PASMAG - 81 - Spring

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INSIDE

FORMULA D FINALS

ANNUAL BODY KIT GUIDE

HARDCORE 700 HP AMG MONSTER

SPRING 2010 - $5.99

PM40069655

R10760

Volume 11 Issue 10

INTERIOR BUYER’S GUIDE

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Breaking every track a production based vehicle in Time Attack competition with the HKS CT230R, and producing the fastest Mitsubishi vehicles ever to hit the street, tarmac and gravel; HKS USA, Inc., premier aftermarket performance parts manufacturer, releases its line of performance products for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. EVO X ITEMS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE THROUGH JRPONLINE.COM • Super Hybrid Filter • Racing Suction Reloaded Kit • Premium Suction Kit • Legamax Premium Muffler • Center Pipe 65mm SUS304 • Front Pipe 65mm SUS304 • Bumper Protector Set • Upgraded I/C Piping Kit • Front Mount Intercooler Type-1 • Front Mount Intercooler Type-2 • M-Series Super Fire Spark Plugs • Super SQV 3 - Blow-Off Valve Kit • Hipermax III • Hipermax III Sport • Metal Head Gaskets • Turbo Timer Harness MT-6 • Low Temp Oil Cooler Thermostat • Upgraded Actuator • 75mm Hi-Power Exhaust • Super SQV Recirculation Kit • Fuel Delivery Kit • GT3240 Full Turbo Kit • GT Actuator Kit

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contents volume 11 issue 10

features

on the cover

2007 Mercedes CLS55 AMG

020

Showdown 028 2008 Infiniti M35X

034 Top Notch 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 059 Brave Heart 1999 Nissan Silvia S15 Snow Bird 066 2006 Pontiac Solstice

068 Street Smart 2006 Subaru STi

events

034

074 Formula D Finals House of Drift - Irwindale, CA CSCS Season Finale 078 Toronto Motorsports Park - Cayuga, ON SPEED World Challenge 080 Road Atlanta - Braselton, GA Continental Winter Driver Training 082 Mirabel - QC

074 080

059

078 082

068 6

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND – WWW.PASMAG.COM

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THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH HORSEPOWER

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contents volume 11 issue 10

test reports & Gear essentials 012 Editor’s Desk 040 Sound Advice Q&A 112 Model Calendar

test reports 044 Infinity IMS 048 American Bass XFL1244 052 Boston Acoustics GTA-400M

Power Page 086 Racing Beat REV8 Exhaust 088 GRIP Tuning Body Kits

044

048

Infinity IMS

American Bass XFL1244

052

Boston Acoustics GTA-400M

Buyer’s Guides 014 Listen Up: Battery Basics 042 12 Volt Gear 096 Interior Buyer’s Guide 102 Body Kit Guide

Tech Talk

014

108 Tracy Nova 096

090 Backstage Pass – Fast Wheels 094 Backstage Pass – JGY Customs

cover model 108 8

Tracy Nova

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Performance Auto & Sound Magazine (ISSN # 1710-1573) is published six times a year plus four special editions. by Performance Auto & Sound Inc. 44 Prince Andrew Place, Toronto, ON, M3C 2H4, Canada.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (1 year) Canada: $14.99 CAD, USA: $24.99 USD (2 years) Canada: $23.99 CAD, USA: $32.99 USD (3 years) Canada: $29.99 CAD, USA: $39.99 USD Toll Free: 1 (888) 564-SUBS (7827) Email: subs@pasmag.com

PRESIDENT & CEO Frank Spezzano PUBLISHERS Blake Breslin & Perry Breslin GENERAL MANAGER Tim Rutledge EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Pereira SENIOR EDITOR / ONLINE DIRECTOR Dave Pankew TECHNICAL EDITOR Garry Springgay DESIGN & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Queue Gonzalez PRODUCTION / SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Patrick Dinglasan SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Edward Shintani SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Patrick Beltijar SALES & MARKETING SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Matthew Adolfo BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Erickson Obiacoro SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Shane Chattergoon SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER JP Kongas ACCOUNT MANAGER Arnold Adolfo GROUP ACCOUNTS MANAGER Richard Robles ADMINISTRATION FINANCE MANAGER Michelle Forsyth SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Carol Franceschinis EVENTS / MODEL DIRECTOR Randi Bentia PRODUCT TESTING DONE AT Cogent Audio Labs - www.cogentaudiolabs.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS John Jackson • RCH Designs • Jacob Leveton • Joey Redmond Jim Breitung • Bryan Fross (SoCalCustoms.com) • Somya Siva Mike Gazda • Josh Mackey (MackeyDesigns.com) • Greg Deese Chris Manacop • Mike Schuster • Jeremy Alan Glover • ID Agency Edwin Villaneva • Daisuke Katsumura • Andrew Jennings • Angelique Majors Performance Auto & Sound Magazine welcomes unsolicited contributions including stories (typewritten), photos, club news, events etc.

(Forward to PAS, 44 Prince Andrew Place, Toronto, ON, M3C 2H4) Canadian Publications Mail Products Sales Agreement #40069655 PAP Registration #10760 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: ATTN: PAS Magazine 44 Prince Andrew Place Toronto, ON, Canada M3C 2H4 Email: circulation@pasmag.com PAP Registration Number # 10760 Periodicals Postage Paid U.S.P.S. # 022-608 US Office of publication: 2424 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY, 14304.

US Postmaster send address corrections to: Performance Auto & Sound, Box 1082, Niagara Falls, NY, 14304.

Exclusive distribution by: Coast-to-Coast Newsstand Service Ltd. Occasionally, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies whose products and services might be of interest to our readers. If you prefer to have your name removed from this list, please write to us at the address below and include your mailing label.

For any subscription inquiries, including change of address, call 1 (888) 564-SUBS.

Performance Auto & Sound

Phone: (416) 922-7526 Fax: (416) 964-1836 Toll Free: (866) 737-8805

SEMA Member

pas@pasmag.com • www.pasmag.com

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program and Canadian Magazine Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage towards our mailing and editorial costs.

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EDITOR’S DESK with DAVE PANKEW

It’s a Wrap The Season in Review o here we are, at the end of a decade as we reflect on the 2000’s that brought us a wealth of evolution to the Sport Compact world. As you know only the strongest magazines survived these challenging times and the same goes for event series, as some major players were born and others unexpectedly vanished within the decade. With all of the various event series wrapped up and their champions crowned, this Editor’s Desk column takes a look at the year in review.

S

LOOKING BACK AT SEMA One event always remains at the forefront of aftermarket tuning, the annual SEMA Show. The massive event unites, inspires and challenges top companies and industry professionals to bring their A-game to the table with innovative products, projects and vehicles for the world to see. It is that drive that makes forward progress and if you stayed focused, there were a lot of signs our passionate auto industry is alive and well regardless of any economic forecasts.

Scoping out the hottest new vehicle platforms is always a solid indicator of what the media will be following in the coming year. The Chevy Camaro dominated the show by a landslide and we stopped counting at nearly 50 SEMA Camaro projects at the trade show this year. And if you still think a domestic like the Camaro doesn’t belong or affects the Sport Compact scene, think again because import tuning brands like: Bomex, TEIN and Seibon are all making products for the modern neo-muscle car.

Also as predicted, the tuner friendly Scion brand ruled many displays with xBs and tCs stealing the show alongside the outrageous Scion Tuner Challenge project builds. Not to be outdone, Hyundai USA really cranked up the heat with several jaw dropping Genesis coupes on display, including legend Rhys Millen’s stunning mid-engine 4.6L V8 concept. Our scene will see many new builds and products based on these popular and potent platforms and although there weren’t many at SEMA, we fully expect the Nissan 370Z to be a real force to contend with too.

The other positive steps forward at SEMA include the various event series that made some big announcements for 2010. Redline Time Attack has inked a deal with a new investor to catapult the successful series into the mainstream. The investor is well-rooted in the motorsports world and aside

from the new funding, Redline Time Attack will have new TV deals and play host to many celebrity drivers from top tier motorsports. Not to be outdone, Formula D held a packed SEMA press conference to outline their expanded media coverage, which now will be televised in over 70 countries!

The very popular drifting series also is heading to Malaysia and will feature many new cars including: Conrad Grunewald’s Hankook Camaro and Michael Essa’s GSR Autosport BMW 335i. All of this adds up to forward progress when no one believed it was possible and as always PAS Magazine will be there to deliver it to you in every issue EVENT OVERLOAD Drifting showed no sign of losing sideways momentum and 2009 saw record numbers at Formula D events everywhere. As predicted many years ago, the Formula D series has dominated the US drifting landscape leaving every other series wondering what just happened. Formula D even crowned a new champion, preventing a three-peat for two-time champ, Tanner Foust. Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink/Maxxis 350Z took the crown this year with former champs Samuel Hubinette and Foust not even in contention. The podium was also occupied by a relative new-comer, Ryan Tuerck who previously competed in the Canadian DMCC series.

Speaking of which, Tuerck’s absence in the DMCC series this year really opened the door for new talent, so American driver Matt Waldin came to Canada and cruised to a victorious season championship in his Import Intelligence 350Z. On the circuit, the Redline Time Attack crew again stole the spotlight away from anyone who dared to challenge them. With many new teams entering the competition, the action was close and records fell one after another all season long. Billy Johnson in the unstoppable FX Motorsports twin

turbo Acura NSX put on an impressive display all year, often toying with the faster Unlimited AWD cars like that of the AWD class-winning AMS Evo. Plus, the rules of Unlimited FWD were rewritten at the hands of driver Chris Rado, whose outrageous twin front and rear spoiler-wearing Scion clobbered all contenders.

The SPEED World Challenge series also impressed crowds at premier tracks this year.

With a jammed 10-event series, fans were treated to many classic Vette and Porsche battles, but also featured some exciting new hardware like a Mercedes SLR 722 and Murcielago S-GT both of which finished behind more every day cars like a Volvo S60R and the season champion Mustang GT! This is one thrilling series to watch.

In the import show community, Hot Import Nights (HIN) stepped up their game in 2009 and as always was the pinnacle of the enthusiast car and lifestyle experience. The new HIN team brought their unique brand of sensory overload with more models, cars and entertainment to many new venues this year, we look forward to seeing what plans are in store for 2010.

The Battle of the Imports is doing much of the same in Sport Compact drag racing, as a resilient National series playing host to record crowds over a busy season. The Sportsman classes are crowded, meaning many enthusiasts still want to line ‘em up! With OGs like Jeremy Lookofsky, Norris Prayoonto, Bisi Ezerioha, Lisa Kubo and Kenny Tran meeting up at the final show down of 2009, all I can say is long live the 1320 baby!

THE ROAD AHEAD These past years have seen many fresh ingredients added to every form of enthusiast events with new venues, drivers and machines taking our scene to the next level. The rules have changed with these approaches and it was refreshing to see such new faces atop podiums to really shake things up. You’ll be seeing more involvement from PAS Magazine in these event series with coverage like nowhere else.

Although times have changed, everything is still on track and we work everyday to ensure PASMAG will be there to package it all up in living color for print and on the web at www.pasmag.com

media partnerships

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When it comes to high-performance car audio and mobile electronics accessories, nobody does it better than Stinger.

Our audio interconnects, capacitors, alternators and power supplies – as well as our lines of batteries and sound dampening materials – represent the gold standard for unrivaled power capability, crystal clear sound, and super-slick looks perfect for today’s hottest rides.

Stinger takes you WHERE IT’S LOUD!

AVAILABLE AT:

Distributed in Canada exclusively by Gentec International, one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies • www.gentec-intl.com

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BATTERYBUYERS GUIDE

Text by Garry Springgay

nless you have been living under a rock or have spent the last few years in Tibet, you’ve probably noticed that the traditional lead acid wet-cell type car batteries have some new, high tech competition. Gel and AGM type batteries are quickly gaining popularity because of their higher performance, and longer life. If you’ve ever wondered what’s truly different about these batteries then read on, because we’re going to take a closer look at the differences between them, and how to choose which one is right for your particular application.

