The SEMA show was kicked off in style as General Motors debuted a number of custom vehicles at the Wynn hotel on the evening prior to the opening of the show.

In addition to the exciting vehicles on display, there were celebrities as well as important partnerships announced that will allow consumers to customize their new Chevrolet with ease right at the dealership.

Here are some highlights of the several vehicles that GM brought to SEMA:

Custom Pontiac G8 GT

Rapper 50 Cent has used Pontiacs in his music videos, but for SEMA, he teamed up with GM Unique Autosports, the New York custom shop featured on the show “Unique Whips” to create a special version of the upcoming G8 GT.

50 Cent rode into the ballroom at the Wynn in the custom G8 that featured custom paint, 22-inch chrome wheels and a custom interior equipped with an 800-watt audio system. But it wasn’t the audio system we heard as the car drove in, it was the sound coming from the Borla stainless steel exhaust of the prototype LSX 427 crate motor pumping out more than 500 horsepower.

“Partnering with Pontiac has given me the opportunity to create something truly unique — a customized performance vehicle I am really proud of,” said 50 Cent. “The G8 is like none other and it pushes the boundaries of what people think a car has to be."

Customized Enclaves, Flex-Fuel Hot Rod, Solstice SD-290

GM also featured three customized version of the hot-selling Buick Enclave SUV, customized by three of the industry’s most influential designers, including Rick Bottom, Mitek, and another well-known name, former NBA star Jerome Williams’ Automotive Street Style.

Alongside the Enclaves was another eye-catching design. The Pontiac Solstice SD-290 race concept is designed to capture the essence of classic race cars of the past in a modern design. With a passenger cockpit tonneau cover and a driver windscreen, the S-290 is powered by a 290-horsepower direct-injection turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec engine the SD-290 features a 5-speed manual transmission, KW Automotive coil-over suspension, 19-inch forged wheels and Hoosier R6 racing tires.

Also featured was a FlexFuel Chevy Hot Rod with bodywork inspired by the 1934 Chevy built by GM’s Performance Division. The Chevy Hot Rod is powered by a 500-horsepower FlexFuel version of the turbocharged Ecotec engine.

DUB Partnership

General Motors also announced a partnership with TIS Industries, operated by the creators of DUB magazine for a line of D20 aftermarket wheels exclusively for GM Trucks and SUVS that will be sold exclusively through GM dealers beginning in the first quarter of 2008.

The DUB name is well-known in customization, greatly due to the trend-setting power of Myles Kovacs, president and co-founder of DUB Magazine.  Chevrolet buyers will be able to purchase 20- or 22-inch DUB wheels for their new Tahoe directly at the dealership. Wheels will feature the “D20” brand created by Kovacs.

Project X

To showcase the Anniversary 427 big-block crate engine, a modern version of the legendary all-aluminum ZL-1 427 engine, GM Performance Parts, GM Performance Divison and Popular Hot Rodding magazine undertook the restification (restoration + modification) of the most famous 1957 Chevy of all time, Project X.

A perpetual project car used to test many high-performance parts and automotive trends, Project X first debuted in Popular Hot Rodding more than 40 years ago. GM Performance Division and the publication collaborated to redesign and restore the yellow Chevy coupe.

Under the large yellow hood is the first of a limited production of Anniversary 427 engines producing an estimated 480 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. Project X features a Richmond 5-speed manual transmission, Strange Engineering rear axle, Budnik custom 5-spoke wheel (18-inch front, 20-inch rear), custom suspension, Corvette frame rails and C6 Corvette brakes.

The frame-off-body restification added custom bumper and grille with 427 emblem, “gun-sight” hood trim modified to provide ram-air induction for the engine, custom ram-air system, unique aluminum side trim, custom dashboard aluminum inserts, custom gauges, black leather seats with grey cloth inserts, Hurst shifter, and hidden Kenwood audio system.