STILLWATER, OK (06.14.2021) – KICKER adds a new look to the versatile PSM3 Mini-Enclosed Speakers for powersports. Made for bikes, ATVs, and anything else that has a round bar or handle, the newest version of the PSM3 speaker line adds a glossy black housing to the mix, along with the durable chrome pair that KICKER has had for years.
PSM3 weather-proof speakers are now shipping and ready for purchase at Authorized KICKER Dealers in-store and online. Introduced to the world on the KICKER UnMASKED! Live show in October, PSM3 Mini-Enclosed Speakers retail for $199.95. PSM3 Speakers are also available at www.kicker.com.
Designed specifically to deliver crystal-clear audio and last through every kind of weather, the rugged PS speaker system boasts high power handling and volume from the robust, three-inch woofers for ultra-clear music reproduction through helmets, wind noise and road noise.
New for 2021, KICKER now offers the PSM3 pairs in either 2- or 4-Ohm versions. PSM drivers advertise heavy-duty ceramic magnets, water-proof suspension, and a polymer basket for battling the elements. The lightweight, durable design of the speakers does not affect how the bike rides or handles in any way, and they fit with ease on round pipes ranging from 7/8-to-1-1/4 inches. The speakers come complete with cast-aluminum mounting hardware originating from a single-point clamp that resists vibration.
MIRAMAR, FL (06.14.2021) – JL Audio has extended its sponsorship of two-time Supra Pro Wake Tour Champion Nic Rapa. Headed into the 2021 season, Rapa will represent the JL Audio brand as he strives for a PWT championship three-peat.
“Nic is an all-star in the wakeboarding space and has been a great partner of the JL Audio brand since we first started working with him several years ago,” said Bryatt Fischer, Marketing Director, JL Audio. “As a brand ambassador, Nic has done a great job tying his enthusiasm for wakeboarding to promoting the JL Audio brand, and its gear on his boat. We’re pleased to extend our sponsorship of Nic for the 2021 and 2022 seasons and look forward to working with him to expose the JL Audio brand to a new generation of boating and watersports enthusiasts.”
2X Supra PWT Champion Nic Rapa
Since turning pro and joining the Supra Boats Team in 2016, native Australian Nic Rapa has quickly made a name for himself in wakeboarding. After winning the Supra Boats PWT Rookie of The Year title and placing in the top three rankings at the WWA Wakeboard World Championships his first year competing as a professional, Nic won second place at the 2017 and 2018 Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tours. In 2019, Nic earned the Champion title at the 2019 Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour, as well as at the 2019 Nautique WWA National Champion, solidifying his status as a marquee rider in watersports. Rapa was also the 2019-2020 IWWF world champion and 2020 USA national champ, He won the Supra Pro Wakeboard Tours championship again in 2020, making it the second year in a row coming out on top, and was also 2020 WWA world champion, 2020 World Series overall champion, as well as the 2020 wake series champion.
“Music and watersports go perfectly with one another, which is why I am grateful to JL Audio for continuing to be an excellent partner,” said Nic Rapa. “As an athlete, I’m not only dedicated to my personal growth, I’m also fueled by leading companies like JL Audio seeing value in working with me to enhance their brand. I am confident that 2021 is going to be a solid season, and I look forward to rocking the JL logo and creating awesome content as we win more championships together.
JL Audio has been working indirectly with Rapa since 2016 when he first joined the Supra Boats Team. As the exclusive audio supplier for Supra Boats, Rapa has first-hand experience with JL Audio products. JL Audio has been entrenched in the professional wakeboarding circuit with their sponsorship of the Supra Boats Pro Wakeboard Tour since 2014. The PWT has served as the stage for JL Audio to connect directly with watersports and boating enthusiasts alike to demonstrating the latest and greatest in marine audio technology. The partnership with Nic allows JL Audio to continue to support and inspire the next generation of watersport athletes.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (06.11.2021) – Applications are now available for SEMA Battle of the Builders, the coveted competition that unites and recognizes SEMA Show vehicle builders. Open exclusively to those with a car or truck displayed at the annual trade show taking place in November, the competition celebrates and honors top builders for reaching what many consider to be the pinnacle of automotive events. The competition, now in its eighth year, tells the stories behind the builds, and it provides builders with additional exposure and a chance to be recognized and named as the industry’s top builder.
