The SEMA show: The greatest show on earth for hot metal

18 November 2011 - 04:11 By By PHUTI MPYANE
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The SEMA show held every year in Las Vegas is the vehicle aftermarket tuning junkie's holy grail.

It brings together aftermarket manufacturers, retailers and restorers, original equipment manufacturers, media, car dealers and special equipment distributors in one massive gorge of pimp.

Running for the past 42 years, SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) has evolved into an important event in showcasing pimped cars, classics, muscle cars, bikes, street rods and recreational vehicles of all sorts.

Interestingly, it's said that the SEMA acronym originally stood for the more apt Speed Equipment Manufacturing Association but the tone of irresponsibility and regulatory pressure forced the association to change to the now commonly known version.

It was formed in 1963 and has been an annual event held in the first week of November and attracts more than 100000 visitors per show.

Unlike regular shows such as our own Johannesburg International Motor Show, SEMA is not open to the public. It caters specifically for aftermarket modifications, race car equipment, engineering technologies and restoration companies from all over the world to showcase their wares to buyers.

You'd have to register as either an exhibitor or member of the automotive press.

SEMA is about the extremities of pimping and restorations. Nothing is too ludicrous and no car is too elegant to be slammed.

Everything is tweaked, including trucks, Rolls-Royces and tractors. The US pimping market is reported to be worth in the region of $28-billion every year and the Las Vegas show is the mecca of it all.

The 2011 show has come and gone and here are some wonderful cars which grabbed my attention.

Lexus CT200h

Among a raft of modified cars you will find mainstream manufacturers' stands.

We mentioned some weeks ago how pimping has grabbed the attentions of car companies and splashed an angry looking Lexus IS-F CCS on these pages announcing the Japanese brand's seriousness aboutbeing outwardly sporty.

SEMA was a perfect spot to show the world exactly what it has in mind. On hand to be ogled were a number of Lexus models including the new Lexus GS 350 F-Sport custom tuning project by Five Axis. It's an arresting, glacier white Lexus dripping with aggro.

The CT200h hybrid - the smallest and slowest Lexus model thus far - has also been made over by Five Axis with a wide body kit and a unique front and rear bumper job.

The engine has been left alone as the reason behind this project is "shaking off the mundane image associated with hybrids".

Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet also used the 2011 show to demonstrate the many ways to spice up its newly launched Sonic hatchback.

It produced several concepts - a Sonic All-Activity Vehicle, a race-car concept Sonic Super 4 with roll cage and fire extinguisher, a Dusk concept inspired by night-time partying with its blue exterior and the Sonic Z-Spec concept with a ground effects package, a unique grille and custom graphics.

Chevrolet Camaro

GM seems to have created a pimpers' darling with its new Camaro.

This year's SEMA boasted countless modifications for the car nicknamed "Bumble Bee" after the successful Transformers movie trilogy.

From the subtle to the exceptional, they were all there - including a model with a wicked set of "Donks" (30 inchers).

Ferrari 458 Italia

Not even exotics are spared. A Ferrari was used by Epson to promote its goods and its striking lines served as a canvass for eye-catching visual art.

Painting cars in this way hasn't caught on as yet here at home but there are local companies who offer the product.

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