Some 10 years after its founding, Hot Rod was branching out, looking for new trends to appeal to its speed-hungry readers. Late ’50s and early ’60s issues continued to cover the traditional hot-rodding venues—Bonneville, Indianapolis, Pikes Peak and NHRA-sanctioned dragstrips across the country—but other forms of motorsport were appearing regularly, too.

Industry news from SEMA-member companies, including the NHRA, Red Kap, Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc., The Marx Group, Yokohama Tire Corp.’s and more.

An open-house event showcased the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts (AXC), now located at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, as part of the Robert E. Petersen Garage.

’16 Ford Mustang Ecoboost

Ford has revived the Pony Package with the 2.3L Ecoboost engine.

’17 Fiat 124 Spider

The 124 Spider will be powered by the 1.4L turbo four-cylinder engine, and a six-speed manual is likely to be the standard transmission.

Jeep Cherokee

The upcoming Jeep Cherokee will use the same nine-speed automatic transmission as the new Jeep Renegade.

’16 California Special Ford Mustang GT

All California Special-equipped cars get 19-in. wheels with black-painted inserts. They also have a special faux gas cap in the trunk lid, reminiscent of the original Mustangs.

Readers know that this is an industry of passion, so the media is quick to share the news and spread the word when legislation comes up that affects the industry. This is a good thing for readers, since legislation can change quickly, and staying up to date on the current status is important.

At first glance, the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees may appear to have only one thing in common: farms. But upon closer inspection, you will notice something else. They are the epitome of “live your best life.” This is not always easy to do; there is no roadmap to that destination, yet the route defines who we are. And each Hall of Fame honoree embraced the crossroads as much as he chased the unknown. He exuded grace in hardships and saw chance in challenges. He believed in himself and in those around him when others may have disbelieved. What some called struggle, he called purpose. Their footprints leave invisible impressions on our own road map, reminding us of how to be on the way to where to be.

In the days of hot rodding’s infancy, there were a lot of ways—and places—to go fast if you lived in Southern California. Top-speed runs at the desert dry lakes had been going on since before World War II; drag racing was beginning to boom for those whose speed needs could be contained in a quarter-mile; and oval tracks flourished throughout the area, drawing everything from rough-and-tumble jalopies to nitro-fed midgets.

Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 shows off its new facelift featuring a newly designed front bumper and updated daytime running lights.

Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra HD Diesels

GM is reportedly bumping the current 6.6L Duramax turbo diesel’s horsepower, torque and towing capacity to counter Ford’s recently upgraded 6.7L Powerstroke V8 turbo diesel.

’17 Jeep Patriot Mule

The ’17 Jeep Patriot uses a stretched version of the FCA-derived “small” platform that currently underpins the new Jeep Renegade.

Ford SVT Truck

Speculation is that that Ford’s testing a new-generation follow-up to its SVT Lightning.

Industry news from SEMA-member companies, including Superlift, PRW Industries Inc., The Right Stuff Detailing, The Marx Group, Hella Inc. and more.

The SEMA Show New Products Showcase—one of the most sought-after attractions at the annual event—will be located on the bridge between the Central and South Halls at the west end of the Las Vegas Convention Center during the 2015 SEMA Show.