war-time heritage to its modern features, the JK continues to be one of the most popular vehicles on the market to accessorize. The JK offers a capable platform from the factory and can be easily upgraded to enhance its performance on- and off-road. BDS Suspension manufactures suspension lifts and accessories to improve the handling and off-road capabilities of the JK. We offer lift options from 2-in. budget boosts to complete 6.5-in. long-arm systems and everything in between. We are always striving to develop new and innovative products. The JK gives us the opportunity to develop a wide range of products. As Jeep makes improvements to the current Wrangler, we work to develop new products to better equip them for the trail.”
“The Jeep Wrangler is an iconic vehicle,” said Carter Reed, marketing manager for BDS Suspension. “Rock-Slide Engineering has designed all of our products around the functional aspect of the Jeep Wrangler,” said Steven Bennion, president of Rock-Slide Engineering. “The introduction of the JK into the 4x4 market sparked increased interest in the 4WD market. With its obvious street appeal, the JK also performs exceptionally well in off-road situations, opening new market share for the ‘soccer mom’ to drive daily and the ‘off-road dad’ to be able to play with his buddies. “We produce a wide variety of parts for the Jeep JK and other models. Our front and rear Rigid series bumpers have been a huge success in the market. Our internal and external bombshell kits for the Dana 44 axles have transformed the daily driver into a functional off-road machine. Our newest addition to the R-SE lineup is our Step Slider, which provides incomparable body protection to all Jeeps. Rock-Slide Engineering is dedicated to producing functional aftermarket products for the off-road enthusiast. We are constantly designing and manufacturing new products to introduce to the market.”