Eight Ford Mustangs, more than 4,000bhp: welcome to SEMA

A Ford Mustang with a small, four-cylinder engine producing McLaren P1 power is a sure sign of the coming apocalypse. Either that, or a not-so-subtle reminder that SEMA is back, and it’s just as mad as ever.

The annual tuner meet, which sees thousands of horsepower enthusiasts mill around a Las Vegas exhibition centre eyeballing a Wonderland of performance tuning and modification, will this year showcase a battalion of Mustangs that beggar belief.

It’s all part of Ford’s official stand at SEMA – the largest OEM stand with over 50 cars on display, we’re told – that celebrates the sheer chutzpah (and a healthy dose of lunacy) of the modifying scene.

The show kicks off next week, and Ford has revealed details of some very special pony cars that gives ‘downsizing’ a swift karate chop to the elbow.

Now we’re on familiar territory. Motoroso’s entrant features a modified version of Ford’s 5.0-litre V8, here producing 727bhp thanks to a Roush supercharger. There are of course, more things: things like a new exhaust, Eibach springs, big brakes, 21-inch wheels, fancy tyres, and an interior with many custom bits and bobs.

Also, red wheels.

This 'Stang was designed in Canada, packing a 2.3-litre Ecoboost engine with a turbo and intercooler upgrade, new exhaust, coilovers, many struts and braces, big Brembo brakes and a ‘Lamborghini Bianca’ white paintjob. That’s right, a Ford with a Lambo paintjob.

There’s more inside, too; a full Kicker audio setup with amps and much power, sports seats and painted dash and console surfaces. But there’s a bit less, as the rear seats have been removed.

Stripes. They add at least five hundred horsepower, right? That’s what we’re assuming, because Ford hasn’t attributed any bhp details to this contender. But, it does get a new intercooler, a cat-back exhaust, coilover suspension, sway bars and bushings and braces, a new bodykit and a refreshed interior.

Don’t forget too, it has stripes.

Yes. Just… yes. 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.

This 2.3-litre Mustang gets a mere 475bhp: a veritable pittance considering the army of horses offered by its brethren. And yet it’s still considerable. The new turbo, prototype exhaust system and many valves and wastegates mean it still matches many serious performance contenders.

Wheels and tyres are bespoke, there’s a five-piece widebody kit, Recaro front seats and a six-point rollcage.

The horsepower continues to arrive thick and fast. This one gets 725bhp thanks to a 2.9-litre supercharger, while you will also notice the electric blue wheels, grille accents and all of the inside.

Brakes are bigger, there’s performance suspension, new body parts and many custom interior parts, like seats, lighting, pedals and floor mats.

No power output for this one we’re afraid, but we are told it has a ‘wide backside’. This is because it has 13-inch wide rear tyres (with 9.5-inch fronts), lowered suspension, and a wider bodykit. And not because it is fond of jelly.

Also, more red.

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.