USA - Toyota to have a huge 30 car display from the old classics upto custom builds at this years SEMA Show.

• Toyota Unveils Custom Builds and Celebrates the Past and Present

Today Toyota revealed an unprecedented suite of 30 vehicles on display at the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. 

Toyota selected each vehicle to either honor the past, explore the present or reveal the extreme—and in some extreme cases, all three of these elements come into play. There is even a special display honoring Corolla’s 50 years. 

  

“The Toyota call to action is ‘Let’s Go Places,’ ” said Steve Appelbaum, Toyota Motor Sales National Engagement Marketing Manager. “This phrase encompasses what we are, what we do and what we create. 

It’s our guiding principle and at the core of our promise to customers. Our SEMA display demonstrates the breadth of that promise, across all generations of Toyota vehicles.”

The six Toyota extreme builds, four of which are entered into the Battle of the Builders® competition, embody the SEMA spirit of imagination and innovation—taking stock builds and transforming them into something inspired.

Appelbaum commented, “We have a lot to celebrate. This historical collection demonstrates the unique and constant innovation of Toyota. There’s never been an exhibit quite like this one at SEMA.”

Here is a recap of what is on display through Nov 4^th.

Toyota Rocks SEMA with 220 MPH Twin Turbo Land Speed Cruiser

Land Speed Cruiser—It’s pretty and sleek on the outside but it’s what’s on the inside that counts here. Twin Garrett turbos under the hood make for astounding news. They’re breathing in to a fully built 5.7-liter Toyota V8 getting power to the earth via a custom ATI transmission. This is the “World’s Fastest SUV,” capable of a blazing 220 miles per hour. Every single thing inside this build has been touched.

Toyota Unveils XTREME Corolla at SEMA 2016

XTREME Corolla—Toyota took the main street Corolla and drove it into the SEMA fast lane with this build. This was a four-door and now it’s a sexy coupe. The wheels, the two-color paint, clean lines, custom interior, turbo engine, a six-speed manual, Sparco seats and a JBL sound system all come together to put this Corolla in a class of its own.

Toyota Takes Swagger Wagon to the Max for SEMA with Extreme Sienna

Extreme Sienna—This is the most over-the-top Swagger Wagon ever. The exterior is super wide with big TRD brakes, performance wheels and tires, a splitter, rear diffuser, spoiler and dual exhaust. High-end sport luxury is how it strikes you. Its lap-of-luxury Learjet interior is something to behold. The whole vehicle is controlled by an iPad™, including the air ride system. This is NOT just a show car, but one that you can drive on the street with zero issues.

The Toyota Prius G Proves Hybrids Can Handle

Prius G—Building on the natural handling prowess of the stock Prius comes the Prius G, which grips the road better than hot bubblegum on asphalt. The Prius is not just an eco-car anymore. This Prius pulled .99 g on the skid pad at Willow Springs International Raceway, putting it in the ballpark of cars like the Corvette and Viper.

Toyota Motorsport GmbH GT86 CS-Cup Imported to US for SEMA

Toyota Motorsport GmbH GT86 CS-Cup —This Toyota Motorsport Germany 86 Cup Series is the first cup spec built off of a stock 2017 86. Toyota is pleased to show the car for the first time in the U.S. at SEMA. It’s designed for a one-make overseas series, and was brought here to inspire, to innovate and to excite. It’s built solely for the track. 

Its livery pays homage to Toyota’s racing heritage with a cool retro red and white design. The aero package looks awesome, but it also helps the car stick with functional downforce.

Toyota's Tacoma TRD Pro Race Truck Revealed at SEMA

Tacoma TRD Pro Race Truck —The all-new Tacoma TRD Pro Race Truck lets you go places most other trucks would ordinarily see only on a map. Toyota plans to showcase this special truck as an entry in “The Great American Off-Road Race”— the MINT 400. However, the driver names are not yet released. Though modified for desert racing, this vehicle is still mostly a stock Tacoma.

Toyota Corolla Commemorates 50 Years with Historical Display at SEMA 2016

Corolla 50^th Anniversary Display—Just outside the Toyota booth, in the Patio Annex of the Las Vegas Convention Center, visitors are invited to see a display Celebrating 50 Years of Corolla with representative models from each of the 11 generations.

Other key specimens of Toyota’s heritage can be seen, such as the 2000GT, also known as the “Japan’s first super car.” The Great Race Corolla will also be positioned in the booth.

