Stunners of SEMA

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Stunners of SEMA

Every year, the newest and best from the US automotive aftermarket industry is presented at SEMA. Every year also sees the presentation of some wild and wonderful 4x4s and SUVs
February 15, 2018 8:13 AM AWST
Every year, the newest and best from the US automotive aftermarket industry is presented at SEMA. Every year also sees the presentation of some wild and wonderful 4x4s and SUVs

Stunners of SEMA

Las Vegas may be famous for gambling, but for a handful of days every year, it’ also a mecca for the American automotive aftermarket industry.

Each year, the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show sees the unveiling of new and updated aftermarket products for the auto industry, and while it’s a trade-only show, it seems an increasing number of public and enthusiasts seem to find their way into the event!

As a trade show, exhibitors are always looking for new and unusual ways to show off their products. This usually takes the form of a stunning custom car or two, but if you service the 4x4 and off-road end of the market, a suitably customised offroad machine usually takes pride of place.

While the OEM side of the industry, represented by the Likes of Ford, GM (mainly Chevrolet) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (mainly Jeep) have the biggest and busiest stands, the other exhibitors often rock up with something just as cool and eye-catching.

Case in point with the latter was the ‘Four Horseman’ from Maxlider. Taking a classic Ford Bronco from the early ‘70s, Maxlider stretched the body to add a second set of doors, turning the compact offroader into a three-row six-seater, then threw in a supercharged V8 to boot! Unfortunately, we couldn’t get any images of it, but look for ‘Maxlider Four Horseman Bronco’ online – it’s one cool rig.

Like any recent year at SEMA, there’s really too much to cover in its entirety, so here’s a snapshot of some of the more intriguing and interesting 4x4s and SUVs that featured at SEMA 2017.

 

 

Words: Mike Ryan

Photos: FCA Media and Newspress UK

This version of Volkswagen’s Atlas SUV was created by racer Tanner Foust in partnership with LGE CTS Motorsport. Designed for offroad rally competition, modifications to the seven-seat Atlas included jacked-up suspension and offroad wheels and tyres, wheelarch flares, front bumper delete, auxiliary lighting and roof-mounted carry rack.
‘Expedition SEMA’ FJ40 LandCruiser was built by The Garage Shop in North Carolina and actually went on an “expedition” to SEMA, taking on all the dirt roads, abandoned areas and offroad trails it could find between Missouri and Las Vegas in a 6,000km, six state, 20-day trek, hence it’s “used” appearance!
This brick of a machine is the ‘Bollinger B1’ from Bollinger Motors. Claiming to be the world’s first all-electric AWD sport utility truck, the B1 also claims exceptional offroad ability. Built on an all-aluminium chassis, the electric drivetrain outputs 268kW and 639Nm, while the ride height is adjustable and the lack of an internal combustion engine means there’s load space under the bonnet.
ARB was one of a handful of Aussie companies exhibiting at the event.
Modified by RTR, this Ford F-150 was one of eleven pickups and SUVs to feature on the Ford stand. Based on a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4 Super Crew, the RTR conversion included upgraded suspension, RTR off-road wheels and compatible Nitto Ridge Grappler tyres. There were also RTR cosmetic updates of the grille, wheelarch flares, tailgate and deck lid.
Modified by RTR, this Ford F-150 was one of eleven pickups and SUVs to feature on the Ford stand. Based on a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4 Super Crew, the RTR conversion included upgraded suspension, RTR off-road wheels and compatible Nitto Ridge Grappler tyres. There were also RTR cosmetic updates of the grille, wheelarch flares, tailgate and deck lid.
Stylised Chevy was created in collaboration with US country music star Luke Bryan. Based on a 2018-model Suburban SUV, changes included a suspension lift and 22-inch wheels, along with plenty of other parts from the Chevrolet Accessories catalogue. Bryan’s “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Everyday” single influenced the design and was graphically represented by special logos on the front doors.
US-spec Colorado ZR2 AEV custom featured a number of unique touches. Created in collaboration with American Expedition Vehicle, this bold machine featured AEV bumpers and beadlock wheels with 35-inch BFG tyres, as well as heavily modified front and rear suspension, full underbody protection, storage rack in the tray, high-output LED lighting and even an ARB fridge-freezer.
Classic Ford Bronco on the Federal Tire stand featured Baja 1000 styling in the vein of the Parnelli Jones and Bill Stroppe ‘Big Oly’ racer from the 1970s. This one was built by Elite Broncos as a tribute to Big Oly and had full Baja-spec features, including suspension with 14 inches of travel and a 5.0-litre V8 engine backed by a C4 auto.
Jeep’s mammoth stand featured a few familiar customs from the Moab Easter Safari in Utah, like the CJ Sixty Six, Shortcut and Switchback (pictured), but there were a few new additions, too, including a “moparised” Durango SRT. The main talking point of the FCA stand this year was the new 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine, which is being released in crate form to suit pre-1976 vehicles.
Honda’s Ridgeline may be unknown here, but it’s one of the players in the US pickup market. This race version competes in offroad competition in the US and raced in the Baja 1000 a fortnight after its display at SEMA.
Dubbed “The Operator”, this F-350 Lariat 4x4-based rig was described as the ultimate recon adventure vehicle. With an Arctic Cat ‘Wildcat’ UTV in the back and Hellwig air springs and sway bars underneath, this Super Duty F-350 also featured Method Race wheels, Falken offroad tyres, custom bumpers and a bunch of additional kit in the tray.
Wild F-250 Super Duty conversion broke the mould by actually being shorter in the wheelbase than the original. ‘Project SD126’ also featured BDS and FOX suspension, a 6.7-litre turbo diesel V8, heavy-duty axles, a ram-air bonnet, custom bumpers, power-operated side steps and fibreglass wheelarch flares, to name just a few of the mods. What also made this beast stand out was its bright PPG orange metallic paint.
This F-750-based 4x4 was dubbed the ‘Earth Roamer XV-HD’. Powered by a 6.7-litre Power Stroke diesel, this motorhome was designed to carry up to six people in comfort and carried just about everything you’d need. At US1.5 million, it’d want to carry everything you need!
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