The 2002 SEMA Show, in the expanded Las Vegas

Convention Center, will have a new look, new beat, and new feel to it, according to

Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president of sales and marketing.

"We've developed this new show floor plan with the buyers' interest in mind," MacGillivray said. The annual show, SEMA's 26th in Las Vegas, will have more than 1,400 exhibits, including 12 carmaker displays, and more than 1,000 project vehicles. The displays will be grouped into ten sections, all under one roof.

MacGillivray noted that the variety of products exhibited at the SEMA Show is so great that it makes sense to group similar products, and products for certain types of vehicles together. "Now that we have the space, thanks to the additional one million square feet added to the Las Vegas Convention Center, we are able to reorganize the exhibits. It's like reorganizing your workshop when you've added cabinets and extended the workbench," he said.

The sections are named: International Tire Expo; Mobile Electronics & Technology;

Racing & Performance; Restoration Marketplace; Restyling & Accessories Center; Street

Rod Alley; Trucks, SUVs, Truck Caps & Accessories; Wheels & Performance Tires; (the

all-new) Performance Marine Pavilion; and General. Icons for each of the sections will

help direct buyers and exhibiting personnel through the Show.

"The exhibitor response to our concept of sections has been so positive that we have

expanded the space allocated on six of the ten sections within the past few weeks. Those sections were sold out, and we didn't want to turn away any exhibitors," said Christopher J. Kersting, CAE, president of SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association.

The 2002 SEMA Show will open at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5, and close at 4 p.m. Friday,

Nov. 8. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, will be SEMA's annual Innovations Day. The show is open to all participants in the automotive aftermarket.

Attendees may register online for $10 per person at www.semashow.com, and credentials will be mailed to registrants. After Sept. 27, the registration fee becomes $50 per person, either online, via mail or fax, or onsite in Las Vegas.

About SEMA

SEMA represents the $26 billion specialty automotive industry. The trade association

has approximately 4,500 member companies.

SEMA is a 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.

For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call (909) 396-0289; or visit www.sema.org or www.enjoythedrive.com.