by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
LAS VEGAS — From its smoke filled burnout pit location at the far northwest end of the Las Vagas Convention Center’s West Hall, to acres and acres south, where an asphalt landscape stretched out for drag racers and drift vehicles just outside South Hall, the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association marked a second event day filled with smoke, lights, products and vehicles.
And, of course, people.
Over 150,000 of them arrived this week to Las Vegas to see the aftermarket automobile’s newest product designs, vehicle builds and get a general sense of where the industry is going for 2025.
We were right there too on SEMA’s second day. Mixed in with the crowd and seeing just what the event had to offer.
It was loud. It was crazy. And, of course, it was interesting.
So for day two in Las Vegas, we share the SEMA Three.
One: Mopar Exhibition Booth
Day two at SEMA has traditionally meant time at the MOPAR exhibit in lower South Hall. However, last year Stellantis pulled out of SEMA just before the event, so we definitely were excited to see them back this year.
Sitting at just over 15,000 square feet, the area is one of the event’s larger exhibition spots, and this year Mopar filled it with concepts, crate engines, and a bunch of product upgrades for most of its lineup under the Stellantis umbrella.
The all-electric 1967 Plymouth GTX showed off a modular EV system aimed at turning vintage rides into fully-electric machines, and 2026 Power Wagon concept loomed pretty large in power and size, but we were really hoping to see a new Jeep concept as well.
After all, even though the brand usually brings them out in the spring for Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, it has used a few previous SEMA shows to display new concepts.
Jeep unveiled a 4xe concept a few years ago before they rolled out the vehicle as an actual production model. Another Jeep SEMA concept was Overlook — a stretched out JL Sahara that included three rows of seating, taller roof and dual side windows.
Sadly, nothing new this year concept wise, but it did bring back a few 2024 EJS vehicles, including Lowdown (our favorite), Willys, Hightop and the Grand Wagoneer Vacationeer all fit inside the booth for 2024.
Even better, Jeep displayed a new lightbar on Hightop that sits above the windshield frame, but is able to be positioned however is needed for the best nighttime visibility.
Two: ARB Brushless Compressors
It’s hard to improve on an original. Does anyone remember Caddyshack 2 ? Anyone?
Well, even though ARB air compressors are pretty much the industry standard — good for quick tire inflation, tool use, and a host of other applications for four-wheel and military use — the company decided to see how it could make the product even better.
So, new for 2025, comes a brushless air compressor. This system removes the abated brushed component from ARB’s current system, and swaps in a series of powerful electromagnets energized in a rotational sequence.
Basically, it provides exceptional power (over a 50 percent increase in output, ARB says) with no component wear, provides a longer lifespan and removes the need for service. Additionally, these brushless units offer an active cooling system, quick release mounts and a more efficient design with class-leading airflow-to-weight ratio.
ARB says it will have these in four configurations: single and twin onboard editions, as well as single and twin portable options.
Three: Stryten Energy/Bruiser Conversion/FuelTech Stretched JK
You probably have no idea who Stryten Energy is, or what it does. We didn’t. All we saw when we passed their exhibition booth area in Central Hall was a gigantic, stretched out JK with all kinds of things happening with the vehicle.
Turns out, Stryten offers energy storage solutions and power management services — primarily to the transportation, military, industrial and utility business sectors.
So it is not surprising that this massive JK, titled Reluctance and built in coordination with Brusier Conversions and FuelTech, has all kinds of power-producing applications.
At first glance, you may think this thing is all 5.9-liter Cummins diesel power, but that engine really serves as a fast charger for Stryten’s Li700 lithium-ion batteries. Stryten says this can fast charge those batteries in just 15 percent, supplying power to a 250kw Cascadia motor and giving the vehicle an overall 70 miles-per-gallon average at 550 horsepower and 2,000 lb-ft of torque.
As Reluctance clocks in at 12,000 pounds, the team swapped in Dana 80 Portal axles with 5.38 gearing, a custom transfer case, Fox 3.0 Coilover shocks, custom upper and lower control arms, as well as massively stretching out the body to accommodate all these modifications.
And with 550 horsepower and 2,000 lb-ft of torque, it will comfortable handle any trail. Portal axles sit underneath, along with a custom transfer case, Nacho lights, Warn winch, Raceline wheels and Mickey Thompson Baja Pro XS tires - among other things.
But the best part? Reluctance isn’t just some concept vehicle that will find itself in a warehouse once SEMA week is over. No, Stryten build this thing to head into communities devastated by natural disasters, such as hurricanes, and provide crucial power to these areas.
Simply amazing.
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