Automakers
Mitsubishi Debuts the 2028 Outlander Diamond Trail Edition in Its First SEMA Appearance Since 2012
Mitsubishi Motors North America staged the world debut of the 2028 Outlander Diamond Trail Edition in West Hall, Booth 52249, marking the brand’s first showing at the event in 14 years. Three versions of the trail-focused SUV share the stand: one stock example fitted with factory accessories and a color-matched roof box, and two modified builds that show what aftermarket suppliers can add. According to The Shop, the modified examples carry a Thule Caprock roof rack with an Approach 2M rooftop tent, Rough Country traction boards, and a Rough Country light bar and light pods. Six Mitsubishi vehicles are on display in total.
The factory version gets redesigned bumpers, over-fenders, a matte black grille and a new Trail Green Metallic paint that can be paired with a white roof, according to Auto123. Reports put the approach angle at 20.5 degrees, up from 18.3, and the departure angle at 23.1 degrees, up from 22.2. Mitsubishi has not released U.S. pricing or an on-sale date, Motor1 reported, while Auto123 said Canadian sales are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027. Mark Chaffin, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, described the show as the right stage for the debut.
Jeep Unveils the Wrangler Scrambler SRT Concept With V8 Power and Independent Front Suspension
Jeep and SRT Performance unveiled the Wrangler Scrambler SRT Concept, a two-door pickup with a usable cargo bed that reinterprets the CJ-8 Scrambler sold from 1981 to 1986. Motor1 reported it is the first Wrangler-branded vehicle with independent front suspension, paired with a Trophy Truck-style rear setup aimed at high-speed desert driving. Jeep confirmed a V8 but has not released output figures. The rear jump seats rotate 180 degrees and can be removed, and The Drive reported the vehicle rides on 37-inch tires.
Tim Kuniskis, head of American Brands, SRT Performance and Direct Connection at Stellantis North America, presented the vehicle. Jeep labels it a concept, but The Drive reported that it is part of the company’s upcoming product plan and that it first saw the project in May. Carscoops noted that it cannot be purchased at this time.
Ford Racing Shows the R125 Mustang Restomod and an 1985 F-250 With a Crate V8
Ford Racing debuted the R125, a 1966 Mustang Fastback built as a tribute to Henry Ford’s 1901 racing victory, the win that led to the founding of Ford Motor Company 125 years ago. Motor1 reported that the car uses a 347-cubic-inch stroker small-block rated at 360 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, Edelbrock Pro-Flo electronic fuel injection and a TREMEC TKX-600 five-speed manual. The engine, fuel system and transmission are all catalog items from Ford Racing Parts, intended to show that a driver-focused restomod can be assembled from parts sold today, and the transmission fits the floorpan with minimal modification.
Motor1 also highlighted a 1985 Ford F-250 on the show floor, built by Matt Johnson on its original chassis and body. The truck runs a Ford Racing 460-cubic-inch Heritage small-block crate engine rated at 575 horsepower, along with a reworked TTB front suspension and oversized tires.
Honda Racing Corporation Brings 12 Racing Machines and a 1,300-Plus-Horsepower Hybrid Trophy Truck
Honda Racing Corporation USA is displaying 12 racing machines at the Las Vegas Convention Center through November 6, according to a report from TestMiles published by KRQE. The collection spans Formula One, IndyCar, endurance racing, motocross and Baja desert competition, and includes the hybrid desert-racing truck with more than 1,300 horsepower. A Civic Type R concept is also on display, and the report said Honda confirmed the model under development is intended for the United States. The report also pointed to an expansion of Honda’s aftermarket performance parts business.
Builders and Vehicle Reveals
Ringbrothers Reveals BILLIE, a 650-Horsepower 1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible
Ringbrothers unveiled BILLIE at its Central Hall press conference, Booth 23889. The custom 1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible began life as a Tempest convertible and required more than 5,500 hours of work, according to the builder. The body is five inches wider, with carbon-fiber doors, reshaped front fenders, widened rear quarters and lengthened rocker panels. Power comes from a supercharged 650-horsepower LT4 V8 with an exhaust built in-house, and the finish is a custom shade called Billie Goat Blue. Jim Ring, Ringbrothers co-founder, said the challenge was widening the body without losing the proportions that make a ’65 GTO recognizable.
Classic Recreations Debuts a Carbon-Fiber 1967 Shelby GT500CR at the FuelTech Booth
Classic Recreations is making its first SEMA appearance under Velocity Restorations ownership with the GT500CR Carbon, which the company describes as the only production, officially licensed 1967 Shelby GT500 built with a carbon-fiber body. The car is on view at FuelTech Booth 24431 in Central Hall after appearing at the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas. A Wegner-built Gen 4X Coyote V8 with a Whipple 3.0-liter inverted supercharger produces about 1,000 horsepower, managed by a FuelTech FT700 standalone ECU that also handles traction control, working with a Vaporworx fuel controller.
