This is the ’19 Toyota Supra, caught rocking less camo and revealing more of its FT1 design cues.

Toyota is reintroducing its Supra sports car through a collaboration with BMW and its Z4 roadster replacement, the Z5. While the two companies are expected to share the front-engine rear-drive underpinnings, Toyota is likely to use a hybrid-electric powertrain for its sports car.

The Supra’s looks should be derived from the FT-1 concept shown in 2014. Expect it to be a coupe only, while BMW will most likely offer a roadster variant.

Expected to be built in Austria by Magna Steyr, the Supra should appear sometime in 2018.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the ’19 Toyota Supra, caught rocking less camo and revealing more of its FT1 design cues.

Toyota is reintroducing its Supra sports car through a collaboration with BMW and its Z4 roadster replacement, the Z5. While the two companies are expected to share the front-engine rear-drive underpinnings, Toyota is likely to use a hybrid-electric powertrain for its sports car.

The Supra’s looks should be derived from the FT-1 concept shown in 2014. Expect it to be a coupe only, while BMW will most likely offer a roadster variant.

Expected to be built in Austria by Magna Steyr, the Supra should appear sometime in 2018.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Rancho Announces Official Sponsorship of Jeep Jamboree USA Program in 2017

Tenneco’s Rancho performance suspension and shock brand will return as the official sponsor of one of North America’s top adventure Jeep excursion and event organizations—Jeep Jamboree USA (JJUSA)—for its 2017 adventure program. Through the Rancho partnership, participants in Jeep Jamboree events will be eligible for several Rancho product giveaways and contests, have a chance to experience Rancho products firsthand on designated Jeep Jamboree routes and learn more about event-specific Rancho offers.

Raybestos Presents ’69 Mustang to Vincent Cerra

Vincent Cerra (third from the right), is the winner of the Raybestos Mustang.

Raybestos announced that Vincent Cerra of Cerra Automotive in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is the winner of the Raybestos Mustang. The car was presented to Cerra during the 2016 SEMA Show. Modifications to the Mustang include a G-Machine Chassis, the Ford Performance Coyote engine, Silver Sport transmission, and Vintage Air and Dakota Digital instrumentation.

Kooks Headers and Exhaust Earns Export Achievement Certificate

Recent efforts by Kooks Headers and Exhaust to export performance products to new markets have gained national attention. The company has been awarded the Export Achievement Certificate from the United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, in recognition of recent accomplishments in opening and expanding its aftermarket exhaust market in the Middle East. Kooks was recommended for the award by SEMA, and company officials accepted the certificate from Andres Castrillon, automotive team leader, International Trade Administration, during the 2016 SEMA Show. Kooks Headers and Exhaust has been exporting to the Middle East for more than 10 years. However, with the recent help of international sales manager Jack Tese, the company has increased its distribution to the area significantly. During the SEMA Show, Kooks also received a Global Media Award from the country of Brazil for its new ’16 Chevy Camaro headers and green catted system.

PPG hosted veterans from Paralyzed Veterans of America in its 2016 SEMA Show booth.

PPG Salutes Paralyzed Veterans of America at 2016 SEMA Show

PPG hosted veterans from Paralyzed Veterans of America in its booth at the 2016 SEMA Show. Based in Washington, D.C., the nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing disabled veterans—from as far back as World War II—and their families with everything they need to live full and productive lives. With paralyzed veterans composing the group’s board of directors, the organization understands the many challenges and obstacles its members face. Booth visitors waiting to meet elite painters had a chance to write thank-you notes to Paralyzed Veterans of America members in appreciation of their service to the nation. Monetary donations were also welcome and more than $3,100 was raised for the organization. PPG contributed to the cause with two pieces of original art—renditions of stylized “Salute to Color” postage stamps created by PPG painters Jeff Matauch and Frank Ramos—that Paralyzed Veterans of America can auction to raise funds. Paralyzed Veterans also had the opportunity to make the public aware of the many services it provides through its 34 chapters across the country. Special attention was given to the group’s “Wheels Helping Warriors” fundraising vehicle donation program, which provides the organization with significant financial support.

