Compiled by SEMA Editors

4 Wheel Parts’ relocated Oakland, California, facility’s address is 38 Hegenberger Court.

4 Wheel Parts Celebrates Grand Re-opening in Oakland, California

4 Wheel Parts held a grand-re-opening celebration last weekend at its newly relocated Oakland, California, location. After more than 30 years in its former location, the celebration provided visitors the chance to experience the relocated off-road superstore featuring its state-of-the-art showroom and service center. Numerous manufacturers and suppliers, such as Pro Comp, Rubicon Express, Poison Spyder, G2 Axle and Gear, MHT Wheels, BFGoodrich and Factory UTV, were on-site displaying and demonstrating their latest products. Additional displays presented by the West Coast Connection Motorcycle Club, Harley Davidson, Performance Auto Body and the Oakland Fire and Alameda County Sheriff & Bomb Squad were also featured.

Covercraft and TEN Team Up For “Week To Wicked” in 2018

Covercraft has announced a partnership with TEN: The Enthusiast Network, to be the official vehicle cover sponsor of the “Week To Wicked” program in 2018. The program started in 2016 with two builds: a ’67 Chevelle and a ’72 C10 truck, and in 2017, a total of five vehicle builds were completed. Covercraft was involved with two builds in late 2017. Watch a video of the Week To Wicked program.

Power Automedia has announced plans to merge Dragzine.com with the newly acquired DragRacingScene.com and rebrand the existing Drag Racing Scene print magazine

Power Automedia’s Dragzine and Drag Racing Scene Digital Magazines to Merge; Print Magazine to be Rebranded Dragzine

Power Automedia has announced its plans for a revamped drag-racing print magazine, entitled Dragzine. Power Automedia’s online magazine Dragzine.com brings readers content in the form of tech articles, car features, event coverage, the latest industry news and the scoop on the newest and hottest products. Power Automedia has announced plans to merge Dragzine.com with the newly acquired DragRacingScene.com and rebrand the existing Drag Racing Scene print magazine to establish a fresh content base for new and existing fans in the form of a print magazine. Both Dragzine.com and Dragzine the magazine will be overseen by Scott Parker, executive editorial director; Andrew Wolf, editor; and Brian Wagner, senior associate editor.

Jeff Varick Elected to SAE International Board of Directors

President of Brandmotion Jeff Varick has been elected to the SAE International (SAE) board of directors, and will serve as board director through 2021. Brandmotion is an inaugural member of the University of Michigan Mobility Transformation Center (MCity), and was named Manufacturer of the Year in 2015–2016 by the SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) council. This past year, Varick was honored as PRO’s Person of the Year for his leadership in taking the aftermarket into the connected-vehicle age. Varick brings three decades of experience across an array of industry specializations to the SAE board. Before forming Brandmotion, he held a variety of product development, business development and marketing strategy leadership roles within the global automotive industry, including director of new product strategy for Johnson Controls; new business development manager for GM international operations in Zurich, Switzerland; and design engineer at GM’s design studios in Warren, Michigan.

Highline Aftermarket Acquires Levin’s Auto Supply

Highline Aftermarket announced that the company has entered into an agreement to purchase the assets of Levin’s Auto Supply LLC, a warehouse distributor headquartered in Sacramento, California. Levin’s is a supplier of automotive aftermarket products to retailers and automotive parts stores, serving the West Coast for more than 90 years. Hart Marx Advisors was engaged by Highline to facilitate the transaction. Financial terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

The rumor mill continues to stir for the next Land Rover Defender, due in 2018, but this is the first time a test mule has been spotted. This strange-looking shortened Range Rover appears to be a test bed for the three-door 90 Defender.

Viewed from the front and rear it looks entirely like a disguised Range Rover Sport, but side-on, a huge chunk of the SUV’s wheelbase has been lopped out.

However, re-imagining a cult classic is not an easy task, and in Land Rover’s case it has to build a brand-new 4x4 that is incredibly competent off-road (in line with brand identity), while also meeting modern standards in terms of comfort and making money on a car likely to sell in small numbers.

It is expected that the Defender will utilize parts from other Land Rover vehicles and be built alongside other cars from the range.

Beyond the launch of the basic model, Land Rover is planning to introduce an entire new family of Defenders, and design boss Gerry McGovern has hinted that a performance SVR version of the forthcoming 4x4 could also be in the cards.

Such a car would be developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s newly formed Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, and would allow the brand to tap into demand in Russia and China for powerful and luxurious rugged off-roaders, currently dominated by the Mercedes G 63 AMG.

It’s also likely that a hardcore off-road Defender SVX will join the range at some stage.

The first new Defender isn’t expected to arrive until 2018, and it will spawn a family of at least three individual models. Whatever happens, the new Defender will continue Land Rover’s recent move upmarket.

Yet, the car will remain a true off-roader. While exact details are still secret, the new Defender is likely to have an aluminum body built on an aluminum chassis. This would give go-anywhere strength with less weight than from a traditional 4x4 steel chassis.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

The rumor mill continues to stir for the next Land Rover Defender, due in 2018, but this is the first time a test mule has been spotted. This strange-looking shortened Range Rover appears to be a test bed for the three-door 90 Defender.

