SEMA – Highlights of 2021!

We are back! After a long year for crazy cancellations and thoughts that the world  may be coming to an end.. we are back! Can you say WOW? I love the new changes to the Convention Center, more space and excellent displays, oh, and even more miles of walking! As we head into Las Vegas I notice that there are a lot more people out and about this year, which is great news, but mask mandates are still in full effect, but the excitement to get back to SEMA and see all the new Jeeps and Broncos for this year helped overcome the requirements.

SEMA is the first large automotive trade show in North America to take place since the pandemic. Automotive manufacturers launched new vehicles, celebrities unveiled high-profile restyles, and exhibitors showed off their latest innovations. Celebrities and their vehicles were out in force at the SEMA Show, including Ant Anstead, host of Celebrity IOU: Joyride, showcasing a custom 1962 Buick that has been converted into an electric car in collaboration with American actor James Marsden. Comedian Jay Leno helped unveil a 1969 Ford Mustang restoration for singer Keith Urban in the Ford exhibit, and actor Sung Kang unveiled his Datsun 240z “Safari” in the Nissan booth. Not to be outdone, Toyota introduced its “TacoZilla” Tacoma truck camper, Chevy brought its “Chevy Beast” (a concept vision of the ultimate in high-performance desert running), Mopar debuted two customized concept trucks, the new TRX and Overlook Gladiator. I will have more highlights from the Mopar display later.

Trending at this year’s SEMA Show was electrification and electrified vehicles. Whether it was a modification for a new electric vehicle (EV) or the ability to modify an ICE vehicle with a new electric motor, exhibitors and builders demonstrated that the EV market is a growing segment for the aftermarket. A new area inside the SEMA Show, SEMA Electrified, included electric vehicles and products designed for modifying electric vehicles or converting vehicles to electric power. The one highlight I was  impressed with was the tesla tunnel that was underground of the convention center going from west hall to south hall. It took 3 minutes and was a lot better than walking a million miles. Tesla has amazed me with all their cool innovations. I will take you on a ride in another article!

Other SEMA Show highlights included the largest collection of Chip Foose-built vehicles featured in a special corral that highlighted some of the most influential and important vehicles created at Foose Design, a display of over 50 off-road racing vehicles ranging from motorcycles to trophy trucks in SCORE’s Baja 1000 Experience, and interactive driving demos in the Hoonigan Burnyard Bash and the Ford Out Front experience.

Whether you like to burn rubber or hear the scream of tires scraping across the track, Ford Out Front provides Show attendees with the opportunity to experience the power and performance of Ford vehicles by taking a ride with a professional driver. New for 2021, attendees were able to experience the capability of the new Ford Bronco on an offroad course that featured “Bronco Mountain.”  Loren and Vaughn Gitten Jr burn it up with their RTR ford broncos while setting off the smoke alarms and shutting down the tramway for a bit.

This year was full of excitement and new innovative vehicles that I am certainly going to be driving in the future!