The Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association show isn’t a show that can be walked in just a single day. This is the biggest show in Las Vegas, with literally millions of square feet of auto parts, cars and everything automotive. To walk the full show floor just once has been measured to be about 11 miles. I like to think of it as the ultimate automotive enthusiast’s toy store.
I paced myself and spent an entire day just in the North Hall. That’s one complete day in a hall filled with drills, car lifts, tools and everything that you would need to run the world’s largest auto customization shop.
One of the things I see every year at SEMA is demonstrations of window tint being put on and taken off of a variety of vehicles. You might be wondering what more there is to window tint — how much more can you put into a film that makes a window darker and lets less heat into the car? Well, take a look at this year’s big innovation in the window tinting world. 3M has created window tint without the tint. That’s right, the application is practically clear but has all the benefits of a dark-tinted window. It’s called Crystalline Automotive Film by 3M. It reduces heat up to 60 percent, blocks 99 percent of Ultraviolet light, is the equivalent of sun protection factor (SPF) 1,000-plus, and never turns purple, according to 3M’s Karen Maanum.
In a test, Karen demonstrated a comparison between the Crystalline film, dark tinted film, and a clear window pane. Using heat lamps, she showed the Crystalline film’s ability to cut radiant heat down to almost nothing, while letting the light shine in.
Looking to upgrade the looks of a car? 3M Business Manager Douglas Blackwell showed us 3M’s Wrap Film Series 1080 being wrapped on a Nissan GT-R with added new colors. The 1080 film is easier to use than ever, and allows for quick car modifications without the hassle of repainting.
The big news from 3M is its new 3M Paint Defender. This spray-on plastic film protects your bumpers from rock chips, so there’s no need for expensive clear bras. The 3M Paint Defender retails for $50 and sprays directly onto the car. One can usually is usually good for one bumper.
In fact, we were surprised with the vast amount of do-it-yourself products 3M offers, and we’ll be featuring many of them in the upcoming months. Stay tuned!
Escort Inc. was the first company to win a 2013 SEMA Award for Best New Product, for a handheld radar detector. The difference between the new Passport and other detectors is that it all is digital. With a RF spectrum, Passport’s handheld unit is 50 times faster than other detectors. It’s like a digital camera, while the rest of the competition remains analog, according to Ron Gividen, Escort’s public relations director.
SEMA’s North Hall was filled to the brim with cleaning products, as well, including this unusual cologne-based car wash and wax solution.
