By SEMA Editors

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. announced the winners of the Toyo Tires SEMA Top Build Awards at the 2018 SEMA Show. Two prizes were awarded: a Best Toyo Tires SEMA Car Build and a Best Toyo Tires SEMA Truck/SUV Build. Each winner received a check for $5,000 and a Toyo Tires trophy.

Tony Arme from American Legends in Phoenix, Arizona, walked away with the award for the Best Toyo Tires SEMA Car Build. His ’68 Ford Mustang has extensive modifications, including a Ferrari 430 engine with a Ferrari California intake. The paint finish is a specially mixed BASF Magnetic Metallic color. Arme did extensive work on the interior with a custom-formed dash, along with 3-D-printed components and carbon-fiber work. Wilwood six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers clamp 14-in. rotors. The 18-in. front and 20-in. rear wheels are wrapped with Toyo Proxes R888R DOT competition tires.

Tony Arme’s ’68 Ford Mustang.	Chris Church’s ’40 Ford pickup.

Chris Church of Church Built Customs in Portland, Oregon, won the Best Toyo Tires SEMA Truck/SUV Build award. His heavily modified ’40 Ford pickup sits atop a full custom Schroeder Speed chassis, while there is extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum throughout the build. Power is supplied by a Wegner Motorsports Chevrolet LS3 engine topped by a Whipple supercharger to make more than 900 hp. To harness that power, a QA1 carbon-fiber driveline forms the link to the rear axle. The truck rides on custom-built wheels from American Racing with 19-in. front and 20-in. rear Toyo Proxes R888R tires.

Judging took place on-site at the SEMA Show for vehicles displayed throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center. Entries were judged on several factors, including modifications, overall execution and embodiment of the Toyo Tires brand and lifestyle image. The awards announcements were made in the Toyo Tires Treadpass exhibit.

By SEMA Editors

Magnaflow and DJ Funk Flex unveiled his custom MagnaFlow-equipped 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, named "Deception," on the opening day of the 2018 SEMA Show. The Challenger, which was built by Valanca Auto Concepts, has been blended with carbon-fiber body panels from 1969 Dodge Charger.

The Challenger, "Deception," which was built by Valanca Auto Concepts for DJ Funk Flex, has been blended with carbon-fiber body panels from 1969 Dodge Charger.

The Charger Hellcat received several modifications, including a 4-in. wider track width and 2-in. shorter roofline, all while lowering the car 3 in. from where it originally sat. Each body panel was handcrafted to reimagine the classic body lines of the 1969 Charger. The body features a combination of carbon parts from SpeedKore Performance and Common Fibers, including a carbon-fiber hood, roof, trunk, bumpers and rocker panels.

The wheels are a custom design from Boze Alloys, featuring a 19x8.5 in the front with a 20x11.5 in the rear, which sit nicely over a set of Baer Brakes 6-piston brakes all around.

See "Deception" in MagnaFlow's booth (#23543).

By SEMA Editors

Magnaflow and DJ Funk Flex unveiled his custom MagnaFlow-equipped 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, named "Deception," on the opening day of the 2018 SEMA Show. The Challenger, which was built by Valanca Auto Concepts, has been blended with carbon-fiber body panels from 1969 Dodge Charger.

The Challenger, "Deception," which was built by Valanca Auto Concepts for DJ Funk Flex, has been blended with carbon-fiber body panels from 1969 Dodge Charger.

The Charger Hellcat received several modifications, including a 4-in. wider track width and 2-in. shorter roofline, all while lowering the car 3 in. from where it originally sat. Each body panel was handcrafted to reimagine the classic body lines of the 1969 Charger. The body features a combination of carbon parts from SpeedKore Performance and Common Fibers, including a carbon-fiber hood, roof, trunk, bumpers and rocker panels.

The wheels are a custom design from Boze Alloys, featuring a 19x8.5 in the front with a 20x11.5 in the rear, which sit nicely over a set of Baer Brakes 6-piston brakes all around.

See "Deception" in MagnaFlow's booth (#23543).

By SEMA Editors

Classic Recreations revealed its officially-licensed 1969 BOSS 429 Ford Mustang continuation car on the opening day of the 2018 SEMA Show. Classic Recreations is the only continuation-car builder licensed by Ford Motor Co. to offer the 1969 BOSS 429 Mustang as well as the 1969-1970 BOSS 302 and 1969-1970 Mach 1 Mustangs.

Classic Recreations unveiled the first vehicle under its new license from Ford Motor Co. in the Centerforce Clutches booth at the 2018 SEMA Show.