Viewed from the front and rear it looks entirely like a disguised Range Rover Sport, but side-on, a huge chunk of the SUV’s wheelbase has been lopped out.

However, re-imagining a cult classic is not an easy task, and in Land Rover’s case it has to build a brand-new 4x4 that is incredibly competent off-road (in line with brand identity), while also meeting modern standards in terms of comfort and making money on a car likely to sell in small numbers.

It is expected that the Defender will utilize parts from other Land Rover vehicles and be built alongside other cars from the range.

Beyond the launch of the basic model, Land Rover is planning to introduce an entire new family of Defenders, and design boss Gerry McGovern has hinted that a performance SVR version of the forthcoming 4x4 could also be in the cards.

Such a car would be developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s newly formed Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, and would allow the brand to tap into demand in Russia and China for powerful and luxurious rugged off-roaders, currently dominated by the Mercedes G 63 AMG.

It’s also likely that a hardcore off-road Defender SVX will join the range at some stage.

The first new Defender isn’t expected to arrive until 2018, and it will spawn a family of at least three individual models. Whatever happens, the new Defender will continue Land Rover’s recent move upmarket.

Yet, the car will remain a true off-roader. While exact details are still secret, the new Defender is likely to have an aluminum body built on an aluminum chassis. This would give go-anywhere strength with less weight than from a traditional 4x4 steel chassis.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

The rumor mill continues to stir for the next Land Rover Defender, due in 2018, but this is the first time a test mule has been spotted. This strange-looking shortened Range Rover appears to be a test bed for the three-door 90 Defender.

Viewed from the front and rear it looks entirely like a disguised Range Rover Sport, but side-on, a huge chunk of the SUV’s wheelbase has been lopped out.

However, re-imagining a cult classic is not an easy task, and in Land Rover’s case it has to build a brand-new 4x4 that is incredibly competent off-road (in line with brand identity), while also meeting modern standards in terms of comfort and making money on a car likely to sell in small numbers.

It is expected that the Defender will utilize parts from other Land Rover vehicles and be built alongside other cars from the range.

Beyond the launch of the basic model, Land Rover is planning to introduce an entire new family of Defenders, and design boss Gerry McGovern has hinted that a performance SVR version of the forthcoming 4x4 could also be in the cards.

Such a car would be developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s newly formed Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, and would allow the brand to tap into demand in Russia and China for powerful and luxurious rugged off-roaders, currently dominated by the Mercedes G 63 AMG.

It’s also likely that a hardcore off-road Defender SVX will join the range at some stage.

The first new Defender isn’t expected to arrive until 2018, and it will spawn a family of at least three individual models. Whatever happens, the new Defender will continue Land Rover’s recent move upmarket.

Yet, the car will remain a true off-roader. While exact details are still secret, the new Defender is likely to have an aluminum body built on an aluminum chassis. This would give go-anywhere strength with less weight than from a traditional 4x4 steel chassis.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

The rumor mill continues to stir for the next Land Rover Defender, due in 2018, but this is the first time a test mule has been spotted. This strange-looking shortened Range Rover appears to be a test bed for the three-door 90 Defender.

Viewed from the front and rear it looks entirely like a disguised Range Rover Sport, but side-on, a huge chunk of the SUV’s wheelbase has been lopped out.

However, re-imagining a cult classic is not an easy task, and in Land Rover’s case it has to build a brand-new 4x4 that is incredibly competent off-road (in line with brand identity), while also meeting modern standards in terms of comfort and making money on a car likely to sell in small numbers.

It is expected that the Defender will utilize parts from other Land Rover vehicles and be built alongside other cars from the range.

Beyond the launch of the basic model, Land Rover is planning to introduce an entire new family of Defenders, and design boss Gerry McGovern has hinted that a performance SVR version of the forthcoming 4x4 could also be in the cards.

Such a car would be developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s newly formed Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, and would allow the brand to tap into demand in Russia and China for powerful and luxurious rugged off-roaders, currently dominated by the Mercedes G 63 AMG.

It’s also likely that a hardcore off-road Defender SVX will join the range at some stage.

The first new Defender isn’t expected to arrive until 2018, and it will spawn a family of at least three individual models. Whatever happens, the new Defender will continue Land Rover’s recent move upmarket.

Yet, the car will remain a true off-roader. While exact details are still secret, the new Defender is likely to have an aluminum body built on an aluminum chassis. This would give go-anywhere strength with less weight than from a traditional 4x4 steel chassis.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

The rumor mill continues to stir for the next Land Rover Defender, due in 2018, but this is the first time a test mule has been spotted. This strange-looking shortened Range Rover appears to be a test bed for the three-door 90 Defender.

Viewed from the front and rear it looks entirely like a disguised Range Rover Sport, but side-on, a huge chunk of the SUV’s wheelbase has been lopped out.

However, re-imagining a cult classic is not an easy task, and in Land Rover’s case it has to build a brand-new 4x4 that is incredibly competent off-road (in line with brand identity), while also meeting modern standards in terms of comfort and making money on a car likely to sell in small numbers.