With vehicle space available only to qualified exhibitors, SEMA Show vehicle builders represent an elite group of individuals who have the distinction of superior craftsmanship and proven excellence. Exhibitors are highly selective on the vehicles and builders they choose to showcase their products, capture attention, and drive traffic to their booths.
Registration for SEMA Battle of the Builders, the coveted competition that unites and recognizes SEMA Show vehicle builders, is now open at www.semabotb.com.
“Exhibitors rely on vehicles at the SEMA Show to optimally showcase their products in use and generate buzz,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “When an exhibitor chooses to showcase a vehicle, whether it’s in their booth or elsewhere in the Show, that exhibitor is investing in the build and the builder. They’re choosing the best builders to represent their brands and tell their stories.”
The SEMA Battle of the Builders competition will award one winner in four different categories—Hot Rod, Truck/Off-Road, Import/Sport Compact, and Young Guns—before crowning an overall top builder during SEMA Ignited, the official SEMA Show after-party that takes place on Friday after the weeklong trade show ends.
As part of SEMA’s initiative to support and encourage the younger generation in the industry, the association will continue its SEMA Young Guns Regional Qualifiers. Applications for the Young Guns Regional Qualifiers are also available online, making the program open to builders who may not already have a vehicle displayed at the SEMA Show, provided they are 27 years and younger. Young Guns Regional Qualifier winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2021 SEMA Show, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature vehicle spot at the Show, and entry into the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, where they will compete alongside established vehicle builders from the industry.
“Each year, we meet amazing young builders through the Young Guns Program,” said Gattuso. “It’s inspiring to witness the passion they have for all things car-related, and to see the industry embrace them as they build a network of contacts and connections that will fuel a lifelong career.”
To register, or for more information on the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, log on to www.semabotb.com. The deadline to register is October 15.
ELKHART, IN (06.11.2021) – ASA Electronics is kicking off the summer by expanding our call center hours. Our award-winning customer support team will now be available from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. The change in operating hours comes just in time for the customer service department’s busiest season.
“By staying open a little later, we will be able to assist so many more customers each day. Summer is peak camping and boating season, so our call and email volume go up this time of year.”
-Customer Service Supervisor Josie Caban
The new hours also allow our knowledgeable and highly-trained staff to be more available to our customers in other times zones. Call our customer service line directly at (877) 845-8750 or email us at inquiry@asaelectronics.com for assistance.
GILROY, CA (06.10.20210_- Tint World Automotive Styling Centers has moved to an updated location in Gilroy, California. Formerly based in Morgan Hill, this updated location is the 4th Tint World center in California and is under the co-ownership of Xan Owens, Michelle Arani, and Andrew Arani.
Xan Owens is pictured in front of the bay doors at the new location with the shop’s pet dog.
“The Gilroy area lacked an Automotive styling center with access to high-quality aftermarket products,” Owens said. “By bringing a Tint World to this community, we are able to guarantee that the residents of Gilroy will receive premium service when they want to customize their vehicles – all from this brand-new, state-of-the-art location.”
Staff members gathered for a group image.
Tint World Gilroy, California offers a wide range of auto styling products and services, including window tinting, advanced driver-assistance systems, car stereo upgrades, custom wheel and tire packages, mobile electronics, nano ceramic coatings, paint protection films, security systems and color-change vehicle wraps and vinyl graphics.
“Having operated the Morgan Hill location, Xan and Michelle are very familiar with our team at Tint World,” said Charles J. Bonfiglio, president and CEO of Tint World. “They have the knowledge to ensure their success while continuing to positively impact the Tint World brand. We look forward to seeing this location grow for years to come.”
Tint World Gilroy is located at 1220 1ST St. Gilroy, CA 95020. For additional information, call (408) 645-7773 or visit tintworld.com/locations/ca/gilroy-045/
DANIA BEACH, FL (06.10.2021) – Ground Zero USA, imported by HKI USA, has announced a new item to its lineup of pro audio based speakers and drivers. The Competition Pro series is expanding with the new GZCT 20N-Pro compression driver, a reinvention of the wheel when it comes to a “bullet style” tweeter. Ground Zero took the beloved, but sometimes difficult to mount, GZCT 19N-ProX tweeter and changed the waveguide to a more universal style allowing this amazing tweeter to be mounted into more and more applications where our more recognized GZCT 500IV-B and 0500X tweeters are the standard.
