Known for taking the bar, raising it, then dismantling it and throwing it into the sun, the incredible car show known as SEMA is almost upon us.
The American motoring expo is where manufacturers have a tendency to let their hair down in an often very desperate attempt to appeal to the younguns. As the show builds up over the next few weeks, expect more and more weird mixtures of modified car. Kia Coup meets bogger, perhaps.
One of the first cabs on the rank are Ford, who wear the youthful tag quite well anyway thanks to their ST and RS range of popular sports hatches. The blue oval have released four distinct SEMA concepts that will break cover in a few week's time. Each car has been developed by a different tuning company, and each pursues the attention of a slightly different niche.
First up is the Midnight Purple Focus ST at the top of the story, to be built by Blood Type Racing. Bolt-on overfenders and 19-inch B-Forged wheels give the Focus a JDM-esque appearance. A Borg Warner turbo, COBB tuner, Mishimoto intercooler, and Ford Performance exhaust help give it an extra lick of performance over its road-going equivalent, too.
It also has a helipad for drones. Because, I guess young people like drones?
Then there's the rally inspired Focus RS, built by Rally Innovations. From the get go it looks like a proper rally car, with requisite OZ Racing wheels, four cute fog lights in the nose, and extra ventilation in the front bumper and bonnet.
A more comprehensive brake package, Eibach swaybars, coilover suspension, and a healthy dollop of engine upgrades and Mountune peripherals add to its performance chops. The snaps and crackles the normal RS emits are likely to be amplified by this race-flavoured machine.
Last but not least are the effors from the Universal Technical Institute and VMP Performance. UTI's Focus RS is perhaps the most street-ready and accessible car in the line-up, with upgraded suspension, brakes, and 19-inch Rotiform wheels among the main changes.
The VMP beast meanwhile, named the TriAthlete, looks about as sinister as a Focus can possibly look. Air Lift suspension means the owner is able to slam its matte-black exterior onto the ground. Though it looks like quite the poser, serious Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 shoes and numerous upgrades to the 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine will make it quite a weapon in its own right.
SEMA proper kicks off at the Las Vegas Convention Center on October 31, and carries over until November 3. While a majority of display holders are industry profiles, keep an eye out for announcements from Honda, Audi, Kia, and a bunch of other car makers.