Let’s start with the typical wet-cell, lead acid battery. This type of battery has been around for over 100 years, and other than a few improvements to capacity and construction, it hasn’t changed much.

These batteries use lead plates and a solution of approximately 35% sulfuric acid and 65% water, which is called electrolyte. The electrolyte causes a chemical reaction when it comes in contact with the lead plates, and the result is electrical energy. An important fact to remember about this type of battery is that when it’s being charged, extremely flammable hydrogen and oxygen gases are formed. These batteries are designed to simply vent these gases away into the atmosphere, but explosions are possible if you cause a spark in the presence of hydrogen gas!

Years ago it was very common for everyone to have to “check the specific gravity” of the battery. To do this we used a tool called a “hydrometer”. The hydrometer would basically tell you about the chemistry in the battery, and the state of charge. It was also very common to have to add distilled water to the batteries cells, as the levels would change with charging and load conditions. I remember several alternator noise complaints being cured by simply performing maintenance on one of these old school batteries.

These batteries are still sold for certain applications, but have generally been replaced by a maintenance free lead acid wet-cell battery. In a maintenance free wet-cell lead acid battery, the hydrogen and oxygen gases that are created during charging are recombined to create water, thereby keeping the battery “wet” at all times. These “flooded” batteries do still vent explosive gases, so you need to be careful at all times to prevent sparks or open flames in the vicinity of the battery.

For car audio purposes, the traditional wet-cell battery (whether maintenance free or not) has some significant performance limitations. First of all, these batteries have higher internal electrical resistance, which limits the amount of instantaneous current that can be delivered to an amplifier. Another drawback of this design is that the battery can become permanently damaged if it is discharged too deeply. However, the wet-cell battery is more economical to buy, and is available in thousands of styles and configurations.

U

OPTIMA YellowTop

Optima Batteries announces the release of the new group 27F YellowTop, the latest addition to the Optima product family. The group 27F not only offers greater power and more than 300 discharge/ recharge cycles, but it is an exact original equipment fit for an extensive line of automobiles.

Optima YellowTop Batteries, the only truly dual-purpose batteries available on the market today, are the ultimate power source for high performance audio applications that demand cranking power and heavy-duty cycling. Optimal YellowTop Batteries provide cleaner power with higher voltage output than traditional batteries, enabling audio enthusiasts to play their systems louder and longer. For more call (888) 8-OPTIMA or visit www.optimabatteries.com

Stinger SPP2250

The Stinger SPP2250 is not only the largest and most powerful battery available in the company’s Power2 Series of mobile audio power cells, but it has also been rated as the most powerful car audio battery currently available on the consumer market according to Stinger.

The SPP2250 boasts cutting-edge engineering and design features that give this monster power cell super-performance current capability, true deep-cycle operation and a tremendously fast recharge rate. Plus, its durable construction makes it perfect for a wide variety of extreme installations. For more visit www.stingerelectronics.com.

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Braille B3121/14155

Braille Batteries are used by racers all over the world in the FIA WRC, FIA Formula Racing, Speed World Challenge Series, SCCA ProRally and many other racing series. Braille Batteries are designed for deep-cycle use in premium and race vehicles with enhanced reliability and performance. Braille developed the B3121 to excel at competition use which includes extreme audio systems and insane motors. On more race oriented cars the smaller B14155 is the choice weighing in at 11.5 pounds/5.2kg and enclosed in a carbon fiber case. Both batteries come in weighing almost 10-30 pounds less a standard battery of equal power. For more information visit www.brailleauto.com

The next big advancement in automotive battery technology was the “Gel-Cell” battery. These batteries use an additive in the electrolyte that causes it to become a thick gel consistency, and is known as thixotropic gelled electrolyte. This type of construction allows the battery to be completely maintenance free, known as a recombinant design.

Sometimes known as an SVR (sealed valveregulated) or VRLA (valve-regulated lead acid) battery, the design is also able to be mounted in virtually any orientation, although upside down is not recommended. Gel type batteries excel at deep cycle applications, where the battery is deeply discharged as a normal part of its use.

They are also very resistant to vibration, and much more heat tolerant than a typical wet-cell battery.

Because they are completely sealed and spill proof, they can be shipped by air, have extended shelf life compared to a conventional battery. Because they do not outgas (unless overcharged) the gel battery is very safe to use in enclosed spaces. They don’t have any current limitations when recharging, but they are very sensitive to charge voltage. When using a gel battery, it is critical to use a battery charger that is regulated between 13.8 and 14.1 volts. Higher charge voltages will damage the battery and significantly shorten its life span. Other disadvantages of the gel battery is initial cost, heavier weight, and the required use a temperature sensing, voltage regulated charger.

AGM Batteries

Kinetik HC1200 Power Cell

The Kinetik HC1200 Power Cells are AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) high power-density batteries. They are “sealed” and can be mounted in any position. These permanently sealed batteries are completely maintenance free, and use a recombination reaction to prevent the escape of hydrogen and oxygen gases which are normally lost to the atmosphere in a regular lead acid battery. Specifically designed for car audio applications, the HC1200 Power Cells have very low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) which allows them to provide almost instantaneous current to the amplifier. These batteries also maintain a higher voltage when loaded, and because of the construction, are far more superior to a regular battery in terms of heat and vibration resistance. Each HC1200 battery weighs about 28 pounds. For more applications (from racing to car audio) and information visit www.kinetikaudio.com

Next up and probably gaining the most ground in the high performance battery marketplace are the AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries. Although they are also properly classified as SVR/VRLA batteries, unlike the gel type battery where the electrolyte is not in a liquid form and therefore doesn’t spill, the AGM battery contains all of it’s electrolyte in a sponge like matted glass fiber separator material. The basic differences between a gel cell battery and an AGM battery is in the way the battery handles shorter duration high discharge conditions, such as engine starting and SPL contesting. For these types of applications the performance of the AGM battery is somewhat superior to the gel cell battery, but either one is a huge improvement over a conventional flooded electrolyte wet cell battery. AGM batteries are also a bit more tolerant of extreme cold conditions when kept fully charged. Like the gel battery, AGM batteries are spill proof, can be mounted in most orientations, and are very resistant to shock and vibration. Similar to the gel cell battery, the AGM type battery is also very sensitive to over

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BATTERYBUYERS GUIDE

Text by Garry Springgay

voltage charging conditions, but has a bit higher voltage limits, making them more compatible with a typical street driven vehicles charging system.

AGM batteries should be charged with a voltage regulated temperature sensing charger that is limited to 14.4 and 14.6 volts at 68° F. The AGM battery is also generally less expensive than a similar performing gel cell battery. Excellent for car audio applications because of their low internal resistance, very high quality and high performance, AGM type batteries are available from a number of companies showcased in our buyer’s guide.

Battery Ratings We’ve all seen battery specifications, whether CCA, CA, AH, or RC. But do you know what these specs mean, so you can select the right battery for your application?

CCA stands for Cold Cranking Amps, and indicates the number of amperes a battery will deliver at 0°F for 30 seconds without dropping below 7.2 volts. This is an important spec to pay attention to if you are buying a battery to start your car, and you live in a colder climate.

CA is the specification for Cranking Amperes, and is measured similarly to CCA, except at 32°F instead of 0°F. This rating is also sometimes known as Marine Cranking Amps or MCA. AH is the acronym for Ampere Hours, and is generally a popularly quoted specification on batteries designed for deep cycle operations. It indicates the amount of current the battery will deliver over a given period of time. For example, if a battery has a 150AH rating, it will deliver 150 amps for 1 hour, 75 amps for 2 hours, or 1 amp for 150 hours before requiring a recharge.

RC is the Reserve Capacity specification, and for car audio enthusiasts it’s a very important rating. The RC rating is the number of minutes a fully charged battery at 80°F will provide 25 A of current before the battery reaches 10.5 volts.

ODYSSEY PC680MJT-A

The Odyssey PC680MJT-A is a drycell battery utilizes a unique thin-plate-pure-lead (TPPL) technology that allows a single battery configuration to provide maximum cranking power and true 400 deep cycles to 80% depth of discharge. PC680MJT-A battery weighs 16 pounds, yet it’s capable of starting a 5.7-liter, V-8 engine. These batteries provide superior deep cycle capabilities and charging ability to provide repeatable power for hydraulics, air compressor air lift suspensions, and long service life. Odyssey Batteries include SAE tin-plated brass automotive posts and GM side terminals, allowing for multiple battery and accessory cable mounting. Additionally, Odyssey Batteries are safe enough to mount inside passenger compartments and in any orientation except inverted. For more information visit www.odysseybattery.com

Common Battery Do’s and Don’ts With conventional wet-cell batteries, precautions should be taken to make sure the battery is always mounted in an upright position. Because these batteries outgas much more than gel cell or AGM batteries, they are not a good choice for confined spaces, and should not be used where they may come in contact with salt water, as poisonous chlorine gas can result. These batteries generally tolerate a wider range of charge voltages, and are the most economical type of battery in terms of capacity per dollar. However, these wet-cell batteries will steadily discharge over time, and require regular charging to keep them in good condi-

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XS Power D680 / D3100

XS Power Batteries utilize the perfect blend of quick discharge power and long lasting performance, making them a perfect fit into the car audio market. With ultra-low internal resistance, and more power per square inch than any one user will ever need, these batteries, utilizing a unique AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) technology have XS batteries have what it takes to get the job done. Distinguished by their gray cases with white tops, XS Power Batteries like the D680 are the perfect reinforcement for your audio system. Then there’s the also XS Power offers the very powerful D3100 for installs which need big power. All XS Power Batteries have passed rigorous vibration tests allowing them to be by Air or Ground and are fully charged and ready out of the box.

For more call (800) 862-7223 or visit www.powermastermotorsports.com

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BATTERYBUYERS GUIDE

Text by Garry Springgay

tion. Also, with the exception of a few specific designs, the wet-cell battery is less tolerant to deep discharging, and will become damaged if allowed to discharge too far. Most experts recommend a minimum discharge voltage of no less than 10.5 volts to prevent serious and permanent damage.

With gel cell or AGM batteries, you need to pay close attention to the charge voltage, and never use a regular battery charger on them. For these types of batteries you need to make sure the charger used is designed for these types of batteries, and has both temperature compensation and voltage regulation. The appropriate charge voltage depends on the battery temperature. A warmer battery requires less voltage, and if too much charge voltage is applied, the current accepted by the battery increases. This in turn increases the temperature of the battery even more, and you have begun a cycle called “thermal runaway” which will eventually damage the battery. Gel batteries are less susceptible to thermal runaway than AGM batteries, but caution needs to be applied to both designs. While these batteries are typically sealed and do not vent gases, they are equipped with pressure sensitive valves that can open if the battery is overcharged. Too much charge voltage causes hydrogen and oxygen gasses to be given off faster than the recombinant reaction can handle, and pressure builds up until the vents open. For this reason, you should never install any battery in a completely sealed space. Once damaged, these batteries cannot be repaired or topped up. But, these designs both tolerate deeper discharging than a wet-cell battery without damage.

And contrary to an urban myth, they do not exhibit “charge memory” like a NiCad battery does.

So that’s it, a quick rundown on the most commonly used battery types, and their individual characteristics. Armed with this information, you should be able to better understand the options available and choose the battery that’s right for you. If you have a very limited budget, a wet-cell battery will still provide reliable starting, but it can’t be expected to have the performance or life span of a gel or AGM battery.

If you have an application where you play your system for long periods without the engine running, you may want to look into a gel type battery to give you optimum deep cycle operation.

But if you are looking for a replacement battery for your typical street-driven car with a high performance audio system in it, the low internal resistance and the high short term discharge characteristics, combined with a long service life, make AGM batteries hard to beat.

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Shuriken Batteries

Shuriken Batteries are engineered to provide all the power needed for today’s car audio systems.

