Automotive

Gallery: Customs, classics and absolute car chaos at SEMA 2018

Gallery: Customs, classics and absolute car chaos at SEMA 2018
What looks like a simple classic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is actually a 1955 gullwing body atop a modern SLK32 chassis
What looks like a simple classic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is actually a 1955 gullwing body atop a modern SLK32 chassis
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Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Hoonigan Ford Mustang
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Hoonigan Ford Mustang
Barrett-Jackson "Driven Hearts" Bugatti Veyron
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Barrett-Jackson "Driven Hearts" Bugatti Veyron
It doesn't feel like SEMA without a rally Porsche or two
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It doesn't feel like SEMA without a rally Porsche or two
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Some loud but pretty paintwork on show
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Some loud but pretty paintwork on show 
That'll get you noticed on the strip
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That'll get you noticed on the strip
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Not our favorite color of Lamborghini ...
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Not our favorite color of Lamborghini ...
...but better than a camo Ferrari
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...but better than a camo Ferrari
Ford's booth is always worth spending some time at thanks to the combination of sports cars, tuner cars, race cars and big, jacked-up trucks
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Ford's booth is always worth spending some time at thanks to the combination of sports cars, tuner cars, race cars and big, jacked-up trucks
Hyundai at SEMA 2018
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Hyundai at SEMA 2018
Acura shows the RealTime Racing TLX GT that competed in Pikes Peak earlier this year
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Acura shows the RealTime Racing TLX GT that competed in Pikes Peak earlier this year
A McLaren on show at SEMA 2018
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A McLaren on show at SEMA 2018
With only about two months to go before the debut of the much-anticipated Supra, Toyota puts the spotlight on Supras of past and present
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With only about two months to go before the debut of the much-anticipated Supra, Toyota puts the spotlight on Supras of past and present
Toyota Supras on show at SEMA 2018
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Toyota Supras on show at SEMA 2018
Chevy Bolt on show at SEMA 2018
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Chevy Bolt on show at SEMA 2018
Not the prettiest Porsche paint job we've ever seen
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Not the prettiest Porsche paint job we've ever seen
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Ford and Pursuit Systems teamed up on the Edge ST camera car designed to film car chase scenes
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Ford and Pursuit Systems teamed up on the Edge ST camera car designed to film car chase scenes
Actually, sometimes enough is enough
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Actually, sometimes enough is enough
MGB GT "Double Agent"
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MGB GT "Double Agent"
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Nissan creates a driving DJ booth, the Kicks Sound Machine
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Nissan creates a driving DJ booth, the Kicks Sound Machine
Nissan at SEMA 2018
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Nissan at SEMA 2018
1968 Dodge "Ice Charger" from Fast & Furious franchise
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1968 Dodge "Ice Charger" from Fast & Furious franchise
Some serious tuning
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Some serious tuning
A rather skeletal Polaris Slingshot with four-wheel conversion kit
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A rather skeletal Polaris Slingshot with four-wheel conversion kit
A rather skeletal Polaris Slingshot with four-wheel conversion kit
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A rather skeletal Polaris Slingshot with four-wheel conversion kit
Lexus at SEMA 2018
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Lexus at SEMA 2018
Classic Chevy Corvette Convertible on show from Barrett-Jackson
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Classic Chevy Corvette Convertible on show from Barrett-Jackson
Hoonigan 1986 Ford RS200
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Hoonigan 1986 Ford RS200
Interesting global graphics make this BMW pop
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Interesting global graphics make this BMW pop
Serious Audi attitude
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Serious Audi attitude
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Chevy previews the future of drag racing and electric crate motors with the eCOPO Camaro
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Chevy previews the future of drag racing and electric crate motors with the eCOPO Camaro
Chevy's eCOPO Camaro trades out the usual V8 for a 700+ hp electric powertrain
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Chevy's eCOPO Camaro trades out the usual V8 for a 700+ hp electric powertrain
Hyundai puts the focus on the Veloster
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Hyundai puts the focus on the Veloster
The 2019 Hyundai Veloster N is the first "N" performance Hyundai model in the US
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The 2019 Hyundai Veloster N is the first "N" performance Hyundai model in the US
Beyond just showing some cool concepts, Hyundai used SEMA to announce plans for a full lineup of performance parts for the 2019 Veloster Turbo and other models
