By Chad Simon

The SEMA News 2015 SEMA Show issue (November).

The 2016 SEMA News rate card and editorial calendar is now available. SEMA News—a monthly magazine published by SEMA that reaches more than 18,000 key automotive specialty-equipment businesses—provides the ideal channel for businesses looking to expand distribution, promote products and services, and build their brands. Here's what's coming up in the January 2016 issue:

2015 SEMA Show Highlights

A photo recap of some of the best moments from the 2015 SEMA Show.

2015 New Products Showcase Winners

Nearly 3,000 new products were showcased at the 2015 SEMA Show. Look out for the January issue of SEMA News to see which were chosen as the industry’s top new products.

SEMA Member News

SEMA’s mission is to help its members’ businesses succeed and prosper. The membership, education, research and council departments take that to heart in everything they do. Here are the people in each department whom you can contact with your questions.

SEMA Data Co-op Directory of Data Innovators

This directory is designed to guide data users to brands that have successfully undertaken the challenge to manage their product data, and  continues to expand as more brands are added to the SEMA Data Co-op repository.

Check out the 2016 rate card and editorial calendar now!

By Chad Simon

The SEMA News 2015 SEMA Show issue (November).

The 2016 SEMA News rate card and editorial calendar is now available. SEMA News—a monthly magazine published by SEMA that reaches more than 18,000 key automotive specialty-equipment businesses—provides the ideal channel for businesses looking to expand distribution, promote products and services, and build their brands. Here's what's coming up in the January 2016 issue:

2015 SEMA Show Highlights

A photo recap of some of the best moments from the 2015 SEMA Show.

2015 New Products Showcase Winners

Nearly 3,000 new products were showcased at the 2015 SEMA Show. Look out for the January issue of SEMA News to see which were chosen as the industry’s top new products.

SEMA Member News

SEMA’s mission is to help its members’ businesses succeed and prosper. The membership, education, research and council departments take that to heart in everything they do. Here are the people in each department whom you can contact with your questions.

SEMA Data Co-op Directory of Data Innovators

This directory is designed to guide data users to brands that have successfully undertaken the challenge to manage their product data, and  continues to expand as more brands are added to the SEMA Data Co-op repository.

Check out the 2016 rate card and editorial calendar now!

By SEMA Editors

Through SEMA’s Loan Forgiveness Program, part of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship, individuals currently working for SEMA-member companies can receive $2,000 toward outstanding student loans.

Scholarship applications for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund are now being accepted for students preparing for careers in the automotive or auto parts industry. In addition, individuals currently working for SEMA-member companies can get financial assistance through SEMA’s Loan Forgiveness Program, which offers $2,000 toward outstanding student loans. For more information on the program or to apply, visit www.sema.org/scholarships.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund is dedicated to fostering the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators. Scholarship awards range from $2,000–$3,000, with $5,000 going to the top student.

The deadline to complete the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund application is March 1, 2016.

More information is available at www.sema.org/scholarships or by contacting Juliet Marshall, SEMA education manager, at julietm@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

Through SEMA’s Loan Forgiveness Program, part of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship, individuals currently working for SEMA-member companies can receive $2,000 toward outstanding student loans.

Scholarship applications for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund are now being accepted for students preparing for careers in the automotive or auto parts industry. In addition, individuals currently working for SEMA-member companies can get financial assistance through SEMA’s Loan Forgiveness Program, which offers $2,000 toward outstanding student loans. For more information on the program or to apply, visit www.sema.org/scholarships.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund is dedicated to fostering the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators. Scholarship awards range from $2,000–$3,000, with $5,000 going to the top student.

The deadline to complete the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund application is March 1, 2016.

More information is available at www.sema.org/scholarships or by contacting Juliet Marshall, SEMA education manager, at julietm@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

Through SEMA’s Loan Forgiveness Program, part of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship, individuals currently working for SEMA-member companies can receive $2,000 toward outstanding student loans.

Scholarship applications for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund are now being accepted for students preparing for careers in the automotive or auto parts industry. In addition, individuals currently working for SEMA-member companies can get financial assistance through SEMA’s Loan Forgiveness Program, which offers $2,000 toward outstanding student loans. For more information on the program or to apply, visit www.sema.org/scholarships.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund is dedicated to fostering the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators. Scholarship awards range from $2,000–$3,000, with $5,000 going to the top student.

The deadline to complete the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund application is March 1, 2016.

More information is available at www.sema.org/scholarships or by contacting Juliet Marshall, SEMA education manager, at julietm@sema.org.

This year the SEMA Board of Directors election has two seats open in the manufacturer category and one seat open in the manufacturer's representative category.