By using Absorbed Glass Matt (AGM) technology, Shuriken rechargeable batteries can be mounted in any position needed and won’t spill. Shuriken Batteries also have extreme resistance to excessive heat and strong vibration. With super low ESR and closely packed pure lead plates, each power cell will pack a punch. For more visit www.shurikenonline.com

Xstatic BatCap 4000 Battery

In development for over 2 years, the new Xstatic BatCap 4000 battery provides double the amount of energy as their very popular model 2000 BatCap. It has incredible energy reserves, and measured ESR at just under 1 milliohm! Performance like this will ensure your amplifiers work as intended, and dimming lights will be a thing of the past. The battery is among the highest energy storage devices tested, and at just under 80 pounds, you know it’s a serious piece the first time you pick it up! Measuring 13 inches long, 6.75 inches wide and 8.7 inches tall, the BatCap 4000 comes with convenient and heavy duty top terminals, and the design is non-spillable which allows mounting in any position. For more visit www.batcap.net

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Cover Car 11.10.indd 2

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Text by Dave Pankew // Photos by Josh Mackey

W

hen you have the magic touch for car customization, it seems you can do no wrong. Even by pushing the envelope, the crew over at Car Nutz Customs in Bellevue, WA seem to nail it project after project.

Readers might recall, it was last year that we inked a white CL550 on our cover. This year, it’s a another Mercedes and the same shop but a radical departure from what Car Nutz Customs (CNC) developed last year.

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We first spotted this car at SEMA ’08 out in the front lot getting passed up by many of the graying hot rodders waddling around the grounds. For us, this body style is as beautiful and timeless as any ‘32 Ford Coupe and we started sniffing around to track down the owner.

Ironically, that night we met owner John Rhee at an afterhours party on the Las Vegas strip where he was pitching us on featuring his Mercedes.

We all had a good laugh when our alcohol-fueled banter was about the same CLS55 AMG! Upon expressing interest to feature his Benz, Rhee decided he was going to improve upon it even more to prove to us it was cover worthy. Naturally, when the pictures showed up months later, we were impressed with the end result and the way our sharp shooting photographer Josh Mackey captured it.

A culmination of hundreds of man hours and over a year of modifications, it is easy to see where all the attention was focused – on the exterior. In a move that was traditionally frowned upon, Rhee’s project integrates both Lorinser and Brabus branded components on the svelte exterior of the project.

With a Brabus Rocket front bumper, the rear is complimented by a Lorinser Evolution rear bumper as are the sideskirts. Lorinser Evolution vented front fenders were added and fitted with LED lights. The carbon hood was reformed with ridges and then candied for effect. A custom carbon fiber roof was crafted, as was the front grille with controversial tri-star delete. Finally, the car was shot in its trademark two-tone paint job to give it the stunning look that earned it this issue’s cover spot.

POWER PLANT The CLS55 was tweaked to produce over 700hp with a tuned by a VRP ECU and a long list of upgrades to enhance the Merc’s already great abilities. A VRP crank pulley was added to churn more boost out of the supercharger, while the airways have been opened up with VRP carbon airboxes, carbon tubing and polished 80mm throttle bodies.

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The chance to land the cover didn’t come easy and careful selection of the rollers ensured a spot in PAS Magazine history. Rhee contacted HRE for a custom set of 890R wheels in 21-inch sizing. The fronts are an impressive 21x9-inches with the rear measuring 21x10.5-inches both of which wear Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires. The already impressive AMG brakes were bumped up to Brembo 6-piston / 405mm combo fitted to the front axles and 380mm in the rear gripped by 4-piston monoblock calipers.

Now we’ll tell you why Rhee needed to upgrade the brakes! The CLS55 was tweaked to produce over 700hp! Tuned by a VRP ECU, the list of upgrades enhances this performance sedan’s already great abilities. A VRP crank pulley was added to churn more boost out of the supercharger. The airways have been opened up with VRP carbon airboxes, carbon tubing and polished 80mm throttle bodies. The cams were replaced with high-lift VRPs to make maximum use of the extra air introduced to the mix.

A VRP intercooler kit has been added on the chilled side with VRP long tube headers on the hot side connected to a stainless dual exhaust system.

The luxurious interior of the CLS55 doesn’t require much of an upgrade, but the CNC crew decided to reinvent it in a way that at first surprised Rhee. “The interior is certainly not what one would expect inside a CLS… I am still in shock by how radical it is but how well it works with the exterior,” says Rhee.

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BODY movin’

In a move that was traditionally frowned upon, Rhee’s project integrates both Lorinser and Brabus components on the svelte exterior of the project. With a Brabus Rocket front bumper, the rear is complimented by a Lorinser Evolution rear bumper as well as the sideskirts.

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND – WWW.PASMAG.COM

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HOME AUDIO

|

MOBILE AUDIO

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MARINE AUDIO

Freak.

900 Watts – Five Channels – Impossibly small

HD900/5: 100W x 4 + 500W x 1 • 10.74 in. x 8.29 in. x 1.93 in. • Also available in a marine version (MHD900/5) © 2009 JL AUDIO, Inc. For more information on HD Amplifiers, please visit your local authorized dealer or www.jlaudio.com.

In Canada contact GemSen Distribution at www.gemsen.com. U.S. Patent: #6,084,450

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8/28/09 9:28:26 AM 31/08/09 3:27 PM

T H E E S S E N T I A L S

Owner: John Rhee Location: Los Angeles, CA Vehicle: 2007 Mercedes CLS55 AMG Power: 700HP ENGINE Modifications

high ROLLEHRRE for a custom set of 890xR9w-inhceheelssin

21 Rhee contactehde fronts are an impressiveth which wear f o T o . b g s in e h iz c s n h .5-i 21-inc easuring 21x10 with the rear tmSport 2 tires Michelin Pilo beneath the trunk stripping rted by carefully d The CNC team sta mes and source hides off the fra r he at the fine leather Le . ics fabr more expensive out some even hed Alcantara to tc sti d on m a dia was mixed with ide. The seat e appearance ins create one uniqu and then er fib ed in carbon backs were mold ering wheel ste e Th r. the exterio candied to match d all of the wood carbon fiber an was molded in ndy apple red ineered in hot ca trim was re-eng carbon fiber. on to the ent was carried The fabric treatm red in ve co under lid was re trunk where the fitted to the re we s five LCD screen en Th a. ar nt ca Al eams from sevme to replay str fiberglass subfra

urces. Lurking eral different so rward powered ch subs firing fo -in 12 are twin JL e balance of the onoblock amp. Th by a JL Audio m wered by a JL l components po s system are Foca headunit remain l amp. The OEM d an Audio 4-channe s at rm fo k all of the playbac up front offering . ed navigation need ight see this tered, you just m gis re Plated and e. A departure streets sometim car running the e in a custom ight expect to se from what you m ed apost Hotrod inspir Benz with an alm am at CNC is mization. The te proached to custo w to set your g the rules on ho certainly rewritin e rest. car apart from th

VRP 80mm Throttle Body VRP Cams VRP Carbon Airtubes VRP Carbon Airbox VRP Carbon Engine Cover VRP Crank Pulley VRP Intercooler Kit VRP Longtube Headers/Exhaust VRP Xtreme Belt Wrap Total HP Est. 700+

ENGINE MANAGEMENT

VRP ECU

WHEELS, TIRES, BRAKES

Brembo 405mm/6 Piston Monoblock Brembo 380mm/4 Piston Monoblock HRE 890R, 21 x 9 ET 28 HRE 890R, 21 x 10.5 ET 27 Michelin Pilot Sport 2

EXTERIOR

Brabus Rocket Front Bumper Lorinser Evolution Fenders Lorinser Evolution Side Skirts Lorinser Evolution Roof Spoiler Lorinser Evolution Rear Bumper, PDC Custom Carbon Accent on Rocket Front Bumper with LED Lighting Custom Carbon Accent on Diffuser of Lorins er Rear Bumper Custom Ridges on Hood in Carbon LED Puddle Lights on Side Skirts and Rear Paint, dual color exterior from beltline includBumper ing inner areas Custom CF Front Grill with Mercedes TriSta Vacuum Bagged CF Roof, including R/R r Delete of front/rear glass CF Side Mirrors CF B Pillars

INTERIOR

CF Interior Trim: All Wood Trim, Seat Backs , and Door Caps CF CLK BS Steering Wheel OEM CLK BS Steering Wheel Custom CF Alcantara and Leather LED Accent Lighting Along Interior Beltlin Labor for Complete Interior (150 hours) e Custom 2-Tone Diamond Stitch / Alcant ara & Leather

Audio & Multimedia

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Jl Audio Slash 500/1V2 Amps X2 Jl Audio Slash 300/2V2 Amps X2 Jl Audio Evolution Zr650-Csi Component s X2 Jl Audio Cleansweep Cl441-Dsp Jl Audio Cleansweep Cl-Ssi Jl Audio Cleansweep Cl-Ses Jl Audio Cl-Rlc X2 Savv Pvd-7080 1/2 Din Dvd Player X2 Savv Lm-A7030W 7” Monitors X6 Savv Hrp-X1020Dvd Headrest Monitors W/Built In Dvd Players X2 Savv Pvda26A Video Amplifiers X3 Savv Prc1 Remote Controllers X3 Savv Video Switcher Exonic-Tv Interface Memphis Audio 16-Se2.50 Amps X3 Memphis Audio 15-Se42 4” Speakers X3 Playstation 3

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SHOW Text by Dave Pankew // Photos by RCH Designs

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18/11/09 4:39 PM

DOWN any enthusiasts forget that Infiniti actually makes quite a few different luxury cars, SUVs and crossovers.

There were some highlights over the years like the G35 coupe and some low points like the old school J30. There were also some great cars that never gained any traction like the legendary Q45.

Over time, the lack of interest spelled the end of the luxurious Q and by default the M became the flagship (well, sedan anyway). Not to jinx the platform, but they are still a rare sight on today’s roads too.

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So, it isn’t often that a tuned-out VIP style M35 pops up (read: never). It was well worth a second look because the builder, David Huang is a recognized tuner who’s earned a reputation for building several feature worthy projects in the past.

Huang’s first major builds involved Lexus and Scion branded platforms, so this was a departure toward a more upscale direction. Infiniti execs believed in him and his proven track record enough to offer him this Infiniti as a canvas to build upon and tour to events.

Originally, Nissan North America was supposed to give Huang a brand new Nissan Cube to build after they recognized his achievement with the Scion Tuner Challenge from 2006 to 2007. “The Cube

was not released until the L.A. Auto Show last year,” says Huang. “So my plan changed and I decided to shift focus toward this demo-VIP project aiming to strengthen the aftermarket capability for the Infiniti brand,” he explains.

Sounds easy enough, free car and all… but they only gave Huang 50 days to finish the build, “The team finished in 40,” smiles Huang. We got the skinny on what makes this car unique directly from this talented builder. The car was taken to AutoFashion USA in San Diego, where the turbo install would begin. A GReddy twin turbo kit featuring: TD06SH-20G turbos, AiriNX filters, intercoolers and all piping was installed. The fuel system was ramped up with GReddy rails, 440cc injectors and FPR. The cool side is vented with a GReddy Type-S BOVs while the hot gases flow into GReddy manifolds and are regulated

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by GReddy wastegates before dumping into a rare Junction Produce Type III quad exhaust. The whole ensemble was organized by GReddy’s e-Manage Ultimate piggy back-ECU. The sum of the parts equalled 420awhp on the AWD dyno and 310lb-ft of twist.

Huang turned to popular VIP-specific tuner brand, Junction Produce for some visual inspiration. Since the M35 is a JDM Fuga (that name would flop here) there were loads of parts in stock. A full Junction Produce VIP widen aero kit was added in addition to wider door caps to complete the look. K&W Autobody fabricated a flat black grille and they moulded the entire widebody. The paint is imported from Japan, five layers of a special color-shift MAZiORA hue called “ShowOpt VIP” named after Huang’s company to coat the whole car. The paint scheme has generated so much interest, that Maziora has just made the paint an addition to their latest 2010 catalog known as Amethist.

The decidedly JDM appearance could only be complimented from some of Japan’s finest – Rays wheels. The model is the Progressive TS, a stunning wheel with a 20x9.5-inch front and 20x10-inch rear. Some Falken FK452s are carefully stretched and undersized at 225/30R20 up front and only 245/30R20s out back. Huang wanted the car to lay frame too and the only way that was possible was to get some air ride under it. He turned to the experts at Air Runner of Japan for the product and technical know-how to make this all work.

Everything from the struts, to tanks and controls were supplied and installed by the very experienced team at Air Runner.

The final touches would be made on the inside of the M. Since Huang is a car show veteran, he knew there would be many points left on the table if he didn’t spend a lot of time here. AutoFashion was put in charge of converting the interior to a custom black and cashmere 2-tone. Everything from the diamond stitch seats to the suede recovered panels found throughout the car is from the San Diego-based shop. Accessories from BELAZZA of Japan found their way

MOTIVATION

ng: TD06SHri tu a fe it k o rb g tu A GReddy twin ers, intercoolers and all pipin

p with iNX filt 20G turbos, Air he fuel system was ramped u was installed. T40cc injectors and FPR. GReddy rails, 4

N W O D W O SH

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DISCOVER THE FORGOTTEN

ABSOLUTELY STATE OF THE ART

MOBILE AUDIO PRODUCTS AND ACCESSORIES

AT CES 2010, BOOTH #1209

PRECISION POWER . MONTEBELLO . CALIFORNIA . USA

www.precisionpower.com

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ENGINE

Nissan 3.5L VQ35DE V6

ENGINE MODIFICATIONS

GReddy TD06SH-20G twin turbo kit GReddy fuel rails GReddy 440cc injectors GReddy Type-S BOVs GReddy manifolds GReddy wastegates Junction Produce Type III quad exhaust

ENGINE MANAGEMENT

GReddy e-Manage Ultimate

SUSPENSION

Air Runner air ride suspension

WHEELS & TIRES

RAYS Progressive TS wheels (20x9.5-inch front and 20x10-inch rear) Falken FK452 tires (225/30R20 & 245/3

THE ESSENTIALS

OWNER: DAVID HUANG LOCATION: IRVINE, CA VEHICLE: 2008 INFINITI 5X POWER: 420AWHP WITHM3 310LB-FT

0R20s)

HOUSE OF BOOM

e Soundstream n The subwoofer ampsa ar ir of 4-channels ru Tarantula monos andA papa of Soundstream ir s. gh hi d an s id m e th toFashion custom SCX6 subs are in an Au the lows. sealed enclosure to drive uding: floor mats, shift throughout the interior incl trademark motif of knob, steering wheel and the tains!

VIP cars – rear window cur cialists at The mobile electronics spe to hook up the audio in ped Soundstream then step VIP creation. The and video in Huang’s custom by a Soundstream entire system is orchestrated with the OEM 6500 head unit integrated two additional and en navigation system scre The subwoofer s.

LCD ch 5-in Soundstream 11. ntula monoblocks and amps are Soundstream Tara run the mids and rs a pair of 4-channel amplifie 6 subs are in SCX m trea highs. A pair of Sounds losure to drive enc led sea tom cus n an AutoFashio of a pair Soundstream the lows. Inside the cabin, e installed in the front Tarantula components wer separate tweeters with e plet and rear doors, com ure this high end and a center channel to ens entire multimedia system sounds just right. The ndstream wiring, Sou system is connected with lit up by and ks bloc fuses and distribution top. blue the e, ous erh Optima’s pow his Nissan Cube Although Huang didn’t get , we’re sure glad ned project to happen as plan M35X and iti Infin this he got his hands on est VIP projects hott the of one into it transformed ht not be as mig cars on the scene. The M-class to the bright ks than but popular with enthusiasts, efforts ng stro ng’s Hua and future of VIP tuning many more see we il unt e tim of tter it’s just a ma and demonstrated examples. Huang has proven project is another this his automotive passion and wn the sho he’s as ed, mission accomplish ieved. Don’t ach be can t wha ld wor customizing ders jump buil r car be surprised if you see othe onboard following suit.

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EXTERIOR

K&W Autobody built Junction Produce VIP widen aero kit Junction Produce wider door caps K&W Autobody fabricated a flat black grille MAZiORA paint called “ShowOpt VIP”

INTERIOR

AutoFashion custom black and cashmere 2-tone interior BELAZZA of Japan (floor mats, shift knob, steering wheel and rear window curtains.)

AUDIO & MULTIMEDIA

Soundstream 6500 headunit Soundstream 11.5-inch LCD x2 Soundstream Tarantula monos amp x1 Soundstream Tarantula 4-channels Soundstream Tarantula SCX6 subs Soundstream Tarantula components x4 Soundstream Tarantula center channel Soundstream wiring, fuses and distribution blocks Optima blue top battery

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TNOP OTCH Text by Shaun Ke

enan // Photos by

Michael Shuster

t’s a rare sight to spot a custom lowrider like this in our magazine , but you can’t de ny the hotness of topless Impala. this Our friends at Sp ade Kreations from Cincinnati, OH – the maker s of the “Phantom Donk” chopped, cut, dropped an d rebuilt this American classic into a stunning wh ip worthy of these pages.

Its owner, Brad Jones, paints th e walls and halls of celebrity man sions, whilst cove ting their lifestyles and frivolou s car buying habit s. After building a wad big enough to throw down on an investment like this, Jones we nt for it!

I

34

He actually starte d this project by himself after buying his 1964 Chevy Impa la SS convertible over five years ag o. Having wanted one for many years, he dove rig ht into things by stripping it down to its bare shell and even sandbla sting some of th parts himself. It e wasn’t long befo re he realized he was in way over his head.

“I got to a poin t where I had to turn it over to the professio nals to get it th e way I wanted says Jones. So ,” , after meeting with Rick Spad and explaining e the vision for hi s dream car, th build team went e to great lengths to give him his hearts desire.

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One of the main features of this fully-modern SS Impala is the permanent deletion of its folding convertible top. This controversial idea is a Jones original! Besides losing that top and its workings, it also included the removal of all glass with the exception of the modified front windscreen. In fact, the uncapped windscreen is probably our favorite part of this vehicle too. Why? Quite simply, the top of the glass seemingly vanishes into thin air for a totally custom look.

To complement this ultimate conversion, all superficial moldings, mirrors, handles and various trim pieces had to be shaved and the body smoothened to achieve a clean, streamline appearance that blends both hot rod and lowrider cues. The modified shaved bumpers, front grille and all remaining trim pieces went to Advanced Plating in Nashville for a special platinum chrome treatment. Retro-fitted HID headlights and Shiny Hiney LED taillights account for the exterior lighting upgrades with a slathering of Dupont Hot Hues super jet black paint to top it all off.

More chrome goodness makes the refreshed 327 cubic-inch V-8 really gleam gleam under the hood.

It has been bored thirty over (.030) and fitted with a performance camshaft for some more oomph.

Edelbrock parts take care of breathing while exhaust gases pass through dual Hushpower mufflers by Flowmaster. A Street and Performance chrome air cleaner, serpentine pulley set and valve covers are just a few of the many extras that car show judges must mull over.

No power figures have been made available, though we do know the “Spade-made” Impala SSR puts it all down via a Powerglide automatic transmission from B&B Custom Transmissions featuring a Retrotek pushbutton shifter (those eight buttons by the cup holders).

The SSRs sinister-stance comes by way of a fortified frame that rides on a complete Shockwave air ride suspension by Air Ride Technologies. It features StrongArms upper and lower control arms, as well as MuscleBar front and rear sway bars, with Hydroboosted Wilwood

motivation

More chrome goodness cubic-inch V-8 really glea makes the refreshed 327 has been bored thirty ov m gleam under the hood. It performance camshaft foer (.030) and fitted with a r some more oomph

ANG NUTHIN’ BUT A G-ntTH en Alpine monitor that’s be

Who could miss the gia 5 head up front above a DVA-996 integrated into the stack ler ch confirms there’s a kil unit? All of this pretty mu e out ur fig board. We still can’t entertainment system on er speakers. Can you? where they put all 31 Kick 36

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The E s s e n t i a l s

Owner: Brad Jo s Location: Cincinne nati, OH Vehicle: 1964 Chev rolet Impala SS Roadst er Engine / Performance / Drivetrain

Factory ‘64 327 ci V-8 Performance camsha bored .030 over Edelbrock intake, carbfturetors Street and Performance chro pulley set, valve covers, air me serpentine cleaner B&B Custom Transmissio Powerglide transmissionns modified Retrotek pushbutton shifter Hushpower dual exhaus t system by Flowmaster

Wheels & Tires

TIS Modular M3.02 wheels and Toyo (model name) tires -Front: 22-in., 235/35-22 -Rear: 24-in., 275/25-24

Suspension / Br

show n’ tell

You can gear is hidden from view.

Though, most of the audio the large r n Kicker amplifiers unde ze do lfha e th of w fe a et spot rrent Impala insignia ins cu e th ing ur at fe ow nd oval Plexi wi lls. ur Kinetik 2400 power ce fo th wi ng Alo or. flo e th into behind shiny modular performance brakes residing rn the front and ado that 22- and 24-inch rollers rubber. o Toy with vely rear axles respecti n interior der mo the see rly You can clea rs ss hou crafting to the builders spent countle ch more than meets customer specs. There is mu s of interest include item the eye though. Obvious -leather dash, fullhed stitc ted the custom fabrica door panels. A Dakota length centre console and billet aluminum air Digital gauge cluster(s) and erwise clean face. An vents help populate the oth vent control panel is AC old-skoolish billet heater/ ble sliding door in acta retr a found hidden behind r back, there’s an Alpine the centre console. Furthe into the rear console DVD player flush-mounted inch monitor for movie along with a nearby sevenld miss the giant Alwatching. Oh, and, who cou grated into the stack inte n pine monitor that’s bee head unit? All of this up front above a DVA-9965

38

a killer entertainpretty much confirms there’s can’t figure out still We rd. ment system on boa er speakers. Can you? where they put all 31 Kick find out exactly what’s Check out the specs box to creation. been used inside this custom a third Alpine monids oun More grainy trim surr e to much of the hom – k trun tor that resides in the , again, most of the supporting ICE cast. Though can spot a few of the gear is hidden from view. You under a large oval Plexi half-dozen Kicker amplifiers Impala insignia inset ent window featuring the curr y are four Kinetik awa en into the floor. Also hidd t topped up by an kep are that s 2400 power cell With power exceeding uprated 200-Amp alternator. enough juice for the 6,500 watts, there’s more than by. Though it’s a bit e ranks of stealth speakers clos self an authentic him has es of a trailer queen, Jon roadster that every Spade original Impala SSR enthusiat can appreciate.

s Air Ride Technologies ake Sho system with Strong Arms,ckwave air ride MuscleBars (fr/rr) Wilwood performance brakes (fr/rr) Hydroboost braking pow er assist Exterior

Complete roadster convers ion Custom 3-in. capless win reen chop, shaved exterior, modifieddsc Retro-fit HID headlights bumpers (fr/rr) Shiny Hiney LED retro-fit taill ights Dupont Hot Hues Super Jet Black paint by Spade Kreations Chrome plating by Advanc ed Plating Inc.

Interior

Custom fabricated das doo r panels, console Simulated (airbrushed)h,woo Dakota Digital gauge clusterd grain console Hidden climate, air ride con trols Coast to Coast leather hide s ISS seat frames, rear cus hion s Waterfall grille between kseats Custom trunk with Alpinebac DVD system Varad lighting

Audio / Multimedia

Alpine DVA-9965 hea unit Alpine 10.2-inch dashdmon Alpine 6-inch rear console itor; monitor; Alpine 7-inch trunk mon Kicker ZX1500.1 D-classitor 1,5 00-watt amps (x3) Kicker ZX650.4 680-watt amp s (x3) Kicker RS56.2 components Kicker SSMB8 8-in. midbas (x6 sets) Kicker CompVR 8-in. subs s (x2) (x2) Kicker S1017 10-in. sub (x3) Kinetik 2400 Power cellss(x4) Kicker wiring and inte 200 amp alternator rconnects

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Text by Garry Springgay

SOUNDADVICE Q: Hi, first let me say I really enjoy the magazine!

My brother and I both fight over who gets to read it first. I have a sort of dumb question about woofer boxes. Some of my friends and a smart guy at my stereo store say I should have a sealed box. But my woofers owners manual says I can used sealed or ported. Now I’m confused and don’t know which way to go. I want it low and loud, but I like tight bass too. Which way is right?

JP - Detroit, MI A: Well JP, I’m glad you are enjoying the magazine, that’s why we work so hard getting the coolest products and cars each month! But you guys shouldn’t be fighting over the magazine, why not just get your brother his own subscription for Christmas and end the battles? Okay, on to your question, and it wasn’t dumb at all by the way. Many people are confused over the same issues, so I’m glad you asked. As my physics professor used to say, “everything is a compromise”. Sealed boxes are generally smaller, and have extended low frequency response due to the shallower rolloff they exhibit.

A sealed box also provides good mechanical control, which is important when considering mechanical power handling. On the other hand, vented or “ported” enclosures are more efficient and can provide an increase in overall output levels, and usually play significantly louder with the same amount of input power. The tradeoffs for the added output are larger sized enclosures, increased complexity in the design, and a steeper low frequency rolloff. If you have woofers that can work in either type of enclosure, I would choose based on how much room you have for the enclosure, and how important the additional output is compared to the loss of space. If you have plenty of room, you’ll probably be happier with a properly designed vented enclosure.

But if space is tight, I’d lean towards sealed. One more thing, if you use a vented enclosure, you should also use a subsonic filter on your amplifier to prevent woofer over-excursion at frequencies below the enclosures tuned frequency. Set the subsonic filter just below the tuned frequency to make sure you don’t launch your woofer cones when you apply the power. Keep this in mind as you make up your mind, a sealed enclosure will outperform an undersized vented enclosure every time. Have a look at the suggested enclosure volumes for each type, and if you don’t have all the room needed for the vented design, the right choice is already made for you.

le, and tion. I’m also fema t my MECP certifica technical go of st rt ju I so d w an fe a r, . Anyway, I have r audio installe ca ing ie yth wb at an ne Wh a ow e? kn I’m I us Q: think at size port to lots of guys don’t nt w do you know wh re Ho . fe rk dif e because of that, wo s us u xe yo bo d right? Should ing how ported ne rd tu ga e re of time ar t u ns lo yo tio a t es ow qu you kn they? I have spen tune for? How do ? If so, what are es st . ta rt frequency do you sic pe ex mu al of I’d ask a re different kinds ers, so I thought frequencies for of different answ ds kin l al t ge I d online an uston, TX Woofergirl - Ho enclosure inside are basically installing the is because in car audio, we This or leakage in e pac airs you the to me s (the vehicle) and change CP certification. That tells re ME r losu you enc r on ts the eriment gra ano con Do irl, A: Hello Wooferg the subwoofer tuning. exp ndoes out there in ondary enclosure will affect of those keyboard comma sec can have a lot the a this n as tha e, re sibl mo pos w ple. if sim kno ns e already vented box works is quit woofer in different directio or the ted ting por a poin how with of t cep cyberspace. The con nd of the woofer system. ks on everything from mholtz Resonator and wor significant impact on the sou ed to, try this old blow you n The principle is called a Hel whe tles cy a woofer enclosure is tun bot uen a freq sod t n wha eve ine and erm res det losu To enc available, begin fer woo ton pipe organs to sub tor that has 20-80Hz es area x length) and Using a CD or signal genera ount of air in the port (port k. am tric ving about ¼” The mo k. is e nec n con ope fer reso to the woo in across adjust the output so the cy that the port will beg uen and z freq 20H the ut ate abo il the woofer at dict unt re cy losu the size of the enc wly increase the frequen er ports will be lower h direction or ½” total. Slo volume and port area, long nance” and eac re in reso losu “in enc is n re give losu a ts enc For por at. the nate e at higher frequencies. All stop moving. At this point, nat to reso ms see will easing the e s con incr one p rter kee sho in frequency, and e that frequency, and ed frequency in t is providing the output. Not ghly one octave, with the tun n in frepor rou dow of the k dth bac dwi go n ban a The r e in. ove ulat aga operate thematical formulas to calc il the cone noticeably moves ma unt are cy re ount of uen am The . t freq dth leas dwi the ban es the center of the are the online frequency that produc re volume, but even easier fer is firing ncy until it stops again. The losu que woo enc the n If give re. a losu we for enc ign ers, the put des port before com ed frequency of math for you. Back in the day cone movement is the tun cone makes the motion calculators that do all the t area and length, por e ar or salt sprinkled on the ulat sug of calc to bit m” little a gra s, mo ard “no a upw ed call rt a resistor to determine cha and ple t ter sim por me a a used erally speaking, I suggest see. You can also use a volt to Gen ier er. eas put ch com mu a as ss enclosure. I’ll l wel and it worked as point. For example, woofer, such as in a bandpa nance if you can’t see the woofer diameter as a starting reso the ¼ ut abo is t 4” a tha e eter hav diam fer should re column.

2.5” diameter port. A 15” woo cover that method in a futu cific type of music. Toa 10” woofer would use a tune an enclosure for a spe to d nee not do you tly, Las ts! por p bass, so just build two , dee of fers nce woo safe nda tty Two port. re’s all seem to have an abu … in car audio you are pre gen for” e sic mu “tun ’s to cy day ted it, and call it uen wan freq t As far as wha tuning is about where you Don’t sweat this detail d enclosures and verify the enclosure!

35Hz and 45Hz as a target. soli n ted wee por a bet ck cy che uen to will freq ing a how with h some of those dudes installed in the car, the tun teac is go re losu Now d. enc goo the r afte e too much, becaus d up and down, etc. nge as the windows are rolle change, and it will also cha

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PIONEER CDJ DIGITAL TURNTABLES

Pioneer Electronics, the leader in Pro DJ products and the innovator of the CD turntable, has launched two multi-format digital turntables, the CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900, with features that put the performance back into the art of DJing and reduce the need for laptops to access music files. DJs of all experience levels can enhance their mixing and scratching capabilities using proprietary technologies such as rekordbox music management, Pro DJ Link, Needle Search and USB and SD card connectivity. “Understanding the expanding needs of today’s evolving DJs, Pioneer’s new multi-format digital turntables allow DJs to access, search and control their content directly from the player itself,” said Matt Dever, Vice President, Professional Sound and Visual Division. For more visit www.pioneerprodj.com

Alpine KTP-445

Add higher output and more dynamic response with this easy-to-install head unit power upgrade.

The Alpine KTP-445 amplifies the head unit power output, resulting in a 150% power increase over the original power from the head unit’s built-in amplifier. The KTP-445 connects any 2005 and newer Alpine head unit that has a black power harness. The KTP-445 fits behind the head unit in the dash of most vehicles. It’s small and compact at only 6 x 2 x 1-1/8 inches. Its plug-and-play installation keeps it simple, without requiring additional wiring or special tuning. A high/low gain switch allows for proper gain settings, whether or not a subwoofer is part of the system. To find a retailer, visit the Dealer Locator section at www.alpine-usa.com

iSimple New iPod & iPhone Accessories

Quick, easy and completely portable, the iSimple OmniWire is a plug-and-play iPod/iPhone docking solution that offers outstanding sound quality, as well as video on vehicles equipped with rear seat entertainment. To use the OmniWire, simply plug the headphone jack into the car stereo aux-in port, insert the car charger into the vehicle’s lighter port, and connect the iPod or iPhone. Video from iPod/iPhone models is also supported thanks to an adaptor (included) that connects directly to the 3.5mm input. For more visit www.isimplesolutions.com

American Bass VFL Series

The American Bass VFL Series Class D competition amplifiers have outperformed many other major brands in the competition circuit. Many world-class competitors use American Bass amplifiers to dominate the competition. American Bass offers 800 RMS watts all the way up to 15,000 RMS watts in the VFL Series amplifiers. The amps included in this series are 1 ohm mono stable and linkable (except the VFL-160.4. For more call (216) 662-2522 or visit www.americanbassusa.com

Odyssey Ultimizer Chargers

EnerSys offers a full line of ODYSSEY Ultimizer Chargers, specifically designed to support its complete line of ODYSSEY Batteries for automotive/LTV, heavy duty/commercial, powersports and marine applications. All ODYSSEY Ultimizer 12-volt chargers offer a three-step charge profile that ensures a fast, complete and safe charge; a continuous trickle charge that keeps batteries fully charged during extended periods of non-use; and a sophisticated sequential charging technology that keeps triple bank chargers lightweight and compact. For more visit www.odysseybattery.com or call (800) 964-2837.

Boston Acoustics SC Series

Boston Acoustics, a longtime leader in premium sound components for aftermarket and OEM mobile audio systems, introduces the SC Series performance drop-in speakers. The woofers in all SC Series speakers use 1.5-inch voice coils, and are built with copolymer cones and rubber butyl surrounds to ensure dependable, uninterrupted performance under the extreme environmental conditions. Boston Acoustics integrates each SC model with a specifically tuned crossover to deliver a smooth transition between woofer and tweeter. The SC60 and SC50 feature a unique crossover design that can separate or dock together to fit even the tightest installations. And finally, Boston Acoustics’ exclusive VariMount adapter rings, included with the 6-inch SC60 and SC65 speakers, provide ease of installation, allowing drop-in placement for the most common factory locations. For more visit www.bostonacoustics.com

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INFINITY IMS Text by Garry Springgay // Photos by Manufacturer

hile in a local car audio shop a few days ago, (buying anoth piece of gear for testing er he in the lab) I got to chatting re with a salesman about the myriad of products avail ab for use in our cars these le Have you ever stopped andays. thought about how many d ferent types of personal difmu players, cell phones, vid sic eo games, navigation syste ms and electronic paraphern person can install in the alia a ir Add to that, some people car? to retain the OEM radio, want an others don’t, some want d amplifiers, subwoofers, to add video screens… well you get the idea.

The amount of different pro and combinations of pro ducts du can be overwhelming ev cts en for a seasoned pro.

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Well, the folks at Infinity Car Audio have come up with a product that allows you to interface virtually any peripheral device with virtually any source unit, OEM or aftermarket product. This clever little box of common sense is called the Infinity IMS, which is short for Input Management System.

Features and design The Infinity IMS is basically composed of two main components, the “junction box,” where all the wiring connections are made, and the dash mounted “control head.” The control head is used to select sources, as well as control often-adjusted functions such as volume, balance, fader, and tone settings. But, the Infinity IMS is much more than a simple connection device with a control knob. Featuring no less than seven separate inputs, the IMS is fully capable of integrating your personal music player, a navigation device, a Bluetooth cell phone, a head unit, and a game console all at once! The control head measures about 4 x 2 x 1 inches in size and it’s designed to be dash mounted, as it will be accessed frequently to select inputs and adjust your overall volume, sub level, balance, fader and tone settings. It also gets used to place handsfree calls, or control audio streaming from a Bluetooth enabled phone. The junction box is a bit larger, (approx 6 x 2 x 2.8 inches in size) but still small enough to easily hide under a

dash or bury in any console.

The inputs are designed for each specific type of device, so optimum performance is ensured regardless if you’re connecting an iPod Shuffle, Garmin Nuvi, or an Playstation3.

Input 1 is a 3.5mm stereo jack, and it has priority over all other inputs. When a signal is present on Input 1, the Infinity IMS will automatically switch to this input, and then return to the previous input when the signal ceases. This is very handy for products like navigation devices, so the spoken directions are sent automatically through the audio system.

Input 2 works in a similar fashion, and has priority over all other inputs except input 1.

This input has Bluetooth wireless connectivity or a 2.5mm stereo jack, and allows hands-free operation of your cell phone. The Infinity IMS also comes with a microphone and surface mount holder for hands-free phone operation, so everything you need is included. When using the Bluetooth hands-free functionality, you can also use the voice dialing function if your phone is so equipped.