VP Racing Fuels Launches New Website

VP Racing Fuels has redesigned its website, according to Chris Wall, chief marketing officer for VP Racing Fuels. “Between our 70+ blends of race fuel and the new product lines we’ve launched in the last several years, customers sometimes had difficulty finding the product information they were looking for,” Wall said. “Our new platform is clearly segmented between product lines and applications so it will be easy for customers to zero in on the most appropriate VP product to meet their needs, whether it’s race fuel for their dirt bike, a small-engine fuel for their chain saw or a fuel-system cleaner for their street car.”

McCullough Public Relations Named Agency of Record for Baja Designs

McCullough Public Relations Inc. has been named the official public relations agency of record for Baja Designs of San Marcos, California. McCullough Public Relations will assist the Baja Designs management team in expanding the brand’s presence, utilizing a wide range of strategic, focused marketing programs and marketing communications initiatives.

Calumet Specialty Products Partners L.P. Creates Authorized Distributor Program for Qualified Lubricants Distributors in United States

Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P.—an independent producer of specialty hydrocarbon and fuels products—has announced the creation of an Authorized Distributor Program for qualified lubricant distributors to provide the opportunity for authorized distributors to actively market all of Calumet’s premium-branded products: Bel-Ray, Quantum, Royal Purple and TruFuel. The Calumet Authorized Distributor Program includes a volume rebate incentive, business-development fund, and comprehensive marketing and technical support. Among other features, the Calumet Authorized Distributor Program will provide distributors with additional earned funding to support and grow their businesses and the brand awareness for all premium Calumet brands.

DENSO Expands Aftermarket Technical Training Program

DENSO Products and Services Americas Inc. is adding three new training classes to its selection of automotive repair courses. The classes expand DENSO’s Technical Training Program, developed to ensure technicians have the diagnostic and troubleshooting expertise to repair vehicles efficiently and correctly the first time. The following classes are joining DENSO’s roster in 2017: Advanced Circuit & Electrical Testing, Evaporative Emissions Systems, and Ford Engine Performance. With these new seminars, DENSO offers a total of 42 classes under its Technical Training Program.

Women in Auto Care Announce 2016 Scholarship Winners

Women in Auto Care, formerly the Car Care Council Women’s Board, presented Summer Miller with the Kathleen Schmatz Scholarship for $10,000 as part of the Women in Auto Care scholarship program. Miller is a student in automotive technology at Brookhaven College in Decatur, Texas.

This year, Women in Auto Care gave away $60,000 in scholarships to young women, including:

High School

• $5,000 – Mindy Brown, Greenville Technical College 
• $2,500 – Claire Choinacky, Indiana University
• $2,500 – Delaney McAvoy, Automotive Training Center
• $1,000 – Leah Carron, University of Maine, Orono
• $1,000 – Winter Stringham, Universal Technical Institute
• $1,000 – Sabrina Alatto, Universal Technical Institute
• $1,000 – Kylie Concelman, Community College of Allegheny County
• $1,000 – Ryan Falk, Washington State University

Post-Secondary

• $5,000 – Becky Babcox Scholarship – Jacqueline Hower, Northwood University
• $5,000 – Continental Scholarship – Grace Cameron, Northwood University 
• $5,000 – Sarah Spoto, University of Rochester
• $2,500 – Babcox Media Scholarship –  Rachel Berbert, Chipola College
• $2,500 – Laura Bulvas, College of Dupage   
• $2,500 – Kelly Callender, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
• $2,500 – Sarah Bako, West Chester University
• $2,500 – Allison Washington, Ohio State University
• $2,500 – Shannon Holsten, State Technical College of Missouri
• $2,500 – Tara Rodgers, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
• $2,500 – Ellen Donabedian, Michigan State University

For more information on Women in Auto Care, visit www.womeninautocare.org.

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.

By SEMA Editors

Andy Cohen

Andrew “Andy” Philip Cohen, 52, of Oak Hills, California, passed away October 24, 2016, with his family by his side, after a 15-month battle with brain cancer. He was born in Queens, New York, June 25, 1964.

