Record Number of Auto Manufacturers Exhibiting at 2002 International Auto Salon
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (April 9, 2002) -- A record-breaking six original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will exhibit their "hot" compact vehicles at the 2002 International Auto Salon (IAS), produced by SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, and Vision Entertainment, founder of Hot Import Nights. This is the largest OEM participation in the IAS Show's history and includes Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda and Nissan. Two of the OEMs -- Ford and GM -- have scheduled press conferences. Ford's exhibit will feature five vehicles including a SVT Competition Focus, Jackson Racing's SVT Focus, a 2003 Mustang Cobra, a FR200 Focus and a 2002 Ford Focus ZX5 which will be transformed live at their display into a fully customized "tuner" car. General Motors has tripled the size of its exhibit this year to include 24 custom, race and concept vehicles. GM will also host driver autograph sessions and three ECOTEC Race Engine tutorials where the engine experts will explain their design. American Honda plans to display a modified street Civic Si, an Acura RSX Type-S that combines Japanese styling cues with parts and accessories available in the United States, a 2002 Honda Factory Performance Civic Coupe and an aggressive Acura NSX that shows what a little customization can do to one of the world's premier supercars. Hyundai, exhibiting for the first time at IAS, will showcase modified versions of the company's all-new 2003 Tiburon sport coupes. The IAS Show will showcase two feature vehicles from Mazda including a 2002 supercharged Miata and 2002 Protege drag car. Mazda's display will also feature a 2002 Protege by Wings West, a Sparco MPV, a Troy Lee Protege 5, a MazdaSpeed Protege and a MazdaSpeed MPV. Nissan will bring a powerful combination of products to the show including its Nismo SE-R concept car, a Stillen Altima featuring performance and appearance parts that turn the Altima into a blown-out street machine, and the Project X Xterra, a fuel-injected off-road monster that looks as good as it runs. These are just a few of the more than 300 vehicles at this high-excitement consumer and trade automotive show, featuring the latest in tricked out, souped-up, performance and customized sport compacts and imports. Besides the vehicles on display by the six car makers, other exhibitors will have project vehicles in their booths and on the show floor. Enthusiasts of the compact sport vehicles are also invited to display their customized vehicles: visit www.ias2k2.com for information. Nearly 200 parts and accessories companies will exhibit their latest products -- all geared to the red-hot sport compact and import performance market. International Auto Salon opens at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif., on Friday, April 19, to the trade from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. It is open to the general public on Saturday, April 20, from 12-8 p.m. and Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. IAS tickets are $10 for professionals in the specialty equipment industry who register before Friday, April 12, and $15 after early registration closes. Consumers may purchase a two-day pass for $25 or a one-day pass for $15 online at www.ias2k2.com. Vision Entertainment is an integrated marketing and production company providing its customers and clients with interactive experiences. With its fingers on the pulse of America's youth, Vision Entertainment has a firm understanding of this savvy, progressive lifestyle, and a proven track record of success. Vision Entertainment currently produces more than 26 annual events in the top 20 markets in North America. These events range from import car shows to skateboard & snowboard expos, to consumer gaming events. For more information, contact Vision Entertainment at 1360 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA, 92651; call 949/376-6942 or visit www.visionevent.com. SEMA represents the $25 billion specialty automotive industry. The trade association has more than 5,000 member companies. It is the authoritative source of research data, trends, and market growth information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles
