It's almost like a compulsion in Germany - nobody except Peter Schreyer cares what you do to a Kia, but the more expensive, the more exclusive and the more beautiful a new model, the more likely you are to find that some tuning haus has come up with a (very, very expensive) kit to make it a little faster and a whole lot uglier.
The reasoning behind this, according to film star Matt Leblanc, is that if you have a standard car any wannabee wiseguy can walk into the showroom and get one just like yours - but with lowered suspension, oversize rims and an aero kit that makes it look like Hulk Hogan on wheels, it's uniquely different and uniquely yours.
You'll note we haven't said anything about performance, partly because running cars of this calibre to their limit on the public road would be both illegal and irresponsible and partly because if you howl past at the speed of light nobody is gonna see how cool you look.
ALL DRESSED UP
Which brings us to that Ian Callum masterpiece, the 2013 Jaguar XF, in particular the top-selling (in Europe, anyway) three-litre V6 turbodiesel, rated at 303kW and 600Nm, and rear-wheel driven via and eight-speed auto transmission.
But when Bavarian tuner Loder1899 gets through with it, it has a ground-hugging front apron, a black grille, black and red trim elements, smoked light lenses front and rear, carbon-fibre rear spoiler and rear diffuser, and four stainless-steel drainpipes for exhausts.
It also runs a spine-wrecking 35mm lower than standard on stiffer springs, heavier anti-roll bars and 21" alloys shod with 225/30 rubber.
And, almost as an afterthought, its ECU has been tweaked to boost delivery to 228kW and 680Nm, reducing its claimed 0-100km/h sprint time from 6.4 to 6.2 seconds, at the cost of an extra 100ml of diesel every 100km.
All of which will cost you upwards of €12 445 (R165 000) on top of the price of the standard car.
Is driving an ugly, uncomfortable car that important to you?