The Classic Recreations BOSS 429 Mustang was built from an original 1969 Mustang body and restored to factory condition in-house at Classic Recreations. Equipped with a custom-built BOSS 429 engine, the iconic car features an updated valvetrain and cutting-edge electric fuel injection and engine management systems. The 815hp, 546-cu.-in. crate engine with Kaase Boss 9-cylinder heads is mated to a Tremec manual transmission with a Centerforce DYAD twin disc clutch and flywheel.

For traction, both on the road and the on the track, Classic Recreations equipped the BOSS 429 with Michelin Pilot Sport 225/40/18 front and 315/30/18 rear tires mounted to the all-new VF529 wheels from American Racing. Made in the U.S.A., the forged 6061 aluminum two-piece wheels are designed to maximize strength while maintaining optimal weight for autocross and track performance.

Check out the 1969 BOSS 429 Mustang in the Centerforce Clutches booth (#23813).

By SEMA Editors

Classic Recreations revealed its officially-licensed 1969 BOSS 429 Ford Mustang continuation car on the opening day of the 2018 SEMA Show. Classic Recreations is the only continuation-car builder licensed by Ford Motor Co. to offer the 1969 BOSS 429 Mustang as well as the 1969-1970 BOSS 302 and 1969-1970 Mach 1 Mustangs.

Classic Recreations unveiled the first vehicle under its new license from Ford Motor Co. in the Centerforce Clutches booth at the 2018 SEMA Show.

The Classic Recreations BOSS 429 Mustang was built from an original 1969 Mustang body and restored to factory condition in-house at Classic Recreations. Equipped with a custom-built BOSS 429 engine, the iconic car features an updated valvetrain and cutting-edge electric fuel injection and engine management systems. The 815hp, 546-cu.-in. crate engine with Kaase Boss 9-cylinder heads is mated to a Tremec manual transmission with a Centerforce DYAD twin disc clutch and flywheel.

For traction, both on the road and the on the track, Classic Recreations equipped the BOSS 429 with Michelin Pilot Sport 225/40/18 front and 315/30/18 rear tires mounted to the all-new VF529 wheels from American Racing. Made in the U.S.A., the forged 6061 aluminum two-piece wheels are designed to maximize strength while maintaining optimal weight for autocross and track performance.

Check out the 1969 BOSS 429 Mustang in the Centerforce Clutches booth (#23813).

By SEMA Editors

Kooks Headers and Exhaust unveiled two high-powered musclecars in its booth (#24849) on the opening day of the 2018 SEMA Show. “Project Reverence” combines the intense power and modern luxury of the Dodge Hellcat with one of the most iconic muscle car bodies of all time, the 1969 Dodge Charger. “Black Magic,” is a beautiful resto-mod with a subtle, hand-fabricated body, designed and owned by former Riddler Award Winner Douglas Cooper.

“Project Reverence” (left) combines the intense power and modern luxury of the Dodge Hellcat with one of the most iconic muscle car bodies of all time, the 1969 Dodge Charger. “Black Magic,” is a beautiful resto-mod with a subtle, hand-fabricated body, designed and owned by former Riddler Award Winner Douglas Cooper.

Built by Cleveland Power and Performance (CPP) in Cleveland, Ohio, “Project Reverence” sits on a complete Hellcat chassis and drivetrain, featuring Kooks Headers and Exhaust’s Hellcat 2-in. stainless-steel headers and full 3-in. stainless-steel exhaust system. Thanks to the exhaust and tune, the supercharged Hemi makes 750 hp to the tires. In addition to the exhaust and Hemi, the Charger also features a hand-fabricated body, custom Hellcat interior and KW coil-overs.

The 1969 Camaro was built by Dynamic Speed and Custom in Gadsden, Alabama. It’s powered by a 650hp 427ci LS and backed by a Bowler Transmission/Tremec TKO  six-speed. Additional products featured on the build are one-off Chip Foose wheels, Detroit Speed front suspension with RideTech coil-overs and sub-frame connectors, Detroit Speed rear section with 9-in. rear axle.

Stop by Kooks booth (#24849) to get an up-close look at these two powerhouses.

By SEMA Editors

Kooks Headers and Exhaust unveiled two high-powered musclecars in its booth (#24849) on the opening day of the 2018 SEMA Show. “Project Reverence” combines the intense power and modern luxury of the Dodge Hellcat with one of the most iconic muscle car bodies of all time, the 1969 Dodge Charger. “Black Magic,” is a beautiful resto-mod with a subtle, hand-fabricated body, designed and owned by former Riddler Award Winner Douglas Cooper.

