For the second year in a row, the Jeep_® Wrangler received the “Hottest 4×4-SUV” award at SEMA, given to the top trending vehicle model in its category, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg of what went down during the first official day of the 2012 SEMA Show. Check out the photos and news below.

Announcing Jeep Performance Parts

Some of the biggest news to hit from the show floor was the creation of a new Mopar® off-road division, Jeep Performance Parts. The new portfolio of high-end, hard-core Jeep parts includes axles, lift kits, bumpers, winches, skid plates, and suspension components. In other words, Jeep Performance Parts is ready to offer you factory-engineered solutions to increase off-road performance.

HEMI® Conversion Kits

Jeep Performance Parts announced a Mopar 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8 engine conversion kit and a new 5.7-liter HEMI conversion kit, which will cover 2007 through 2011 model-year Jeep Wranglers. These engine conversion kits join over 300 Mopar performance parts already offered, with even more to come with the new off-road division.

Jeep Wrangler Given the Hottest 4×4 SUV Award

The Jeep Wrangler received the 2012 SEMA Show’s Hottest 4×4-SUV award for the second year in a row. The Wrangler won award during the 2011 SEMA Show and its popularity is obvious. JK Wrangler vehicles are all over this year’s show floor, and we’re sorting through hundreds of photos to bring you the very best from the 2012 SEMA Show.

Check back here tomorrow for more updates and more photos from the 2012 SEMA Show.