Written by Guest Editor Carter Jung

For the automotive enthusiast, there is no greater event than the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. Held in Las Vegas, NV, the annual spectacle draws over 100,000 spectators, spanning 100 countries, to witness firsthand the latest and greatest in all things automotive. But before you start making travel arrangements, there’s a catch. It's a trade show, meaning it's closed to the public. So unless you work in the industry, you can't physically attend - but that doesn't mean you can't be there in spirit.

Scheduled during the prime fall season, SEMA is where you can catch the first glimpse of new showroom models in tricked out form. Whether it's been crafted for show, road, track or combination thereof, it's one thing to see a car in stock form, but another to see what they look like in the hands of a qualified builder - especially when it comes to modern cars. With engines running ever more efficiently - more power, increased miles per gallon, advanced technology - it's become increasingly challenging to extract more performance. Not only do tuners have to be more knowledgeable, spending more time on development, but factors such as fuel octane and fuel quality come into play for the end user.

New engine technologies can typically run at higher temperatures and have different fueling needs and Shell V-Power is engineered to meet the demands of today's modern engine. The patented cleaning system in Shell V-Power premium gasoline is designed to resist thermal breakdown at higher temperatures, actively protecting against performance-robbing gunk under the toughest engine conditions while lower quality premium fuels might not protect as well.

Despite the growing technological demands, the aftermarket is very much alive. Here are 10 new models that made their debut at SEMA in full aftermarket regalia that prove so.

HONDA CR-Z HYBRID R CONCEPT
One of the first hybrid vehicles marketed as “sporty,” Honda’s CR-Z boasts an electric motor that adds power to the gasoline engine. The “Hybrid R” concept takes augmentation one step further by adding a Borg Warner turbocharger, bumping up horsepower from its stock 122 to an estimated 200 with the electrical assist on.

2011 SUBARU WRX STI SEDAN
While technically this Subaru WRX STI Sedan is stock, what it accomplished in factory form is extremely impressive. With its turbocharged flat-four engine producing 305 hp and improved suspension over its previous model year, rally racing ace Tommi Makinen drove this STI around the notorious Nurburgring track in Germany and clocked a 7:55 lap time. To put it in perspective, a Porsche 911 Turbo ran a 7:56. A Ferrari F430 F1 tied the STI Sedan with a 7:55.

2011 FERRARI 458 ITALIA
The successor to the Ferrari 430, the F458 Italia from Ferrari does exactly that with its 570 hp V-8 and improved performance. It wouldn’t take much to make one stand out. Take a yellow Italia and add a contrasting black swath that cuts from the hood to the rear hatch and a set of matching black-faced wheels with yellow bezel, and voila, instant spotlight.

2012 LEXUS LFA
While the Lexus LFA has been making its rounds in the auto show circuit, it can still pull with the gravity of a black hole – particularly when the 552 hp, carbon fiber chassis makes its first non-Lexus booth appearance at SEMA, displaying at CEC, an aftermarket wheel manufacturer, complete with aftermarket rims.

2011 MAZDA2
Built to meet Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and National Auto Sport Association (NASA) competition regulations, this MAZDA2 features a full custom roll cage, harness and fire system. After safety coming first, the diminutive Mazda comes with an aero body kit, carbon fiber rear spoiler, data acquisition system, race suspension, exhaust, lightweight wheels and Hoosier race tires, making it one of the most affordable club racers, new from the factory.

2011 HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE
After an initial thud, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe has been slowly starting to gain acceptance with the tuner audience. And with over-the-top examples like this 3.8 V-6 model from ARK with its 585 supercharged hp, suspension upgrades, redone interior, Volk rims, and ARK body kit and Candy Apple Red paint, the Hyundai is only going to grow in popularity.

2010 FORD MUSTANG GT
When the new Mustang and its throwback looks fused with modern chic was introduced, it was a hit. This creation complements the nouveau-retro with a custom body kit with bold angular lines and custom paint. In the engine bay however, things go completely modern with a Vortech supercharger and nitrous system.

2011 SCION TC
Turbocharged motor, huge wheels, air suspension and big brake kit would’ve made this new tC impressive. But it’s the attention to detail and clean execution with its grey paint, full audio system, custom interior and engine dress-up bits that helped it win the annual Scion Tuner Challenge.

2010 LEXUS GS HYBRID
Pushing the boundaries for Lexus and hybrid cars is this re-imagined GS Hybrid. Complete with Volk rims, Continental slick tires, custom roll cage and carbon fiber aero, this Lexus looks like it was pulled off a GT race grid.

2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO
Extravagantly built, this ’10 Chevrolet Camaro has custom body work painted in brilliant gold and squats on one-off 21-inch wheels via air suspension. The interior has been rewrapped in two-tone leather and the audio reworked with a subwoofer mounted in the trunk. But the highlight of this Camaro is its fully built 6.2L engine that’s been twin-turbocharged, producing 1,000 hp.

For more information about the SEMA Show, check out www.semashow.com. For more information about Shell V-Power, check out www.shellvpower.com.