Hyundai launches a new limited production Tucson at SEMA, the NIGHT model, comes with dark/black accents.

• New NIGHT Model Goes on Sale Late 2016

Hyundai revealed its new, limited-production NIGHT model at the 2016 SEMA show in Las Vegas. This new offering for the popular Tucson CUV appeals to customers that value a distinctive new blackout monotone attitude that expresses their own individuality. 

“Our new NIGHT model attracts those who already appreciate the striking styling of the Tucson and want something just a little more to set them apart—the exclusive black RAYS® wheels with the panoramic roof combine for high appeal, inside and out,” said Trevor Lai, manager, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. 

The Night model goes on sale in late 2016 and pricing will be announced with dealership availability.

Tucson achieves this black monotone appearance by adding the following combination of special features to standard Tucson Sport model content:

Exterior

• RAYS® 19-inch black-finish alloys with black lug nuts, branded center cap and red valve stem caps
• Panoramic sunroof with dark, black-tinted glass appearance for a blackout look
• Gloss black side mirror caps

Interior

• Aluminum-alloy sport pedals
• Perforated leather steering wheel
• Front and rear LED maplights

The Tucson NIGHT model is available exclusively in Coliseum Gray, Caribbean Blue, Dazzling White and Black Noir Pearl exterior colors.

USA - Kia brings four hand built models to the SEMA show this year, which gives a glimpse into autonomous living.

• Kia Motors brings four hand built concepts to SEMA to give a glimpse into the future of ‘The Autonomous Life’.
• Each custom-built vehicle explores active and diverse lifestyles ranging from sports entertainment to business travel.
• Telluride full-size SUV concept makes first appearance at SEMA

Kia Motors America (KMA) has unveiled four all-new customised vehicles at the opening of the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. 

Envisioning a future when vehicles will not only drive autonomously but be tailor-built to our lifestyles, each concept sparks the imagination of what could be just around the corner.  

Also making its SEMA debut is the Telluride full-size hybrid SUV concept that was first unveiled early this year at the North American International Auto Show.  

Michael Sprague, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, KMA said: “Over the course of our 22 years in the U.S. market, we’ve watched with pride as our vehicles have helped people live their active and diverse lifestyles. 

This year’s SEMA show gives us the opportunity to ponder what the future of living the autonomous life may one day resemble.”

A total of four custom vehicles are showcased in Kia’s booth at SEMA, each eschewing what we normally ask of our day-to-day vehicular needs to blaze a thought-provoking trail of imagination and fun.

Niro Triathlon

Any elite athlete will admit it is a long, lonely road to the top and triathletes know that better than anyone else. All-night runs, bike rides across remote country and swims through dark waters make training for a triathlon a truly isolating experience. Kia’s autonomous Niro Triathlon offers refuge in a cabin designed to relax and recharge while also providing top-notch training and safety equipment.

Custom built by the master craftsmen at LGE-CTS Motorsports, the 2017 Niro hybrid has been transformed into a true crossover-utility lifestyle vehicle. Removal of the roof from the D-pillars back creates a small bed and allows for the custom bike rack, tool box and tablet computer mount. The Felt IA 2 road-racing bike can be easily removed or locked in place for repairs or transport. The ONEU safety laser bike lane light mounted to the rear illuminates a laser LED road behind the vehicle and the athlete can easily monitor speed, time and distance covered via the tablet while the Niro autonomously keeps pace. The tablet can also be attached inside the vehicle for entertainment or performance analysis while the Niro effortlessly drives the athlete home or to the next competition. Riding on lowered suspension, the Niro Triathlete is shod with 265/35R-18 Dunlop Direzza sport tires and lightweight 18-inch Method Rally Race wheels.

Removal of the passenger-side B-pillar facilitates easy entry into a cabin designed for comfort and efficiency. The back door has been modified to open on a rear-pivot hinge while the front door has been redesigned to open wider than a stock Niro, allowing the doors to open a full 90 degrees. With no reason to drive, the athlete is cosseted in an ultra-comfortable Human Touch zero gravity ergonomic reclining chair.  Numerous custom cabinets hold essential supplies, attire and parts, and a portable shower allows for a quick post-race clean-up.

