DIAMOND BAR, CA (07.11.25) – Applications are now open for the 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mother’s Polish at  www.semabotb.com. Now in its 12th year, SEMA Battle of the Builders is the industry’s leading custom car building competition, providing SEMA Show builders with an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of a global audience.

“It’s inspiring to see SEMA Show builders continue to push the boundaries of automotive customization,” said RJ de Vera, SEMA Vice President of Marketing. “We look forward to helping them grow and progress as we celebrate standout builds that highlight the ingenuity of our industry.”  

The 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mother’s Polish will recognize class champions in four categories — Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck; 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road; Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic; and Young Guns — and one of these four class winners will be crowned the overall Battle of the Builders champion. Industry experts serve as judges and review all qualifying applications, including vehicle descriptions and photos, before walking the SEMA Show floor to review the builds in-person and selecting the Top 10 finalists in each category. The finalists are then narrowed down to the Top 3 in each category, and these 12 finalists become the judges and select the winner of each category and the overall champion.

“Some of the people we look up to the most in the industry have won this award, so to appear alongside those people is really incredible,” said Noah Alexander, winner of the 2024 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition with his ‘68 Dodge Charger. “The best for us was the incredible people we met. It was just amazing to talk to all of these other builders and hear what they do.”

Supporting Young Builders  
To encourage young builders to pursue their passions, the SEMA Battle of the Builders Young Guns category is open to builders who are 29 years old and younger at the time of the SEMA Show. Young Guns entries may also be selected to compete in one or more virtual Golden Ticket competitions throughout the summer for the chance to win a prize package that includes transportation of the vehicle to the SEMA Show along with travel and hotel accommodations.  Once at the SEMA Show, the Top 10 Young Guns finalists, as selected by the judges, compete in their own separate competition to determine their Top 3. This unique Young Guns competition format, launched for the first time in 2024, provides yet another career exposure opportunity for the next generation of custom car builders.

“With the world’s most skilled vehicle builders coming together to compete for the title of a lifetime, the SEMA Young Guns category offers a platform unlike any other for young builders to expand their notoriety in the industry,” added de Vera.   

For more information on the 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition or to register, visit  www.semabotb.com. The deadline to register is Oct. 17.  

BOCA RATON, FL (07.10.25) – ZZ2, a leader in automotive technology solutions, proudly announces the launch of its latest innovation: the ZZC-SY4C, a cutting-edge camera interface designed specifically for Ford vehicles equipped with SYNC 4 systems. This advanced add-on empowers drivers with up to three external camera views, significantly enhancing visibility and maneuverability—especially for those driving large vehicles with limited external sight lines.

The ZZC-SY4C is engineered to seamlessly integrate front, side (left/right), 3rd brake light camera, truck cargo bed camera or trailer camera into Ford’s SYNC4 factory infotainment system, offering a meaningful and useful level of safety, comfort, and driving awareness. Whether navigating tight parking lots, connecting your 5th wheel or making safer lane changes, this system equips drivers with real-time visual feedback from blind spots and the front of the vehicle.

” The ZZC-SY4C reflects our commitment to transforming customer needs into robust, OEM-integrated solutions,” said Tiago Sperandio, Vice President of ZZ2.

Key Features Include:

Three camera inputs compatible with front, side, truck bed camera (3rd brake light camera) or rear aftermarket cameras

Smart triggers based on gear selection and turn signals

OEM-level integration with Ford SYNC 4 infotainment systems

Multiple camera activation methods, including automatic, steering wheel controls, or external buttons

Built-in Video-In-Motion (VIM) mode for added flexibility, unlocking the keyboard while in motion.

The ZZC-SY4C also includes customizable DIP switch configurations and a comprehensive set of installation options that make it versatile for both everyday drivers and professional installers.

With demand growing for advanced driver assistance features, the ZZC-SY4C gives Ford vehicle owners a convenient and cost-effective upgrade path to better awareness and peace of mind behind the wheel.

The ZZC-SY4C is now available through authorized ZZ2 dealers and distributors. CLICK HERE

For more information, visit https://zz-2.com/products/zzc-sy4c or contact us at sales@zz2.com.

NEW YORK, NY (07.10.25) – SiriusXM will offer listeners nationwide coverage of the events of Major League Baseball’s 2025 All-Star Week, with live broadcasts of the 95^th All-Star Game Presented by Mastercard, the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, the MLB Draft Presented by Nike, and more special programming from Atlanta, GA.

On Sunday, July 13, starting at 5pm ET, SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio channel will offer live coverage of the first round of the MLB Draft Presented by Nike, from the Coca-Cola Roxy in The Battery Atlanta. SiriusXM listeners will hear the live selections of every team in the first round. SiriusXM’s Dani Wexelman and Grant Paulsen will host alongside former MLB general managers Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette, two longtime pro personnel experts who will react to picks and share their analysis. 

For Monday’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby, SiriusXM’s on-site programming from Truist Park will begin at 2 pm ET with a Media Day show hosted by Dani Wexelman, Jim Duquette and Grant Paulsen. At 5 pm ET Mike Ferrin, Jim Bowden and former big leaguer Cole Tucker will be on the field to host SiriusXM’s pre-game programming and interview many of the All-Stars in attendance. The MLB Network Radio channel will air ESPN Radio’s broadcast of the Home Run Derby starting at 8 pm ET. 

On Tuesday, July 15, MLB Network Radio’s coverage of the MLB All-Star Game Presented by Mastercard begins at 5 pm ET with an MLB All-Star Pregame Show hosted by Mike Ferrin, Cole Tucker and Jim Duquette. Listeners will hear interviews with many of the coaches and players on the field at Truist Park The pre-game show will lead into ESPN Radio’s play-by-play broadcast of the All-Star Game starting at 8 pm ET.

Beyond the special coverage of these All-Star Weekend events, MLB Network Radio offers baseball fans a daily lineup of MLB talk 365 days a year, featuring shows hosted by former players, managers, front office executives and other baseball insiders. The exclusive 24/7 channel is available to listeners nationwide in their cars on channel 89 and on the SiriusXM app: https://sxm.app.link/MLBonSXM. 

In honor of the Midsummer Classic being played in Atlanta, MLB Network Radio will also be re-airing three Atlanta Braves-themed episodes of “The Road to Cooperstown” podcast, which is a collaboration between SiriusXM and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Listeners will hear in-depth conversations between SiriusXM host Jon Morosi and legendary Braves John Smoltz, Chipper Jones and Tom Glavine as they share memories from their extraordinary lives and careers on their journey to the Hall of Fame.

DIAMOND BAR, CA (07.09.25) – TechForce Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to building the pipeline of skilled technicians, has partnered with the SEMA Show, the automotive aftermarket industry’s premier trade event, to present the 7th annual Techs Rock Awards. For the first time in the program’s history, the Awards will be presented live on stage at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Each year, the Techs Rock Awards recognize standout students and working professionals in the technician field. This year marks a major milestone. Honorees/grand prize recipients will be celebrated live at the SEMA Show, the epicenter of the global automotive aftermarket. In front of thousands of manufacturers, employers, educators, and media, the nation’s top technicians will receive the recognition they have earned through their skill, dedication, and impact.

Winners will be honored on Nov. 5, 2025, during the SEMA Show. Finalists will be selected in six categories: Automotive and Motorsports, Diesel, Collision Restoration and Welding, Aviation Motorcycle and Marine, and Evolving Technologies and HVAC. This year’s judging panel will include well-known voices in the industry, including ChrisFix, YouTube’s most-followed automotive DIY creator, and Humble Mechanic, a trusted voice in technician education and culture.

Technicians are the workforce behind every vehicle on the road, every aircraft in the sky, and every delivery that reaches its destination. These careers are essential to our economy, but they are too often overlooked.

“Technicians don’t just fix things. They keep America moving,” said Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation. “The SEMA Show gives us a national platform to say, ‘We see you. We value you.’ And for the students preparing to join the workforce, it shows there is a future in this field that is respected and real.”

