Top Ten Tuner Cars
APR S2000
APR is a manufacturer of body tuning components and works in carbon fiber for many of its creations. The star of the APR booth was this Honda S2000, painted in the company’s signature flame red. The S2000 sports an APR widebody kit, APR GTC-300 dry carbon rear wing and APR mirrors. One of the hot items is a Mooncraft hardtop from Spoon Sports that features a fastback look with removable hatch area. Tucked into the car’s bulging fenders are a set of Work XD9 wheels wrapped by BFGoodrich rubber. The car runs 18x9s up front and 18x10s in the rear. Under the hood is an engine boosted by a RevHard turbo kit. An equal-length tubular exhaust manifold is home to a Precision T61 turbo. A Spearco front-mount intercooler, a wastegate and blow-off valve from Turbonetics round out the system.
BRS Twin-Turbo Tundra Powered RWD xB
The title says it all for this one. BRS’ Leigh Guarnieri has outdone himself, and that’s saying quite a bit since his turbocharged Honda Fit was a big hit at last year’s SEMA Show. Using mounts provided by K2 Motoring, some ingenuity and a sprinkling of divine inspiration, Guarnieri shoehorned a 4.7-liter Tundra V8 into the diminutive xB. The built V8 is boosted by a Peak Boost GT35-R-based turbo kit that positions the turbos right next to the headlight assemblies. Tuning is handled by an AEM EMS engine management system. The VIP Forged Alloy wheels are temporary as the final products will measure a staggering 20x15 and 20x20 with huge lip. Wilwood six-piston calipers and 15-inch rotors are in charge of halting the humongous Pirelli gumballs. The Scion has been converted to rear-wheel drive with a Ford 9-inch rear-end and custom four-link suspension set-up. Too bad all the Scion could do was sit in Mobil 1’s booth because this monster would be something to see at the strip or on the drift.
Seibon Evolution
This “Mean and Green” Mitsubishi features a wicked widebody treatment from High End, a body tuning company that makes one-off wide body kits. The Time Attack meets the show scene theme is carried to completion with Seibon hood, trunk and front doors that have been finished in a green tint to tie into the PJ Bonifacio paint job. The car rolls on gold hued Volk Racing wheels that blend in with the overall scheme of the car.
Cartel/Rockstar Scion xB
All-Motor sport compact drag racer Jeremy Lookofsky ventured off into uncharted waters when he signed on to modify an xB for Scion’s SEMA booth. Built under the Cartel Custom Cars banner, the boxy xB was sliced into an open-air cruiser. “I wanted to make a show-stopper and knew this build would really push my skills,” says a prideful Lookofsky. “Bracing was a big worry and I was really nervous the day we cut the roof. There’s definitely no turning back once the Sawsall goes to work.” The car sports an airbag suspension and rolls on custom Bonspeed aluminum. Inside a “minimalist old car” interior has a scant few gauges as they have been replaced with a 15-inch touch screen. The front “bench loveseat,” as Lookofsky puts it, is also part of the nostalgic cockpit. Engine mods consist of TRD hardware. Lookofsky says he received the ultimate compliment: praise from famous custom car builder Chip Foose.
Samco Sports Impreza WRX/STi
The Subie gets it done with a stout APS turbo upgrade. APS has numerous turbo solutions for the WRX/STi boxer four engine and kits that feature either a top-mount or front-mount intercooler configuration. This World Rally Blue sits on Prodrive wheels with glistening AP Racing brakes nestled behind their spokes. Body tuning consists of Chargespeed wide body fenders, Seibon carbon-fiber body parts and a healthy helping of detailing solution.
Jotech Scion xB
It’s a wonder that Jotech’s Kenny Tran was able to pull off this build, as he was in a heated battle for the 2007 NHRA Sport Compact National Champion in his 7-second, 190-mph Nitto/Q-Power Scion tC. He won by three points. A muscular wide body kit from 5 Axis makes this Candy Red 2008 Scion xB an eye-popper. The retinas are further challenged by the car’s fully polished Turbonetics Scion tC turbo kit that includes a Spearco front-mount intercooler. Tran built the xB’s 2.4-liter 2AZ engine with Arias slugs and Pauter con rods then topped it with a V&M machined head. When tuning commences, the goal will be well north of 400 horsepower. The boosted 2AZ puts the twist to a 20-inch wheel and tire package. The contact patch is provided by 305/25-20 Nitto Neo Gen tires that are wrapped around Modulare 20x11.5 wheels custom built by Wheel Experts.
Nitto Scion tC
Kenny Tran of Jotech Motorsports put together a real wolf in sheep’s clothing for Nitto. Tran installed AEBS sleeves, 9.0 compression Arias pistons, Pauter rods, a ported head from V&M and Rev valvetrain hardware that came from Jotech’s race program. Boost is generated by an HKS T04R-Z BB turbo secured via a Full Race stainless-steel manifold. Jotech designed a custom fuel system featuring 1000cc injectors and a Weldon 255lph to feed the beast. Engine control is handled by a Motec M400 stand-alone ECU and Tran tuned the combination to 739 horses and 572 lb-ft of torque. Rolling stock consists of 17x8.5 Volk Racing RE30 wheels and Nitto NT01 235/40ZR-17 rubber. Other powertrain components include an ACT clutch, TRD LSD Tein Type Flex coilovers and Wilwood brakes.
Cusco 2008 Subaru WRX 5-Dr
Built by Vivid racing, Agency Power and AFI, this 2008 five-door WRX is a popular platform at this year’s SEMA show. The 2.5-liter Boxer has been enhanced with a Garrett GT35-R-based turbo kit, an AFI front-mount intercooler and a trick polished sheet-metal intake manifold. Agency Power provided many of the bar and rod-end pieces while Cusco used the WRX to showcase its Cusco Zero-series coilover suspension.
Hahn Racecraft Solstice
Bill Hahn of Hahn Racecraft has developed a line of boost upgrade parts for the sizzling Pontiac Solstice. The roadster’s internally stock Ecotec engine has been pumped up with a Hahn Racecraft Stage 4 turbo system with high-boost option, a Hahn Racecraft MaxFlow cat and a Corsa cat-back exhaust. A stage four turbo upgrade usually puts the heat on a stage zero clutch, so Hahn developed a Stage 4 clutch assembly to keep pace with power output. The Pontiac is shod with Konig Privat alloy wheels and Dunlop SP9000 tires with a Stainless Steel Brakes upgrade to slow it down, which can be a challenge considering that it ran 11.9 at 116 mph in the quarter mile at the strip.
AutoBANH Motorsports Supra
Tommy BANH is a speed freak among speed freaks. Team him up with a Supra that is fully realizing its potential and clear the road. That’s what they did in Texas, at the annual Texas Mile held at the regional airport in Goliad, Texas. BANH’s Unlimited Street class Supra took down everyone, even the Unlimited Race class that included a twin-turbo Viper and a twin-turbo Ford GT. His top speed was an awe-inspiring 228 mph. The Supra’s 2JZ-GTE engine runs a Garrett GT4718-R turbo, which surprisingly is the biggest turbo the company makes. It barely fits between the valve cover and shock tower. Yes, Tommy does drive this monster on the street.
