By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The California Senate failed to gain final approval before the June 3 deadline for amended legislation (S.B. 1239) to exempt motor vehicles prior to the ’81 model year from the emissions-inspection requirement.

In a severe disappointment for the old-car hobby, the California Senate failed to gain final approval before the June 3 deadline for amended legislation (S.B. 1239) to exempt motor vehicles prior to the ’81 model year from the emissions-inspection requirement. Under the amended bill, vehicles manufactured after the ’76 model year but prior to the ’81 model year would have been exempted if the owner submitted proof that the vehicle was insured as a collector motor vehicle. This exemption would have been a two-year trial that would have needed to be renewed by separate legislation in order to continue. Current law requires the lifetime testing of all ’76 and newer model-year vehicles. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The California Senate failed to gain final approval before the June 3 deadline for amended legislation (S.B. 1239) to exempt motor vehicles prior to the ’81 model year from the emissions-inspection requirement.

In a severe disappointment for the old-car hobby, the California Senate failed to gain final approval before the June 3 deadline for amended legislation (S.B. 1239) to exempt motor vehicles prior to the ’81 model year from the emissions-inspection requirement. Under the amended bill, vehicles manufactured after the ’76 model year but prior to the ’81 model year would have been exempted if the owner submitted proof that the vehicle was insured as a collector motor vehicle. This exemption would have been a two-year trial that would have needed to be renewed by separate legislation in order to continue. Current law requires the lifetime testing of all ’76 and newer model-year vehicles. 

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

Here’s a first look at the ’18 Ford Fiesta.

Due on sale in the first half of 2017, the next Fiesta will be bumped up in price, quality, refinement and features to reflect more expensive tastes among supermini customers, and to allow room for a cheaper stablemate—the forthcoming Ka+—which will sit just below it in the range.

The Fiesta stays on Ford’s Global B platform for what will be its seventh generation, so while earlier images have shown a mule sporting a wider track, engineers are likely to have only millimeters to play with when it comes to extending dimensions. The styling will incorporate the latest evolution of the family grille, a slightly squarer nose and slim headlamps.

Staying on the same chassis means that Ford can save considerable sums of money on research and development, and at least some of that cash will be pumped into improving two areas where the Fiesta now lags behind the competition—interior quality and big-car features.

Inside, soft-touch materials will replace the current rubberized finish on the facia, and there will be a major overhaul of the car’s infotainment system. Expect the existing tiny display to be replaced by a larger touchscreen, featuring the company’s latest SYNC 3 software for music, smartphone integration and satellite navigation. New safety equipment is likely to include lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring, along with traffic sign recognition.

Nudging the Fiesta upmarket marks a key shift in Ford’s small-car lineup, as the more basic editions of the Fiesta’s Studio and Style trims are likely to be dropped, moving the entry point for the range to around $18,000.

Production of the ’18 Fiesta will be consolidated; North American-bound Fiestas will be sourced at Ford’s new plant in Rayong, Thailand. The plant, opened in 2012, currently builds Fiestas and Focuses for the Southeast Asian markets. From the next generation, Fiesta production currently taking place in Mexico and India will be moved to Rayong.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s a first look at the ’18 Ford Fiesta.

Due on sale in the first half of 2017, the next Fiesta will be bumped up in price, quality, refinement and features to reflect more expensive tastes among supermini customers, and to allow room for a cheaper stablemate—the forthcoming Ka+—which will sit just below it in the range.

The Fiesta stays on Ford’s Global B platform for what will be its seventh generation, so while earlier images have shown a mule sporting a wider track, engineers are likely to have only millimeters to play with when it comes to extending dimensions. The styling will incorporate the latest evolution of the family grille, a slightly squarer nose and slim headlamps.

Staying on the same chassis means that Ford can save considerable sums of money on research and development, and at least some of that cash will be pumped into improving two areas where the Fiesta now lags behind the competition—interior quality and big-car features.

Inside, soft-touch materials will replace the current rubberized finish on the facia, and there will be a major overhaul of the car’s infotainment system. Expect the existing tiny display to be replaced by a larger touchscreen, featuring the company’s latest SYNC 3 software for music, smartphone integration and satellite navigation. New safety equipment is likely to include lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring, along with traffic sign recognition.

Nudging the Fiesta upmarket marks a key shift in Ford’s small-car lineup, as the more basic editions of the Fiesta’s Studio and Style trims are likely to be dropped, moving the entry point for the range to around $18,000.

Production of the ’18 Fiesta will be consolidated; North American-bound Fiestas will be sourced at Ford’s new plant in Rayong, Thailand. The plant, opened in 2012, currently builds Fiestas and Focuses for the Southeast Asian markets. From the next generation, Fiesta production currently taking place in Mexico and India will be moved to Rayong.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s a first look at the ’18 Ford Fiesta.

