Patrick Hong of Road & Track Magazine shares latest and greatest innovations from SEMA-- World's Top Car Show

DIAMOND BAR, CA--Nov 13, 2013: When it comes to innovation from the car world, the place to catch it all is the SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas. Tens of thousands of automotive professionals from around the world descend on the city to check out the latest and greatest car gadgets, products, tools and news.

Since the first SEMA Show, a trade show produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association, debuted in 1967, the annual event has served as the leading venue bringing together manufacturers and buyers within the automotive specialty equipment industry. Products featured at the SEMA Show include those that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars and trucks. This is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world drawing the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. It attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports, and RV markets.

2014 Honda Civic Coupe A significantly updated 2014 Honda Civic Coupe (Honda Civic) made its world debut at the 2013 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, offering a first look at new exterior styling updates to America's best-selling1 compact car. Honda also announced that the performance-oriented Civic Si will benefit from increased power and larger wheels and tires, making both the two- and four-door varieties even more fun to drive. Following a major refresh of Civic Sedan styling for 2013, Honda turns its attention to the Civic Coupe and Coupe Si, implementing a host of exterior design changes that include a more aggressive grille, hood, front fenders and headlight design. Additional Coupe exterior changes include new taillight lenses, sportier front and rear bumpers, new side mirrors and new wheel designs.

"With the further advancement of the 2014 Civic Coupe and Si models and an exciting path forward for performance parts drawing on our racing experience we are making a statement about our commitment to the fun to drive character of the Honda brand," said John Mendel, executive vice president auto sales for American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Music Inspired 2014 Kia Souls Kia Motors America (KMA) provided the perfect rolling soundtrack to Las Vegas’ never-ending light show at SEMA with five music-inspired all-new 2014 Soul urban passenger vehicles, collectively making their presence known with a display worthy of the best Las Vegas nightclub parties. The five sound-blasting creations feature music-themed builds including a DJ Booth Soul, an “Amped” Soul, the museum-like Music Memorabilia Soul, a Soul inspired by NBC’s hit show, The Voice, which Kia has sponsored for four seasons, and a Soul highlighting the brand’s partnership with the Vans Warped Tour. All five Souls of SEMA tell their own unique story with music as their common language.

“Since the Kia Soul first arrived on the scene in 2009, it has established a very real and remarkable connection with music,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing and communications, KMA. “After harnessing five major marketing campaigns with songs spanning from Black Sheep to LMFAO to this year’s Lady Gaga spot, which debuted during MTV’s Video Music Awards, music has become a core attribute of the Soul’s persona. The SEMA show presented the perfect opportunity to bring that personality to life – with the volume turned up to 11.”

Chrysler Group Chrysler headed West with 20 vehicles customized with existing Mopar parts and accessories, as well as concept products designed to elicit feedback, and took the spotlight in the 15,300 square-foot Mopar display at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Mopar-modified vehicles from Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram, SRT, and FIAT brands were prominent at the premier aftermarket event. The exhibit highlighted hundreds of Mopar performance parts and Jeep® Performance Parts from the Mopar Off-Road Division. Also featured:

Ram Sun Chaser show vehicle features makeshift shower kit and “Flip-Up” seatback tailgate bench Jeep Cherokee Trail Carver carries a unique concept roof-rack basket design to store off-road gear Fiat 500L Adventurer takes new five-seater off the beaten path

"The SEMA season is our favorite time of the year," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand. "Whether you want more power at the race track, more capability in the mud, or versatility cruising beaches, Mopar is the only authentic and quality-tested answer."

Bisimoto 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Hyundai is again partnering with the engine wizards of Bisimoto Engineering to create a 1,000 horsepower Genesis Coupe for the 2013 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Bisimoto Engineering is known for extracting awesome, reliable power out of production-grade, everyday powerplants, and the Bisimoto 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is no exception, with 1,000 horsepower generated from a turbocharged Hyundai-factory-based 3.8-liter V6 engine. The Bisimoto powertrain uses newly-designed internal parts, using the naturally-aspirated Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec engine as its core building block. The Bisimoto concept is designed for the reliability of a street car but with the outrageous power of a no-holds-barred racer. “The key to producing reliable, high-horsepower engines goes well beyond the design, engineering and fabrication of performance parts. The core powerplant must be strong enough to withstand advanced modifications. The Genesis Coupe 3.8-liter Lambda engine is a thoroughly robust powerplant, and Bisimoto Engineering is excited to develop it to its full potential for the rigors of competitive motorsport,” said Bisi Ezerioha, owner of Bisimoto Engineering.