Make no mistake, black is the new chrome when it comes to engine fashion.

Sometimes it was so black under the hood, it felt as if we were photographing a wheelbarrow full of coal. Maybe a little bit of color wouldn’t hurt. Just a little accent? And speaking of hoods, what happened to opening them? There were a lot of cool cars with closed hoods; or if they were open, it was barely enough to get a peek and stick a camera lens in there. Come on guys, show off that firepower!

This is by far the largest engine gallery from SEMA we’ve ever posted. LS engines continue to be the most popular but not always the best looking. There were a number of extremely handsome Fords and motorcycle engines. And we found a few rare gems, including a Kubota diesel in a 2-wheeler. We also noticed the continued growth of turbos, and stumbling upon a carburetor was just as difficult as finding a plated surface.

Spend a lot time with this gallery. There are some interesting dress-up and styling ideas for your engine bay. Click on any engine to view full-size image.