In 1980, he began racing sportsman class in drag racing on weekends in Englishtown, New Jersey. After graduating from Comsewogue High School in 1982, he sold his race car and bought a Jeep CJ7. Shortly thereafter, Cohen began racing for a small off-road repair shop called the 4 Wheel Drive Wizard. The land on which they raced was owned by a local McDonald’s franchisee, and because of Cohen’s success, the franchisee decided to form his own race team with Cohen racing for him.

Within months of purchasing his Jeep, Cohen secured a job in Las Vegas, and began pursuit of his dream to have a career in off-road racing. A race team was formed in 1986, setting the wheels in motion for Cohen to begin building his own trucks. The team’s successes provided for Cohen’s family until his retirement in 1992. He also started a new venture with Budweiser in 1991 by selling sponsors’ products from a promotional trailer at the races. In 1993, Budweiser bought out Cohen and continued the program in house.

After retiring from racing, he became involved with law enforcement as a volunteer for several years with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. He also worked as a juvenile transport officer at a private school.

For the past 33 years, Cohen’s career as CEO and founder of Finishlinewest consisted of building image vehicles for both the end user and the automotive aftermarket. Since 1995, he had built off-road, pre-runner, tuner and SUVs for upscale clients, and from 1983 to the present, he built show vehicles for SEMA.

Cohen received several honors and awards during his lifetime, including the Commanders Award—San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (1995), Resolution from the County of San Bernardino (1995), Certificate of Appreciation from the Twin Peaks Line Reserves (1995), and the March of Dimes Volunteer Award (1996).

Cohen was preceded in death by his grandmother Sybil C. Simon. He is survived by his wife of nine years Kristen A. Cohen and his children Ashli Cohen, Aaron Cohen and Arielle Loveless.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, January 14, from 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., at Andy and Kristen’s home in Oak Hills. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Cohen’s memory to The City of Hope.

To help pay for his medical bills, Cohen’s family has set up a GoFundMe page.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposed rule that would require light-duty vehicle manufacturers to place a label on the passenger-side sun visor, which describes how to submit a safety-related defect complaint to the agency. Defect reporting information included in the owner’s manual would also be updated. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposed rule that would require light-duty vehicle manufacturers to place a label on the passenger-side sun visor, which describes how to submit a safety-related defect complaint to the agency. Defect reporting information included in the owner’s manual would also be updated. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a proposed rule that would require light-duty vehicle manufacturers to place a label on the passenger-side sun visor, which describes how to submit a safety-related defect complaint to the agency. Defect reporting information included in the owner’s manual would also be updated. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final targets for the amount of ethanol to be blended into gasoline in 2017, relying on expanded voluntary sales of E15 (gas that contains 15% ethanol) in order to meet the targets. The EPA is required to set ethanol targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a law designed to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil. 

Ethanol produced from corn has been the primary fuel used to meet the RFS mandates. However, ethanol can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials, especially when the ethanol is in higher concentrations, such as E15. SEMA is hopeful that 2017 will provide an opportunity to reform the RFS in ways that protect the industry and the enthusiast community from E15. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org. 

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final targets for the amount of ethanol to be blended into gasoline in 2017, relying on expanded voluntary sales of E15 (gas that contains 15% ethanol) in order to meet the targets. The EPA is required to set ethanol targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a law designed to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil. 

Ethanol produced from corn has been the primary fuel used to meet the RFS mandates. However, ethanol can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials, especially when the ethanol is in higher concentrations, such as E15. SEMA is hopeful that 2017 will provide an opportunity to reform the RFS in ways that protect the industry and the enthusiast community from E15. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org. 

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final targets for the amount of ethanol to be blended into gasoline in 2017, relying on expanded voluntary sales of E15 (gas that contains 15% ethanol) in order to meet the targets. The EPA is required to set ethanol targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a law designed to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil. 

Ethanol produced from corn has been the primary fuel used to meet the RFS mandates. However, ethanol can cause metal corrosion and dissolve certain plastics and rubbers in automobiles produced before 2001 that were not constructed with ethanol-resistant materials, especially when the ethanol is in higher concentrations, such as E15. SEMA is hopeful that 2017 will provide an opportunity to reform the RFS in ways that protect the industry and the enthusiast community from E15. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.