The Best Of Automotive: July 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Suzuki Kizashi Concepts

Suzuki's long-awaited 2010 Suzuki Kizashi sedan is just starting to make its way to Suzuki dealerships, but that hasn't stopped the tuners from scoring a few Kizashis to dress up for the 2009 SEMA show. Here's a look at four customized Kizashis that will be on the floor at SEMA.

Road Race Motorsports Suzuki Kizashi

Road Race Motorsports Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi Front Three Quar

Road Race Motorsports has been making race cars out of Suzukis for a long time, so it's no surprise they got their hands on the Kizashi as fast as they could in order to create their Platinum Edition Kizashi. Digging in, they added a custom intake system, engine management system, Zeitronix data logging system and a custom dual exhaust. They then stiffened up the chassis and added Progress Technology springs and sway bars to take care of the handling and Rotora 13-in. brakes up front to handle stopping duties and complement their own Road Race 10.2-in. rear brakes.

Performance work done, Road Race turned their attention to the Kizashi's appearance, which they upgraded with their Sport Body kit. The kit includes Carbontrix custom front and rear fascias and a rear diffuser, to which they also added a custom grille, vented hood, and blacked-out roof. "Platinum Edition" graphics finish the package and let everyone know this is no ordinary Kizashi.

Delta Tech Engineering Suzuki Kizashi

Delta Tech Engineering Suzuki Kizashi Front Three Quarter View

Also quick to snap up a Kizashi was Delta Tech Engineering, which also had its sights set on performance. They started by stripping the car and lightening it as much as possible. Under the hood, they fitted a cold air intake and custom exhaust to up performance while Koni provided new coilover shocks and springs to upgrade the handling. RK Sport, meanwhile, came up with a new body kit for the car while Katzkin took care of new seats and Kenwood supplied a new stereo system. Delta Tech finished off the car with custom HID and LED lighting it developed in-house for this project.

Import Tuner Suzuki Kizashi

Import Tuner Suzuki Kizashi Front Three Quarters View Driver

Click to view Gallery

If any automotive magazine were to answer Suzuki's call for tuner Kizashi builds, which better to answer it than Import Tuner? The customizers of all things import went to work under the hood, on the suspension, and on the body work to create a custom Kizashi an import tuner could be proud to call its own.

Import Tuner Suzuki Kizashi Front Three Quarters View Passenger

Import Tuner Suzuki Kizashi Front View

Import Tuner Suzuki Kizashi Rear Three Quarters View Driver

Import Tuner Suzuki Kizashi Rear View

Import Tuner Suzuki Kizashi Side View

Westside Auto Group Suzuki Kizashi

Westside Auto Group Suzuki Kizashi Front Three Quarter View

Click to view Gallery

Fusing East and West, Westside Auto Group drew inspiration from both the Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle and vintage European style for its Kizashi Soleil (Soleil is French for "masculine sun," a nod to the Kizashi's Japanese heritage). Up front, Westside created a new fascia, grille and air intakes, then moved around the side and shaved the door handles. Reaching the rear of the car, they added a custom rear fascia housing a custom Yoshimura exhaust and a GT Super Car spoiler. R-Worx seven-spoke wheels wrapped in early-release Bridgestone Potenza tires and two-tone Napa Merlot/Bronzed Amber paint complete the package.

