Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, the premier annual trade in specialty automotive products, showcased the most attractive and eye-catching cars in the auto industry. This year’s show began on October 31 and ended on the third day of November at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The SEMA show reflects automakers’ sense of environmental concern, as well as their desire to customize vehicles to make their line more appealing to car enthusiasts. One surprising concept car was the EcoJet, created through the efforts of General Motors in collaboration with Jay Leno. The car is powered by a 650-hp turbine engine that generates 585 pound-feet of torque. It runs on biodiesel, a clean-burning fuel from renewable resources.
“We live in an age where a love for cars and the environment don’t seem to mix, but we wanted to show that not all green vehicles have to drive like a Prius,” Leno said during the EcoJet presentation at the SEMA show.
SEMA also launched a new hybrid category for its vehicle design awards. In the standard awards the winners were the Ford Shelby GT500, the Toyota Tundra and the Jeep Wrangler. Chevrolet Silverado Classic Hybrid emerged as the winner in the new hybrid category. The muscular vehicle uses powerful Chevrolet Silverado truck parts including the electric motor that assists its 5.3-liter Vortec V8 engine to create stunning performance.
“The Silverado came out of nowhere, as many other hybrids were getting a lot more press. However, the Silverado has more accessories available than any other vehicle.” So while green is good, customization is still king at SEMA, “said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA Vice President. However, Silverado cannot drive on electricity alone unlike Prius and Civic. Honda Civic auto parts and those of Toyota Prius are designed to work well even when only the electricity works.
Consequently, Shelby and Tundra proved their worth, while Jeep Wrangler parts showed their innovative potential.
At the show, a prototype version of the limited-edition Mugen Civic Si sedan was shown. Plus, the show will never be complete without revealing automotive surprises, including the most expensive and powerful vehicles. In fact, the show featured a car with a $ 2 million prize tag. Said car has a set of diamond-encrusted wheels.
