SEMA News—January 2020

EVENTS

By Fredy Ramirez and Douglas McColloch

The 2019 SEMA Vehicles of the Year

Recognizing the Most Customizable New Vehicles for 2019–2020

SEMA announced its SEMA Vehicles of the Year winners ahead of the official start of the SEMA Show. In attendance were (from left) SEMA Chairman of the Board Tim Martin; RZR Product Planning Director Pat McArdle; SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting; Head of MOPAR Marc Bosanac; Audi Senior Manager, Accessories and Collection Ian Avila; GM Vice President, Global Product Programs Tim Herrick; Marketing Manager, Silverado Hugh Milne; Ford Director, Advanced Strategy and Planning Todd Hoevener; SEMA Vice President of OEM and Product Development Programs Mike Spagnola; and SEMA Immediate Past Chairman/Secretary Wade Kawasaki.

Each year before the start of the SEMA Show, exhibitors are polled on the new vehicles that, to their minds, represent the best business opportunities for customization and accessorization via the aftermarket for the coming year. Vehicles are chosen in five distinct classes, and the winners are announced ahead of the start of the Show. This year’s announcement was made on Monday, November 4, before the first day of the 2019 SEMA Show. 
The winners are:

• SEMA Car of the Year: Ford Mustang
• SEMA Truck of the Year: Chevrolet Silverado
• SEMA 4x4/SUV of the Year: Jeep Wrangler
• SEMA Sport Compact of the Year: Audi RS 3
• SEMA Powersports Vehicle of the Year: Polaris RZR XP Ultimate

What follows on these pages is a sampling of the winning vehicles that exhibited at the 2019 SEMA Show, each one sporting a host of aftermarket accessories and upgrades.

SEMA Car of the Year: Ford Mustang

Webasto

On display at the Ford booth was what Webasto Customized Solutions calls “the best of both worlds,” a high-performance, all-electric ’19 Mustang Fastback. It’s powered by an 800V, 
750-kWh Webasto battery system with a dual-core electric motor that produces more than 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque. Along for the ride is a six-speed manual transmission with a short-throw shifter to retain a conventional driving feel. Suspension and chassis components are courtesy of Ford Performance, with street lowering springs and a GT350 brake kit. The Driveshaft Shop provided a carbon-fiber driveshaft to turn the gears in the Super Torsen 8.8 differential. A set of Michelin Sport Pilot 4S tires—275/35R20 in front, 295/35R20 in the rear—are wrapped around Forgeline NW102 rims. Recaro Sportster GT seats keep the occupants comfortable, and Sankauer Composite Technologies provided the “Lithium” front spoiler, side splitters and rear diffuser.

Liqui Moly

Straight from the Trans Am racing series, this ’19 Mustang Trans Am Racer from the Liqui Moly booth is all about performance. Underneath the hood lies a racing engine built by the Prefix Corp. These cars race on tracks like Circuit of the Americas, which require exceptional cornering capability. To help with that, the aero kit features a huge rear wing and a front splitter to optimize downforce. To ensure the Mustang is getting the most out of the downforce, Pirelli P-Zero tires are mounted for maximum grip. Pro System Brakes handled everything from the rotors to the cooling system, while Pagid Racing provided the brake pads. Sabelt provided parts for the interior.

Coverking

The modifications to this Mustang include a Gibson exhaust, an aFe Power GT intake, an aFe Power Scorcher Pro programmer and aFe Power BladeRunner intercooler tubes. The sixth-generation S550 Coupe sits on an Air Lift F/R airbag kit with Accuair VX4 valves. Dual Viair 444C compressors, a polished 4-gal. tank and an Accuair switch speed controller make the air suspension work. The exterior features VFF01 Verde wheels with black gloss and Proxes 4 Plus Toyo tires. The interior is all Coverking, including a dash cover, floor and cargo mats and seat covers. The concept was to show that you can build a great-looking car in a weekend with bolt-on off-the-shelf products that won’t break the bank or require permanent modifications to the vehicle.

SEMA Truck of the Year: Chevrolet Silverado

RotoPax

On display at the RotoPax booth was this ’19 Silverado 1500 that’s built to explore the backcountry. Built by Hunter Wallin, the Chevy rides on a Baja Kits Prerunner suspension system sporting King Shocks 2.5 coilovers, which clear a set of 37-in. BFGoodrich KM3s mounted on Fifteen52 rims, which in turn are nestled under FiberWerx fiberglass fenders and bedsides. Addictive Desert Designs bumpers provide additional protection, and a Leitner Designs ACD forged bed rack accommodates a raft of RotoPax fuel cells. Code 4 LED lights help light up the trail at night, and a Warn winch and recovery gear and a Pro Eagle 3-ton jack will be ready to assist should the Chevy falter.

Handjacked

The 4Play Wheels booth played host to this clean-looking ’19 Chevy built by truck builder Handjacked. The Silverado gets its altitude boost courtesy of a Pro Comp lift with Baja Kits upper control arms and King remote-reservoir shocks, and the lift is sufficient to clear 37x24 Toyo Mud-Terrains wrapped around 24x14-in. 4Play wheels. Exterior mods abound on this rig, including AMP Research power steps, a Rigid Radiance 30-in. light bar, a Warn winch, custom bed-mounted spare carriers and a full “Punisher” wrap and window tint. Inside, the seats are upholstered in bespoke Alea leather, and a custom Punisher instrument cluster and R/C tire calibrator provide form and function, respectively.

