Whether it’s a rolls or a chevy, when an aftermarket tuner gets its hands on a car, you know it will become one powerful beast—Hennessey’s 813 hp version of the Nissan GT-R, for example, is truly worthy of the stock car’s Godzilla nickname. But a complete aftermarket package does more than just add horses and torque; it makes any car more exclusive, more distinctive, and maybe even better looking. If great is not good enough, if super does not suffice, you can turn to an aftermarket tuner who has made the upgrades and added the enhancements that result in cars such as the ones shown on these pages.

Mansory White Ghost
Apparently Mansory had second thoughts about the blue-and-gold paint job that covered the Rolls-Royce Ghost it presented at the Geneva motor show in March. The German company was wise to reconsider; even the most ardent Notre Dame alum would have found that color scheme a bit garish. When cloaked all in white, however, the Ghost displays the “increased elegance and a touch of sportiness” that Mansory refers to in its description of the car. The aesthetic modifications include additional LED daytime running lights on the front end and front fender vents, new side skirts, a rear spoiler, a modified rear apron, and 22-inch wheels. The interior features leather and Alcantara upholstery, bamboo trim, and LED ambient lighting. To go with its sportier appearance, the Mansory Ghost’s modified twin-turbo V-12 produces 629 hp, instead of the 562 hp that the stock Rolls V-12 generates. This additional power enables the 5,450-pound car to reach 62 mph in 4.5 seconds (instead of 4.9) and hit a top speed of 180 mph. The Mansory Ghost costs about $150,000 more than the stock Rolls Ghost, which has a base price of about $245,000.

Lingenfelter Camaro SS
To demonstrate what it can do to enhance the looks of a vehicle, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE)  created this show car and displayed it at the annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) trade show last fall in Las Vegas. There, it received the General Motors Design Award for best sports car. The body alterations include a front fascia splitter, rocker extensions, a carbon fiber grille, a new hood with air extractors, a rear deck spoiler, and a rear fascia extension. The changes that the Decatur, Ind., company made to the 2010 Camaro aren’t just cosmetic; many are functional. They’re related to the performance upgrade that features an LPE supercharged LS7 engine capable of producing 750 hp.

Pratt & Miller C6RS
The C6RS is essentially a road-going version of the Pratt & Miller–built Corvette C6.R, the car that Corvette Racing has driven with much success in the American Le Mans Series. Two years ago, during a test run of the C6RS on the runway of a decommissioned U.S. Air Force base in Michigan, the car reached 201 mph in its first sprint and 203 mph in its second. The performance confirmed the vehicle’s status as one of the world’s fastest supercars. The C6RS, which the Michigan company offers for about $180,000, features a lightweight body made entirely of carbon fiber. Aerodynamic enhancements include front fender louvers, an underwing and rear diffuser, enlarged front wheel vents, rear brake ducts, an integrated rear spoiler, and a front splitter. The car is powered by an all-aluminum, 750 hp engine.

Hamann Black Miracle
With the Black Miracle, the German tuner’s goal was to make the Ferrari F430 look even more like a racecar. Thus the matte black finish, which is used in motorsports to reduce the glare coming off an engine cover and into a driver’s eyes. The contrastingly glossy, bright-colored components such as the side-view mirrors and brake calipers, according to Hamann, give the car a “warrior look.” That is, the color scheme looks like war paint. The car, which was introduced three years ago, also comes with gullwing doors and aerodynamic enhancements that include a new front spoiler, rocker panel wings, and a rear diffuser and wing—all of which can be painted bright, glossy red, orange, or yellow. Along with those upgrades, the Black Miracle produces 50 additional horsepower compared to the stock F430. More recently, Hamann introduced a made-over Ferrari California that develops 550 hp versus the stock California’s 460 hp. The aerodynamic changes include a new two-piece front spoiler and rear wing and new side vents and side skirts. All the additional parts are available in either fiberglass or carbon fiber.

RENNtech SL 65 Black Series
The RENNtech version of the SL 65 Black Series doesn’t look any different from the Mercedes-Benz AMG version, except when it’s accelerating. Then it’s even more of a blur. By upgrading the engine control unit the intercooler pumps, and the exhaust system, RENNtech has increased the Black Series’ already impressive power output from 670 hp to 805 hp. Even more impressive is the car’s 1,000 ft lbs of torque, which is comparable to that of the $1.7 million Bugatti Veyron. RENNtech’s modifications add a $16,000 premium to the Black Series’ $246,000 price. The Florida-based tuner recommends that you also add a transmission upgrade and a limited slip differential.

Hennessey GTR800
Texas-based Hennessey Performance offers three different upgrades to the Nissan GT-R, the car known as Godzilla, boosting the stock version’s power from 485 hp to 600, 700, or 800 hp—actually, 813 hp. The extra 328 hp in the GTR800 helps hasten the vehicle’s zero-to-60 mph time from an already astounding 3.4 seconds to a whiplash-inducing 2.6 seconds. The GTR800, which costs about $150,000, reaches 100 mph in 6.2 seconds (versus 8.3 for the stock GT-R). The upgrade includes numerous parts and accessories, including the exhaust system, that bear the name Sumo, a brand of high-performance components that Hennessey developed for the GT-R. Hennessey, which operates from a 30,000-square-foot facility adjacent to Lonestar Motorsports Park near Houston, also offers turnkey upgrade packages for the Camaro and Corvette and the Dodge Challenger and Viper, and it produces the 1,200 hp Venom GT.