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Specialty Equipment Market Association – or SEMA, as it’s better known – is a aftermarket auto show held each fall in Las Vegas. Though the now-infamous show started off as a couple aftermarket equipment companies gathering to promote their wares, over the last several years, it’s grown in popularity. Now even OEMs like Mercedes-Benz, Scion, and Hyundai all embrace the aftermarket tuner mentality. For the first time ever, Digital Trends Cars team will be on the show floor covering all the highlights from this year’s show. While we’ve already seen some cool stuff, surely the best is yet to come. So be sure to check back often.
Behind the horsepower: Papadakis shares the secrets of his 1000hp Supra
A couple months ago, award-winning engine builder Stephan Papadakis gave himself a challenge: to get 1,000 horsepower out of the new Toyota-BMW B58 engine found in the 2020 Toyota Supra. We talked to Papadakis after his successful run to see what's next.
Honda turned its Ridgeline truck into a larger-than-life ATV
The Honda Rugged Open Air Vehicle concept is a Ridgeline pickup truck with the body stripped off to create the feel of an oversized side-by-side ATV. It's exactly the kind of craziness you get from the annual SEMA show. Wouldn't it be cool if Honda actually put something like this into production?
2020 Kia Forte GT gets dash of sportiness to make daily commuting more exciting
The 2020 Kia Forte GT is a sportier version of Kia's Forte compact car, complete with a more powerful engine and available six-speed manual transmission. The GT debuts at SEMA 2018 alongside two wildly customized Fortes, including a drift car co-developed with Red Bull.
The Lexus ES 350 measures its trunk space in wine bottles, not cubic feet
One of the concepts Lexus is bringing to the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas is a 2019 ES 350 with a wine cooler built into the trunk. It's beautifully integrated with an oak floor and wine barrel inserts. The cooler stores at least six bottles of wine, but don't expect to find it on Lexus' list of options.
Project Clubsport 23 shows the tuning potential of Nissan’s 370Z sports car
Debuting at SEMA 2018, the Nissan 370Z Project Clubsport 23 is the kind of car Nissan envisions its customers building with factory and aftermarket performance parts. The 370Z was treated to an engine swap and numerous other upgrades, including a custom exhaust system exiting through the rear bumper.
SpeedKore found a way to make the Dodge Demon even more ferocious
Wisconsin-based SpeedKore Performance Group took a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, dialed it up to 1,203 horsepower, and put it on a carbon-fiber diet. The result is a truly hellacious muscle car. In the hands of NHRA Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett, the SpeedKore Demon ran an 8.77-second quarter mile.
The 1,000-hp Shelby 1000 Mustang is so extreme, it’s not street legal
The Shelby 1000 Mustang returns, based on the 2015-2018 Mustang platform. This time, however, it isn't street legal.
Ford Drift Stick electronic handbrake is the high-tech way to get sideways
The Ford Drift Stick is an electronic handbrake for the Focus RS hot hatchback designed to enable epic sideways action.
Get lost in the woods with these tuned Chevy Colorado ZR2 trucks
Two Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 concepts debut at SEMA 2017. One was developed by AEV, the other by Chevrolet Performance Engineering.
This wide-bodied Kia Stinger will hug the convention center floor at SEMA
The new Kia Stinger sports sedan shows off a wider, lower look during the annual SEMA gathering in Las Vegas.
Now you can put the 707-horsepower Hellcat engine in your next project car
Mopar is now offering the Hellcat 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 as a crate engine. The "Hellcrate" makes the same 707 hp as factory models.
Super supercar: Famous tuner builds 600-hp ‘dream’ Acura NSX
The Acura NSX hybrid supercar gets a makeover for SEMA 2017 courtesy of well-known NSX tuner ScienceofSpeed.
Ford unleashes a fleet of tricked-out Focuses for SEMA 2017
Ford will bring four modified Focus hatchbacks to SEMA 2017, including three RS and one ST model customized by various aftermarket companies.
The GT4 is the latest in a long line of Mustang race cars from Ford
The Ford Mustang GT4 replaces the Shelby GT350R-C as Ford's frontline Mustang race car. It was unveiled at the 2016 SEMA show in Las Vegas.
This Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid just set a land speed record in Utah
A Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid recently set a land speed record for production-based hybrid vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
Toyota’s Land Speed Cruiser is a 2,000-horsepower monster
The Toyota Land Speed Cruiser is a 220-mph tuned version of the Land Cruiser SUV, built for SEMA 2016.
No top, no windshield, just fun. Mazda’s Speedster Evolution concept is nuts
Mazda brought two customized MX-5 Miata sports cars to the 2016 SEMA show, included an updated version of last year's Miata Speedster.
Kia unveils 4 current models reimagined as autonomous concept cars at SEMA 2016
Kia debuted four concept cars at SEMA 2016. All are based on regular production models, but feature (hypothetical) autonomous-driving capabilities.
Chrysler’s SEMA concepts include modernized muscle car, bar on wheels
Fiat Chrysler Autommobiles (FCA) unveiled six concepts at SEMA 2016, including a reconditioned 1971 Dodge Challenger, and a van turned into a bar.
Chevy launches all-out drag strip assault at SEMA with the 2017 COPO Camaro
The 2017 Chevrolet COPO Camaro debuted at SEMA, along with a Camaro SS test car for Chevy's new Drag Race Development Program.
Spruce up your Bimmer with a slew of new M Performance Parts from BMW
The BMW M Performance Parts lineup will expand at SEMA 2016, with several completely new items, and some new to the United States.
Acura aims to win 2016 SEMA Show with its NSX GT3 race car
Acura will bring its NSX GT3 race car and updated 2017 MDX SUV to SEMA, and announce its 2017 racing driver lineup.
The EPA is putting its foot down on modifications to street-legal track vehicles
SEMA is raising an alarm based on its concern over the EPA's latest interpretation of Clean Air laws that would prohibit modifications to street-legal cars.