New SEMA Show Products Highlight Vehicle Upgrades

The Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas draws crowds with custom cars and trucks, but the real focus is on the components powering them. This trade event lets manufacturers showcase their latest parts while industry buyers decide whether to stock them. While a large hall is dedicated to collision repair tools, a significant portion of the show targets consumers. The following items stand out as potential upgrades for enthusiasts looking to modify their vehicles.

Paint Care and Plastic Repair

Ceramic coatings have grown in popularity because they bond to paint and offer better protection than traditional wax. Several companies now sell do-it-yourself spray versions. Mothers debuted a new “Instant Detailer” maintenance spray, which joins its existing line of ceramic wash, prep, and paint-correction products. The company also introduced a tire-shine spray. Professional-grade ceramic coatings provide the highest shine and durability, but they are expensive. Sprays like these offer a more accessible and cheaper alternative for maintaining a vehicle’s finish.

Exposure to the sun often degrades plastic and vinyl components, especially on older vehicles. Replacing these parts can be difficult or expensive, and repair is sometimes not an option. Mooneyes, a speed shop founded in the 1950s, showcased a lightweight cover designed to hide damage on a Nissan Skyline R32. This accessory fits both left- and right-hand-drive cars and stays in place using Velcro. Heavier versions are available that do not require adhesives to stay secure.

The concept behind a Jeep is the ability to remove the roof, yet lifting a hardtop can be physically demanding. Caliber introduced a new FLXHNDL kit designed to simplify this process. The kit includes two thin rails that slide onto the edge of the hardtop and are held in place with pins, eliminating the need for drilling. When it is time to go topless, users slide handles onto the rails to lift the roof. The handles have feet, ensuring the hardtop does not drag on the ground once lowered.

WeatherTech, a maker of floor mats and cargo liners, unveiled a sill protector to prevent scuffs on painted door sills. The company also introduced side-window deflectors available in matte black or dark tint and a hood protector in either finish.

Restoration and Cleaning Tools

SEMA also features products for restoration projects. Steele Rubber Products, which has supplied parts since 1958, manufactures rubber components for automotive and marine use. The company guarantees fitment for specific models and years. New items for the show included cab mounts for 1969 to 1973 International pickup trucks.

Keeping a car clean is easier with the right pressure washer, but many units are large and difficult to move. Maxflow displayed the MPRO 30 at SEMA, a unit roughly the size of a toaster that delivers 3.3 gallons per minute. This model requires a 240-volt outlet, making it suitable for professional detailers. Home users can choose the MPRO 25, which is slightly larger and plugs into a standard 120-volt household outlet.

One of the most ambitious displays came from EarthRoamer, a Colorado-based builder of recreational vehicles. The company states there are about 500 of these vehicles on the road. The body is constructed of carbon fiber and covered in a proprietary protective coating, keeping the weight under 21,000 pounds without requiring a special driver’s license.