“Project Reverence” (left) combines the intense power and modern luxury of the Dodge Hellcat with one of the most iconic muscle car bodies of all time, the 1969 Dodge Charger. “Black Magic,” is a beautiful resto-mod with a subtle, hand-fabricated body, designed and owned by former Riddler Award Winner Douglas Cooper.

Built by Cleveland Power and Performance (CPP) in Cleveland, Ohio, “Project Reverence” sits on a complete Hellcat chassis and drivetrain, featuring Kooks Headers and Exhaust’s Hellcat 2-in. stainless-steel headers and full 3-in. stainless-steel exhaust system. Thanks to the exhaust and tune, the supercharged Hemi makes 750 hp to the tires. In addition to the exhaust and Hemi, the Charger also features a hand-fabricated body, custom Hellcat interior and KW coil-overs.

The 1969 Camaro was built by Dynamic Speed and Custom in Gadsden, Alabama. It’s powered by a 650hp 427ci LS and backed by a Bowler Transmission/Tremec TKO  six-speed. Additional products featured on the build are one-off Chip Foose wheels, Detroit Speed front suspension with RideTech coil-overs and sub-frame connectors, Detroit Speed rear section with 9-in. rear axle.

Stop by Kooks booth (#24849) to get an up-close look at these two powerhouses.

By SEMA Editors

Energy Suspension featured a 1976 Ford GTB100, nicknamed "El Chapo," in the company's booth at the 2018 SEMA Show. Crafted by Craig Piggott of River City Rods & Fabrication, “El Chapo” (English translation: “Shorty”), is also an entry in the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders.

Crafted by Craig Piggott of River City Rods & Fabrication, “El Chapo” (English translation: “Shorty”), is also an entry in the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders.

Nearly every detail of “El Chapo” has been custom-designed, right down to the grille, which started off as a 1,000-lb. piece of billet aluminum that was shaved down to just 73 lbs. and required more than 300 hours of design and cutting time. Piggott and team had never pulled off a Coyote swap on a truck frame before working on “El Chapo.”

Completing the swap meant the team was in for a great deal of research, development, experimentation and custom work, from engineering alternators and power steering pumps, down to moving the oil pan and the coolant fan.

Check out “El Chapo” in Energy Suspension's booth (#23267).

By SEMA Editors

Energy Suspension featured a 1976 Ford GTB100, nicknamed "El Chapo," in the company's booth at the 2018 SEMA Show. Crafted by Craig Piggott of River City Rods & Fabrication, “El Chapo” (English translation: “Shorty”), is also an entry in the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders.

Crafted by Craig Piggott of River City Rods & Fabrication, “El Chapo” (English translation: “Shorty”), is also an entry in the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders.

Nearly every detail of “El Chapo” has been custom-designed, right down to the grille, which started off as a 1,000-lb. piece of billet aluminum that was shaved down to just 73 lbs. and required more than 300 hours of design and cutting time. Piggott and team had never pulled off a Coyote swap on a truck frame before working on “El Chapo.”

Completing the swap meant the team was in for a great deal of research, development, experimentation and custom work, from engineering alternators and power steering pumps, down to moving the oil pan and the coolant fan.

Check out “El Chapo” in Energy Suspension's booth (#23267).

By SEMA Editors

Volkswagen and Audi tuning company APR pulled the cover off of its all-wheel-drive VW Golf RLMS–a Borg Warner turbocharged hatch that generates 536 hp, which is 244 more horsepower than stock. By nearly doubling the horsepower of the stock 2018 VW Golf R, the APR Golf RLMS provides racecar-like acceleration and performance for the road.

Initially designed for the SEMA Show, the APR VW Golf RLMS will travel around the country participating in track days and demonstrating what a heavily modified APR vehicle can accomplish.

Included with the turbocharger system is APR’s Stage III+ ECU upgrade, upgraded injectors and fuel pump, APR Race DP, carbon-fiber intake system, intercooler and more. With over a year and a half of initial development, APR has created a system capable of 10-second quarter-mile passes and 0–140 mph sprints 15 seconds quicker than a stock Golf R.

The extensive modifications continue with APR Roll-Control Racing Coilover System, Roll-Control Stabilizer Bars, a custom APR exhaust and custom two-piece APR wheels wrapped in Toyo Tires. To ensure occupant safety during high-performance driving, a custom roll cage has been integrated into the RLMS in addition to OMP racing harnesses and a fire extinguisher system.

Initially designed for the SEMA Show, the APR VW Golf RLMS will travel around the country participating in track days and demonstrating what a heavily modified APR vehicle can accomplish.

More information is available at www.goapr.com.