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

As a member of the association, we need your recommendation of industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors. Our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the SEMA Board, but oftentimes those individuals aren’t immediately apparent to the Nominating Committee when selecting the final candidates.

Please take a moment to tell us whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board member position. We also ask that you include information to help the Nominating Committee know more about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements from a leadership standpoint.

For this year’s election, the following seats are open:

• Two seats in the Manufacturer category
• One seat in the Manufacturer's Representative category

Nominations for the 2016 SEMA Board of Directors are due Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Please complete and submit the nomination form, and be sure to include the qualification information noted above.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

This year the SEMA Board of Directors election has two seats open in the manufacturer category and one seat open in the manufacturer's representative category.

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

As a member of the association, we need your recommendation of industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors. Our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the SEMA Board, but oftentimes those individuals aren’t immediately apparent to the Nominating Committee when selecting the final candidates.

Please take a moment to tell us whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board member position. We also ask that you include information to help the Nominating Committee know more about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements from a leadership standpoint.

For this year’s election, the following seats are open:

• Two seats in the Manufacturer category
• One seat in the Manufacturer's Representative category

Nominations for the 2016 SEMA Board of Directors are due Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Please complete and submit the nomination form, and be sure to include the qualification information noted above.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

As the winner of the Sony Gran Truismo Award for Best in Show, Sung Kang’s ’73 Datsun 240Z “Fugu Z” will be a playable vehicle in the Gran Turismo franchise on PS4.

By SEMA Editors

During the 2015 SEMA Show, Sony announced the winners of the company’s Gran Truismo Awards. Selected by experts from the automotive media and industry tastemaker, the 2015 GT Awards highlight the best vehicles from five different categories: Best Truck or SUV, Hot Rod, Domestic Automobile, Asian Import and European Import.

The judges narrowed the five category selections down to the following:

• Best Domestic: ’70 Dodge Charger – Judge: Autoblog
• Best Euro: ’85 BMW 535i – Judge: Hoonigan
• Best Import: ’73 Datsun 240Z – Judge: Super Street
• Best Hot Rod: ’78 Ford Mustang Hard Top – Judge: Bangshift
• Best Truck: ’68 Chevrolet C10 Pro-Touring – Judge: Truck Trend Network

For the coveted Best in Show honor, Gran Turismo creator and series producer Kazunori Yamauchi selected the ’73 Datsun “Fugu Z” 240Z owned by Sung Kang of the Fast and Furious film franchise, and built with GReddy Racing and partners.

As the winner of the Sony Gran Truismo Award for Best in Show, Sung Kang’s ’73 Datsun 240Z “Fugu Z” will be a playable vehicle in the Gran Turismo franchise on PS4.

By SEMA Editors

During the 2015 SEMA Show, Sony announced the winners of the company’s Gran Truismo Awards. Selected by experts from the automotive media and industry tastemaker, the 2015 GT Awards highlight the best vehicles from five different categories: Best Truck or SUV, Hot Rod, Domestic Automobile, Asian Import and European Import.

The judges narrowed the five category selections down to the following:

• Best Domestic: ’70 Dodge Charger – Judge: Autoblog
• Best Euro: ’85 BMW 535i – Judge: Hoonigan
• Best Import: ’73 Datsun 240Z – Judge: Super Street
• Best Hot Rod: ’78 Ford Mustang Hard Top – Judge: Bangshift
• Best Truck: ’68 Chevrolet C10 Pro-Touring – Judge: Truck Trend Network

For the coveted Best in Show honor, Gran Turismo creator and series producer Kazunori Yamauchi selected the ’73 Datsun “Fugu Z” 240Z owned by Sung Kang of the Fast and Furious film franchise, and built with GReddy Racing and partners.

This is the ’17 Ford F-150 Raptor, caught in both cab configurations rockin’ a silver-painted grille—the first time a Raptor grille hasn't been black.

The production version of the Raptor has been seen before, but this is the first time all of the variants have been spotted. As before, both an extended cab and full four-door crew cab will be offered. As expected from its first showing in January at the Detroit Auto Show, the Raptor gets a wildly more aggressive front than any of the current F-150 models.

Ford said when the truck was previewed that the ’17 Raptor would get a special version of the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 with around 450 hp to replace the 6.2L V8 found in the old model. The Raptor will also be one of the first vehicles to receive a new 10-speed automatic transmission being developed by Ford and GM, and planned for the rest of the F-150 line in the next few years.

The Raptor will also get off-road-oriented modifications, such as Fox racing shocks and meaty off-road tires. Ford will further add a terrain management system to help keep the Raptor moving in tough conditions.

Plan on seeing the new Raptor in showrooms by summer 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde