by Matthew Konkle
Executive Editor
LAS VEGAS — The first day at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) event inside the Las Vegas Convention Center is always a whirlwind of places, people, and products.
And Tuesday was no different, with plenty worth walking for here. New products. Incredible designs. Conversations with the people crafting the next thing you’ll want for your build. But getting all of that into a single day takes some planning, and occasionally, a ride underground.
One: The Las Vegas Convention Center Loop
We’ve been using the Tesla Loop at SEMA for a few years now, and the novelty of riding beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center has gradually given way to something much more practical.
Appreciation. Specifically, appreciation from our feet.
Covering SEMA means spending most of the day moving. Even when you stop walking, you’re usually standing through a product demonstration, shooting video, or talking with someone about a vehicle. A trip between halls adds another long stretch to a day already full of them.
The Loop gives us a chance to sit down and let someone else handle that part.
Head into a station, climb into a Tesla, and travel through the tunnels to another part of the convention campus. It is a simple enough experience from the passenger seat, but those saved steps become increasingly valuable as the week goes on.
Our driver Tuesday also offered a glimpse of what might come next for anyone planning a Las Vegas trip.
According to him, crews are drilling 24 hours a day, with plans he described as roughly 110 new station locations over the next three years. Those ambitions include connections to Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, the planned Las Vegas baseball stadium, and destinations up and down the Strip.
That is a considerable expansion, should the network develop on the timetable he outlined. Imagine landing in Las Vegas and being able to make an underground connection right to your hotel or a major event.
For us, though, the immediate benefit is much closer to home. Or, at least, the next exhibit hall.
Our feet approve.
Two: Bestop Supertop for Ford Bronco
Open-air driving has always been a big part of the appeal for Jeep owners. Those with a Bronco understand that feeling, too.
And, well, while the factory top can get the job done, a quality aftermarket version offers better durability, smooth operation, and high-end material.
That is what makes Bestop’s new Supertop for the Ford Bronco an interesting addition to the show.
As Quadratec continues expanding its Tacoma and Bronco offerings, the goal is familiar: bring customers quality products that help them get more from their vehicles. Bestop is already a well-known name to many of our Jeep customers, and its Bronco offerings bring that soft-top experience to another part of the off-road community.
The Supertop’s appeal starts with flexibility.
Its flip-back capability lets owners open the front portion of the roof for a quick dose of sunshine. The fold-back configuration opens it up even more, while removable windows offer another way to adjust the experience.
A little air for the drive home. More sky for a weekend outing. Windows out when the weather makes it difficult to imagine driving any other way.
Bestop says Black Diamond will be the first material available, with Twill to follow. And the entire thing should be ready for market sometime in early spring 2027.
For Bronco owners, that timeframe gives them the perfect chance to flip the front back when you want some air, fold the top farther back when you want more, and remove the windows to open up the sides and rear.
Three: Real Truck and Team Rubicon’s Disaster Response Wrangler JL
SEMA offers plenty of reasons to stop and look at a Jeep.
Sometimes it is the fabrication. Sometimes it is an unusual combination of parts. Sometimes you simply want to know how anyone managed to fit all of that underneath a Wrangler.
The RealTruck and Team Rubicon Disaster Response 2022 Wrangler JL Unlimited 4xe gives us another reason: the mission behind it.
For those unfamiliar with the organization, Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian nonprofit that brings military veterans, first responders, and civilian volunteers together to help communities before, during, and after disasters. Its volunteers, known as Greyshirts, tackle work that can include clearing debris, helping homeowners recover from storm damage, and supporting long-term rebuilding efforts.
For veterans, that work also offers an opportunity to continue serving alongside others with a shared sense of purpose.
That background gives this Wrangler a significance beyond its place on the SEMA floor. Jeep owners spend plenty of time thinking about where their vehicles can take them. A disaster-response build invites another question: What can you do for someone else once you get there?
When a community is recovering from a disaster, access, equipment, and the ability to move people and supplies can become essential. Looking at a Wrangler through that lens changes how you think about its capability, and the accessories chosen to support it.
Of course, upgrading the vehicle’s capability matters, too. And Real Truck made sure this build has everything it needs. From the new front Halo Bumper with a 10,000-pound-rated winch to headlight guards, an Amfib Snorkel, sidestep armor protection, a Rugged Ridge Fastback soft top, and upgraded wheels and tires.
The whole thing reminds us that plenty of vehicles here make us want to head out on an adventure. This one reminds us how much it can matter to show up for somebody else.
That’s it for SEMA’s Opening Day.
We’ll keep moving through the show throughout the week to bring you more new products, standout vehicles, photos, and videos.
With occasional assistance from a Tesla beneath the convention center.