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Beyond just showing some cool concepts, Hyundai used SEMA to announce plans for a full lineup of performance parts for the 2019 Veloster Turbo and other models
Hyundai at SEMA 2018
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Hyundai at SEMA 2018
It may not be the most powerful car in Honda's SEMA lineup, but this First Honda pedal car concept is still one of the coolest; inspired by the 2015 2&4 Concept, it's designed to get kids excited about the Honda brand
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It may not be the most powerful car in Honda's SEMA lineup, but this First Honda pedal car concept is still one of the coolest; inspired by the 2015 2&4 Concept, it's designed to get kids excited about the Honda brand
Toyota has made it official: the all-new fifth-generation Supra will debut at next year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit
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Toyota has made it official: the all-new fifth-generation Supra will debut at next year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit
Toyota at SEMA 2018
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Toyota at SEMA 2018
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Kia Queensland Police Stinger
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Kia Queensland Police Stinger 
DUB Kia Stinger
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DUB Kia Stinger
DUB Kia K900
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DUB Kia K900
Awesome Kia Forte drift car
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Awesome Kia Forte drift car
Pennzoil revealed this fully tuned Volvo with Corvette power at SEMA 2018
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Pennzoil revealed this fully tuned Volvo with Corvette power at SEMA 2018
Seriously loud wrap
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Seriously loud wrap
SEMA's usually good for a couple of motorhomes and expedition vehicles - this Mini with roof-top tent has to be the smallest of the show
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SEMA's usually good for a couple of motorhomes and expedition vehicles - this Mini with roof-top tent has to be the smallest of the show
No shortage of Porsches on show
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No shortage of Porsches on show
Cars of SEMA 2018
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Cars of SEMA 2018
Toyo Tires shows off a project build based on a 1988 Ferrari 328GTS
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Toyo Tires shows off a project build based on a 1988 Ferrari 328GTS
What looks like a simple classic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is actually a 1955 gullwing body atop a modern SLK32 chassis
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What looks like a simple classic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is actually a 1955 gullwing body atop a modern SLK32 chassis
More pretty Porsche action at Toyo Tires
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More pretty Porsche action at Toyo Tires
Toyo Tires at SEMA 2018
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Toyo Tires at SEMA 2018
2018 Karma Revero
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2018 Karma Revero
A dramatic old-timer
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A dramatic old-timer
What's up with the green Porsches?
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What's up with the green Porsches?
Some serious wing
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Some serious wing
A study in applying one of many wraps on show at SEMA
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A study in applying one of many wraps on show at SEMA
Speaking of wraps ...
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Speaking of wraps ...
Hot rods of SEMA 2018
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Hot rods of SEMA 2018
Mopar reveals the 1968 Dodge "Super Charger" concept, along with its 1,000-hp supercharged HEMI crate engine kit
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Mopar reveals the 1968 Dodge "Super Charger" concept, along with its 1,000-hp supercharged HEMI crate engine kit
Mopar reveals the 1,000-hp Hellephant 426 crate engine
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Mopar reveals the 1,000-hp Hellephant 426 crate engine
The original 1968 Ford Mustang from Bullitt has gotten a lot of attention this year
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The original 1968 Ford Mustang from Bullitt has gotten a lot of attention this year
Nissan Project Clubsport 23
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One of SEMA's many "not sure what it is, but we know it's cool" builds
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One of SEMA's many "not sure what it is, but we know it's cool" builds
Ford announced an extended GT production schedule earlier this month, and at SEMA it debuted the new Carbon Series edition
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Ford announced an extended GT production schedule earlier this month, and at SEMA it debuted the new Carbon Series edition
Ford drops some GT weight with the GT Carbon Series
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Ford drops some GT weight with the GT Carbon Series
In other Ford GT news ... SuperPerformance's $179,900 Future GT Forty combines a modern V6 EcoBoost engine with a classic GT40 replica
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In other Ford GT news ... SuperPerformance's $179,900 Future GT Forty combines a modern V6 EcoBoost engine with a classic GT40 replica
Brembo commissioned Troy Lee Designs to paint one of its all-new B-M6 brake calipers for SEMA, and what resulted was this beauty inspired by Troy Lee's 2011 Flying Lizard Porsche Le Mans livery
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Brembo commissioned Troy Lee Designs to paint one of its all-new B-M6 brake calipers for SEMA, and what resulted was this beauty inspired by Troy Lee's 2011 Flying Lizard Porsche Le Mans livery
View gallery - 87 images

