Shanghai 2011: what the modifiers did...

There is a small body of opinion that believes making a car more shouty and more carbon-fibrey and more wingy makes it 101 per cent better. Collectively, this congolomerate of modifiying merchants exist to serve those wanting something a little more...bespoke.

This year, they decided to roll into Shanghai to persuade the newly-minted throngs of Chinese motor show-goers that two-tone paint schemes, biblically-large air vents and side-mounted exhaust pipes are the things of the future.

And we spent a day finding the best and worst they had to offer...

The Hamann Volcano, based on the McMerc SLR. Drive it deep into the heart of China and see what happens. Go on.

Bentley Conti GT gets more grrr.

The Tycoon Evo M - based on the BMW X6M. Part of the new cabal adopting new scorched-earth attitude towards other motorists.

The Ferrari California, as imagined by Hamann. Rear wing built to NASA levels of rigidity, while also capable of picking up Radio 4.

Collected most votes for the heaviest car at the show.

Lorinser's V12-engined S-Class. Suitable for agents of the underworld, rich teenagers and people with the shiny-thing-attraction gene of a magpie. 

Forgive us, but is this just a little bit cool?

Another one we first encountered at Geneva. AC Schnitzer's X6, like an angry bulldog on heat.

And finally, the BC 301, or a matte black A-Class with really quite tiny wheels.