Auto & Car Blog

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Sedans/Saloons, Lexus

Lexus is gearing up for a big showing at SEMA. In addition to bringing four tuned IS Fs, including one from our friends at 0-60 magazine and another from Fox Marketing/Artisan Performance, long-time Toyota collaborator, Five Axis, will be debuting a heavily reworked GS 460 in Vegas.

Also on hand will be IS Fs from Import Tuner/Tein and MotorworldHype, along with an ICON-designed LX 570 sporting serious off-road upgrades, an IS 350 kitted out with F-Sport accessories and a prototype body kit, plus the 2009 IS F with a handful of upgrades and a new interior color. Hit the jump for all the details.

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Lexus GS 460 by Five Axis

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Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Wagons/Estates, Crossovers/CUVs, Toyota

When you think about the Toyota Venza, we doubt the first thing that comes to mind is customization. But that hasn’t stopped Toyota from tapping Street Image, Inc. and long-time partner Five Axis to create a duo of Venza project cars for November’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The two low-slung crossovers (don’t call them wagons) attempt to highlight and accentuate the active lifestyles of the Venza’s core demographic, beginning with the Street Image variant (above) that boasts an upgraded engine and brakes, massive rollers, a lowered ride height, body kit, a black/burgundy interior and a sat-nav-equipped entertainment system. Toyota says the Street Image SportLux version attempts “to give the occupants the feel of a refined sports car while retaining the Venza’s utility and functionality.” We say, good luck.

Five Axis makes a slightly more compelling case for customizing the Venza with a stow-away rack system created by Magna Car Top Systems that can transport everything from bicycles to skis. New front and rear bumpers, wider fenders and pot-hole averse 20×10.5-inch wheels round out the exterior mods on the Venza AS V.

We’ll be checking out both models in Vegas in a few weeks, but check the gallery below now for a preview.

[Source: Toyota Open Road Blog]

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Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Coupes, Hyundai

Hyundai’s trifecta of SEMA-bound Genesis Coupes is complete, and the latest tuned, rear-wheel-drive two-door comes courtesy of Street Concepts. Unlike the turbo’d models from RMR and HKS, the Street Concepts Coupe is packing the 3.8-liter V6 fitted with a custom cold-air intake and a Magnaflow exhaust. According to Street Concepts’ owner, Shawn Williams, their aim is to “maximize the driving capabilities of the Genesis Coupe while striving for a level of practicality…”

To that end, the only performance mods - outside of aiding the V6’s breathing - include a modified suspension, Brembo brakes and 19-inch Volk wheels shod in performance rubber. The exterior benefits from a black camo and “stealth fighter-inspired paint design,” along with tinted head and taillights, APR rear wing and custom grille. Inside, carbon fiber trim joins a pair of Cobra seats with black suede accents and an Infinity audio system.

With the Coupes covered, we’re waiting to see who Hyundai tapped to tune its three Genesis sedans. We’re sure they won’t be nearly as entertaining on the track, but a few VIP-styled sedans could do a lot to stoke the image of the Genesis. Press release below the fold.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Trucks/Pickups, Ford, Special/Limited Editions

Athletic governing bodies are coming down hard on steroids and HGH, which has probably led to a glut on the market. Performance West Group appears to have bought up the entire surplus and injected it into a Ford F-350 dually in order to create the Striker. Part pickup and part Ford Mustang GT500KR, the Striker will be intimidating other vehicles at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The greatest tuning minds of our generation are assisting PWG with the project. Gale Banks is tuning the PowerStroke V8 engine above its 350 hp and 650 lb-ft. Hulst Customs is fabricating the bodywork. American Lightweight will be providing the aluminum 24″ wheels. Katzkin Leather and Sony are doing duty inside to make sure you enjoy what will surely be a monster system in beauteous comfort.

PWG will then drape the entire thing in Striker Silver and Badass Blue and then probably let it loose to kill things. The rationalist in us wants to ask “What the…?” The auto junkie in us wants to stick it in the driveway and let it reek of testosterone. And then transform into a Decepticon. Which means we can’t wait for SEMA.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc.

Just as spinner wheels start to come off customized cars, the New York State Senate Transportation Committee has decided that it is time to ban them. It’s difficult to understand why the bill is gaining traction with no known associated risks to drivers. It’s not like cars are slamming into one another because awe-struck onlookers are failing to pay attention to intersections while the Escalade’s 24’s go round and round. This screams of hypocrisy. You can get hubcaps with advertisements on them. Talk about distracting! What about those naked lady mud flaps on all those big rigs? A couple of times I’ve seen pickup trucks with male body parts dangling from the rear bumper. I wonder how many people have rear-ended someone while trying to read the latest ‘my kid beat up your honor roll student’ bumper sticker. The list goes on.

SEMA is stepping up to defend the rights of customizers everywhere by lending its powerful voice in opposition to Bill 1640, which calls for fines of $750 for the the third violation and beyond. In the annals of automotive history, this bill could never be the reason for the demise of the spinner wheel. That decisive blow came when the first set of K-Mart spinner hubcaps when on sale.