Late October is the time of year when Americans young and old dress up and become someone - or something - else for a day or two. It's also the time when American vehicles young and old get dressed into something else and parade around the annual SEMA Show. Some are pretty, some pretty terrifying. This year's show proved a bit tamer than last year (no all-new 300-mph supercars or $1.5 million off-road motorhomes, we're aware of), but it was still wall-to-wall with lusty sports cars, delicious retromods and all other styles of wild one-of-a-kinds.

We're focusing solely on cars (and things that look like cars) here, as we'll be doing a separate gallery for the jacked-up trucks and 4x4s. We've already looked at a few of the coolest debuts, from an all-electric eCOPO Camaro drag car, to a pizza-tossing Toyota Tundra, to a fully electrified 1949 Mercury Coupe. Here are some other standouts:

The Hellephant in the room

Dodge and Mopar continue bombarding the market with positively hellacious performance products, this time releasing the "Hellephant" 426 Supercharged Mopar Crate HEMI engine and Kit, a beast of a plug-and-play V8 that develops up to 1,000 hp and 950 lb-ft. The all-aluminum block engine includes a supercharger with high-efficiency rotor; valve train, valves, locks and retainers from the Dodge Demon; and valve covers from the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye.

Mopar reveals the 1968 Dodge "Super Charger" concept, along with its 1,000-hp supercharged HEMI crate engine kit
Mopar reveals the 1968 Dodge "Super Charger" concept, along with its 1,000-hp supercharged HEMI crate engine kit

The Hellephant engine is designed with pre-1976 street and off-road vehicles in mind, and just in case you're having trouble envisioning what type of project you might drop it in, Dodge debuted the 1968 "Super Charger" Concept alongside it. Along with the Hellephant engine, the Super Charger features components pulled from the current Fiat-Chrysler performance vehicle stable. The Challenger SRT Hellcat's six-speed manual transmission handles shifting; a Demon-inspired hood scoop sucks in air; Hellcat headlamps peeking out from behind the grille replace the original pop-ups; a Charger R/T-inspired rear spoiler rises in back; and a specially fitted set of Alfa Romeo Stelvio exhaust tips spit out emissions, among various other updates.

Mopar will launch the Hellephant crate engine and kit in the first quarter of 2019.

Altered carbon

Earlier in October, Ford announced that it would extend production of the GT, adding another 350 models to the build schedule for a total of 1,350. It promptly followed that announcement up by releasing another special model variant at SEMA, the Carbon Series.

Ford drops some GT weight with the GT Carbon Series
Ford drops some GT weight with the GT Carbon Series

Quite similar to the Competition Series announced earlier in the year, but with a few more creature comforts, the Carbon Series sheds close to 40 pounds (18 kg) with the addition of lightweight parts, including carbon fiber wheels, a titanium exhaust and a polycarbonate engine cover. Unlike the Competition model, it doesn't lose the air conditioning, SYNC 3 infotainment or radio, making it as enjoyable to drive to the track as on it. Items like the center storage bin and cupholders stay behind to keep weight down.

With its carbon wheels, stripes, A-pillars, lower body and interior trim, the Carbon Series includes more visible carbon fiber in its design than any previous GT edition. Buyers can make it pop even more by adding one of four available accent colors - silver, orange, red or blue.

The Carbon Series is available for order now, but only to those approved through Ford's rigorous GT application process. It may have extended production, but there are still many more potential buyers than there are cars to be had. The final customer application round opens up on November 8.

Baby's first Honda

When you're in a room of grumbling hot rods literally bursting out of their skins with engine power, sometimes it's the simpler cars that stand out. The First Honda pedal car concept was among the simplest at this year's SEMA Show, measuring output not in horsepower but in little leg-power. That doesn't mean it's not awesome, though.

It may not be the most powerful car in Honda's SEMA lineup, but this First Honda pedal car concept is still one of the coolest; inspired by the 2015 2&4 Concept, it's designed to get kids excited about the Honda brand
It may not be the most powerful car in Honda's SEMA lineup, but this First Honda pedal car concept is still one of the coolest; inspired by the 2015 2&4 Concept, it's designed to get kids excited about the Honda brand

Similar to Toyota's Camatte toy concept car lineup, the idea behind the First Honda is to give kids an appreciation for cars (and the Honda badge) at an early age. Its design is inspired by the 2015 Project 2&4 and incorporates carbon fiber construction. There's no motor, but there is a rechargeable battery for powering the lights and charging port in the snack compartment under the hood.

And without further ado, we'll let you continue onward to the photo gallery and see the rest of the deep field of SEMA cars.

View gallery - 87 images
3 comments
3 comments
ljaques
The twin turbo Stang and GTs were sweet!
Erg
Pic 12 - Mazda R-100 - Epic! Looks a bit different to the 12A Extend port. I used to have.
Buzzclick
One of the biggest challenges for an artist who's creating a work of art is knowing when to stop...this doesn't apply here. There are gems in the bunch, but you have to trudge through a whole lot of meh to find them. Of course, this is Vegas, and a sh*t-load of Americans with a lot of time on their hands, so don't act surprised!