Kia’s rugged EV concepts are standouts at 2024’s SEMA conference

The Specialty Equipment Market Association, or SEMA, held its annual conference in Las Vegas this week. Billed as one of the biggest car shows in the world, the event typically brings together more than 135,000 attendees in the automotive aftermarket industry to see the newest trends in vehicle repairs and modifications.

And while there weren’t as many electric vehicle concepts and one-offs as years past — after all, we’re in the midst of a historic transition in the auto industry that is equal parts momentous and slower going than we expected — there were still a handful of interesting plug-in models worth highlighting.

The Stellantis-owned parts and accessories division brought a number of compelling concepts to this year’s SEMA show. But none of them were as effortlessly cool as this 1967 Plymouth GTX “electromod.” This one-of-a-kind restomod is based on the — you guessed it — 1967 Plymouth GTX muscle car. And this new conversion is a taste of what’s to come from the world of electric conversions of classic cars.

Mopar wanted to show what was possible — a “potential future,” the company put it in its press release — using Mopar’s e-Crate propulsion systems. Classic car enthusiasts could pick up one of these conversion kits to transform a vintage muscle car or truck into a battery-electric vehicle.

Mopar tweaked the Plymouth’s exterior to include a carbon-fiber front splitter and custom low-profile rear spoiler. The company also paid homage to the flip-top fuel caps of the 1960s and ’70s by updating its function as a charge-port door.

Kia’s spacious three-row EV9 got a rugged facelift for SEMA, transforming into a new adventure-themed concept aptly named ADVNTR. Appearing alongside it is the WKNDR concept, based on Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) modular concept that was first revealed at CES earlier this year.

Together, both concepts are designed for off-the-beaten-path excursions, with custom exterior designs aimed at rock climbing or river fording. The EV9-based ADVNTR is raised three inches more than the standard EV9, along with rugged wheel and tire combinations. Meanwhile, the WKNDR is also perched on off-road-capable tires and features a customizable interior for an endless variety of outdoor adventures.

Kia highlights several modular features: an onboard compressor to handle inflation, from adjusting tire pressure to inflating air mattresses for camping; a mobile pantry for outdoor cooking; and built-in solar panels and hydro-turbine wheels that can recharge the batteries.

That’s about it for EV enthusiasts at this year’s show. Other automakers brought their fair share of fossil fuel-powered concepts — everything from an open-air Land Cruiser with serious Jeep aspirations to some gnarly-looking Nissan trucks — but we here at The Verge draw a hard line at internal combustion engines. Let the past stay in the past.