Suzuki Kizashi Concepts

Suzuki Kizashi Concepts

Suzuki Kizashi Concepts

Suzuki Kizashi Concepts

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Suzuki Kizashi Concepts

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Suzuki Equator

Fresh off the heels of our joint Tokyo to LA - The Hard Way adventure, Suzuki is setting its sights on Las Vegas' SEMA Show. The unofficial "biggest little car company" will bring three models to showcase the brand's aftermarket potential.
2010 Suzuki Kizashi Bonneville Front
ASMC 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Bonneville SpecialThis ain't your run-of-the-mill family sedan. Designed and crafted by Advanced Product Engineering, the fully built and modified Kizashi recently ran a record-breaking 203.301 mph at this year's Bonneville Speed Week. To accomplish this feat, engineers boosted power to well over 500 horsepower with help of a massive Turbonetics turbocharger bolted onto a highly reworked engine (with upgraded internals, cooling, fuel, and lubrication systems). Of course, safety is a priority when travelling this fast, so the team installed a rollcage, aluminum rear bulkhead, racing seat, harness, window net, and fire suppression system.
2010 Suzuki Kizashi Delta Tech Rear
Delta Tech Engineering Kizashi
From a company best known for its lighting products comes this stylish four-door. Modifications include an RKSport body kit, lowered Koni coilover suspension, intake and exhaust systems, and Katzkin leather. Of course, there's also a full LED and high intensity discharge light conversion.
2010 Suzuki Equator Icon Front Three Quarters
Icon Vehicle Dynamics Equator
As we know from our intercontinental journey, the Equator is one tough rig, particularly off-road on unpredictable terrain. But to Icon, the truck is a perfect starting point for a SEMA build, and as such, this rugged ride sports freer flowing headers and exhaust, Icon coilovers, Total Chaos upper control arms, Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires, beadlock wheels, fender flares, and a bed extender.

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Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia

It appears Stasis' tuned Audi R8 won't be the only European supercar to grace the Specialty Equipment Market Association show. Oakley Design, a firm noted mainly for tuning Porsches, revealed today it plans on bringing a customized Ferrari 458 Italia to next week's trade show.
Although Oakley has previously been tied to various Porsche projects, the company recently expanded its offerings to the new 458. In stock form, the Italia's 4.5-liter V-8 cranks out an impressive 570 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, but Oakley's team believed they could improve upon Maranello's design. With a new intake system and a remapped engine computer, Oakley claims it was able to coax another 48 ponies and 20 pound-feet from the engine, bringing output to 618 horsepower and 418 pound-feet.
According to the tuner, the extra power helps thrust the 458 from 0-60 mph in a scant 3.0 seconds -- four-tenths of a second quicker than a stock Italia -- and to a top speed above the 205 mph mark. To help the driver retain control of the car at such speeds, Oakley's custom front and rear spoilers create an extra 99 and 55 pounds of downforce, respectively.
Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia Rear
To help set apart its 458 from stock cars, Oakley scrapped the standard five-spoke wheel in favor of giant HRE forged rims, which are both lighter and wider than the original hardware. Additionally, Oakley's blacked out portions of the A-pillar, roof, and decklid, allowing the 458's curved roofline to resemble a fighter jet's bubble canopy.
Oakley plans on building five 458s itself, one of which will be at SEMA next week. For those who already own a 458 but desire some of Oakley's touches, fear not -- the tuning shop insists it will offer these performance and cosmetic upgrades a la carte.

Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia

Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia

Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia

Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia

Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia

Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia

Oakley Design Ferrari 458 Italia

mazda 3

Mazda has turned to its motorsports arm for its official 2009 SEMA Show factory efforts, creating a special edition Mazdaspeed3 and a 2.5L Mazda3, both of which take cues from the Mazda3 World Challenge racecar. Both 3s wear Crystal White Pearl, grey graphics, and details painted in black. Mazda says the design is a rework of the livery on the infamous 787B that took Le Mans in 1991.
Tri-Point Engineering, which races its own pair of Mazdas in the World Challenge series, upgraded the powertrain on the 2.5L Mazda3. With a Garrett GT2871R turbocharger pumping 10 psi, Mazda claims the mill sends 250-hp to the front wheels, and that the tune isn't finished yet. The Mazdaspeed3 gets only an AEM intake, but it's good for a claimed 20-hp boost.
2010 Mazdaspeed3 SEMA Side View
The Speed3 lends its front brakes to the 2.5L 3. In return, it gets four-piston Stoptech calipers and floating two-piece rotors. Suspension upgrades consist of KW Suspension coilovers with modified top mounts on the front struts to increase camber.
The 2.5L 3, with the Speed3's brakes up front and Mazda5 brakes out back, gets a Tri-Point rear stabilizer bar and adjustable KW coilovers. Both cars sit on 19-in. wheels with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A rubber from the RX-8 R3.

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lincoln concepts

Ford may be the featured manufacturer for this year's SEMA show, but that doesn't mean it's forgotten about its other divisions. After seeing what customizers did with cars like the Chrysler 300 and Cadillac Escalade, Ford is offering up its own luxury cars from the Lincoln brand for the full SEMA treatment.
Headlining the group are the Lincoln MKS, MKZ, and MKT models. Can Lincoln be hip?
MKT Rickbottom Side
Rick Bottom Designs MKT Panache
Rick Bottom kept it simple and old-school with a ride height lowered by 2 inches, shaved door handles, minor body work and just enough chrome trim to accent the belt line without going overboard. Inside, two-tone leather, floating arm rests, and a custom audio system up the luxury factor.
09MKS Rearraceskinz Rear Three Quarters
Click to view Gallery
Raceskinz MKS
rue to its name, Raceskinz re-skinned the MKS with more carbon-fiber trim inside and out than you can shake a stick at. That includes dash and door trim, a new roof, fog light bezels, mirror caps, a rear diffuser, a rear spoiler, side door moldings, antenna cover, license plate frames, and more done up in carbon fiber. Raceskinz promises that the carbon treatment is tasteful and not overdone, though the laundry list of add-ons worries us. A custom rear center console and high-powered LIIV entertainment system complete the package.
3D Carbon Front Three Quarters
MKZ by 3dCarbon
3dCarbon went nice and simple with its MKZ and added a new rear spoiler and rear roof spoiler, stainless steel door moldings and exhaust tips, and 20-in. TSW wheels wrapped in low-profile tires to the exterior. Jazzing up the engine is a Magnaflow exhaust that helps it breathe and sound better.

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lexus concepts

Without question, the highlight of Lexus' display at next week's SEMA show will be the 552-hp, mostly carbon fiber LFA. The nearly $400,000 exotic, which will have a production run of just 500, will play halo car over the pack of six tuners Lexus is bringing. Show attendees get to ogle, drool, and complain about the price -- never mind that they're not buying one -- with the sheet metal in view (read our First Drive of the LFA here, including VIDEO).
TRD IS 350C F Sport Side View
Click to view Gallery
Highlighting Lexus' factory accessory line are two cars: the GS 350 and IS 350C F-Sport by TRD. Both wear an unmissable "Vibrance Orange Glow" paint job, and the full line of F-Sport accessories, including 19-in forged wheels, upgraded brakes, lowering springs, and shocks. Five Axis supplies the body kits for both.
TRD GS 350 F Sport Side View
Three more IS 350Cs will be on display, varying widely in tune. We've already seen Fox Marketing's supercharged drop-top, which boasts "Foxy Green" paint, a Seibon carbon fiber rear wing, iForged Sprint wheels, adjustable coilovers, and bodywork borrowed from an IS F. The IS C by 0-60 Magazine and Design Craft Fabrication boasts a GReddy exhaust and ECU, Advan Racing wheels, Brembo brakes, KW suspension, and a Ings+1 body kit. VIP Auto Salon and JTuned.com teamed up to make a "Matador Red" IS C. It's more of a low-key approach -- certainly when compared to the cars surrounding it -- that wears a carbon fiber hood and spoiler, exhaust and intake, and Work wheels. Lexus says the upgrades amounted to a mere $15,000.
David Huang IS 300 Front Three Quarters View
On the other end of the spectrum is David Huang's IS 300, which rounds out Lexus' SEMA efforts. Huang apparently dropped more than $100,000 on upgrading the sedan. Results? A claimed 1000-hp from its tuned 2JZ-GTE mill. Huang's "IS 1000," as it's been dubbed, sports "Midnight Purple" paint, Work 20-inch wheels, brakes from Endless, Zeal coilovers, HKS sway bars, and a Kansai rear strut tower bar.