By Della Domingo

The 2015 SEMA Award for Hottest Car for the Ford Mustang, Hottest Truck for the Ford F-Series and Hottest Sport Compact for the Ford Focus was presented by SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) to Global Director Ford Performance Dave Pericak (center). The SEMA Award for Hottest 4x4-SUV went to Jeep for the Jeep Wrangler, and was presented to Pietro Gorlier (right), head of MOPAR.

Selected by exhibiting manufacturers, the Hottest Vehicles of 2016 will be revealed Tuesday, November 1, on the opening day of the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The coveted SEMA Award will help guide consumers toward the hottest-trending and most accessory-friendly vehicles on the market. SEMA Show exhibitors represent the front line of today’s influential enthusiast car culture. When it comes to knowing what trends to follow and which cars will ignite the industry’s passion, these manufacturers have the pulse of the industry.

Each exhibitor will be able to make his or her voice heard by casting a vote in this year’s SEMA Award process. Emails to vote for this year’s hottest vehicles will be sent to the registered Show contact on August 31.

To better reflect consumer buying habits, this year’s awards will be presented in five new categories, including: Hottest Coupe, Hottest Sedan, Hottest Truck, Hottest 4x4/SUV and Hottest Hatch.

Also new for 2016 is the format in which votes will be tabulated. Since the inception of the SEMA Award, exhibitors determined the winners based on the vehicles displayed in their booths. This year, each exhibiting company will cast one vote each, thereby determining the winners in each category.

SEMA Show exhibitors are the industry’s innovators, visionaries and influencers. Who better to ask than the thousands of manufacturing members who bet their businesses on recognizing the hottest new and upcoming vehicles?

The top three finalists in each of the five SEMA Award categories will be announced in October. The actual winners will be announced at the Awards Breakfast on the opening morning of the SEMA Show. Exhibitors should contact their SEMA Show representative if they don’t receive an email notice to vote.

By Della Domingo

The 2015 SEMA Award for Hottest Car for the Ford Mustang, Hottest Truck for the Ford F-Series and Hottest Sport Compact for the Ford Focus was presented by SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) to Global Director Ford Performance Dave Pericak (center). The SEMA Award for Hottest 4x4-SUV went to Jeep for the Jeep Wrangler, and was presented to Pietro Gorlier (right), head of MOPAR.

Selected by exhibiting manufacturers, the Hottest Vehicles of 2016 will be revealed Tuesday, November 1, on the opening day of the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The coveted SEMA Award will help guide consumers toward the hottest-trending and most accessory-friendly vehicles on the market. SEMA Show exhibitors represent the front line of today’s influential enthusiast car culture. When it comes to knowing what trends to follow and which cars will ignite the industry’s passion, these manufacturers have the pulse of the industry.

Each exhibitor will be able to make his or her voice heard by casting a vote in this year’s SEMA Award process. Emails to vote for this year’s hottest vehicles will be sent to the registered Show contact on August 31.

To better reflect consumer buying habits, this year’s awards will be presented in five new categories, including: Hottest Coupe, Hottest Sedan, Hottest Truck, Hottest 4x4/SUV and Hottest Hatch.

Also new for 2016 is the format in which votes will be tabulated. Since the inception of the SEMA Award, exhibitors determined the winners based on the vehicles displayed in their booths. This year, each exhibiting company will cast one vote each, thereby determining the winners in each category.

SEMA Show exhibitors are the industry’s innovators, visionaries and influencers. Who better to ask than the thousands of manufacturing members who bet their businesses on recognizing the hottest new and upcoming vehicles?

The top three finalists in each of the five SEMA Award categories will be announced in October. The actual winners will be announced at the Awards Breakfast on the opening morning of the SEMA Show. Exhibitors should contact their SEMA Show representative if they don’t receive an email notice to vote.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show annually includes Education Days—a complete lineup of educational sessions covering topics ranging from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends. Conducted by industry leaders and business experts from across the globe, the seminars are designed to help attendees sell more, be more productive, and prepare for emerging trends and opportunities.

SEMA Education will include SEMA Biz Tips weekly in SEMA eNews. Many of the experts featured in SEMA Biz Tips videos conducted seminars at the 2015 SEMA Show. This week, Jean Jennings from JeanKnowsCars.com discusses how to establish relationships with customers that go well beyond putting a product in their hands.

The 2016 SEMA Show will be held November 1–4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors: buy a booth now!