Due on sale in the first half of 2017, the next Fiesta will be bumped up in price, quality, refinement and features to reflect more expensive tastes among supermini customers, and to allow room for a cheaper stablemate—the forthcoming Ka+—which will sit just below it in the range.

The Fiesta stays on Ford’s Global B platform for what will be its seventh generation, so while earlier images have shown a mule sporting a wider track, engineers are likely to have only millimeters to play with when it comes to extending dimensions. The styling will incorporate the latest evolution of the family grille, a slightly squarer nose and slim headlamps.

Staying on the same chassis means that Ford can save considerable sums of money on research and development, and at least some of that cash will be pumped into improving two areas where the Fiesta now lags behind the competition—interior quality and big-car features.

Inside, soft-touch materials will replace the current rubberized finish on the facia, and there will be a major overhaul of the car’s infotainment system. Expect the existing tiny display to be replaced by a larger touchscreen, featuring the company’s latest SYNC 3 software for music, smartphone integration and satellite navigation. New safety equipment is likely to include lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring, along with traffic sign recognition.

Nudging the Fiesta upmarket marks a key shift in Ford’s small-car lineup, as the more basic editions of the Fiesta’s Studio and Style trims are likely to be dropped, moving the entry point for the range to around $18,000.

Production of the ’18 Fiesta will be consolidated; North American-bound Fiestas will be sourced at Ford’s new plant in Rayong, Thailand. The plant, opened in 2012, currently builds Fiestas and Focuses for the Southeast Asian markets. From the next generation, Fiesta production currently taking place in Mexico and India will be moved to Rayong.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s a first look at the ’18 Ford Fiesta.

Due on sale in the first half of 2017, the next Fiesta will be bumped up in price, quality, refinement and features to reflect more expensive tastes among supermini customers, and to allow room for a cheaper stablemate—the forthcoming Ka+—which will sit just below it in the range.

The Fiesta stays on Ford’s Global B platform for what will be its seventh generation, so while earlier images have shown a mule sporting a wider track, engineers are likely to have only millimeters to play with when it comes to extending dimensions. The styling will incorporate the latest evolution of the family grille, a slightly squarer nose and slim headlamps.

Staying on the same chassis means that Ford can save considerable sums of money on research and development, and at least some of that cash will be pumped into improving two areas where the Fiesta now lags behind the competition—interior quality and big-car features.

Inside, soft-touch materials will replace the current rubberized finish on the facia, and there will be a major overhaul of the car’s infotainment system. Expect the existing tiny display to be replaced by a larger touchscreen, featuring the company’s latest SYNC 3 software for music, smartphone integration and satellite navigation. New safety equipment is likely to include lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring, along with traffic sign recognition.

Nudging the Fiesta upmarket marks a key shift in Ford’s small-car lineup, as the more basic editions of the Fiesta’s Studio and Style trims are likely to be dropped, moving the entry point for the range to around $18,000.

Production of the ’18 Fiesta will be consolidated; North American-bound Fiestas will be sourced at Ford’s new plant in Rayong, Thailand. The plant, opened in 2012, currently builds Fiestas and Focuses for the Southeast Asian markets. From the next generation, Fiesta production currently taking place in Mexico and India will be moved to Rayong.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s a first look at the ’18 Ford Fiesta.

Due on sale in the first half of 2017, the next Fiesta will be bumped up in price, quality, refinement and features to reflect more expensive tastes among supermini customers, and to allow room for a cheaper stablemate—the forthcoming Ka+—which will sit just below it in the range.

The Fiesta stays on Ford’s Global B platform for what will be its seventh generation, so while earlier images have shown a mule sporting a wider track, engineers are likely to have only millimeters to play with when it comes to extending dimensions. The styling will incorporate the latest evolution of the family grille, a slightly squarer nose and slim headlamps.

Staying on the same chassis means that Ford can save considerable sums of money on research and development, and at least some of that cash will be pumped into improving two areas where the Fiesta now lags behind the competition—interior quality and big-car features.

Inside, soft-touch materials will replace the current rubberized finish on the facia, and there will be a major overhaul of the car’s infotainment system. Expect the existing tiny display to be replaced by a larger touchscreen, featuring the company’s latest SYNC 3 software for music, smartphone integration and satellite navigation. New safety equipment is likely to include lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring, along with traffic sign recognition.

Nudging the Fiesta upmarket marks a key shift in Ford’s small-car lineup, as the more basic editions of the Fiesta’s Studio and Style trims are likely to be dropped, moving the entry point for the range to around $18,000.

Production of the ’18 Fiesta will be consolidated; North American-bound Fiestas will be sourced at Ford’s new plant in Rayong, Thailand. The plant, opened in 2012, currently builds Fiestas and Focuses for the Southeast Asian markets. From the next generation, Fiesta production currently taking place in Mexico and India will be moved to Rayong.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s a first look at the ’18 Ford Fiesta.

Due on sale in the first half of 2017, the next Fiesta will be bumped up in price, quality, refinement and features to reflect more expensive tastes among supermini customers, and to allow room for a cheaper stablemate—the forthcoming Ka+—which will sit just below it in the range.

The Fiesta stays on Ford’s Global B platform for what will be its seventh generation, so while earlier images have shown a mule sporting a wider track, engineers are likely to have only millimeters to play with when it comes to extending dimensions. The styling will incorporate the latest evolution of the family grille, a slightly squarer nose and slim headlamps.

Staying on the same chassis means that Ford can save considerable sums of money on research and development, and at least some of that cash will be pumped into improving two areas where the Fiesta now lags behind the competition—interior quality and big-car features.

Inside, soft-touch materials will replace the current rubberized finish on the facia, and there will be a major overhaul of the car’s infotainment system. Expect the existing tiny display to be replaced by a larger touchscreen, featuring the company’s latest SYNC 3 software for music, smartphone integration and satellite navigation. New safety equipment is likely to include lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring, along with traffic sign recognition.

Nudging the Fiesta upmarket marks a key shift in Ford’s small-car lineup, as the more basic editions of the Fiesta’s Studio and Style trims are likely to be dropped, moving the entry point for the range to around $18,000.

Production of the ’18 Fiesta will be consolidated; North American-bound Fiestas will be sourced at Ford’s new plant in Rayong, Thailand. The plant, opened in 2012, currently builds Fiestas and Focuses for the Southeast Asian markets. From the next generation, Fiesta production currently taking place in Mexico and India will be moved to Rayong.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s a first look at the ’18 Ford Fiesta.

Due on sale in the first half of 2017, the next Fiesta will be bumped up in price, quality, refinement and features to reflect more expensive tastes among supermini customers, and to allow room for a cheaper stablemate—the forthcoming Ka+—which will sit just below it in the range.

The Fiesta stays on Ford’s Global B platform for what will be its seventh generation, so while earlier images have shown a mule sporting a wider track, engineers are likely to have only millimeters to play with when it comes to extending dimensions. The styling will incorporate the latest evolution of the family grille, a slightly squarer nose and slim headlamps.

Staying on the same chassis means that Ford can save considerable sums of money on research and development, and at least some of that cash will be pumped into improving two areas where the Fiesta now lags behind the competition—interior quality and big-car features.

Inside, soft-touch materials will replace the current rubberized finish on the facia, and there will be a major overhaul of the car’s infotainment system. Expect the existing tiny display to be replaced by a larger touchscreen, featuring the company’s latest SYNC 3 software for music, smartphone integration and satellite navigation. New safety equipment is likely to include lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring, along with traffic sign recognition.

Nudging the Fiesta upmarket marks a key shift in Ford’s small-car lineup, as the more basic editions of the Fiesta’s Studio and Style trims are likely to be dropped, moving the entry point for the range to around $18,000.

Production of the ’18 Fiesta will be consolidated; North American-bound Fiestas will be sourced at Ford’s new plant in Rayong, Thailand. The plant, opened in 2012, currently builds Fiestas and Focuses for the Southeast Asian markets. From the next generation, Fiesta production currently taking place in Mexico and India will be moved to Rayong.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By Linda Spencer

Exhibitors at the nearly sold-out China Auto Salon (CAS) will have the opportunity to meet with pre-vetted distributors and retailers from throughout China.

As part of the 2016 SEMA China Business Development Program, to be held September 7–11, in Shanghai, exhibitors at the nearly sold-out China Auto Salon (CAS) will have the opportunity to meet with pre-vetted distributors and retailers from throughout China. The first 12 companies to sign up will receive free booth graphics courtesy of Freeman.

For one low cost participants will:

• Exhibit at the China Auto Salon (CAS) in Shanghai, where they will have the opportunity to meet with pre-vetted distributors and retailers from throughout China.
• Begin promoting their brand to Chinese buyers now through SEMA pre-event outreach to buyers.
• Have access to U.S. government funding to defray the cost of participating for qualified companies.
• Participate in a measuring session in Shanghai featuring vehicles popular globally but not sold in the United States.

The trip includes a four-night hotel stay, meals, interpreters, a turnkey booth, networking events and the chance to measure hard-to-obtain vehicles popularly accessorized in the region.

Wondering what to expect? Read the 2015 SEMA China trip recap.

Find program details at SEMA.org/China, or contact Linda Spencer to arrange a one-on-one briefing about the trip’s features.