It is expected that the Defender will utilize parts from other Land Rover vehicles and be built alongside other cars from the range.

Beyond the launch of the basic model, Land Rover is planning to introduce an entire new family of Defenders, and design boss Gerry McGovern has hinted that a performance SVR version of the forthcoming 4x4 could also be in the cards.

Such a car would be developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s newly formed Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, and would allow the brand to tap into demand in Russia and China for powerful and luxurious rugged off-roaders, currently dominated by the Mercedes G 63 AMG.

It’s also likely that a hardcore off-road Defender SVX will join the range at some stage.

The first new Defender isn’t expected to arrive until 2018, and it will spawn a family of at least three individual models. Whatever happens, the new Defender will continue Land Rover’s recent move upmarket.

Yet, the car will remain a true off-roader. While exact details are still secret, the new Defender is likely to have an aluminum body built on an aluminum chassis. This would give go-anywhere strength with less weight than from a traditional 4x4 steel chassis.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

The rumor mill continues to stir for the next Land Rover Defender, due in 2018, but this is the first time a test mule has been spotted. This strange-looking shortened Range Rover appears to be a test bed for the three-door 90 Defender.

Viewed from the front and rear it looks entirely like a disguised Range Rover Sport, but side-on, a huge chunk of the SUV’s wheelbase has been lopped out.

However, re-imagining a cult classic is not an easy task, and in Land Rover’s case it has to build a brand-new 4x4 that is incredibly competent off-road (in line with brand identity), while also meeting modern standards in terms of comfort and making money on a car likely to sell in small numbers.

It is expected that the Defender will utilize parts from other Land Rover vehicles and be built alongside other cars from the range.

Beyond the launch of the basic model, Land Rover is planning to introduce an entire new family of Defenders, and design boss Gerry McGovern has hinted that a performance SVR version of the forthcoming 4x4 could also be in the cards.

Such a car would be developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s newly formed Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, and would allow the brand to tap into demand in Russia and China for powerful and luxurious rugged off-roaders, currently dominated by the Mercedes G 63 AMG.

It’s also likely that a hardcore off-road Defender SVX will join the range at some stage.

The first new Defender isn’t expected to arrive until 2018, and it will spawn a family of at least three individual models. Whatever happens, the new Defender will continue Land Rover’s recent move upmarket.

Yet, the car will remain a true off-roader. While exact details are still secret, the new Defender is likely to have an aluminum body built on an aluminum chassis. This would give go-anywhere strength with less weight than from a traditional 4x4 steel chassis.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

• MPMC General Membership Meeting, January 22, 2018, Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North, Santa Ana, California

• MPMC Media Trade Conference, January 23–25, 2018, Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North, Santa Ana, California

• SEMA Measuring Session: ’18 Jeep Wrangler JL Unlimited, January 24–31, 2018, SEMA Garage, Diamond Bar, California

• YEN/SBN Meet-up, January 25, 2018, Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North, Santa Ana, California

• HRIA General Membership Meeting, January 26, 2018, Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center, Pomona, California

• WTC General Membership Meeting, February 20, 2018, Phoenix, Arizona

• SEMA Town Hall Meeting, February 27, 2018, K&N Engineering, Riverside, California

• SEMA Middle East Business Development Program, April 3–8, 2018, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

• SEMA Australia Business Development Program, May 24–28, 2018, Melbourne, Australia

• Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD), July 13, 2018

• SEMA China Business Development Conference, August 22–26, 2018, Shanghai, China

• SEMA Show, October 30–November 2, 2018, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas

• PRI Trade Show, December 6–8, 2018, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis

For association-related travel, contact Manya Petropaki (manya.p@travelstore.com) at Travel Store USA, 949-930-9268.

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities (view all here) in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org. Working for a SEMA-member company has many advantages. In addition to working for a company that supports and contributes to the success of the overall industry, being employed by a SEMA-member company enables employees to participate in webinars, access free market research, join SEMA committees and more.

By Jenny Galvan

The Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) is asking its members to join in recruiting efforts. As an added incentive for referring technical colleagues to join the network, ETTN will award the person with the most referrals an iPad.*

Any technical professional employed by a SEMA-member company is eligible to join ETTN at no cost to the company or individual. Referrals should note the ETTN member’s name who referred them on the application form when they register.

Send the ETTN membership application link to technical professionals: www.sema.org/join-ettn.

About ETTN

ETTN is a community designed to advance automotive aftermarket engineers, programmers and product developers by providing information on emerging vehicle trends and new technology to ensure continued success in both their careers and respective SEMA-member companies.

Learn more about ETTN.

*The contest will run October 19–February 28. Referrals will only be counted during that time period. The individual with the most qualified referrals will win an iPad. Qualified referrals are defined as a current employee of a current SEMA-member company who is an engineering, design, product development or technical professional. Referrals will only be counted if the new qualified member mentions the name and company of the referrer. In the event of a tie, the referrer whose name is mentioned first by date and time will be determined as the winner.