By changing the waveguide to a threaded throat style horn mount, this allows the new GZCT 20N-Pro to drop into just about any location that supports a bullet tweeter, but allows the dealer or customer to step up to a more sound quality emphasized compression driver. “We are constantly striving to bring to market solutions that are needed and asked for by all of our dealer partners.” says Jacob Brown of HKI USA. “Being that this tweeter is the best sounding small format compression driver I’ve heard, we needed to find a way to capitalize on this for all of our retailers and their installs”.
For more information regarding Ground Zero and its extensive list of available products, visit www.groundzerousa.com
RALEIGH, NC (06.09.2021) – Zorg North America LLC has announced the release of an LVDS Rear Camera Relocation Kit for up-fitter’s and chassis builders of Ford, Ram, And GM Vehicles.
The change in OEM cameras from CVBS (standard) to LVDS (coax style) has caused a problem for many up-fitters, topper companies, and body manufacturers. Zorg North America’s team has designed a solution. One housing will fit all of the major truck brand cameras and allows the rear tailgate camera to be relocated to a fixed location. The kit includes a 15-foot LVDS Extension cable that plugs into the vehicle camera cable at the chassis below the tailgate. This cable can then be routed to a custom location where there is space to mount the rear camera retaining the OEM rearview system.
Zorg North America also offers replacement OEM cameras for customers that do not wish to remove the camera from the tailgate. This solution is practical when a temporary need to remove the tailgate comes into play, such as a salt spreader, water pump, or other utility bed solution will be loaded onto the truck and removed again later. All major brand cameras are in stock and are available when ordering a housing kit, including the 2021 F150 application.
Zorg supplies a full line of commercial-grade monitors, cameras, cables, collision sensors, and upfitter harness solutions and ships the same day in most cases. All Designed, Engineered and Tested in the USA.
HOLLY HILL, FL (06.09.2021) – Metra Electronics will host six training sessions at the 2021 KnowledgeFest in-person event in Orlando, FL. As a Diamond Ultra sponsor, Metra is proud to support the industry by providing in-depth training sessions for installers, which will outline new integration products, lighting and audio upgrades for Harley-Davidson, aftermarket accessories for Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, and new products for upgrading vehicle safety systems. Installer Institute will also host a session to show shops how to connect with trained, certified graduates through their online career portal and explain the future of mobile electronics education. Training sessions include:
KnowledgeFest 2019
“Simplify your Install with Axxess DSPs” on Friday, June 25 at 12:30 PM
This training will cover the entire Axxess DSP product line, highlight new vehicle coverage, and showcase the newest app features. Metra will show installers how these solutions can increase sales in the showroom and decrease time in the bay. Attendees will learn how to use and set up Axxess DSPs through the app for complete tuning control and when to use the DSP “Lite” versus “X” solutions.This training will also explain how to use the different types of applications offered within the AXDSP line, including CAN-based systems, new A2B systems, MOST25, and MOST50 vehicle technology.
“New Accessories for Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator from Metra” on Friday, June 25 at 1:45 PM
Metra has focused an entire product line to the growing market of Jeep owners who want to customize their rides to be louder and reflect their own personal style. This session will help them learn about the new speaker adapter plates, backup camera options, complete integration solutions, and LED lighting solutions designed to fit Jeep Wrangler JL and Gladiator models. Attendees will hear valuable tips for selling and installing these new products that will give them additional opportunities to sell a full range of upgrades to loyal Jeep customers.
KnowledgeFest 2018
“New Lighting and Audio Upgrades for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles” on Saturday, June 26 at 4:45 PM
How can shops cut down installation time on audio and lighting upgrades? Metra’s Saddle Tramp brand is here to help with even more new products launching this season. Attendees will be the first to learn about new Axxess DSPs that fit Harley-Davidson with a built-in re-flashing feature and Saddle Tramp’s newest replacement inner fairing. Attendees will learn how to offer upgrades to make their customer’s motorcycles louder and more stylish, without the need for labor-intensive custom fabrication and wiring.
“Upgrading Vehicle Safety Systems with iBEAM” on Saturday, June 26 at 6:00 PM
As more consumers upgrade their vehicles, safety and convenience features should not be left out of the selling strategy. Attendees will learn about the aftermarket safety features they should be selling and how to install iBEAM’s newest products. This session will go over the hot-button selling points and features that consumers are asking for plus installation tips to give installers a better understanding of what is involved in an upgrade.
“The Future of Mobile Electronics Education with Installer Institute” on Sunday, June 27 at 9:15 AM
There are some things best learned with hands-on training. Mobile electronics education is one of them. Attendees of this session will learn how Installer Institute has adapted its curriculum to include courses designed to give students practical training for car audio installations plus additional skills for home theater integration, marine audio, upholstery, security, remote start installation, window tinting and more. For shops looking for trained, MECP and MESA certified installers, this session will show them how to connect with ii graduates through the online career portal and also explain what they can expect an ii graduate to have learned.
“Advanced Integration Made Easy with Axxess and Metra” on Sunday, June 27 at 10:30 AM
Attendees will learn about the newest solutions from Axxess and Metra that make vehicle integration easy, even with some of the notoriously complex vehicle systems. This training session gives in-depth installation information for Metra’s new AXPIO-JL1 integration kit for Jeep Wrangler, Metra’s latest TurboTouch dash kits, and new Axxess interfaces hitting the market.
Metra’s customers can register for the KnowledgeFest event at no cost using Metra’s VIP code, available by request from their sales representative. Once registered for the event, attendees will also need to register online at KnowledgeFest.org for each training session they will attend.
Metra will be at booth #1007 from June 25th-27th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Additional information about the show, produced by the Mobile Electronics Association (MEA), is available at KnowledgeFest.org.
DIAMOND BAR, CA (06.08.2021) – Available when you need them, where you need them; SEMA’s On-Demand Virtual Education library includes dozens of recorded sessions that SEMA members can access anytime, anywhere.
Below are newly added and popular recordings that are available. For a complete list of sessions and registration information for upcoming webinars, visit www.sema.org/virtual-education.
SEMA Industry Insight Series The Growing Diversity of the Light Truck-Market, Powered by TORA Truck and off-road professionals will be able to make more informed, strategic business decisions using new research on the vehicle landscape and trends facing the market for pickups, SUVs, CUVs and vans. Find out where sales are shifting toward and how this may impact aftermarket sales.
Team Management Series, Powered by SBN Reducing Micromanagement and Increasing Employee Self Sufficiency Learn about the dangers of micromanagement and how to increase employee self-sufficiency. During this webinar, Allison Harding from Vintage Air is joined by one of her personal mentors, Christine Ashmore from Morgan Stanley, as she shares tips for improving efficiency and productivity within work departments.
Wheel and Tire Industry Insights, Powered by WTC Preparing for National Tire Safety Week National Tire Safety Week, a consumer tire safety awareness campaign by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), will take place June 28–July 4. Listen in as experts share important information that tire companies can use to participate in the campaign, prepare their staff and marketing in advance, and educate consumers on proper tire care and maintenance.
Track: Industry Segments, powered by SEMA Councils and Networks More Than Just Jeeping: Other Ways People Go Off-Road While Jeeps continue to dominate the off-road market, the growing popularity of overlanding and related outdoor activities represents a huge opportunity for companies to expand their selection and grow their businesses. Learn about the evolving landscape of the off-road market, the different ways people are going off road, and what related products businesses may want to consider.
For a complete list of sessions and registration information for upcoming webinars, visit www.sema.org/virtual-education.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL (06.08.2021) – This new DS18 10” Subwoofer is a mid-tier addition that comes with all the features normally associated with much more expensive models.
The GEN-XX10.4DHE is rated at 1000 MAX power and 500 watts RMS at 4+4 ohms. The black aluminum basket design and black aluminum voice coil initially catch eyeballs and soon ears.
This new product, that continues the DS18 mantra “We Like It Loud” is now shipping.
12VoltNews.com 