By Della Domingo
 The 2015 SEMA Award for Hottest Car for the Ford Mustang, Hottest Truck for the Ford F-Series and Hottest Sport Compact for the Ford Focus was presented by SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) to Global Director Ford Performance Dave Pericak (center). The SEMA Award for Hottest 4x4-SUV went to Jeep for the Jeep Wrangler, and was presented to Pietro Gorlier (right), head of MOPAR. |
Selected by exhibiting manufacturers, the Hottest Vehicles of 2016 will be revealed Tuesday, November 1, on the opening day of the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
The coveted SEMA Award will help guide consumers toward the hottest-trending and most accessory-friendly vehicles on the market. SEMA Show exhibitors represent the front line of today’s influential enthusiast car culture. When it comes to knowing what trends to follow and which cars will ignite the industry’s passion, these manufacturers have the pulse of the industry.
Each exhibitor will be able to make his or her voice heard by casting a vote in this year’s SEMA Award process. Emails to vote for this year’s hottest vehicles will be sent to the registered Show contact on August 31.
To better reflect consumer buying habits, this year’s awards will be presented in five new categories, including: Hottest Coupe, Hottest Sedan, Hottest Truck, Hottest 4x4/SUV and Hottest Hatch.
Also new for 2016 is the format in which votes will be tabulated. Since the inception of the SEMA Award, exhibitors determined the winners based on the vehicles displayed in their booths. This year, each exhibiting company will cast one vote each, thereby determining the winners in each category.
SEMA Show exhibitors are the industry’s innovators, visionaries and influencers. Who better to ask than the thousands of manufacturing members who bet their businesses on recognizing the hottest new and upcoming vehicles?
The top three finalists in each of the five SEMA Award categories will be announced in October. The actual winners will be announced at the Awards Breakfast on the opening morning of the SEMA Show. Exhibitors should contact their SEMA Show representative if they don’t receive an email notice to vote.