As a must-attend event, the annual Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association Show never fails to impress. Bursting at the seams with every trick automotive accessory, the number of exhibitors at the SEMA Show has grown so much over the years that it now takes four huge exhibit halls at the Las Vegas Convention Center just to hold the exhibits and displays. This year, 1,400 companies displayed their wares within 7,000 booths for 90,000 show attendees. This story is focused on the vehicles and sights of the SEMA Show. for an in-depth look at the hot new products for 2003, be sure to check out our guide to SEMA's best new products on page 56.
Hot new trend: Wild H2 Hummers
Every year, a new trend, or trends, materializes at the SEMA Show. For 2003, the trend-setting 4x4 was undoubtedly the General's Hummer H2, at least if the numerous lifted and modified H2s seen at SEMA are any indication of what's likely to be popular with off-road enthusiasts in the near future. With a chassis and suspension based on the Tahoe/Yukon, aftermarket development of modified H2 underpinnings has been rapid. Is the modified H2 a flash-in-the-pan or a bona fide trend? Only time will tell, but for now, way-tall H2s seem to be the hot ticket.
Hot new trend:Prerunners Come of Age
Although we've been watching this trend develop for several years, it was gratifying to see exotic and daily driven prerunners finally make a strong showing at the SEMA event. In fact, prerunner trucks represented a large segment of the off-road vehicles at the Show, and it's no wonder, given the fact that these purpose-built machines are an ideal showcase for aftermarket accessory manufacturers because they're loaded to the gills with trick goodies.
Best ongoing trend: The Women of SEMA
Call us chauvinists if you must, but one of the perks of attending SEMA is the chance to talk with the numerous lovely ladies who are on hand to sign posters and act as spokesmodels for various aftermarket accessory manufacturers. Although there were many gorgeous girls in attendance - and we captured most of them on film - space limitations require us to share with you only the most photogenic femmes at SEMA, and here they are: