Clunkbucket shows how aftermarketers are sizing up the new Honda CR-Z

Have you ever wondered how the aftermarket is always ready with custom-fit parts and accessories as soon as a new model is introduced? You probably assumed tuners get advance copies of the latest and greatest to slice and dice, but that's not quite the case, and our friends from Clunkbucket have lifted the veil off the process.

They were invited into a special gathering arranged by Honda and the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association, or SEMA. As you can see from the photo above, reps from several aftermarket tuning companies were allowed to get their hands on three new Honda CR-Z hybrids at a measuring session.

As Mike Bumbeck of Clunkbucket describes it, "The three 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrids shown here are being measured for everything from seat covers to supercharger systems."

With Honda's marketing focused on the CR-Z as the first sporty hybrid, part of the strategy is to have performance parts available right out of the box. These measuring sessions are how that happens. We've already seen some of the fruits of their labor, with Spoon, Mugen and even Honda showing the possibilities, so we're looking forward to finally getting a chance to see what the U.S. tuning arms have created for the SEMA show later this year.

[Source: Clunkbucket]