By Becca Butler

SEMA Show exhibitors take great consideration in deciding what vehicle to showcase in their booths. For many, this vehicle is their one shot at showing how their products look, and pulling buyers into their booths.

For companies such as Hella Inc., CSF Cooling and Garrett by Honeywell, their display vehicles landed a top spot in the 2015 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, providing them with added exposure and publicity at no cost.

Not only were these vehicles recognized by automotive experts for their artistry and craftsmanship, they were also featured at the forefront of the SEMA Show, giving thousands of Showgoers an up-close look at the products that were on each build.  

Here’s what these exhibitors considered when they selected their SEMA Show vehicles:

“When searching for a vehicle we want to showcase at SEMA, we first look for one that represents our company Hella; its brand, style and overall theme for the booth we decide to go with that year.”

—Landon Baize, Hella Inc.

“I thought having two matching cars from different spectrums of the automotive market would be very eye-catching. At the SEMA Show, we’re all competing for eyeballs, snaps and attention.” 

—Ravi Dolwani, CSF Cooling

“We always look for unique vehicles to show the diversity of platforms our product can be used on, and the Datsun we featured last year fit that mold perfectly.”

—Justin Ocello, Garrett by Honeywell

Whether it’s a booth or feature vehicle at the 2016 SEMA Show, exhibitors are encouraged to enter their vehicles into the competition by visiting www.SEMAShow.com/botb.

By Becca Butler

SEMA Show exhibitors take great consideration in deciding what vehicle to showcase in their booths. For many, this vehicle is their one shot at showing how their products look, and pulling buyers into their booths.

For companies such as Hella Inc., CSF Cooling and Garrett by Honeywell, their display vehicles landed a top spot in the 2015 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, providing them with added exposure and publicity at no cost.

Not only were these vehicles recognized by automotive experts for their artistry and craftsmanship, they were also featured at the forefront of the SEMA Show, giving thousands of Showgoers an up-close look at the products that were on each build.  

Here’s what these exhibitors considered when they selected their SEMA Show vehicles:

“When searching for a vehicle we want to showcase at SEMA, we first look for one that represents our company Hella; its brand, style and overall theme for the booth we decide to go with that year.”

—Landon Baize, Hella Inc.

“I thought having two matching cars from different spectrums of the automotive market would be very eye-catching. At the SEMA Show, we’re all competing for eyeballs, snaps and attention.” 

—Ravi Dolwani, CSF Cooling

“We always look for unique vehicles to show the diversity of platforms our product can be used on, and the Datsun we featured last year fit that mold perfectly.”

—Justin Ocello, Garrett by Honeywell

Whether it’s a booth or feature vehicle at the 2016 SEMA Show, exhibitors are encouraged to enter their vehicles into the competition by visiting www.SEMAShow.com/botb.

By Becca Butler

SEMA Show exhibitors take great consideration in deciding what vehicle to showcase in their booths. For many, this vehicle is their one shot at showing how their products look, and pulling buyers into their booths.

For companies such as Hella Inc., CSF Cooling and Garrett by Honeywell, their display vehicles landed a top spot in the 2015 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, providing them with added exposure and publicity at no cost.

Not only were these vehicles recognized by automotive experts for their artistry and craftsmanship, they were also featured at the forefront of the SEMA Show, giving thousands of Showgoers an up-close look at the products that were on each build.  

Here’s what these exhibitors considered when they selected their SEMA Show vehicles:

“When searching for a vehicle we want to showcase at SEMA, we first look for one that represents our company Hella; its brand, style and overall theme for the booth we decide to go with that year.”

—Landon Baize, Hella Inc.

“I thought having two matching cars from different spectrums of the automotive market would be very eye-catching. At the SEMA Show, we’re all competing for eyeballs, snaps and attention.” 

—Ravi Dolwani, CSF Cooling

“We always look for unique vehicles to show the diversity of platforms our product can be used on, and the Datsun we featured last year fit that mold perfectly.”

—Justin Ocello, Garrett by Honeywell

Whether it’s a booth or feature vehicle at the 2016 SEMA Show, exhibitors are encouraged to enter their vehicles into the competition by visiting www.SEMAShow.com/botb.

By Gavin Knapp

The new SEMA Employment Outlook Report provides a broad overview of the industry’s hiring plans, recruiting challenges and employment environment.

What are the hot jobs available in the automotive specialty-equipment industry? The SEMA Employment Outlook Report is now available to answer that question.

With growth and change in the industry comes shifting demand for new talent. The new SEMA Employment Outlook Report provides a broad overview of the industry’s hiring plans, recruiting challenges and employment environment. Download this new report to see how your company’s recruitment plans compare to the industry.

For more information on the specialty-equipment market, the recently released 2016 SEMA Market Report can be downloaded at SEMA’s website.

Also, look for these upcoming SEMA Market Research reports:

• Pickup Truck Accessorization Report will be released September 15, 2016.
• U.S. Racing Market Report will be released October 13, 2016.

Thanks to SEMA’s partnership with Experian, the SEMA Member Vehicles in Operation (VIO) Counts Program enables the association to provide members with no-cost estimates of vehicles currently registered in the United States.

Check out all of SEMA’s market research reports online. 

By Gavin Knapp

The new SEMA Employment Outlook Report provides a broad overview of the industry’s hiring plans, recruiting challenges and employment environment.

What are the hot jobs available in the automotive specialty-equipment industry? The SEMA Employment Outlook Report is now available to answer that question.

With growth and change in the industry comes shifting demand for new talent. The new SEMA Employment Outlook Report provides a broad overview of the industry’s hiring plans, recruiting challenges and employment environment. Download this new report to see how your company’s recruitment plans compare to the industry.

For more information on the specialty-equipment market, the recently released 2016 SEMA Market Report can be downloaded at SEMA’s website.

Also, look for these upcoming SEMA Market Research reports:

• Pickup Truck Accessorization Report will be released September 15, 2016.
• U.S. Racing Market Report will be released October 13, 2016.

Thanks to SEMA’s partnership with Experian, the SEMA Member Vehicles in Operation (VIO) Counts Program enables the association to provide members with no-cost estimates of vehicles currently registered in the United States.

Check out all of SEMA’s market research reports online. 

By Gavin Knapp

The new SEMA Employment Outlook Report provides a broad overview of the industry’s hiring plans, recruiting challenges and employment environment.

What are the hot jobs available in the automotive specialty-equipment industry? The SEMA Employment Outlook Report is now available to answer that question.

With growth and change in the industry comes shifting demand for new talent. The new SEMA Employment Outlook Report provides a broad overview of the industry’s hiring plans, recruiting challenges and employment environment. Download this new report to see how your company’s recruitment plans compare to the industry.

For more information on the specialty-equipment market, the recently released 2016 SEMA Market Report can be downloaded at SEMA’s website.

Also, look for these upcoming SEMA Market Research reports:

• Pickup Truck Accessorization Report will be released September 15, 2016.
• U.S. Racing Market Report will be released October 13, 2016.

Thanks to SEMA’s partnership with Experian, the SEMA Member Vehicles in Operation (VIO) Counts Program enables the association to provide members with no-cost estimates of vehicles currently registered in the United States.

Check out all of SEMA’s market research reports online. 

This is the ’18 Volkswagen CC, caught for very the first time while hot-weather testing.

Expected to take lots of cues from the Sport Coupe Concept GTE from 2015, the next CC will take the European-market Passat and put a more seductive spin on it, just as the current model did back in 2008. The new CC will have a similar profile to the existing car, but the wheelbase should increase and the front should appear slimmer and wider, with options such as LED headlights expected. The prototype shows a short rear deck, but it's rumored the CC will become a liftback like the Audi A7.

Inside, the CC will also take a more upscale approach with features from the Euro Passat, such as a TFT instrument panel and full-length air vents. A production version of the gesture control system VW has previewed should debut here.

Powertrains should mimic what’s offered on the latest VWs, including 2.0 turbos and maybe a V6. A plug-in hybrid using the powertrain on the Passat GTE is expected to be offered at least in Europe, though it’s unclear whether it would be offered in the United States.

Expect the CC to appear at an auto show next year with a 2018 on-sale date.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the ’18 Volkswagen CC, caught for very the first time while hot-weather testing.

Expected to take lots of cues from the Sport Coupe Concept GTE from 2015, the next CC will take the European-market Passat and put a more seductive spin on it, just as the current model did back in 2008. The new CC will have a similar profile to the existing car, but the wheelbase should increase and the front should appear slimmer and wider, with options such as LED headlights expected. The prototype shows a short rear deck, but it's rumored the CC will become a liftback like the Audi A7.

Inside, the CC will also take a more upscale approach with features from the Euro Passat, such as a TFT instrument panel and full-length air vents. A production version of the gesture control system VW has previewed should debut here.

Powertrains should mimic what’s offered on the latest VWs, including 2.0 turbos and maybe a V6. A plug-in hybrid using the powertrain on the Passat GTE is expected to be offered at least in Europe, though it’s unclear whether it would be offered in the United States.

Expect the CC to appear at an auto show next year with a 2018 on-sale date.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the ’18 Volkswagen CC, caught for very the first time while hot-weather testing.

Expected to take lots of cues from the Sport Coupe Concept GTE from 2015, the next CC will take the European-market Passat and put a more seductive spin on it, just as the current model did back in 2008. The new CC will have a similar profile to the existing car, but the wheelbase should increase and the front should appear slimmer and wider, with options such as LED headlights expected. The prototype shows a short rear deck, but it's rumored the CC will become a liftback like the Audi A7.

Inside, the CC will also take a more upscale approach with features from the Euro Passat, such as a TFT instrument panel and full-length air vents. A production version of the gesture control system VW has previewed should debut here.

Powertrains should mimic what’s offered on the latest VWs, including 2.0 turbos and maybe a V6. A plug-in hybrid using the powertrain on the Passat GTE is expected to be offered at least in Europe, though it’s unclear whether it would be offered in the United States.

Expect the CC to appear at an auto show next year with a 2018 on-sale date.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the ’18 Volkswagen CC, caught for very the first time while hot-weather testing.

Expected to take lots of cues from the Sport Coupe Concept GTE from 2015, the next CC will take the European-market Passat and put a more seductive spin on it, just as the current model did back in 2008. The new CC will have a similar profile to the existing car, but the wheelbase should increase and the front should appear slimmer and wider, with options such as LED headlights expected. The prototype shows a short rear deck, but it's rumored the CC will become a liftback like the Audi A7.

Inside, the CC will also take a more upscale approach with features from the Euro Passat, such as a TFT instrument panel and full-length air vents. A production version of the gesture control system VW has previewed should debut here.

Powertrains should mimic what’s offered on the latest VWs, including 2.0 turbos and maybe a V6. A plug-in hybrid using the powertrain on the Passat GTE is expected to be offered at least in Europe, though it’s unclear whether it would be offered in the United States.

Expect the CC to appear at an auto show next year with a 2018 on-sale date.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde