XS Power Joins As The Official Power Sponsor For The 2026 Finals!

AUSTIN, TX (08.31.26) – Indianapolis just got a massive surge of energy! We are thrilled to announce that XS Power is on board as the Official Power Sponsor for the 2026 championship weekend.

Known worldwide for providing the power competitors depend on when pushing their systems to the limit, XS Power is stepping up in a major way for this year’s Finals. With dB Drag Racing, IASCA, and ISPLL coming together in Indianapolis, XS Power is sponsoring the electrical service that will be available to all competitors across all three organizations competing at the Indiana State Fairgrounds!

What this means for the championship weekend:

  • Electric Access Included: Electrical service will be available for competitors to plug in and charge.
  • Support Across All Organizations: Whether you are competing in dB Drag Racing, IASCA, or ISPLL, electric service is included.
  • Event-Wide Presence: Look for XS Power branding throughout the lanes, on the event shirts, and on sponsor banners across the venue.

When competitors are pushing their builds to the limit, power matters. We couldn’t ask for a better partner to sponsor this important part of FINALS weekend.
 
We appreciate XS Power’s dedication to the competitors, promoters, and the entire car audio community. Their support is helping bring together competitors from dB Drag Racing, IASCA, and ISPLL for an incredible championship weekend in Indianapolis.
 

When you see XS Power online, be sure to drop a comment and thank them for helping power the 2026 Finals!
 
October 3–4, 2026 | Indiana State Fairgrounds | Indianapolis, Indiana
 
For more information on XS Power: https://4xspower.com
 
For more information about the 2026 dB Drag Racing Finals, registration, and event details, visit dbdrag.com

The 2026 ECA Finals At The Dynamat HQ

HAMILTON, OH (08.31.26) – Dynamat hosted a very successful 2026 ECA Finals at the company’s world HQ in Hamilton OH on August 22nd and 23rd. Competitors started rolling in early on Saturday as the judging started at 9 AM on both Saturday and Sunday with the awards on Sunday at noon.

Competitors started lining up before 9 AM on Saturday morning.
The taco lunch was provided and hosted by Scott Monnin‘s daughters.

For ECA Cassie Hall related “We were so honored to have Scott Monnin and the Dynamat Team to provide the amazing venue for our 2026 Finals which included East Coast Audiophiles EMMA USA and MASQ.”

Judges at the Finals ECA 4X included Mike Myers, Richard Papasin, Fred Lynch and Cassie Hall. EMMA 2X was judged by
Klifton Keplinger. MASQ wad Judged by Joseph Davis.

Trophies were spotlighted on this counter in the Dynamat warehouse.
Amazing custom trophies.

There were 25 competitors on site and all ran very smoothly both days under a sunny sky. Dynamat provided goodie bags
for competitors and there was a taco lunch in the Dynamat warehouse with Scott Monnin’s daughters hosting guests.

As the event wrapped competitors gathered in the Dynamat warehouse.
Mike Myers (L) presented Dynamat’s Scott Monnin the Venue Of The Year plaque.

Mike Myers, ECA 4X Judge, runs the very successful The Sound Factory location with his brother Chris in Knoxville TN.
“Everything came together for the ECA Finals at Dynamat’s HQ. It was so terrific to get together with the competitors. We
have events and competitions at our store to connect and engage with enthusiast. Overall that kind of activity is very
important for the industry. Having Dynamat, manufacturer of a vital sound quality element, host the ECA Finals was very
special. We thank Scott and his Team very, very much.”

“We believe the 2026 ECA Finals was a complete success. Dynamat’s HQ location and Team contributed greatly to that
success and we are looking forward to being at the Dynamat HQ again” Cassie Hall stated.

For more see dynamat.com.

The 12volt Central Studios Marketing Ball Puts Your Company’s Marketing In Play

SHREVEPORT LA (08.29.26) In today’s AI driven and social media world it is more important than ever for companies and members of the 12volt industry to connect with industry members and consumers.

In-person trade and distributor shows are perfect to connect and show new products in a one-on-one setting. However, trade show and distributor show’s attendance over the last several years has diminished. The 12volt Central Studios can put a company in their own customized booth using the 12voltSTP Tool and deliver their message to the 12volt industry with the 12volt Central Studios Marketing Ball. Industry members must realize marketing is a 24/7 journey.

A smartphone is all it takes to put the 12volt Central Studios Marketing Ball in play. The number is 318-469-2526. Simply standup holding the product to be spotlighted and hand your phone to someone to snap the image. Txt that image, with a few words and Presto! The 12volt Central Studios can put your company’s marketing ball in play.

Let’s put your company’s Marketing Ball in Play.

GENEVO America Appoints Advanced Marketing as Manufacturer’s Rep Firm in the Pacific Northwest

FORT MEYERS, FL (08.28.26) – GENEVO America, a leading manufacturer of radar and laser defense systems, today announces the appointment of Advanced Marketing as its manufacturer’s representative firm for the Pacific Northwest. In this new partnership, Advanced Marketing will support retailers across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.

With more than 25 years of experience in the radar detector industry, Advanced Marketing brings a wealth of specialized knowledge to the territory. This partnership is specifically designed to make selling GENEVO systems seamless for 12-volt retailers. By delivering hands-on sales training, responsive local service, and in-depth product information, Advanced Marketing ensures dealers have the exact tools they need to confidently educate their customers and close more sales.

“The reason GENEVO works so well is because of the engineering behind it,” says Bruce Gildsdorf, Founder of Advanced Marketing. “Engineers know more than we do in their own little area. If you point them in the right direction, they do fantastic work. And if the manufacturing side of it can interpret what they wanted and execute on their side of it, now we’ve got a product we can go to market with.”

GENEVO America selected Advanced Marketing specifically for this deep, practical understanding of the category, and their commitment to retail success. “Advanced Marketing has a long history of dealing in luxury and quality,” says GENEVO America Sales Director David McKee. “They represent some of the finest brands out there and we are excited to partner with them to bring GENEVO America to the Pacific Northwest. Their knowledge of the radar category and their commitment to dealers makes them a perfect fit to work with.”

The appointment underscores GENEVO America’s ongoing commitment to building a robust, highly knowledgeable dealer network and providing top-tier sales support to its retail partners throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Gildsdorf can be reached at 425-890-0850 or bgils@comcast.net.

Visit www.genevo.com/us for more.

TOPDON USA Introduces Free Lifetime Software Updates Now Available on Four Diagnostic Tools

FAIRFIELD, NJ (08.28.26) – TOPDON USA announced that the ArtiDiag700, ArtiDiag800 BT 2, ArtiDiag900 Lite, and UltraDiag now include free lifetime software updates. Effective August 18, 2026, current and future owners of these tools can keep their diagnostic software up to date without paying additional update fees.

“Our team believes in developing the most capable diagnostic technology while creating a quality product ownership experience,” said Chad Schnitz, vice president at TOPDON USA. “That’s why we’re providing free lifetime software updates on four of our most popular diagnostic tools. This upgrade will make it easier for customers to keep their tools current, capable, and ready to tackle their evolving repair needs without having to worry about additional update fees. It’s another way we’re helping customers get more value from their TOPDON tools.”

Previously, the ArtiDiag700, ArtiDiag800 BT 2, ArtiDiag900 Lite, and UltraDiag included two years of free software updates. Under the new policy, current and future owners will receive software updates for the supported life of their tools at no additional cost.

  • ArtiDiag700: Supports full-system diagnostics for more than 70 vehicle brands, CAN FD protocols, and FCA, Nissan AutoAuth, and VAG SFD security gateway access. AutoVIN, live data, and 15 service functions support routine maintenance and advanced repairs.
  • ArtiDiag800 BT 2: Offers full-system diagnostics, bidirectional control, and 28 service functions, including oil resets and window calibration. Bluetooth connectivity enables convenient wireless vehicle communication.
  • ArtiDiag900 Lite: Empowers technicians to overcome the limitations of wired systems, providing unmatched flexibility and convenience. Supports 8 maintenance services and full system diagnostics across 60+ brands.
  • UltraDiag: Capable of performing full OBD2 capabilities, accessing 30 commonly used maintenance services, and supporting full-system diagnostics for 100+ car brands; it includes the Repair Data Library to quickly locate faulty parts.

The ArtiDiag700, ArtiDiag800 BT 2, ArtiDiag900 Lite, and UltraDiag are available through TOPDON’s national distribution network.

Current ArtiDiag700, ArtiDiag800 BT 2, ArtiDiag900 Lite, and UltraDiag owners can update their software by connecting to Wi-Fi and downloading the most recent software update from the home screen. New units will include lifetime software update access automatically.

For more information, visit www.topdon.us.

Raise Your Loud with CS Series Speakers from Crunch

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (08.28.26) – CS Series speakers are engineered to make your music hit harder and sound better by bringing vocals, instruments, and bass to life through impressive clarity and audio balance. From crisp highs to powerful lows in every beat, your songs get the depth, definition, and dynamic performance they deserve — at any volume.

Featuring Neo-Mylar soft dome tweeters, the CS Series brings out crisp, detailed highs while a precision-tuned passive crossover keeps everything smooth and controlled. The result is a clean midrange response, tighter midbass beats, and a LOUD listening experience that elevates your audio system.

To learn more, click here.

Dino’s Audio Video Graffiti Transformation

GREENSBORO, NC (08.27.26) – Dino’s Audio Video is a very proactive retailer in Greensboro NC. Recently a project was completed that totally transformed the exterior of the building. The new graffiti look on the front and side brings an entirely new look that is creating a lot of attention for the store.

A custom Slingshot in front of Dino’s custom Graffiti store’s transformation.
A full view of the transformation from across the street.
Different vehicles are parked in front of the store to show consumers different options.

“A couple of years ago, we added a graphic to the corner of our building. One day a customer came in that had been referred to us to do some upgrades on his vehicle. He noticed the graphic on the corner of the building. I told him I was not very happy with it and he said that he did that kind of work and we could put something together. Long story short, we started talking about it for some time.. A few months ago the new graffiti look became a reality on our building. What a transformation” Dino Williams stated.

Customers will come back to the store for images of the crew and their project.
Another customer with a post of their project.
And in progress post showing just the side of the building finished

Continuing “From the day Bobby G completed our store’s graffiti look our building has received so much attention. People pull over just to look at the building. Product categories are spotlighted in the graffiti. People are coming in to see about upgrades to their vehicles. People are coming by and snapping images with their vehicle in front of the store. The graffiti transformation look has brought so much attention to our store and in-store traffic and driving sales.”

This is Bobby G‘s create graffiti post on TikTok and Instagram @guffitiart.

Bobby G does the graffiti top down by hand. He gathers info from a dealer about the project details and creates a graphic of the completed building look. Once the graphic is approved the project price is determined. More of Bobby G’s work can be seen on TikTok and Instagram @guffitiart or call 646 372 7690.

For more see dinosav.com

Repair And Restyling Innovations Build Momentum For The 2026 SEMA Show

DIAMOND BAR, CA (08.27.26) – The 2026 SEMA Show is building momentum across key categories, including collision repair and vehicle restyling. For repair and refinishing professionals, this year’s Show will deliver a comprehensive look at the latest products, equipment, and technologies shaping the industry.

The SEMA Show’s dedicated Restyling and Collision Repair & Refinish sections will feature hundreds of exhibiting brands, giving shop owners, technicians, and builders access to solutions designed to improve efficiency, quality, and turnaround times. From advanced repair equipment to refinishing components, attendees will find a full spectrum of products designed to meet the evolving needs of modern repair and car care facilities.

The recently released SEMA Market Report estimates the repair and refinishing-related aftermarket represents roughly $9 billion in annual consumer spending, driven by demand for body upgrades, appearance products, paint and refinishing materials, wraps, window tint, and lighting products. The report underscores the strength of these categories within the broader automotive aftermarket and highlights their importance to repair, refinishing, and customization businesses.

Within that broader market, exterior restyling remains a major growth area, exceeding $6 billion in annual consumer spending, reflecting sustained consumer demand for vehicle personalization through products such as grilles, body upgrades, wraps, graphics, lighting, running boards, exterior trim, and other appearance enhancements.

The Restyling and Collision Repair & Refinish sections are anchored by long-standing industry brands, including 3M, Avery Dennison, Katzkin Automotive Leather, Pro Spot, Rust-Oleum, SATA, Snap-on, Sonax Premium Car Care, and XPEL. Their continued participation highlights both the heritage and innovation that drive this critical segment of the aftermarket.

“The collision repair and restyling segments are essential to keeping vehicles safe, functional, and looking their best,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “From cutting-edge repair technologies to craftsmanship-driven restyling and car-care products, these sections demonstrate how the industry continues to evolve. Long-standing leaders and new innovators alike reinforce the strength, expertise, and forward momentum of this category.”

Overall, exhibitor commitments for the 2026 SEMA Show have surpassed 1 million net square feet, with more than 2,000 brands preparing to connect with a global audience Nov. 3-6 in Las Vegas. The event remains one of the largest and most influential trade shows in the country, reflecting sustained growth and investment across the automotive aftermarket.

In addition to collision repair and restyling, the 2026 SEMA Show will feature strong participation across performance, trucks, powersports, mobile electronics, tools, and emerging technologies. Major OEMs, including Toyota, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Stellantis, will also return, strengthening the connection between factory engineering and aftermarket solutions.

Attendees can also explore signature features such as the New Products Showcase, Battle of the Builders, and FutureTech Studio, offering valuable insights into the trends, skills, and technologies shaping the future of vehicle repair and car care.

The 2026 SEMA Show will take place Nov. 3-6 in Las Vegas as part of the broader “SEMA Week” experience, which includes public access on Friday and the high-energy SEMA Fest.

For more information or to register, visit www.semashow.com.

Built for the ride. Tuned for the extremes. Hifonics x Kawasaki.

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (08.27.26) – ALL-NEW Hifonics x Kawasaki NAV® 4e LIMITED audio systems deliver an upgraded, fully integrated sound that hits HARD, plays CLEAN, and KEEPS UP with every task — innovated by POWER FROM THE GODS.

Featuring a 7-inch waterproof touchscreen source unit, four 6.5-inch waterproof 2-way speakers, and a 320-watt Class-D amplifier, the Kawasaki NAV® 4e LIMITED OEM Hifonics Audio System cuts through every outdoor environment with a clean and immersive soundstage that brings out more detail from your audio.

Add the dedicated Hifonics Subwoofer Kit for deeper, low-impact bass that includes an 8-inch subwoofer and subwoofer enclosure with a200-watt Class-D amplifier, and feel BIGGER BASS on any terrain.

For more information, click here.

The 23d Annual NW Audio Event Rocked Platte City

PLATTE CITY, MO (08.26.26) – The NW Audio Car Audio Competition and Car Show took place on Sunday, August 23rd. This was the 23rd Annual event.

The NW Audio 2 acre parking lot was filled with enthusiast. By the building children enjoyed the bounce house and attendees checked out the loaded ski boat.
A small group of vehicles in the Car Show.

Owner Jerry Davis related “This was just one extra special event. Our 2 acre parking lot was filled with vehicles in the car show plus the audio competition presented by MW MlDWEST SPL. The car show included several classes for cars plus trucks, SXS and motorcycles. Vendor booths plus audio product giveaways added to the action.”

“It was a great event and we had a lot of conversations on audio plus demos on the JBL ‘Dare to Compare’ trailer” Chris Pace related.
So much for enthusiast to check out in the parking lot

The event drew enthusiast from across the territory and everyone on site was so excited to be there to listen to music and see the great cars. Chris Pace brought the Arrowhead Marketing JBL Dare to Compare trailer from Kansas City and that drew attention all day long as Chris was doing demos and explaining products that were displayed on the trailer.

“The 80° day was special for us due to the recent heat wave. We handed out over 100 giveaways that made everyone happy on site for the family friendly event. Children really had fun in the large bounce house. We are certainly looking forward to 2027 and our 24th Annual Car Audio Competition and Car Show” Davis concluded.

For more see nwaudio.net.