Belltech/KW Suspension

While this Chevy, which was on display at the Belltech booth, may seem understated, a peek underneath reveals some impressive new tech: a brand-new 6-in. KWA suspension system with four-way, remote-reservoir, aluminum-bodied coilover shocks that were a 2019 SEMA Show debut. The lift makes room in the wheelwells for 33x12.50 Toyo Open Country M/Ts mounted on 22x12 Blade gloss-black HO wheels. Borla supplied exhaust components, and a bed rug and tri-fold bed cover were sourced from GM Performance. Wally’s Collision Center performed paint and bodywork, Specialized Truck Accessories handled the tint, and MSD Embroidery and Print supplied the wrap.

Bulken Off-Road

SEMA Truck of the Year: Chevrolet Silverado

At the Bulken Off-Road Design booth, this ’19 Chevy Silverado Prerunner looks to be set up for some serious prerunning. A Baja Kits suspension system clears room in the wheelwells for a set of Toyo Open Country M/Ts mounted on Klutch Offroad wheels. The bodywork sports some trick ’glass fenders from FiberWerx, LED pod lights from Rigid Industries, a Ceramic Pro finish courtesy of Rakkasan Motorsports, and bumpers and side steps from Bulken Off-Road. Onboard is a BlackVue dash cam, an H3R fire extinguisher and a Viair portable compressor. The bed-mounted spare tire is kept in place with a set of tie-downs from Mac’s.

RockSlide Engineering

SEMA 4x4/SUV of the Year: Jeep Wrangler

A case of “less is more,” the list of parts adorning this Jeep at the RockSlide Engineering booth may be short, but virtually all of them are aimed at enhancing its functionality, starting with the Teraflex suspension system that clears BFG Mud-Terrrain KM3 tires mounted on a set of Ultra wheels. Inside, an American Adventure Labs M.A.S.S. organizer kit optimizes interior space for storage, while the exterior sports bumpers, fenders and step sliders from Rock Slide Engineering.

Superchips

SEMA 4x4/SUV of the Year: Jeep Wrangler

Displayed at the Holley booth, this ’19 Wrangler boasts an array of functional and stylish upgrades. Under the hood, a Holley Intech cold-air intake and Flowmaster exhaust improve aspiration, and a Superchips TrailDash 2 and TrailCal provide recalibration duties while Powerteq EAS power switches allow for greater integration of accessories. A Readylift suspension kit helps clear Fury OffRoad tires mounted on Black Rhino wheels, and a Superchips Lit LED lightbar improves trail visibility. Artec supplied the fender liners and LED mounts, Expedition One was the source for the bumpers, sliders and roof rack, and Thunder Mountain Truck Outfitters performed the installations.

Hauk Designs

This Wrangler, the handiwork of renowned builder Kenny Hauk of “Hauk Machines,” was on display at the Bullet Liner booth at the 2019 SEMA Show. Power comes from a supercharged 7.0L Hemi V8 that’s been set up to run on E85 ethanol and which has been dyno-tested at more than 1,000 hp. Driveline components include heavy-duty parts from Advance Adapters, Neapco and Revolution Gear & Axle, and the JL rides on a Teraflex suspension and Falcon shocks. Pit Bull tires and Raceline wheels comprise the rolling stock, and Wilwood disc brakes provide stoppage. Ethanol delivery is handled via components from Jaz Products, Mishimoto and Advanced Fuel Dynamics, and AutoMeter gauges monitor engine vitals from inside the cab.

Rockford Fosgate

SEMA Powersports Vehicle of the Year: Polaris RZR XP Ultimate

The Polaris in the Rockford Fosgate booth focused on the entertainment potential of the vehicle. The company installed its newest RZR14-Stage 5 kit, which is an upgrade from its Stage 4 kit. The audio system on the Polaris features a compact AM/FM/WB digital media receiver with a 2.7-in. display. The Polaris setup also includes two subwoofers with speakers in the front and rear. Small chassis amplifiers ramp up the power total to 1,000 watts. The Polaris sits on Raceline wheels and BFGoodrich Baja T/A tires, with Walker Evans shocks to help it travel through rough terrain. Rigid lighting provides visibility in low-light situations.

K&N Engineering

SEMA Powersports Vehicle of the Year: Polaris RZR XP Ultimate

K&N Engineering went a different route with its Polaris and focused on performance. The company added its performance air intake system to increase horsepower and torque. The filter is engineered to increase power by 6.1 horses and torque by 6.6 lb.-ft. Holz Racing Products also provided parts for improved performance. For better drivability over rough terrain, this Polaris relies on Walker Evans Racing shocks and wheels, with BFGoodrich Baja T/A tires. With an increase in performance comes an upgrade in comfort in the interior with Sparco racing seats. The interior also includes equipment from PCI Race Radios.

Rigid

The Polaris in Rigid’s booth was built for secure navigation over difficult terrain. The company kept the powertrain and chassis stock but added exterior modifications, 
BFGoodrich KR2 tires and Method 409 UTV Bead Grip race wheels. The brake calipers are ceramic coated by Moto Whips, and the coilovers are by Seal Savers. Auxiliary lighting includes a Rigid Adapt E-Series 40-in. light bar, Rigid chase lights and Rigid A-Series dome light and rock lights.