This guy takes actual vehicle pics and Photoshops them. They look like really good models. Looks like color modulation reference:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/appleman64/sets/72157623382911143/with/4822436253/
That is a really interesting process the guy goes thro ........... fun to switch between the origonal and his work , as you say in some ways they are like very good models but it does seem to enhance the character of the origonal.
Thanks for the link
How ironic. We strive to make our models look real. He takes real subjects and exaggerates aspects of lighting and texture to make them look more like models! -- Russ