Inputs 3 and 4 are conventional 3.5mm stereo jacks for the connection of devices like personal music players, CD players, etc. Someone at Infinity was doing their homework, because these inputs have the higher input sensitivity needed to allow the low output voltages of handheld

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INFINITY IMS

TECHNICAL SPECS Frequency Response (+/-3.0dB)

<10Hz – 20kHz

Signal to Noise Ratio (ref to 1V out)

-81dBA

THD+N (ref 1V out, @ 1kHz)

0.06%

Output Impedance

270 ohms

Input signal range

1V to >30Vrms

Maximum Output Voltage - Stereo outputs (unclipped)

8.8 Vrms

Maximum Output Voltage - Subwoofer outputs(unclipped)

8.8 Vrms

players to drive the Infinity IMS to its full capability.

Although the IMS does not actually control any of the players you connect to it, there is a thoughtfully supplied USB charging port to allow charging of the connected device.

Input 5 is a pair of RCA inputs, designed to make connecting an aftermarket head unit simple and straightforward, and because output levels of head units are all over the map these days, there is also a thoughtfully provided input sensitivity switch. The high sensitivity setting works great for head units with up to about 2 volts of output, and the low sensitivity position is for higher output voltage units.

Input 6 consists of 6 pairs of wires, for interfacing speaker level outputs from the OEM radio or amplifier. Additionally, these inputs can be used to blend bandwidth limited signals together to provide a full range output signal. There are separate level settings for high, mid and low frequency inputs, so you can adjust the system to get the blended signal as flat as possible.

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The seventh and final input is a 3.5mm stereo jack on the front panel of the Control Head, which is very convenient for temporary connections, like games or simply for quick access to listening to a friend’s tunes.

The output side of the Infinity IMS provides 5 RCA output jacks for front, rear, and subwoofer outputs.

All of the outputs are full range, so your amplifiers will provide the appropriate crossover settings. In addition to the RCA outputs, an RJ45 connector duplicates the audio out signal for use with the Infinity Reference Series of amplifiers. The cable used is standard Cat5 twisted pair, for maximum signal transfer and noise avoidance.

The control head is made up of an easy to read 2.25-inch LCD display, 4 four control buttons for telephone and Bluetooth music playback, and a master control knob. The menus are very basic, and simple to navigate. You select the input, and you can choose a name for the source (Radio, Game, iPod, etc.) from an internal list. A separate subwoofer level adjustment lets you easily dial in the right amount of output from your woofer system. You can adjust

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the volume for each source separately, and the Infinity IMS will remember the last volume setting for each source. Tone, Balance, and Fader adjustments are applied to all sources. If you are streaming music from your Bluetooth phone, there are control head buttons for Play, Pause, and Skip Ahead and Back.

Using the Infinity IMS is pretty straightforward. You simply select the input you want, and the volume. Bluetooth connection is automatic once you pair your phone the first time, and even if you turn off the IMS during a call, you won’t drop the call, it will simply be transferred to your phone. It should be noted that only one phone at a time can be wirelessly paired with the Infinity IMS. If you are connecting an additional phone via an A2DP dongle to the input jack, the Bluetooth paired phone connection will always have priority.

On The Bench From an audio perspective, the Infinity IMS is a serious performer. With a maximum output voltage of 8.8 volts, and a measured output impedance of a respectable 270 ohms, the IMS is a great choice to drive your amplifiers. It’s also quite quiet, I measured the signal to noise ratio at better than -81dBA. The frequency response is within -3dB of flat from 10Hz to 20kHz, and stereo separation is good too, at better than 56dB. The tone controls are designed to be useful, and to work well with compressed music sources.

Infinity IMS 11.10.indd 5

Conclusion

io gear. It sounds good, well designed piece of aud The Infinity IMS is a pretty g sources. As much as ngin clicks and pops when cha of oid dev ely plet com is and and use the control head, ever. Yes, you have to mount I like it, it’s not perfect how er interfaces, and it does stles and bells as a few oth it may not have as many whi external source. But, it’s just lay any information from an not control an iPod or disp ually any vehicle, with think of that will work in virt about the only product I can t radios! Moreover, that rke with both OEM and afterma and ice, dev ral iphe per any experience in producing ty combined with Infinity’s “common sense” functionali one of the most popular y just make the Infinity IMS high performance audio ma th consideration. integration solutions well wor

www.infinitysystems.com

24/11/09 10:30 AM

N A C I R E AM 4 4 2 1 L F X BASS gay

ents by Garry Spring

Text and Measurem

oits or follow the expl f you are into SPL mpetitors in the of any of the top cots, you’re probvarious SPL contes name Ameriwith the ably very familiar hed back in 1991, and is bl ta s at can Bass. Es ights Ohio, the folk based in Maple He no strangers to the e American Bass ar rs circles having set ne in w t es nt d SPL co Racing, USACi, an records in dB Drag .

MECA competitionsour hands on one of We recently got ries woofers, spetheir rugged XFL se 4. With a reputation cifically the XFL124and loud bass, and for producing low le extreme amounts of the ability to hand g forward to putting it in power, I was look the lab. in re he st to the te

I

but tried and true CONSTRUCTION FEATURES AND approach, with a woofer out of the sub s thi t go n eve we Before black, non-pressed can Bass XFL1244 eri vex Am the d lize rea box, I’d paper cone and a con at r indeed. Weighing in pliance ofe com wo s low iou e ser Th . y ap ver a stc is du t by picking jus l tel can ra tall design you ext ds, just over 35 poun foam surround is an ling around foo t sn’ ursion travel. The wa exc ss Ba ge lar can te it up that Ameri to accommoda n the d An y. bo to the cone with both this bad when they designed surround is attached 49 $2 ly on for A US the ls in ing, again to maximize when I saw that it sel adhesives and stitch us to rio cu lly rea s wa I ) e conditions. da bucks, ($299 in Cana durability under extrem began to I en wh do are made via the uld ns wo ctio it Electrical conne see just how well ding ient spring loaded bin test and abuse it. ubiquitous, but conven far ch -in too 12 a ced is spa 4 L124 this case, they are The American Bass XF u- posts, but in banana plug. woofer with a contin sub l coi ce t a traditional double voi ep hm acc to art dual 4-o ap accept up to 8 gauge 1,000 watts. It uses ver, they will certainly we ous power rating of Ho y, idit rig d t for strength an nals if you prefer. The a cast aluminum baske cable, or spade termi ks 14 r ove s r is all business but loo bly alone weigh and the motor assem backside of the woofe in d pe is ap bly wr em tor gnetic ass er of a mo pounds! Inside the ma good, with that monst , d ect un exp wo is uld wo ich wh coil, er. As you a 3-inch copper voice a black rubber bump at r the mer for improved he , as is the area unde for ted d ven ize is od ce an pie ck le bla po on a the top e um reliability. Th ce coil cooling. dissipation and maxim spider to promote voi the motor of te pla m d the woofer, I was tto cke bo pa ed When I first un plate and bump at he cone in aid to d ck anodize ve a little press on the assembly are also bla examining it and I ga r It s. me wa for l on coi nsi ce pe num voi the sus dissipation. The alumi to see how compliant ved on via a three layer ssed harder and it mo nsi pe pre I sus all.

At the to ve. cts mo n’t conne did it m on d fro o. Then I presse der, which is made ybe a millimeter or tw progressive type spi ma tin l the coi ve ce mo orporates the voi I could maybe black Nomex and inc with both hands, and e triple spiders Th . ers lay er inch! This American art the qu a een sel leads betw cone assembly rs penofe wo the to d anchore an extremely stiff sus outer diameters are Bass subwoofer has It g. cally din cifi lan spe r is de it spi ce tic sin the which makes sense n, frame by a special syn sio 4 24 L1 d American Bass XF vented enclosures an would appear that the designed to work in g abuse! tin hit rd ha l rea wer levels. e po is built to take som handle really high an old-school, es tak r ofe wo the of The cone 48

While there are lots of more expensive 1,000 watt woofers out there, the American Bass ly XFL1244 certain proved you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a good quality, hard-hitting, high performance subwoofer.”

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AMERICAN BASS XFL1244 LISTENING As usual, the first thing I do with a woofer is break it in, or “exercise” it. In this case, I used a 10Hz signal to maximize excursion and allow the suspension to soften up a bit if it was going to. With enough power applied to get about half an inch of cone movement, I let the woofer run for about 10 hours. Then I removed the signal, and allowed the woofer to cool and the temps to normalize overnight.

Normally you don’t need to do this when buying a new woofer, because it will break in as you listen to it for the first couple of weeks. But because I don’t have the luxury of taking 2 weeks to review a product, I have to accelerate the process as described above. The manual does not specify a particular enclosure recommendation, but a quick call to Bob Ahuja at American Bass got me the info I was looking for. Bob suggested a vented enclosure between 1.5 and 1.75 cubic feet, with a low tuning frequency, between 35 and 40Hz. From what I had seen of this woofer, those suggestions sounded spot on, so I pulled out a sheet of ¾-inch MDF and constructed a 1.75 cubic foot box, and tuned it to 38Hz. After I got the woofer in the enclosure, I connected it to my reference system, and used a 1,000 watt amplifier to drive the woofer, with the coils in parallel

244 AMERICAN BASS XFL1 1.900 Ohm 49.032 Hz

Fo

421.654m Ft³ 32.238 uM/N

Vas Cms Mmd Mms BL Qms Qes

PERFORMANCE With my listening complete, I let the woofer cool back down overnight and moved it to my bench and measured the Thiele-Small parameters. I was a bit surprised to find them significantly different than the published specs, so I took the time to start over, and completely re-measure them, but my results were the same. This happens from time to time, as products evolve and improve over time, and isn’t all that unusual. If you are designing subwoofer enclosures with Thiele-Small parameters, it’s always a good idea to double check them with a call to the manufacturer, just to be sure you have the “latest and greatest” information. The American Bass XFL1244 measured pretty much exactly as I suspected it would after examining it and listening to it. It has a fairly high Fs, and extremely low compliance, which makes it very well suited to vented box applications.

I would agree with American Bass’ recommendations, this is definitely a vented box woofer only.

Nominal Impedance Application

1000 Watts RMS / 2000 Watts “Peak” 20-400Hz 85.1dB/SPL @ 1.0W (2) 4 ohm coils 1.5 to 2.5 cubic foot vented enclosures

326.832m Kg 326.832m Kg 17.015 T·M 5.938 0.661 0.595

Qts Levc No SPLo EBP 50

Power Handling Frequency Range Sensitivity

79.160 In²

Sd

extreme power handling and the amount of abuse they’ll take, where a more efficient woofer would simply self destruct. No worries here, this American Bass subwoofer can certainly handle all the power it’s rated for.

QUICK TECH SPECS

ACTUAL MEASURED THIELE-SMALL PARAMETERS Revc

for a 2 ohm load. With the amplifiers crossover set at 80Hz, and the subsonic filter at about 30Hz, I sat down and played a bunch of different music through the XFL1244.

This American Bass woofer plays low, and loud!

Power handling was never an issue, and I never saw any indication of reaching the woofers limits even when playing at very high levels. The sonic performance of the woofer was good too, the output was warm sounding, with decent definition, and not a lot of “overhang” on the transients. Fast plucked bass notes such as in Thom Rotellas’ “Friends” sounded strong and powerful, and you could easily hear the resonances and echo in the recording. The bass and drums in The Blues Brothers version of “Sweet Home Chicago” sounded very natural, and like I’ve noted with other paper cone woofers, had that really pleasing “round” and warm timbre that I particularly find natural and realistic.

Pushed hard on bass heavy tracks from Nine Inch Nails, Nelly, and 50Cent, the American Bass XFL1244 simply pounded out the bass with nary a whimper or protest. In terms of output, the woofer is right there with most of the other very high power handling woofers I’ve tested. They have a bit lower overall efficiency, but the tradeoff is the

949.514u H 0.206 % 85.156 dB 74.2

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American Bass XFL1244 11.10 v2.indd 3

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SUBWOOFER SYSTEM OUTPUT AND RESPONSE @ 1W/1M

DRIVER FREE AIR RESONANCE

This American Bass woofer plays low, and loud!

Power handling was never an issue, and I never saw any indication of reaching the woofers limits even when playing at very high levels... The very reasonably priced American Bass XFL Series of subwoofers are a great choice.”

CONCLUSION The very reasonably priced American Bass XFL Series of subwoofers are a great choice for anyone looking for high power handling and better than average sonic performance in a vented system. They excel at higher than normal SPL levels, and are realistically rated when it comes to power handling. And while there are lots of more expensive 1,000 watt woofers out there, the American Bass XFL1244 certainly proved to me that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a good quality, hard-hitting, high performance subwoofer.

SUBWOOFER SYSTEM IMPEDANCE IN VENTED ENCLOSURE

American Bass XFL1244 11.10 v2.indd 4

www.americanbassusa.com

11/27/2009 10:39:34 AM

BOSTON ACOUSTICS GTA-400M Text by Garry Springgay // Photos by Manufacturer

hen it comes to car audio amplifier choices these days, it seems like there is an almost endless supply of products. Prices and performance are all over the map, from bargain basement junk, to high end high dollar gear that provides unique features and exceptional performance.

If you’re like me and most other gearheads, the problem usually is wanting the features and performance of the high end esoteric gear, but I’m more realistically going to be able to afford the stuff closer to the opposite end of the price spectrum.

W

Well, it would appear that the folks at Boston Acoustics recognized our problem and did something about it, by creating the GTA series of amplifiers.

Using several of the same technologies as their high-end GT series of amps, the GTA amplifiers provide excellent performance and sonics at a modest price. I recently received a GTA-400M for evaluation, and because I have always held the GT series in high regard, I was looking forward to taking a closer look at the less expensive model.

FEATURES AND CONSTRUCTION The GTA-400M is a Class D mono amplifier, rated at 250 watts into 4 ohms, and 400 watts into 2 ohms. The amplifier is relatively small, measuring 10.25” x 8.375” x 2.375”. The compact chassis still allows all the controls and connections to be located along one side, and Boston’s IMS (Integrated Mounting System) uses mounting points to be located within the footprint of the chassis, without the need for external mounting tabs or feet.

The heatsink is finished in silver brushed aluminum, with a gloss black strip that also provides model identification. The heatsink wraps around 2 sides of the amplifier, and the increase in both mass and area combine to provide efficient heat dissipation.

In terms of controls and connectors, the GTA-400M uses traditional set screw type gold plated terminals, and installers will appreciate that all the connections can be made using the same 3mm hex key.

A 40A ATC fuse is mounted onboard, and there are control pots for gain, crossover frequency, subsonic filter, and a feature Boston calls Q-Tune, which provides bass boost with a variable Q factor.

An optional remote level control (GTA-RSL) allows control of the bass volume from the driver seat. The GTA-400M also includes high level inputs, which make it simpler to integrate with an OEM system. A dual color blue/red LED provides power-on and protection indications, so you always know the status of the amp at a glance.

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Inside the Boston amp, a military spec PCB uses a combination of surface mount and through hole parts. The layout and design are well done, and particular attention has been paid to the filtering of the output stage, where all the Class D switching carriers are removed from the output.

The amp is ruggedly built, with all the higher mass parts soldered and glued in place, and silicone damping material is used to prevent transformer and toroid ringing. The amp uses a total of 6600µF of capacitance in the power supply, and a pair of 2200µF caps handle the energy storage for the outputs. Power supply and output devices are TO220 case MOSFETs. CONTROLS As you’d expect from a Class D subwoofer amplifier, the internal crossover is always on, and is adjustable from 50Hz to 150Hz. The slope of the filter is -12dB/Oct. The subsonic filter, (a must for vented subwoofer applications) is also a -12dB affair, and can be adjusted between 10 and 50Hz. The Q-Tune feature is one of the technologies carried over from the high end GT series, and

is very handy in getting your bass dialed in to perfectly blend with your front speakers. The control is adjustable from a Q of .7, all the way to a Q of 1.6. The higher you turn it, the more bass boost you get at whatever frequency you have the subsonic filter set to, but unlike a common bass EQ knob, the Q-Tune increases the slope of the curve as you increase the boost, to help protect speakers and maintain amplifier efficiency. The effect is more useful than a standard boost control, and can really help bring your bass forward in the car. To better illustrate this clever circuit, have a look at the graph I generated and you’ll quickly understand what it does. In the graph, the subsonic filter is set to 25Hz, and I made 4 curves with the control set to 0.7, 1.0. 1.3. and 1.6.

LISTENING After reading the manual and understanding the controls and functions, I connected the GTA-400M into my reference system, driving a 2 ohm 12” woofer in a sealed enclosure. I began with the crossover set at 100Hz, and the subsonic filter set at the lowest frequency possible. Because of

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BOSTON ACOUSTICS GTA-400M The following power measurements were obtained using industry standard methods. (100HZ @ 1.0% THD+N - Battery voltages shown +/- 0.2V)

MANUFACTURERS RATED POWER

ACTUAL MEASURED POWER @ 1.0% THD+N @ 12.6V BATTERY

ACTUAL MEASURED POWER @ 1.0% THD+N @ 14.4V BATTERY

250 x 1 @ 4 Ω

206 x 1 @ 4 Ω

271 x 1 @ 4 Ω

400 x 1 @ 2 Ω

340 x 1 @ 2 Ω

446 x 1 @ 2 Ω

Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to 2V output.

(CEA-2006A) (1 watt @ 4 ohms)

-82.8DBA

Signal to Noise Ratio referenced to full 4 ohm output.

-107.1dBA

THD+N at rated 4 ohm power

0.37%

CEA-2006A rated 4 ohm Power (minimum power per channel developed over the entire intended audio bandwidth)

200 watts

Maximum Efficiency at full 2 ohm power per ch.

79.6%

Idle Current

0.7A

TECHNICAL SPECS

Input Sensitivity

RCA

180mV- 7.5V

Maximum Current @ full power, lowest rated impedance

38.9A

Frequency Response (-3dB)

11Hz – 162Hz

Subsonic Filter

10-50Hz @-12dB

Low Pass Crossover

50Hz – 150Hz -12dB/oct

Bass EQ boost

(Q-Tune)

Phase Adjustment (degrees of shift @ 100Hz)

54

+8dB None

its relatively compact size, I was a bit surprised to find as much clean power on tap as the small monoblock dished out.

While certainly not a power monster, the GTA400M provided all the power I needed to listen at enthusiastic levels. I also noted that the amplifier drew significantly less current from my power supply than most of the other bass amps I’d tested in recent memory.

From a sonic perspective the Boston GTA-400M was excellent. The bass was clean and low, and I noticed a distinct lack of what I refer to as “Class D syndrome”. I also appreciated that someone took the time to ensure there were no unwanted turn-on or turn-off pops, when the amps powers up and down.

One of the first tracks I played is an amazing solo by the Australian female bass playing sensation Tal Wilkenfeld. Her mastery of the 5 string electric bass is jaw dropping, when you consider she’s barely old enough to vote. Paying close attention to her string plucking and use of harmonics, I thought the Boston amp sounded more like a decent Class AB amp than the Class D that it is. With excellent tonality and definition, the bass was tight and clean, but what I appreciated the most was the way all of the intricacies of Tal’s musicianship were also reproduced.

On a related note, if you have been under the impression that an average Class D amp on a good subwoofer system sounds indistinguishable from a Class AB amp or a very good Class D amp, let me disabuse you of that idea right now. If you listen carefully to well recorded music you’ll notice subtle ringing and overtones which are naturally produced by instruments such as drums, timpani, bass guitars, cello, and even some synthesized sounds. The average economical Class D amp simply won’t produce these subtleties the way a very good Class D amp or a Class AB amp will.

Don’t get me wrong, Class D amplification has its place, but there are really mediocre Class D amps out there, as well as some very good ones, and this Boston is one of the good ones.

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ON THE BENCH After listening to the GTA-400M well into the evening, the next morning I moved the amp to the electronics test lab to see if my measurements would correlate with my listening impressions. The measured specifications did show excellence in several areas. The amplifier exceeded its rated power at both 4 and 2 ohms, and it also measured a quiet -82.8dBA at 1 watt of output. The good signal to noise numbers are part of the attention to the output filters that I mentioned previously, but even with extensive filtering the amp still managed a respectable low output impedance of 0.031 ohms at 50Hz. The low current draw I noted during listening was real, the Boston GTA-400M is very efficient, at over 86% at full 4 ohm power.

But we don’t drive around with the thing wide open all the time, and most good Class D amps have a 10 watt efficiency of between 20-35%. The GTA400M excelled here as well, the efficiency was still almost 50%. This means that the amp will draw less current under your typical listening conditions, which means better battery and alternator life, as well as generating less heat. And thermally, the Boston amp is very good as well, because of the thoughtful design that works with the laws of physics to get rid of heat as it’s developed, rather than fighting physics trying to cool an amp that’s designed to look cooler instead of operate cooler.

CONCLUSION

t, that is built to last, and very well designed produc The Boston GTA-400M is a imal amount of current ellent efficiency, draw a min sound good, and with its exc of dialing in the sonics, feature provides a clever way while doing it. The Q-Tune any vehicle. If you are in the ans it will fit easily in almost and the diminutive size me sonable price, and you ered subwoofer amp at a rea market for a moderately pow ck out the Boston GTA che , nds ut how your system sou abo ical crit f rsel you r side con you.

Series. Your ears will thank

www.www.bostonacoustics.com

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inside:

Formula D Finals

Speed World Challenge

cscs finals

Brave Heart

titan v8 Powerhouse

jgycustoms shoptour

OverDrive Cover 11.10 v2.indd 1

fast wheels goes racing

racing Beat rx-8 Exhaust

Grip Tuning new Bodykits

09/11/09 1:14 PM

NCE, THIS A L G T S R I F T A WHILE ST ANOTHERTED U J E K I L K O O L MAY ZIORA PAINND A M , O T U A L A N SIG OU’LL SOON FRIE Y T U B . ..

A I V L I S AS FAR MO SILVIA! OUT THIS CAYROH VERAGE A R U N A H T GUTS

E V A R B 60

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Signal S15_v2.indd 2

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E

cob // Photos by Ja d Jacob Leveton

nkew an

Text by Dave Pa

they enthusiast and sk any Nissan should rs ca sis as Ch will tell you an SNA turbo-4. Not an be powered by a 20 SR an t bu certainly not a V8 at truck motor and nging off it. But ha o rb tu e siv on sp re , all sm e a es th th wi mplain that level, drivers co the competition rider mower and a an th s torque motors make les twist but often 24 makes some turbo’ing the KA es. There are inappropriate tim fails at the most the massive ed iliz ut that have a select few pros eved in a V8. ese cars and sle engine bay in th porium ran ys from Drift Em Last year, the bo to at the Au l na r team for Sig a successful 2-ca success, eir th ith W D events. selected Formula

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Signal S15_v2.indd 3

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by Jodin this 1999 ys action. Of co us first crack at rfect for slidewa ve stock pe a ga is g o pin als op m dr riu t Empo veteran Kenji happy with jus ’t FD sn by wa d m ote riu pil s r, po m Em lf Technology ca Silvia S15 drift ca look like the car – Jim Wo glance, this may o st int fir r s, at oto as e m m hil l W the rotationa Yamanaka. inted Silvia springs upgraded Auto MAZiORA pa l lve te, na va d pla Sig an r tor tte ap cu ad a cookietransmission has far more out that this car o the custom headers, d int th r fin wi oto on m so l e th u’l d yo but d oil pan place an . s, via nt Sil ou e m and r ag e er oto gin av m the Drift guts than your ver seen this en year, the plan for e bay nicely. Ne e gin th en of g via e nin Sil us gin ca at’s be At the be displacement, ation before? Th was clear – high chassis combin e em Emporium team th e th be rs were going to torquey V8 moto Leveton

30/11/09 10:17 AM

BODY ARMOUR car is hard to miss.

the On the outsideR, A paint was laid by none iO Color-shift MAnZji Yamanaka himself – that’s other than Keriver and the artist behind right, he’s a d tition! this project! reat to the compe car a serious th .

miss first Nissan the car is hard to to be the world’s On the outside, none by d this is believed lai s wa MAZiORA paint t !