To learn more about SEMA’s education resources, visit www.sema.org/education. Additional Biz Tips videos are available to view at www.sema.org/biz-tips.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show annually includes Education Days—a complete lineup of educational sessions covering topics ranging from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends. Conducted by industry leaders and business experts from across the globe, the seminars are designed to help attendees sell more, be more productive, and prepare for emerging trends and opportunities.

SEMA Education will include SEMA Biz Tips weekly in SEMA eNews. Many of the experts featured in SEMA Biz Tips videos conducted seminars at the 2015 SEMA Show. This week, Jean Jennings from JeanKnowsCars.com discusses how to establish relationships with customers that go well beyond putting a product in their hands.

The 2016 SEMA Show will be held November 1–4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors: buy a booth now!

To learn more about SEMA’s education resources, visit www.sema.org/education. Additional Biz Tips videos are available to view at www.sema.org/biz-tips.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Show annually includes Education Days—a complete lineup of educational sessions covering topics ranging from customer service and marketing, to cash flow and industry trends. Conducted by industry leaders and business experts from across the globe, the seminars are designed to help attendees sell more, be more productive, and prepare for emerging trends and opportunities.

SEMA Education will include SEMA Biz Tips weekly in SEMA eNews. Many of the experts featured in SEMA Biz Tips videos conducted seminars at the 2015 SEMA Show. This week, Jean Jennings from JeanKnowsCars.com discusses how to establish relationships with customers that go well beyond putting a product in their hands.

The 2016 SEMA Show will be held November 1–4, 2016, in Las Vegas. Exhibitors: buy a booth now!

To learn more about SEMA’s education resources, visit www.sema.org/education. Additional Biz Tips videos are available to view at www.sema.org/biz-tips.

Dennis Pittsenbarger interviews Chip Foose at the 2015 SEMA Show.

Dennis Pittsenbarger interviews Chip Foose at the 2015 SEMA Show.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

Bills introduced in New Hampshire in 2016 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session. Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

The bill sought to restore the rolling 15-year exemption repealed in 2014 and replace it with an exemption only for vehicles manufactured before the year 2000. The measure also acknowledged the fact that titles are not always readily available for older vehicles. Legislation to exempt vehicles 10 or more model years old from emissions test requirements was also not approved. The bill also sought to exempt a vehicle for an indication of failure if the owner verified that he or she had spent $100 or more unsuccessfully attempting to repair the cause of the failure and the vehicle passed all other inspection requirements. However, a bill to exempt rare or historically significant vehicles from emissions control requirements was signed into law earlier this year by Governor Maggie Hassan. Under previous law, only vehicles 20 or more years old were exempt. The new law becomes effective on January 1, 2017. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

Bills introduced in New Hampshire in 2016 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session. Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

The bill sought to restore the rolling 15-year exemption repealed in 2014 and replace it with an exemption only for vehicles manufactured before the year 2000. The measure also acknowledged the fact that titles are not always readily available for older vehicles. Legislation to exempt vehicles 10 or more model years old from emissions test requirements was also not approved. The bill also sought to exempt a vehicle for an indication of failure if the owner verified that he or she had spent $100 or more unsuccessfully attempting to repair the cause of the failure and the vehicle passed all other inspection requirements. However, a bill to exempt rare or historically significant vehicles from emissions control requirements was signed into law earlier this year by Governor Maggie Hassan. Under previous law, only vehicles 20 or more years old were exempt. The new law becomes effective on January 1, 2017. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

Bills introduced in New Hampshire in 2016 failed to be approved by both houses of the legislature prior to the adjournment of the session. Legislation to exempt motor vehicles whose manufacturer's model year is older than 15 years from the requirement that they have a certificate of title was not approved by the House Transportation Committee.

The bill sought to restore the rolling 15-year exemption repealed in 2014 and replace it with an exemption only for vehicles manufactured before the year 2000. The measure also acknowledged the fact that titles are not always readily available for older vehicles. Legislation to exempt vehicles 10 or more model years old from emissions test requirements was also not approved. The bill also sought to exempt a vehicle for an indication of failure if the owner verified that he or she had spent $100 or more unsuccessfully attempting to repair the cause of the failure and the vehicle passed all other inspection requirements. However, a bill to exempt rare or historically significant vehicles from emissions control requirements was signed into law earlier this year by Governor Maggie Hassan. Under previous law, only vehicles 20 or more years old were exempt. The new law becomes effective on January 1, 2017. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.