School of Rock Sedona

One of the most intriguing aspects of the autonomous life is the safety aspects associated with removing the possibility of human error when behind the wheel. This is especially true when children are involved and Kia imagines a world when vehicles will someday autonomously transport our young ones to accommodate their busy lives.

Partnering with School of Rock, the leader in performance-based music education, Kia turned over a Sedona minivan to LGE-CTS, set a creative session with all the concerned parties and the School of Rock Sedona gig van was born. This rolling recording studio features everything aspiring musicians crave: a studio, a place to chill and a completely hands-free way of transporting the band to the next gig.  The stunning hand-painted School of Rock imagery hides the strong bones of the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and NHTSA 5-Star rated Sedona so parents can be assured their kids will make it to the show safely and with more than 180 locations, School of Rock plans to hit the road in style to perform at various shows with their talented musicians.

Significant enhancements to the Sedona include the removal of the driver-side B-pillar, steering assembly and gear selector. This makes room for a digital mixing board and dual flat-screen monitors to record tracks.  Front-mounted near-field speakers pump out the tunes and when a track is being laid down, the recording light mounted to the roof illuminates. Vocalists will appreciate the microphone that hangs from the ceiling.  Sound-studio-quality acoustic foam panels line the interior to reduce exterior noise during an intense recording session. Should the band decide to host an impromptu roadside show, the Sedona’s tail gate flips open to reveal an imposing stack of amps.  There is also storage on the roof for guitars, bass guitars and a myriad other instruments. Fun and comfortable custom bean bags allow the band members to relax or jam in style. While no modifications were made to the suspension, the School of Rock Sedona rides on flat-black painted 20-inch Vossen VFS-6 wheels that are wrapped in aggressive Toyo Proxes 255/45R-20 tires.

Sorento Ski Gondola

Taking the idea of a sport-utility vehicle to new heights – literally and figuratively – this custom Kia Sorento was built by LUX Motorwerks to tackle snow and ice as it gets you and your fellow skiers up to the top of the mountain for another run.  The luxurious and self-driving Sorento Ski Gondola is all about climbing to higher ground in style, comfort and warmth. 

Dominator Rubber Tracks powdercoated orange make this gondola a go-anywhere cold-weather machine. A custom metal roof rack supplies ample storage for skis and poles while the cargo area provides abundant space for boots, bags and other gear, all easily accessible thanks to the removal of the B pillar and the rear doors being converted to rear access doors. Up front, the Sorento’s headlights were painted black, silver and orange and LED light bars were installed for increased visibility in all conditions.

The Sorento Ski Gondola’s interior has been upgraded with custom door panels, dash and centre console, which houses a personalised tablet. The interior has also been given a reboot of black and orange leather to compliment the orange and PPG Silver Metallic paint of the Sorento’s exterior. Throughout the interior the floor was given a durable waterproof Line-X treatment to protect against the ice and snow that may find its way inside.

Soul First Class

The Soul First Class is an upscale inter-city chariot that lets business travellers work and relax as they journey to out-of-town meetings and destinations.  This self-driving custom-built creation from LUX Motorwerks – with its rear-facing seats, absence of steering wheel and wide array of luxury enhancements – is about optimising work and rest amid the hectic schedule in one’s professional life.

Eliminating the need for a driver, the Soul First Class has a revamped front dash which now houses two rear-facing front seats. The Soul’s passengers are then greeted by a 40-inch Samsung LED TV connected to a Mac mini computer system and premium audio speakers throughout. A custom motorised centre console reveals two tablets, which control this futuristic Kia. To match the first-class electronic system is first-class comfort with white and grey leather with diamond stitching throughout the cabin, and modern grey wood flooring to match.

The Soul’s exterior brings about the same level of luxury as the interior with PPG Lux Blue paint and modified upper and lower grilles with LED lighting. The 19-inch Rotiform Monoblock CCV wheels bring a modern vibe to the car’s exterior and round out the complete autonomous vehicle inspired overhaul.

Telluride Concept 

Glimpsing a future that is grounded in reality but not bound by the present, the Telluride, a striking three-row, seven-passenger, luxury hybrid SUV concept features a modern and upright shape, muscular stance, and state-of-the-art technology to care for its occupants.  Purely conceptual, the Kia Telluride is based on an existing platform and reveals the brand’s interest in potentially offering a premium SUV positioned above the current hot-selling Sorento.

