The Future Is Now at the 2026 SEMA Show
By Google News Motors ·
Every inch of the 2026 SEMA Show floor has an eye toward the future of the automotive aftermarket, with thousands of ground-breaking new parts and technologies spread across 1.1 million sq. ft. of exhibit space.
To supplement the innovative new parts and products filling the Las Vegas Convention Center this week, several SEMA Show features are designed to keep aftermarket pros up to date on crucial skills, resources and emerging trends in today's changing world of vehicle technology.
One SEMA Show staple, the SEMA FutureTech Studio, is dedicated to the next era of mobility, offering a glimpse of the automotive aftermarket technology of tomorrow, with detailed looks at alternative fuels, artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation vehicles and a lot more.
Elsewhere on the Show floor, the SEMA ADAS Showcase provided installers and collision repair specialists with close-up demos of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technology, processes and best practices, access to OEMs,
From a full slate of education sessions to more than 20 cutting-edge vehicles, FutureTech Studio is where attendees can prepare for the technological advances impacting the industry today and in the future. But it also demonstrated how builders are using tomorrow's technology today.
The variety of vehicles on display illustrated how advanced engineering, modern components and emerging technologies are expanding what's possible for aftermarket builders.
Summit Racing's Prodi-G Chevrolet Monte Carlo, an '87 Monte Carlo SS, offered a particularly compelling example of how aftermarket performance and emissions improvements can go hand in hand. Developed with assistance from SEMA Garage, the Pro-Touring build was designed to challenge the perception that hot rodding and cleaner vehicle operation are mutually exclusive.
The project set out to demonstrate that modern aftermarket components can deliver more power and performance while reducing emissions. The finished Monte Carlo produces twice the horsepower and half the emissions of its stock configuration.
The build involved several industry partners, including Greg Banish, Jstar Fab, Screaming Turtle Specialty Coatings, Rittman Automotive, Kenny Carraway and Trans Colonial Auto Service.
Off-road engineering also had a place in the FutureTech Studio, including an American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) Ford F-350 FXL equipped to handle demanding terrain without sacrificing on-road drivability.
The truck featured 40-in. BFGoodrich HD-Terrain KT tires mounted on AEV Katmai DualSport 18-in. wheels, along with a four-inch DualSport suspension lift. The suspension package combines dual-rate front coil springs, rear lift blocks, axle relocation and revised geometry to provide additional clearance. AEV-tuned Bilstein 8100 front and 5100 rear dampers help control the ride on pavement and off-road.
Additional upgrades included AEV front and rear bumpers, a 20,000-lb. winch mount, recovery points and a brush guard. A CAD-verified wheel-travel analysis helped eliminate potential tire-rub points throughout the suspension's range of motion.
The FutureTech Studio also looked beyond vehicle hardware to examine how evolving technologies and industry practices are changing motorsports and the broader automotive landscape.
Formula 1's transition to advanced sustainable fuels for the 2026 season offered an example of how innovation in motorsports can influence the future of vehicle technology. As part of a broader sustainability…
Originally published by Google News Motors
