Gallery: the finest concepts of the 2015 SEMA show

Five cars graced the basement of the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles way back in 1967. Not because they were errantly parked, but because they formed part of the very first Speed Equipment Manufacturing Association.

That’s right, SEMA started off in a basement; a basement that included a Dodge Dart drag car and a Ford GT40. Today, of course, the name has changed – it’s now called the Specialty Equipment Market Association – as well as the place. Las Vegas.

Oh, one more thing too: the size. Today’s SEMA show attracts more than 100,000 industry personnel from more than 100 countries, all converging on Vegas’ Convention Centre for three days in November.

The business? Tuning. Everything from performance to, um, decoration, it’s an industry worth lots of [insert your own currency here, readers]. More importantly, it allows us to view something out of the ordinary.

So, if you’re a fan of sensibly priced hatchbacks, this link will probably service your sensibly pitched needs.

For those of you still with us, suspend your belief, and step forth…

Photography: Rowan Horncastle

Five hundred horsepower is a nice round figure. A nice round figure, for a nice round slap across your senses. BTR – who have previous form at SEMA – decided to investigate the potential tuning capacity of Hyundai’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine.

A new turbo, new pistons, rods, manifold, exhaust, intercooler and ECU then, along with a mighty clutch, result in a potential of 500bhp.

There’s also new suspension, a new bodykit and a set of lairy wheels. Cue your finest Sith Lord analogies…

See what we mean about SEMA? Only here would you find a modified Tucson with as much power as a Lamborghini Aventador. And all from a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine.

Many parts were necessary for this Smaug-like power, no doubt: turbo, pistons, cams, exhaust, springs… hell, it’s practically a new engine.

You may also have spotted a few choice exterior modifications. Nothing too drastic…

Mazda has form in the Speedster department, turning the old MX-5 into the rather lovely Superlight concept. Here is another Speedster, called, um, Speedster, based on the new MX-5, and packing nuclear levels of desirability.

With nearly 200kg carved from the road-going MX-5’s weight, carbon body parts, a lower right height and stickier tyres, everything seems correct. We want.

There’s also a Spyder concept on display too; carbon aero body kit, adjustable suspension, ‘bikini-top’ folding roof. No, really.

Toyota’s obsession with Back to the Future continues, which is fine by us. After Lexus – Toyota’s luxury arm – rolled out a hoverboard, this custom Mirai pays homage to the legendary 80s movie car.

It’s been treated to a two-door gullwing conversion, a head-up ‘clock destination’ display, custom wheels and tyres, blue LED lighting throughout, brushed aluminium paint, air suspension and of course, a flux capacitor housed in a custom centre console.

Altogether now, ONE POINT TWENTY ONE GIGAWATTS.

All the usual suspects are present and correct. Hyundai’s trusty 3.8-litre V6 engine was treated to a Vortech supercharger kit, free-flowing exhaust, front mounted intercooler and blow-off valve to liberate 500bhp. That’s considerable.

Then comes the coilover suspension, a new front and rear spoiler, and of course, a paintjob Bruce Banner would be proud of.

With a name like ‘Adventuremobile’, there are literally no prizes for guessing who this is aimed at. Professional cheese-makers will a penchant for derring-do.

Anyway, the special edition Tucson gets a roof-top tent – with space for two campers – a bull bar and side steps, LED lights, a 1.5-inch suspension lift and special off-road tyres.

Admit it, you want the Adventuremobile, don’t you?

“SEMA members take their vehicles to the extremes,” explains Toyota. With that in mind, allow us to present the Toyota Tundra limousine.

It started life as a Tundra, complete with a 5.7-litre V8 engine underneath. Then, for reasons we neither understand nor wish to discover, it was extended to 26ft in length, given eight doors and a brown leather interior, apparently inspired by the cockpits and passenger compartments of luxury private jets. Alrighty then.

Built in honour of Florida’s A1A 300-mile long motorway – or ‘highway’ – this custom Optima gets all the ‘laid-back’ addenda you would expect. Things like the sliced top and shortened windscreen with reinforced steel tubing to stop it wriggling, suicide rear doors, custom suspension, a turquoise paintjob inspired by the beach and of course, 20in wheels.

There are bucket seats up front, double buckets in the back and cream leather. Oh, and a 245bhp turbo’d four-pot, and a big fat exhaust.

The Sedona minivan is capable of transporting eight people. This one carries just two. It is also able to travel off road, and has been designed as a large camera to capture nature in its element (hence the colour scheme).

There’s a custom tubular steel roof rack utilised for mounting all sorts of cameras and equipment – things like DSLRs or high-def WASPcams – many camera compartments in the rear bed area, LED lights on all four sides, and a 27in iMac with photo editing inside.

You’ll also have spotted the extra ride height, new body parts, custom grille and big wheels.

Looks amazing fun, doesn’t it? That’s the idea, the philosophy recalling 1970s mud racers. As such, this Mud Bogger gets 28-inch off-road tyres, flared, modified arches and side skirts, a hand-built brush guard and an LED light bar too.

Then comes the panoramic roof, race seats, and the all-important roll-cage. We like.

900 horsepower. Thanks to a new ECU, boost controller, forged pistons, new studs and bolts, springs, cams, fuel injectors, a fuel rail, air intake, custom exhaust, and rods and much, much more, this 2.3-litre, four-cylinder Ford Mustang produces 900bhp.

Just let that sink in for a moment. Actually, don’t. Because this modified ‘Stang also gets a new turbo with a ‘Godzilla’ blow off valve, big brakes, coilover suspension, a custom body kit, A WING, roll cage and racing seats and much, much more.

Seriously. 900 horsepower from a four-cylinder engine. Eat that, Mercedes and Audi and Porsche and… well, everyone.

Ford Mustangs dressed up as police cars just work, full stop. This version gets a new intercooler, new exhaust, air-lift suspension, big brakes, new wheels and tyres, and of course, all of the police things like lights, paint, and radio systems.

Toyota Sienna minivan up top, Toyota Tacoma 4x4 underneath, zombie-proof everywhere else: meet Toyota's one-off UUV.

Inside you will find a mobile satellite television receiver, wi-fi, multiple USB ports, a 17-inch monitor, a 60-inch Sony LED TV, a 2,500-watt JBL audio system and a Flir M-324xp night vision camera system with high-definition recording capability. Naturally.

It gets a four-link, long-travel suspension allowing a four-inch lift in ride height. You'll spot the monster wheels and tyres, while Toyota tells us the UUV "boasts an amazing 15.75 inches of wheel travel to conquer virtually any type of terrain it may encounter".

"Our goal was to build the ultimate, attention-grabbing HR-V," we're told. Lots of things have been added to this car as a result - a flared bodykit, big brakes, a new exhaust, fancy wheels and air suspension.

Also, it's quite pink.