Legality? Who cares!
Tuner events have three things in common… chrome, horsepower and great looking girls. Why should it be otherwise in ‘sin city’ when the tuners and customizers stand in the spotlight and present to the public the mastery of their craft. In comparison with the SEMA in it must be said that tuning events in Germany… like the Tuning World at Lake Constance or the Essen Motorshow… tend to look like kindergarten playgrounds. In Vegas nobody cares that the rims with long, sharp blades would give the vehicle inspection authorities nightmares. The German motto has always been “either it looks cool or it’s street legal” would be laughed at in the United States. Street legal? Who cares!
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- Entire clans spanning several generations process slowly among the automobiles, many of which have been so extremely modified that it becomes hard to imagine what they might once have been.
The perennial
Year in, year out it’s the Convention Center in Las Vegas which serves as the venue for this extravaganza of fat tires, excessive chrome, accessories and after-market goodies of all kinds. It is far from boring… which can partly be explained by the models and hostesses flown in to decorate every exhibitor’s stand where some of the better known girls even sign autographs. But the tuning event is also fun for the entire family, a fact once again emphasized this year. Entire clans spanning several generations process slowly among the automobiles, many of which have been so extremely modified that it becomes hard to imagine what they might once have been. Occasionally one sees little kids held in check with dog leads. Why? Because it would be all too easy for a small child to vanish in end pipes the size of chimneys or wheel-arches as big as dolls’ houses. It is, however, not just the tuners and customizers who are intent on showing off here. Many automobile manufacturers see the SEMA as the perfect opportunity to display their latest models or concepts. This year there is a Hyundai Veloster which has been given rally allure by the tuner Ark Performance. There are no less than seven versions of the Ford Focus to be admired and its smaller sibling, the Fiesta, has also been given a makeover.
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- A pimped Chevrolet Camaro is ‘sin city’.
Chevy at the SEMA
Chevrolet in its centennial year has come to the Strip with their 587 horsepower (432 kW) ZL1 in four different configuration levels. There is also the 1LE concept on show, modified for racing. A compressor boosts the 6.2 litre mill of the ZL1… in stock trim capable of outputting 432 horsepower (318 kW)… to deliver 100 horsepower (74 kW) more push. This inevitably all comes from a V8 power plant. In order for all this power to reach the road the Camaro has been given 20 inch wheels. But this is by no means the end of the story… the Camaro Synergy Series Concept took shape live as the visitors watched.
Lexus and Apexi
Lexus hit town with a pimped version of their IS 350C. Its 386 horsepower (284 kW) is enabled by a Rotex compressor from Apexi. Also noteworthy is the shimmering blue chameleon lacquer finish. The marque is also proud of its GS F-Sport model, the first full-hybrid with complex all-wheel-steering. The Lexus subsidiary of Toyota also used the SEMA to introduce a new equipment line with both visual and technical innovations. The ‘F-Sport’ models get an exclusive facelift, rear spoilers and big 19 inch rims.
Ultra-cool off-road
If this is just too boring, then the visitor should turn to the stand of Icon Motors. This is a Los Angeles based firm who specialize in bringing historical off-roaders like the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Bronco or the Jeep CJ bang up to date. They are given new undercarriages, V8 motors with at least 350 horsepower on the new chassis and a powder-coated paintwork finish… and that’s how the ultra-cool off-roaders look in Vegas.