Telluride’s front doors and rear-hinged back doors swing open 90 degrees in opposing directions, creating an expansive and inviting portal into the panoramic interior space and revealing a technological showcase.  Four beautiful black-leather captain’s seats appear to float within the spacious cabin in front of a folded third-row bench.  The large cabin allows the middle seats to recline nearly flat and include large fold-away footrests for sublime comfort.  All four seats include a series of precise diamond-cut openings in the seatback, each embedded with Smart Sensors to capture a passenger’s vital health information.  Once obtained, these vitals are displayed on the interior door panel screens, which then systematically synchronize with a Light Emitted Rejuvenation (LER) system.  The LER system utilizes a massive, wing-shaped LED panel mounted beneath the oversized sunroof that displays a pattern of therapeutic light to treat desynchronosis (jetlag) and improve the passengers’ energy levels.

Telluride’s interior and exterior were penned at the brand’s California-based studio, Kia Design Centre America (KDCA).  Finished in Dark Pyrite green paint, the tall stance is amplified by the overall size of the vehicle.  At 70.9-inches tall, 79.1-inches wide and 196.9-inches long, Telluride is 4.4-inches taller, 4.7-inches wider, and a sizable 9.5-inches longer than the current Sorento.  Underpinning the Telluride is a modified Sorento chassis with a wheelbase stretched 11.9 inches to 121.3 inches, giving Telluride a dominating presence.  It’s modern and muscular appearance is accentuated by flared fenders stretching around massive 22-inch five-spoke wheels wrapped in Hankook^® Ventus ST 275/45R22 tires.  Telluride’s front fascia incorporates a much larger version of Kia’s signature tiger-nose grille, and its menacing face brings an attitude all its own with recessed quad-LED headlights, pronounced horizontal LED indicator lights, and an aggressive polished-metal skid plate below the bumper.  In the rear, thin vertical taillights align with the modern design language of the SUV, while consistent styling cues across the front and rear door handles, hood scoops and dual exhaust tips enhance the vehicle’s solid appearance.

USA - Ford takes more awards at this years SEMA show, with all three attending models winning.

• Ford Mustang, Ford Focus and Ford F-Series are officially Hottest Coupe, Hottest Hatch and Hottest Truck of this year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association show
• A perennial favorite, the Ford Mustang takes honors again in the new Hottest Coupe category, succeeding four previous Hottest Car SEMA awards
• America’s favorite truck, the Ford F-Series continues to dominate the competition, collecting the Hottest Truck award six out of the seven years it has been awarded
• Ford Focus collects its second award, in the new Hottest Hatch category, on the heels of taking Hottest Sport-Compact last year

Ford Mustang, Ford Focus and Ford F-Series are officially Hottest Coupe, Hottest Hatch and Hottest Truck of this year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association show. As if that isn’t impressive enough, all three are back-to-back award winners this year, the 50th anniversary of the SEMA show.

The awards recognize the most popular vehicles the organization’s members feature in their displays at the weeklong event. 2015 marked the first time any OEM won three of the coveted awards; this year marks the first time an OEM has repeated the feat.

“We are honored to take home three SEMA hottest vehicle awards for the second straight year,” says Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “Embracing the aftermarket industry is something we relish, and – with Mustang, Focus and F-Series being back-to-back winners – it appears the aftermarket appreciates our products as well.”

The Ford Mustang has been a SEMA favorite for years; winning its fifth consecutive SEMA award is powerful proof of the car’s enduring popularity with the vehicle customization market.

From street rods to super off-roaders, Ford F-Series has long been one of the best canvases for customization. Having won Hottest Truck six times out of the seven the award has been given demonstrates the versatility of America’s best-selling vehicle.

Ford Focus has gained recognition amongst the aftermarket crowd in recent years, particularly with the addition of the ST performance model. Last year, Focus captured its first SEMA hottest award in the Sport-Compact category. Now, with the hot RS model coming to North America, Focus is being honored as Hottest Hatch of the show.

“Ford is a great partner with the specialty equipment market, and the Mustang, Focus and F-Series trucks are terrific platforms for customization,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA President and CEO. “Through collaboration with Ford, the aftermarket industry has been able to provide consumers with countless products and options on ways to personalize their vehicles.”

Ford continues to have the largest OEM presence at SEMA this year, with more than 50 vehicles on display including a large collection of custom builds on the Ford stand and show floor. The Ford Out Front performance demonstration track enters its sixth year, and is one of the lead attractions of the 2016 show.