Second year at SEMA. I drove the Juniper up from SoCal for this one (that road trip has its own post) and spent a full day on the floor. The convention center is massive: four halls plus a South Hall I didn’t even make it to last year. I still didn’t see everything. This is what actually stopped me.
Central Hall: JDM Nostalgia
The Central Hall is Racing and Performance, and walking in immediately pulled me back to the import tuner days of the ’90s. Intercoolers, exhaust, turbos, brake systems. The same stuff we were obsessing over in high school. GTR Skylines, Corvette C8s, a Liberty Walk R35. It’s not EV, and most of it won’t transfer to anything I drive. But this is where the culture started.
The Shelby roadsters were in the Honda section. I couldn’t even tell you if these are brand new builds or restomods, but they looked insane in person. Cars like this are why I have a problem with money.
EV Builds Worth Knowing About
The Evasive Motorsports Ioniq 5N was one of the cleanest EV builds on the floor. Race-prepped, full livery, and actually competitive. Evasive has been in the import tuner world for decades and they’ve made the jump to electric without flinching. Seeing it next to a bone-stock Ioniq 5 on coilovers from HSD showed exactly how wide the range is right now for EV performance.
In the Future Tech section I ran into an electrified 1969 Ford Mach 1. Dual motors, front and rear. Battery runs from behind the firewall all the way back. They estimated around 150 miles of range at 500 horsepower, dropping as they push it toward 1,000 hp. CCS charging is planned behind the license plate. The whole truck had been built in about two weeks. That’s the kind of thing that only exists at SEMA.
Also worth a stop: GreenTec. They refurbish and replace EV batteries, working on everything from old 2014 Model S and X packs to hybrid systems. International operation, with a South Korea location alongside North America. If you have an older EV with a battery going bad, this is the kind of company that’s keeping those cars on the road instead of in the junkyard.
Honda Section: From the DC2 to the Odyssey
I have played way too many racing games with the Honda Integra DC2 Type R. Seeing one in person with an Idemitsu livery was a moment. The DC2 is one of those cars that people who grew up in the import era have strong feelings about. NA engine, perfect balance, nothing extra. It holds up.
Then I turned around and there was a 2025 Honda Odyssey. With a body kit. Triple exhaust. Six-speed manual. Type R badging. I don’t know what to tell you. I genuinely did not know this was something that could exist. Team minivan has never looked this good.
Custuning: The Pink Cybertruck and the Model S Plaid
The Custuning booth had two Tesla builds that caught my attention. The Cybertruck was wrapped in Inozetek, the same brand we’ve been researching for Abby’s Cybertruck wrap. It had a body kit that sits somewhere between widebody and flare replacement; the offset makes it look wider than stock without going full aggressive. I sent Abby a photo. She’s still deciding.
The other build was a Model S Plaid with side skirts and a rear diffuser. Clean, not overdone. No crazy wing, no overkill. The kind of body kit work where you look at it and think it could’ve come from the factory that way.
And then there was a GT3RS nearby. White with teal wheels. I’ve been saying “one day” for years.
Classic Trucks and the Rest of the Floor
The custom truck section always delivers. The F100 and C10 builds are the kind of work that takes years. Older body, modern drivetrain, and every panel touched. I can appreciate the craft even if I’m never buying one.
Alpharex had a booth and I stopped in specifically to ask about Model Y Juniper tail lights. They’re working on it. There’s a computer module issue they’re still resolving, but they confirmed it’s in development. More customization options for the Juniper cannot come soon enough.
In the West Hall, the Winbo booth had the most complete Cybertruck accessory setup I saw all day: front bumper, running boards that don’t block the jack points, a swing-out arm that fits a spare tire, and roof rack integration. The front bumper design in particular was interesting. Aluminum, not steel, but the look was aggressive without going off-road cosplay.
I also finally saw Jerry’s Cybertruck build in person at the West Hall entrance. That gets its own post.
Before I left, the South Hall surprised me. Buried in there was a Chrysler Pacifica that had been lifted and kitted out for off-road use. Ready. Minivan solidarity. That’s how SEMA ends.
If you’re picking up a Tesla, use my Tesla referral link.
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