“The SEMA Show is where the automotive aftermarket industry’s future takes shape — through breakthrough products, new ideas, and rising talent,” said RJ de Vera, SEMA Vice President of Marketing. “Technicians play a critical role in that future, and with the TechForce Foundation, we’re proud to spotlight and support those who will carry the torch forward.”

Nominations open June 24 and close Aug. 11. Anyone can nominate a deserving student or technician at www.techforce.org/techsrock. A panel of judges will review submissions and select the finalists. From Sept. 24 through Oct. 15, the public will vote to determine one student and one working technician as Grand Prize Winners. Both will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to be honored on stage during the SEMA Show.

Since 2018, the Techs Rock Awards have recognized 77 outstanding students and technicians. The program highlights the value of technical careers and helps lift up role models who are shaping the future of the skilled trades.

Visit www.semashow.com and www.techforce.org for more.

ST. GEORGE, UT (07.09.25) – SSV Works proudly announces the release of the first-ever rear-seat plug-&-play dual-subwoofer add-on kit for the 2024-2025 Can-Am® Maverick R Max.

This new kit adds two additional 10” subwoofers that mount under the rear seats, giving riders the ability to run up to four subs total in their Maverick R Max for maximum bass performance.

“This is the ultimate bass upgrade for anyone who already has an audio system and wants more output,” said Kelson Downes, Marketing Director of SSV Works. “With this add-on, you’re not replacing anything, you’re enhancing it. It delivers that chest-thumping bass you can feel whether you’re bombing through the dunes, crawling rocks, or blasting through the desert.”

True Plug-&-Play Expansion. Designed to work seamlessly as an add-on to an existing audio system, this kit integrates effortlessly with SSV Works V-Spec or K-Spec kits, other aftermarket setups, and even the factory JL audio system. It includes pre-loaded under-seat enclosures, a dedicated sub amplifier, and SSV’s signature plug-&-play wiring. No cutting, splicing, or guesswork required.

Built for the Ride. From rotomolded enclosures to marine-grade materials, every element is engineered to thrive in harsh off-road environments. The enclosures are specifically shaped to fit cleanly under the rear seats without interfering with passenger space or vehicle function.

Key product highlights:

• Plug-&-Play: No Soldering, cutting or crimping! Designed to install as easy as possible. Simply bolt down the sub enclosures with the pre-installed speakers, mount the amp and run the vehicle specific plug-&-play wiring, turn the key and go!
• F3™ – The Original Factory Fit & Finish: Each Maverick R Kit looks just the way it should, like it came straight from the factory. Purpose built, our enclosures match the factory styling and fits with seamless precision.
• Trail Ready™: Built for the off-road environment, SSV Works’ audio components will withstand all the harsh riding conditions. From sand, dust, water or snow, you can ride your favorite trails without sacrificing premium audio from SSV Works.
• Premium Quality: Our product is meticulously crafted with high-strength materials, epitomizing premium quality and durability.
• Included Bass Level Control: Adding this kits means you’ll have two amplifiers. Our dual amp controller will allow you to control the bass to all subs. (Only compatible with PXA amps in SSV V-Spec and K-Spec kits.

Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, this innovative audio solution promises both superior sound and long-lasting reliability.

For more information, please visit www.SSVWorks.com, call 818-991-1SSV (1778), or email sales@SSVworks.com.

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (07.09.25) – Take your power to the Classic level of COLOSSUS AUDIO! Colossus Classic amplifiers set the standard for what clean and powerful audio should sound like. Known for sleek design and exceptional sound performance — Colossus Classic amplifiers include monoblock amplifiers and a 4-channel amplifier.

Click here to view a product video.

Whether upgrading your Hifonics car audio system with BIG POWERgains or building your install/setup for the first time, Colossus Classic amplifiers bring a classic size that delivers LOUD SOUND, clean clarity, and ULTIMATE durability.

To learn more, click here.