This. Is. SEMA! (day one wrap-up)
From hopped-up hybrids to stretched-out minivans, you never know what the SEMA auto show will throw at you.
- North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
LAS VEGAS--It's one of the world's largest gatherings of automakers, aftermarket part suppliers, customizers, tuners, and general car nuts all hanging around Las Vegas for a week, so you can be sure that there will be more than a few truly unique rides to be found in and around the 2010 SEMA Show. There are literally hundreds of cars on display, ranging from old-school muscle cars to modern sport compacts to big-wheeled cruisers to every sort of truck you can imagine. If it's on at least one wheel, you'll not only find it at SEMA, you'll probably find that it's been heavily modified by some nutter with a blowtorch.
Of course, it's not just the lone nuts creating crazy cars; the OEMs often get in on the fun. Day one of the 2010 show saw Toyota unveiling a collection of uncharacteristically crazy concepts, including a stretched Sienna minivan and the most angular Prius you'll ever meet. Over at Honda's booth, the automaker was going crazy over its new CR-Z sports hybrid, trotting out nine custom examples, two high-performing concepts, and a limited edition that will see production.
Meanwhile, Kia showed us a concept Sportage that featured a backseat wardrobe, eBay Motors previewed its mobile app for iPhone, and SEMA Show first-timer Audi unveiled the first ever OEM in-car wireless mobile phone charger.
Stay tuned for even more coverage of the cars and car tech coming out of the 2010 SEMA Show as the week progresses, and be sure to check out our day one megagallery for way more pictures of wild rides that you can probably stand.