The 2011 Sema Show highlights

This year’s Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association Show, more commonly known as the Sema Show, considered the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, takes place November 1-4 at the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center, with over 2,000 exhibitors.

The event draws most of the US auto aftermarket industry’s best brands and most creative minds to show the newest and hottest after market and performance auto products to one location. As attendees are by invitation and are limited to trade visitors only, it is significant to note that the Philippine flag will be flying in the Sema Show with the GT111, a prototype all-electric sports grand touring car designed and engineered here in the Philippines by a team of Filipinos.

Last year, the show drew more than 100,000 attendees and had a total of over 1,500 new product launches and the show displays are grouped into a dozen sections. Sema members try to outdo themselves by unveiling more creative and cutting-edge products for automotive OEM and after-market industry each year. Inquirer Motoring takes a look at some of the highlights this year.

Mustang convertible

Ford Mustang fans and classic car collectors will be eager to check out the faithful reproduction of the classic first generation Mustang in a convertible body as Ford Motor Company recently announced the production of this timeless pony classic that revolutionized the way American cars were made since the 1960s. Manufactured under license by Dynacorn International, the independent auto sheet metal company also produces reproduction shells for classic Camaros, Firebirds, Chevelles, Challengers and Chevy trucks, as well as the second-generation Mustangs. With a price tag of about US$15,000 the shell can be delivered on a truck and it comes complete with doors, trunk lid (the front fenders and front hood comes in as an extra purchase) and all the necessary sheet metal to build and reproduce the venerable classic pony car.

Power convertible top for Jeep Wrangler

Roadwire will unveil the first-ever, power-operated convertible top for Jeep’s iconic Wrangler featuring the all-new myTop that transforms the Wrangler into an open top 4×4 adventure vehicle with a simple push of a button. Made in the US using a Haartz Stayfast fabric, it uses a sturdy but light-weight aircraft-grade aluminum frame, with motors constructed to the same exacting specifications as an F-14 fighter jet canopy. The current myTop is designed to fit all 2-door Wrangler JK models from 2007-2012. A 4-door version is currently under development but Roadwire will have a prototype on exhibit as well.

i-Tune your car? i-Want!

SCT Performance redefines the word i-Tune as it offers better performance with any 1996-2011 Ford gas or diesel engine vehicles in just 15 minutes with a wireless iPod, iPhone or iPad solution. Designed with the average car owner in mind, its iTSX System unlocks the car’s hidden performance potential by wirelessly recalibrating the vehicle’s computer for optimum horsepower and torque with notable increase in throttle response and even increased fuel economy. Dubbed as the first vehicle-tuning and monitoring “Made for iPod-iPhone-iPad vehicle tuner,” the iTSX wireless’ OBD-II (on-board diagnostics 2nd generation) interface plugs into the vehicle’s OBD-II diagnostic connector, and communicates with any of the said Apple devices via a secure Bluetooth wireless connection.

Mario Andretti-Edition Chevrolet Camaro

High-performance exhaust company MagnaFlow will display the Mario Andretti-Edition 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS for the first time featuring some of its latest offerings and after-market fit outs from Brembo Brakes, Eibach Springs and Pirelli. The specially designed Camaro is slated for auction at the Barrett-Jackson 2012 Scottsdale event as all proceeds will be given to The Wounded Warrior Project. Considered as one of the greatest race car drivers of the 20th century, Andretti makes regular appearances at the Sema show.

Richard Petty Mustangs, Chip Foose ‘Gullwing’

A regular exhibitor in Sema, BASF Automotive Refinish Solutions will showcase several world-class customized cars and feature their waterborne and custom-color Glasurit and R-M brand paint technology with celebrity appearances by custom car designer and TV personality Chip Foose and Ryan Friedlinghaus of West Coast Customs. The two famous designers have regular TV shows aired even on our very own local Discovery Turbo cable channel shows.

Chip Foose, known for successful auto TV reality shows like “Overhaulin,” will unveil his latest creation—a 1957 Mercedes 300SL “Gullwing” Mercedes-Benz—as he launches 12 new Foose Signature Colors he designed for BASF. Aside from this, BASF will showcase two must-see customized Mustangs this year—the Darryl Gwynn Mustang built by West Coast Customs that was featured in Ryan’s September episode of Inside West Coast Customs plus the Richard Petty Signature Series Mustang built by Petty’s Garage. Both of these vehicles are painted with BASF’s R-M Onyx HD waterborne system.