[Source: Winding Road]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUVs, Ford

Ford will be unveiling another production intent vehicle at the New York Auto Show next week that has a connection to last year’s SEMA show. Back in November we showed you the custom Expedition that Funkmaster Flex brought to Las Vegas for the big show. Next week Ford will be announcing that a version of this truck will go into production this fall. The production version is truly the spitting image of the original show truck produced for SEMA, with the most obvious change being new 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels. It features a 3d Carbon body kit that spruces up the front and rear fascias while adding side skirts to lower the truck’s visual height. The Black and Colorado Red paint job with Orange pinstriping is just the like the show truck’s, however. Inside the Expedition, Flex added a black leather interior with Colorado red stitching, as well as Colorado red accents all over the dash, doors and center console. Based on the short wheelbase Expedition Limited, it doesn’t appear that any changes have been made to the motor or suspension. No pricing has been announced either, but any baller knows you need a lot of Benjamins to roll like this.

[Source: Ford]
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Continue reading New York Preview: Funkmaster Flex Expedition going into production

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Trucks/Pickups, Ford

click above image to view five desktop wallpaper-sized pics of the F-150 Foose Edition

We reported late last year that Chip Foose had hooked up with Ford to produce some special Foose-ified Blue Oval models, and the F-150 is the first vehicle to get the famous tuner’s treatment. Based on the F-150 FX2 Sport, the Foose Edition will not only be the fastest F-150 every produced, faster even than the SVT Lightning, it will also be the fastest half-ton pickup in the world, according to Ford.

The truck has been lowered and sits on giant 22-inch wheels. A new grille and bumper up front are joined by rocker panels that accentuate the lowered look, while the body is adorned with custom striping. The interior is also augmented with Foose headrests and floor mats, as well as a leathe-wrapped center console with serialization plate.

The Foose Edition F-150 is powered by a supercharged version of the 5.4L Triton V8 producing 450 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 500 ft-lbs. of torque at 4,000 rpm that sends power through a four-speed automatic. That’s not as much power as the Dodge Ram SRT-10, but that 500-hp truck went out of production in 2006, leaving the mantle of World’s Fastest Pickup for the F-150 Foose Edition to pick up. While this is technically a concept, the production version it inspires will go on sale this fall. Incredibly, Foose and Ford developed this truck in the time after last year’s SEMA Show in November when discussions between the two began. There’s no word on pricing or how many will be produced, but expect the F-150 Foose Edition to be expensive and exclusive.

[Source: Ford]
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UPDATE: The F-150 Foose Edition may not be the fastest truck for long, as you’ll read in our ride and drive of the new Saleen S331 Sport Truck that also features 450 hp and 500 ft-lbs. of torque in a body with two less doors. That should make for a fine head-to-head comparo.

Continue reading New York Preview: Ford F-150 Foose Edition debuts

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Sedans/Saloons, Lexus

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Fox/Artisan Lexus IS-F.

The 2009 Lexus IS-F is slated to get some serious attention at SEMA, and Fox Marketing and Artisan are out to prove that show and go aren’t mutually exclusive.

The plan is to create an IS-F that has the power to match its presence, and to that end, Artisan developed a twin-turbo setup that huffs compressed oxygen into a 5.0-liter V8 equipped with JE pistons and Crower rods. With a Mishimoto radiator, an Artisan exhaust, a healthy amount of boost and a thorough tune, Artisan is estimating over 600 hp at the rear wheels.

Aesthetically, the team sought to compliment the stock IS-F’s styling, so they’ve fitted a bespoke body kit consisting of custom front and rear bumpers, and a set of side-skirts that cleanly integrate into the blistered rear fenders. iForged rollers fill the wheel wells, sized 20×9.5-inches in front and 20×11.5-inches in the rear, and wrapped in Toyo T1R tires (255/35R20 front and 305/30R20 rear). The Glasurit Sunset Orange hue is courtesy of BASF, and according to Brian Fox, they’ll be blacking out the headlamps, grille and emblems to tie everything together.

Artisan plans to have its IS-F exhaust on sale next month, and when we check out the Lexus booth this November, we’ll be able to see Fox/Artisan’s efforts in person, along with a handful of other tuned and tweaked IS-Fs.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Coupes, Bentley

What does SEMA mean to you? For most of us, it’s a place for the country’s top tuners to show their wares to a power-hungry public. But the dark side of SEMA never ceases to rear its ugly head, and further proof will be available at the Toyo booth where the Tetsu GTR Bentley Continental GT will be displayed.

The unholy brainchild of Japanese tuner ASI features a custom carbon fiber wide-body kit that makes ASMA’s unfortunate creations look demure in comparison. The two-tone paint scheme… uhhh… compliments the massive haunches, deep side skirts and GT-style wing, while 22-inch blingalicious rollers prove that chrome is still in high demand… unfortunately.

According to Modified Luxury and Exotics, only 29 Tetsu GTRs will be produced, each putting out over 800 hp. We’ll be on hand to provide live shots of the other five vehicles featured at the Toyo stand, assuming our camera lens doesn’t crack when we zoom in on the GTR’s gaudy fascia.

[Source: Modified Luxury and Exotics]

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