The desires of car enthusiasts are as fleeting as any other industry's consumers. One day, a particular thing may be "in style" only to fall to the wayside shortly thereafter. We can see this with vehicle designs over time - Specifically regarding aftermarket modifications.
The 1950s saw the emergence of Hot Rods and Rat Rods, later transforming into the muscle cars of the 1970s and beyond. Then, yet again, what was popular among car-lovers shifted towards 2 Fast 2 Furious-looking vehicles (mostly for the worst). We're grateful that the "ricer" aesthetic has since faded into obscurity; replaced by a much better mod, widebody kits!
Unfortunately, though, widebody mods have become a little too prolific. Sometimes, we see cars that are far too strange for such a serious upgrade. However, there are also times where we're pleasantly surprised by a well-done custom job.
With a good enough platform and the right layout, cars that you wouldn't expect to look good in a widebody turn out to be amazing, as evidenced by these photos here.
8 Toyota MR2 (SW20)
Remember, smoking kills, everyone. It's not something to look up to. Their advertising/graphic designs, on the other hand, are fair game (so long as you're not putting them on a racecar). If you just want to imitate one, then go for it! Clearly, this Toyota MR2 owner did just that, plus a widebody kit.
Along with the Marlboro MR2 above, the widebody street fighter MR2 pictured here features similar mods, albeit to a great extent. As long as you can handle the possible snap-oversteer, these SW20 MR2's would make for great time-attack cars, let alone cool tuners!
7 Audi A4
Out of all the European carmakers to have mastered sports wagons, Audi is perhaps the best. You have famous examples like Jon Olsson's late Audi RS 6 DTM car, as well as less known instances. For instance, this bagged Audi A4 Avant.
Featured on RAREbreed a couple of years prior, this A4 is no average family car. Though it's more affordable than an RS-trim, the A4 is just as capable, especially when you add a ton of mods. Strengthened internals, bags, a subtle widebody, roof rack, and a sick set of AG Wheels have us fantasizing over this Audi quite a bit - As opposed to some $100,000+ R8.
6 Tesla Model S Performance
Speaking of a subtle widebody kit, we've got one that (at first glance) wouldn't seem much different from the stock Tesla Model S. Upon closer inspection, however, this custom Model S is nothing like the 'factory fresh' version.
As cool as boosting an electric car's performance is, we're currently concerned about its exterior appearance over the Model S's speed. The Model S is already fast as is, so nothing's really needed to burn any rubber. Instead, it's the kit itself that has our attention.
Known as the 'S-APEX', this kit does more than simply drill in some flares and call it a day. No, they go above and beyond; widening the entire body panels, not just the wheel wells/surrounding area. Don't forget the exposed carbon fiber pieces, either. To us, those are the best parts of Unplugged's Tesla package.
5 Lamborghini Urus
To get your fill of awesome supercars and a lucrative lifestyle, Southern California is one of the bests places to go in the US. Mod shops like RDB LA are why we feel so strongly towards 'SoCal's car community; just printing out amazing sports cars/luxury vehicles like it's going out of style.
We saw the shop take their fair share of Lamborghini Urus', but we didn't expect a widebody kit to look very good on it. Thankfully our worries were unfounded since RDB's (Vik's) Lamborghini Urus is perfect for a minor body kit. Adding the carbon trim and bright-white rims only make it that much better!
4 Toyota GR Yaris
Of all the cars for Toyota fans to obsess over, we thought it would be the A90 Supra, not a sportier hatchback. Still, the Supra failed to live up to the desires of enthusiasts, while the GR Yaris has done nothing but surpass them.
Just as the previous Toyota Yaris was converted into a Formula Drift car, so too has the GR Yaris. Owner Daigo Saito has made several modifications, including a bolt-on style widebody kit with huge fender flares.
In all honesty, though, we're not all that shocked to see how compatible the Yaris is with a wider frame. After all, the older model pulled it off pretty well, so why wouldn't its successor do the same?
3 Volvo Polestar 1
While the BMW M3 GTR served as the iconic Need for Speed car in our childhood, the new generation has a much more modern racer to slam on the front cover. None other than Need for Speed: Heat's Volvo Polestar 1.
Imagine, rendered, and brought to life by Khyzyl Saleem, the Polestar seen above is more of a GT-class car than a luxury electric car. Absolutely every part of this Volvo just screams "cyberpunk" to us. From the split rear-wing to the purple underglow emanating from its exaggerated fender, all of it is a pure work of art.
After seeing a Polestar modded like K.S.', the idea of getting ourselves one, in reality, doesn't seem like a bad option.
2 Porsche Cayman
The Porsche Cayman is more than a hard-top copy of the Boxster models. Not only do they market themselves differently, but the Cayman ends up being a far superior racecar (in amateur motorsports or GT4). Knowing that, a highly tuned Cayman isn't unheard, just not to this extent.
The widebody kit on this 'stanced' Porsche Cayman is far from what you'd see on a racetrack. Closer to a Rocket Bunny or Liberty Walk kit, this Pandem Cayman is clearly set up to cruise the road alone. Nevertheless, it's no slouch either. Sure the extra body weight may slow things done a tad, though that can be offset easily.
1 Chevrolet Corvette C8
It's barely been half-a-year since the Chevrolet Corvette C8 was unveiled to the public and new owners are already ripping them apart, adding their own mods as they go. This has mostly be confined to internal performance upgrades, but a handful have broken the mold. Notably, there's this C8 with a Pandem kit already on it.
After first being exposed to this car through an outstanding automotive YouTuber, Spencer Berke, when he uploaded a short of the Pandem C8 at a car meet. The supercar aesthetic of the C8 makes it look a lot more like a Ferrari or McLaren than a traditional muscle car, which works in the widebody's favor. With those exaggerated flares, carbon fiber trim pieces, and huge rear-wing, this C8 secured its place in our hearts forever.