The SEMA Awards, presented at the 2011 SEMA Show last Tuesday morning in Las Vegas, recognize outstanding vehicles that specialty-equipment manufacturers believe are the best platforms for accessorizing and that showcase this year’s coolest products. To determine winners for each category, an inventory was made of all the new-vehicle platforms on display at the 2011 SEMA Show. Those with the highest tallies drove off with the honors. This year's winners were the Chevrolet Camaro for Hottest Car, Ford F-Series for Hottest Truck, Fiat 500 for Hottest Sport Compact and Jeep Wrangler for Hottest 4x4-SUV.
Chevrolet Camaro
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| SEMA Chairman Paul “Scooter” Brothers (left) awards Chris Perry, General Motors vice president global Chevrolet marketing and strategy, the SEMA Award for Hottest Car. |
The Chevrolet Camaro was named the Hottest Car for the second consecutive year at the 2011 SEMA Show.
“We are honored that our Camaro received the SEMA Award for the Hottest Car this year,” said John Fitzpatrick, marketing manager, Chevy Performance Cars. “It’s especially meaningful to receive an award that represents the views of those leaders and visionaries in the specialty-equipment industry that help drive consumer trends in the marketplace.”
Winner of the SEMA
Award for Hottest Car two years in a row, there is
little doubt that the Chevrolet Camaro remains one of the most
accessorized vehicles on the planet. The list of available performance
parts and accessories for the Camaro grows daily as its popularity
increases.
Ford F-Series
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| SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) congratulates Martin Smith, Ford Motor Co. executive design director, with the SEMA Award for Hottest Truck. |
The Ford F-Series was named the Hottest Truck at the 2011 SEMA Show making it the second consecutive year to receive the SEMA Award.
A three-time SEMA Most Accessory-Friendly Truck award winner, the F-Series from Ford is a perennial favorite with enthusiasts and specialty-equipment manufactures. New F-Series designs have spurred even more parts and accessories for blue-oval fans, and all indications are that the trend will continue with the latest models.“Each year manufacturers from the specialty and performance industry have come to the SEMA Show with an explosion of new products and new styling trends displayed on the cars and trucks they view as the most popular trendsetting models,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA’s president and CEO. “Once again, the exhibitors’ hands-down favorite truck was the F-Series. Given its history at the SEMA Show, it comes as no surprise that the F-Series has emerged once again as the one exhibitors identified as the most accessory-friendly truck.”
Fiat 500
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| SEMA Chairman-Elect Nate Shelton presents Pietro Gorlier, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care president and CEO, with the SEMA Award for Hottest Sport Compact. |
The Fiat 500 was named the Hottest Sport Compact at the 2011 SEMA Show making it the first vehicle to take home honors in the newest SEMA Award category and beating out a dozen competitors.
“In just its first year, our new Fiat 500 is prominent throughout this year's SEMA Show as it is the perfect canvas for customization," said Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO, parts & customer care, Mopar Service. “We are honored by the SEMA Award recognition and excited by the creativity and enthusiasm of our fans and the specialty-equipment manufacturers who continue to make the Fiat 500 even more distinctive in the marketplace."
After arriving in U.S. showrooms earlier this year, the Fiat 500 quickly became a favorite of auto enthusiasts, specialty manufacturers and customizers nationwide.
“Each year there are a few vehicle models that emerge and make a strong statement about the future direction of the specialty-equipment industry,” said Kersting. "Given its accessory-friendly style, it comes as no surprise that the Fiat 500 has emerged as the one exhibitors identified as the hottest sport compact.”
Jeep Wrangler
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| Former SEMA Chairman Rick Rollins (left) presents Pietro Gorlier with the SEMA Award for Hottest 4x4-SUV. |
The Jeep Wrangler was named the Hottest 4x4-SUV at the 2011 SEMA Show making it the second consecutive year to receive the honor.
"We are honored that our Jeep Wrangler was named hottest SUV at the SEMA show," said Gorlier. "The Jeep Wrangler is an icon that has been around for nearly 70 years. No one comes close to matching its legendary capability."
Custom parts and accessories for the Jeep Wrangler remain in high demand as owners look for ways to make their Wranglers more their own. Enthusiasm for the Wrangler has led to its winning of multiple industry awards, including the SEMA Most Accessory-Friendly SUV in 2007.