The drivetrain includes a Suncoast-built 10R80 10-speed automatic. Underneath are Detroit Speed Aluma-Frame front and QuadraLink rear suspension, Nitron Elec-Tron electronically controlled shocks, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, Forgeline Carbon Grudge wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Inside are a Dakota Digital cluster and a Focal speaker system with a Mosconi amplifier and an Alpine head unit.
Meguiar’s Unveils a Fat Fender Garage Ford F-100 and a TJ Hunt Aston Martin Vantage GT3
Meguiar’s is marking its 125th anniversary in Central Hall, Booth 22357, where it unveiled two project cars at an 11:30 a.m. press conference, continuing its tradition of showing two never-before-seen builds. One is a Ford F-100 built by Fat Fender Garage. The other is TJ Hunt’s Aston Martin Vantage GT3, which follows his earlier Ferrari 488 and 2022 BMW M4 GT3 conversions shown in the Meguiar’s booth. Hunt secured a modified version of the Aston Martin Racing GT3 body kit for the project.
Products and Exhibitors
Massimo Group Launches the Warrior 1500XD and Sentinel 1500 HVAC Crew
Massimo Group (Nasdaq: MAMO) announced the official launch of the 2027 Warrior 1500XD and the Sentinel 1500 HVAC Crew at Booth 56217. Both are built around a new 1,499cc inline-four-cylinder engine platform that the company says is designed for recreational, commercial and fleet use. CEO Quenton Petersen said the Equip Exposition gave the company its first chance to show the models to a large group of dealers and that SEMA is the next step.
Air Lift Company Details Smart Terrain Leveling and AirConnect
Air Lift Company, Air Lift Performance and Universal Air Suspension share Central Hall Booth 22543 along with an outdoor presence. Smart Terrain Leveling is a four-corner air suspension concept that automatically levels a parked vehicle on uneven ground using accelerometer-based technology and a touchscreen interface. AirConnect is the company’s next generation of wireless onboard compressor systems.
Holley Performance Brands and Amotiv Prepare Joint Announcement
Holley Performance Brands (NYSE: HLLY) and Amotiv Limited (ASX: AOV) announced a strategic collaboration on October 26 to expand brand reach across North America, Australia and New Zealand. The companies said they would share further details at a joint press conference at Holley’s Central Hall booth, 22463, at noon Pacific on Tuesday.
Awards
SEMA Names Advanced Clutch Technology Manufacturer of the Year and Motor State Distributing Channel Partner of the Year
SEMA named Advanced Clutch Technology its 2026 Manufacturer of the Year and Motor State Distributing its 2026 Channel Partner of the Year at the Kickoff Breakfast, according to Traction News. SEMA cited Advanced Clutch Technology’s continued product development, domestic manufacturing capabilities and growing distributor support. Motor State Distributing has now received six previous SEMA industry awards. Advanced Clutch Technology exhibits in Central Hall, Booth 23131, and Motor State Distributing in Central Hall, Booth 21237.
SEMA Announces 2026 New Product Award Winners Across 15 Categories
More than 1,300 products competed across 15 New Products Showcase categories, with judges selecting one winner and two runners-up in each, SEMA said. SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola said the honorees show how the industry continues to anticipate customer needs. Entries were judged on innovation, manufacturing quality, consumer appeal, marketability and technical achievement. All 45 honorees are displayed in the New Products Showcase in Lower South Hall, Booth 41271.
Winners include Barrel FX for Car Care & Protection, Celette’s WebTools for Collision Repair & Refinish and the NAPA XcceleratoR XR Training Goggles for Emerging Technology. Hard-n-Fast Racing Products’ Black Widow won Engineered New Product, FLATED’s RIV MR52 AirTopper won Exterior Accessory, and SPEEDHUT’s GPS speedometer and tachometer gauge cluster for 1966-77 Ford Bronco and 1961-67 F-100 models won Interior Accessory. FLATED also took Package Design & Display for its Mini Mid-Rise Air-Topper Display.
In performance categories, the Edelbrock-family FAST LS XCR LS3 intake manifold won Performance – Racing, and Livernois Motorsports & Engineering’s differential brace system for 2015-27 Mustang won Performance – Street. The RIMiQ BLUE INFLATiQ portable tire inflator won Powersports | SxS | Lifestyle, and Jenvey Dynamics’ Chevrolet LS3 Downdraft kit won Street Rod & Custom Car. Bartec TPMS’s Sens-Rite won Tire & Related, ADAS Depot’s CarCal QuickCal 5.0 system won Tools & Equipment, Flat Peak’s roof top tent leveling mounts won Truck & Off-Road, and CTA Tools’ carbon fiber sleeve metric lug socket set won Wheel & Related.
Several runners-up involve vehicle electronics and connectivity, including TYPE S’s T103 PLUS four-channel dash cam with dual configurable blind spot cameras in Exterior Accessory, a COBB Tuning CAN gateway for factory ECU sensor expansion distributed by Auto Meter in Performance – Street, and a General Motors Accessories center console refrigerated cooler in Interior Accessory.