SEMA 2023 bigger and better than ever

SEMA 2023 (Specialty Equipment Marketing Association) in Las Vegas was this year marked by the large number of patrons ogling large numbers of modified and accessorised cars, SUVs, and US-spec pick-ups in addition to a plethora of new equipment, motor trade related machines and products and information presentations.

Responding to a growing international trend for “overlanding” and “adventure” driving, manufacturers and specialist engineering outfits obliged with a rash of off-road enhanced models including some tasty builds from Down Under.

Highly modified vehicles from numerous performance specialists and OEM manufacturers whet the appetite of the thousands of auto trade attendees and performance vehicle tragics at the super-size event.

A vast amount of new product was on display ranging from custom lights to carbon-fibre body parts, engines and performance components right through to the more prosaic car care products and high-tech machinery.

Accolades are given to many automotive related classifications, too many to mention here, but on the new car front, Ford came out on top winning four of the six (voted on) vehicle award categories for models that are setting trends in the automotive enthusiast industry and offer great opportunities for customisation.

Here is a look at this year’s winners.

Ford Mustang – Car of the Year

Multiple modified versions of the venerable Ford Mustang featured at SEMA from 1965 models through to the MY2024 that arrives here early next year in 5.0-litre Coyote V8 and 2.3-litre EcoBoost spec.

Out of SEMA, and the model that no doubt turned voters heads, comes news of a real Mustang hot rod called the FP800S pack which as the name suggests rocks an upgrade to “at least” 800 horsepower (600kW) for the pony car.

It adds a 3.0-litre Whipple supercharger to the Coyote power plant along with other appropriate upgrades to cope and is from Ford Performance Parts.

To help manage the fury of the additional horsepower over the standard Mustang GT, the FP800S includes a Ford Performance half-shaft upgrade kit and a street lowering kit. Options include a Borla Extreme cat-back exhaust with quad 5.0-inch tips and carbon-fibre aero elements.

Ford F-Series – Full Size Truck of the Year

The SEMA accolade goes to Ford’s F-Series presumably the F-150 as it is the most modified of all Ford “Effies”.

With the factory F-150 Raptor already boasting extensive mods comes news of the availability of the same FP800 pack out of Mustang in the F-150 upping the power output to a whopping 600kW with commensurate mechanical and dynamic upgrades to cope.

It will likely keep the F-150 Lightning BEV honest in a drag race…

Toyota Tacoma – Midsize Truck of the Year

Toyota’s Tacoma takes out this award for the second year in a row.

Toyota displayed seven 2024 Tacoma vehicles representing just a few of the many possibilities the model offers. The one-of-a-kind concepts and specialty builds include the Tacoma Blue Beetle in addition to accessorised versions of Tacoma TrailHunter, Tacoma TRD Pro, Tacoma TRD Off-Road and more.

Toyota also showed the 2024 Tacoma X-Runner Concept, Toyota Calty Design Studio’s take on what a 3.4-litre twin-turbocharged V6 in a slammed street truck could look and perform like given the flexibility offered by Tacoma’s TGNA-F product platform.

 “We are proud to receive the SEMA Midsize Truck of the Year award,” said Toyota marketing group vice president, Mike Tripp..

“The SEMA Awards celebrate the creativity and personalisation that play so heavily with customers. For 2024, we have built a Tacoma for every person and every lifestyle with the flexibility to allow customers to find their own adventure and push the boundaries of what’s possible.”.

Ford Bronco – 4x4 SUV of the Year

Many Ford Broncos were front and centre on Ford’s SEMA stand including the Ford Performance ORV concept package that mixes form and function and is available in the US on any Bronco Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, or Outer Banks with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine and either automatic or manual transmission.

It starts with a 2.0-inch lift via a Bilstein suspension and rides atop 17-inch white wheels and 35-inch tires, the Bronco package adding a unique software calibration for the 2.3-liter engine. Ford Performance options for the ORV pack include a high-clearance Borla cat-back exhaust, an ARB jack and mount, and an under-bonnet compressor.

Ford says the Ford Bronco is at home in the desert, on rocky trails, or along muddy forest paths and now it’s ready for the beach, something the SEMA voters concur with… The Ford Bronco remains a “maybe” for Australia.

Nissan Z – Sport Compact of the Year

Nissan’s newly minted Z sports coupe is ripe for modification, and such was the case with SEMA 2023 display vehicles.

The saying “heads on ‘em like white mice” seems relevant to describe the number of modified Zeds in ‘Vegas that even included a “safari” tribute version in a similar mould to the Lamborghini Sterrato and Porsche Dakar.

The show car featured raised KW Safari suspension with associated Nismo parts to give a 50mm ride height lift over standard. It rolls on 17-inch Nismo Safari wheels fitted with Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tyres.

Full underbody bash plates protect the car’s entrails while the nose is equipped with Nismo Off Road LED lights. There’s the obligatory roll cage inside surrounding a pair of Recaro Pole Position race seats and four-point harnesses.

The mill is a tuned version of the standard car’s 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 generating some 300kW plus thanks to exhaust upgrades a cold air intake and the cooling system and is covered with a carbon fibre heat shield.

Behind the engine a six-speed manual is grafted on with a twin-plate clutch and lightened flywheel.

Other SEMA special Zeds placed a focus on everything from drifting to cruising to track racing drag racing and simply show cars. No wonder the voters gave it the nod.

Ford F-150 Lightning – EV of the Year

A lay down misère as EV of the Year at a show such as SEMA due to its huge popularity and immense performance from the dual electric traction motors the F-150 Lightning can call up a 332kW and 1050Nm output that puts the 3.0-tonne truck across the line from 0-100km/h in under 4.0 seconds.

As expected, with figures like this in standard OEM form, an extensive aftermarket has built up around the Lightning offering everything from performance upgrades and a generated V8 exhaust sound to hard-core off-road accessories and body add-ons – right up SEMA’s alley.

In addition to the SEMA EV of the Year, the F-150 Lightning has also been awarded 2023 North American Truck of the Year the latest award for the electric truck and the third straight Truck of the Year award for Ford.

2023 SEMA winners: