Gallery: All the Cool Cars from SEMA 2019 Pre-Opening

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Kicking off the SEMA show the night before has become something of a tradition, and this year SEMA used the opportunity to announce its Vehicles of the Year selection. Each of the big three was represented in the awards for excellence, with the Ford Mustang taking home SEMA Car of the Year, the Chevy Silverado capturing Truck of the Year and the Jeep Wrangler stealing 4x4/SUV accolades. Rounding out the awards were the Audi RS 3 as SEMA Sport Compact of the Year and SEMA Powersports Vehicle of the Year winner, the Polaris RZR.

The preview day at SEMA not only offered the Vehicle of the Year awards, but General Motors celebrated the end of the long UAW strike by bringing the two 2020 Corvette Stingrays to the party, while also introducing the 1962 E-10 Concept - a "classic 1962 C-10 pickup truck powered by an electric Connect & Cruise system."

Most exciting for race fans is a collaboration between Chevy Performance and John Force Racing -- a new COPO Camaro concept for SEMA built to be race-ready for NHRA competition.

The day before SEMA is always one of anticipation, and the teaser events help whet the appetite, as do the vehicles already on display in the parking lot. If you can't be one of the 161,000 people who will walk the Las Vegas Convention Center hallways this coming week, you can still vicariously enjoy the wickedly cool rides that arrive from all over the world to celebrate this ultimate aftermarket event.

For additional information about the SEMA Award program or the SEMA show, visit sema.org or call (909) 396-0289.

All images courtesy Chadly Johnson unless otherwise noted.

SEMA announced its Vehicles of the Year the evening before the official start of the 2019 SEMA Show. From left to right: Tim Martin, SEMA Chairman of the Board; Pat McArdle, RZR Product Planning Director; Chris Kersting, SEMA President and CEO; Mark Bosanac, Head of Mopar; Ian Avilla, Audi Senior Manager Accessories & Collection; Tim Herrick, GM Vice President Global Product Programs; Hugh Milne, Marketing Manager, Silverado; Todd Hoevener, Ford Director, Advanced Strategy & Planning; Mike Spagnola, SEMA VP of OEM and Product Development Programs; Wade Kawasaki, SEMA Immediate Past Chairman/Secretary. Image courtesy SEMA.

The Chevy Silverado was named Truck of the Year. The one seen above is the concept for 2020. Image courtesy chevrolet.com.

General Motors introduced the 1962 E-10 Concept - a "classic 1962 C-10 pickup truck powered by an electric Connect & Cruise system." Image courtesy Chevrolet Performance Facebook.