5! hif -s S1 lor ed Co er ’s ow th V8-p e VK56 a himself – at n issues with th an Kenji Yamanak th r he ot d One of the know hin arance of r and the artist be chassis is the cle right, he’s a drive Kenji has engine in the Steamed m riu po is a bit of trivia; Em re ift ld. Dr this project! He iven over the intake manifo lop dr s ve ha de to he at Extrudabody nearly every car lks ed fo int e pa th th favorite. wi up system d this job is his dual throttle body st few years, an pa e th kit dy bo d a prototype indivi x and tune car, the Verte m adaptor plate lking around the Wa sis as mated to a custo m ch 5 fro S1 jam est on the U to make some is one of the badd y Club with a Haltech EC e throttle ov pr nted with a Budd im ce tly ac ea en gr d be s an ha e d gin an en -inch V8 e th through e SSR Type-F 18 power is driven on fiber wing. Th rb ca ion at response. All the bin e-off timeless com triple, custom on eels make for a wh II W D. a custom Exedy KD LS A y T/ 2-wa rich g-Force shaft, and Tomei running BFGood n sio en e aluminum drive th sp o su r int ve nt ilo custom work we th JIC FLT-RS co of wi lot es a tir . gh ck ou tra th Al coming happen on the e whine of this V8 make the magic at th ift Dr e engine setup, th tir en and the provides the hood of the S15 Mothers Car Care from under the akes this m ity bil iva dr rning equally head-tu

94 62

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Signal S15_v2.indd 4

30/11/09 10:17 AM

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DE racing I R B , it p k c o c e Inside th e while he c la p in ji n e K ld seats ho arnesses h t in o -p 4 a t a k drifts, Ta wn, and the o d d e p p ra t s keep him porium goldm E ft ri D m o t s u c elded roll cagee-w y ll fu d e t in a p any lucky rid d n a ji n e K s p e e k nts safe. a ip ic rt a p g n lo a 64

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND â&#x20AC;&#x201C; WWW.PASMAG.COM

Signal S15_v2.indd 6

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AP SERIOUS SW hassis is engine and c

ENGINE DE V8 Nissan 5.6L VK56 DIFICATIONS ENGINE MOms Jim Wolf ca lve springs Jim Wolf va ITBs Extrudabody fuel rails Custom billet n radiator Custom Griffi ess steel headers Custom stainl num oil pan Custom alumi mounts Custom motor battery top red Optima K&N air filters MENT ENGINE MANAGE Haltech ECU DRIVELINE plate clutch Exedy twin-minum drive shaft Custom alu nical Trax 2-way LSD Tomei Tech S, BRAKES WHEELS, TIRE eels SSR Type-F wh nt 18x8.5-inch fro r rea h inc tires 18x9.5g-Force KDW II BFGoodrich fro nt 18 0R 235/4 r 265/35R18 rea SUSPENSION vers JIC FLT-RS coilo OR RI EXTE manaka int by Kenji Yato e MAZiORA paby ate Au Boutiqu im Ult rk wo Body INTERIOR g seats BRIDE Racinint harnesses Takata 4-po s A’PEXi meter SHOUTOUTS Eneos Oil r Care Mother’s Ca

LS

Never seen th fore? That’s because this combination bbee the world’s first Nissan is believed to 15!!!

V8-powered S

EMPORIUM OWNER: DRAIFTTLANTA, GA : LOCATION 99 NISSAN SILVIA S15 VEHICLE: 19

THE ESSENTIA

oducts to with cleaning pr Emporium team paint, az er off the am ing keep the tire rubb of re ca es tak to Boutique and Ultimate Au n ee tw be irs pa re e and any body damag ! n and will happen ca ich wh , ds roun seats g cin , BRIDE ra Inside the cockpit kata Ta s, ift dr ce while he hold Kenji in pla d down, pe ap str him s keep 4-point harnesse ldgo painted Drift Emporium and the custom and any nji Ke cage keeps fully-welded roll A’PEXi fe. sa ts participan lucky ride-along signs up the engine vital gauges monitor keeps m switch panel front and a custo m battery sto sy reach. A cu everything in ea d fuel cell an top dtima re box holding an Op

y. Going e trunk for safet are secured in th clear to it’s e, trained ey over this car with car has ift dr is th pect of see that every as to finish. nned from start been carefully pla be to ce is still a for Kenji Yamanaka hen W . rld wo the drifting reckoned with in d is un so e th , up starts his ITB’d V8 S15 e to the power is ther d an le ab ak ist unm ers rtn pa turbance. With cause a real dis odrich Go BF d an nal Auto, like Jim Wolf, Sig re to be su is m riu po ift Em behind them, Dr t innovative stylish and mos t os m e th of e on rmula D Fo ing! The 2007 teams in US drift i will be tor ka Ta ro Michihi rookie of the year in 2010. piloting the car

general sales inquiries sales@speedtechracing.com Calgary, alberta

403.250.7751

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306.956.0077

edmonton, alberta

780.455.5161

w h o l e s a l e i n q u i r i e s w e l c o m e 1 - 8 6 6 - 2 0 6 - 7 7 5 1 • w w w. s p e e d t e c h r a c i n g . c o m

Signal S15_v2.indd 7

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R I B SNOW m e a long way fro the car has com y, da To much t no e lining. ars ago. Sinc there is a silver it began three ye e er custom wh r ith every crisis, he ot , ny an mpa e went with e state of the co available, Maguir s 304 wa to Regardless of th te an e in th tall that upped e great highlights ins m er so rg d ha ha rc s stom pe ha su GM king ter installing a cu at only 5.5psi af e aggressive-loo th er lly ow cia ep rs pe m ho es , ste . The sy their line-up injection system roadster. water methanol puter by Lyndon e m ad co Pontiac Solstice m ll s Be ha e ned with a Kenn Lloydminster, AB tu of s e wa uir ag M uire maintains, ike M Garage and Mag has even named r’s te He es e.

W lov at of r te or Wes m cold air his Solstice a lab e intake is a custo his late daughter, e’s a genius.” Th iley” in honor of “H m long tube e sto th Cu m x. the vehicle “Em fro t the car home rbon fiber air bo ca gh a ou th br wi “I . x th bo be superEmiley Eliza Focuztech into a re fabricated by began researching we d s an er 05 ad 20 he to Service. in showroom aguire. “My ust by Dave’s Au away,” laughs M Magnaflow exha ht m rig sto ns work on cu tio to t op g go e chargin y’s Sweatshop si making it th James at Shinn d 251whp at 7p en tte ound the Th ne ar pt d m t an te in at jus I g st fir nts of polishin North America. ou in am ice ss lst dle So en ed e th first supercharg d decided to redo th the power an engine bay. .” m ste wasn’t happy wi sy n forced inductio its d an ec ot Ec the 2.4L

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The bodykit is an RK Sport product including: sideskirts, rear valance, front bumper and rear wing. The hood is an RK Sport Dual Ram with some flat black stripe inserts. Maguire added some trick accessories including carbon fiber Pontiac badges, Supercharged badges and a compact antennae.

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IRD tos by Jason Rosvick

Text by Mark Pereira Pho

Motivation Since not much was available, Maguire went with another custom supercharger install that upped the ante to 304 horsepower at only 5.5psi after installing a custom water methanol injection system.

The Essentials

l Maguire Owner: Michaedm inster, AB Location: Lloy nt iac Solstice Po 06 20 : le hic Ve hp 4 30 : POWER ENGINE

Pontiac 2.4L EcoTec

ICATIONS ENGINE MODIF arger install

Custom superch on fibre air intake box Custom CAI with carbnol injection Custom water/metha tri-Y header Focuztech long-tubeaus Dave’s Auto Service Magnaflow dual exhcovert by Custom fuse block badges for ignition coils Custom GM chicklet ine camshaft cover by Shinny’s Custom polished eng Sweatshop

GEMENT ENGINE MANA management Kenne Bell fuel

SUSPENSION springs

Eibach Pro Kit Eibach sway bars bushings Energy Suspension

Drop the top and you see why Maguire spends a lot of time in this car. Inside carbon fiber pods attached to the upper windshield are a quartet of Auto Meter gauges including: boost, fuel pressure, A/F and EGT. The seats are covers made by Katzkin made of both leather and suede.

The door panels feature suede inserts which continues onto the console and lower dash. The suede headliners feature some custom engraving with the name “Emiley” in stylish script. Some stainless racing pedals are complimented by brushed stainless ‘Solstice’ door sills.

The overall look of the car is dramatic even if at the time of our shoot it had stock rollers on.

We don’t feature many cars with stock rubber but the 18-inch 5-spokes look proper with the slightly lowered stance. The lowering comes courtesy of Eibach Pro Kit springs and the handling was bumped

up by Eibach sway bars and Energy Suspension bushings. The bodykit is an RK Sport carbon fiber kit including sideskirts, rear valance, front bumper and rear wing. The hood is a carbon fiber RK Sport ‘Dual Ram’ with some carbon fiber stripes left unpainted. Maguire added some trick accessories including carbon fiber Pontiac badges, Supercharged badges and a compact antennae.

For now, Maguire maintains this work is still in progress but the brakes have been put on with the new addition to the stable…a 2009 Nissan GT-R. He recently took delivery of an Ivory White GT-R and plans to make it look similar to this creation. But he says the lightweight Solstice makes Shelby Mustangs and Vettes nervous with its 107.5hp per 1000-pound power-to- weight ratio. With a few more tweaks, this car will be that much more dangerous.

EXTERIOR on Fiber RK Sport Carb

Front bumper Rear valance Dual Ram hood Sideskirts Rear wing Vertical Doors kit Supercharged badging

INTERIOR

l Pressure, A/F, EGT Auto Meter: Boost, Fue r gauge pods Custom carbon fibede t covers Katzkin leather sue andsea door inserts Suede door panels and lower dash Suede center console laser engraving Suede sun visors with pedals Stainless steel racing tice door sill inserts Rushed aluminum sols

SHOUTOUTS

TER1 RK Sport Garage Tuning 1-888-WES Lyndon @ Wester’s Swe atshop James @ Shinny’s y Jason Rosvick Photograph

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Text by Dave Pa

nkew // Photo s by Chaz

ticality buy an f you need prac tire shredding SUV. If you want y a sports car. performance bu the two a combination of But if you need the maron s rm stout platfo there are a few mind are few that come to ket to build up. A Speed3, o and the Mazda the Mitsubishi Ev l-perforca charge in “practi but leading the WRX and ru ba Su street is the mance” for the its STi sibling. ss baru hopefuls pa We see a lot of Su ere, th e ris rp su big No across our desks. all with ly seems to do it tru r ca e th ce sin wonder no y weather. It’s 4-doors and in an d the an da na Ca pular in why they’re so po

I

68

Boyd

the WRX/ States, because Northern United ow as it is sn capable in the STi is even more needed ale Vit ll . Owner Bi on the dry tarmac d in his un ro ar ye nsport him something to tra PA. The wn of Feasterville, North East hometo have to ultant also needed professional cons 2006 e th so , yday reliability 4-doors and ever ctly. rfe pe m ra og STi fit the pr Subaru Impreza and rs, ca o int en be ays “My father has alw be “I’ve en ,” admits Vitale. owns a body shop just a little him since I was building cars with both we o street rods that kid. He owns tw e car th s es gu I e to shows. work on and tak od.” blo y m in ns kind of ru enthusiast gene , ork to build upon With solid framew

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Mishimoto Sti.indd 2

19/11/09 4:09 PM

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ROLLIN’ DEEP Legendary TE37s are found on all four corners measuring 18x9.5 +22 wearing Nitto Invo tires, a 255/35R18 all around. The right posture was achieved using Stance GR+ Pro coilovers with ride height adjustability and the dampening force offers adjustment as well. work got underway to extract more ponies out of the potent 4-banger. The Subaru EJ25 is a stout 2.5L flat-4 that is capable of producing some serious power. A custom turbo kit built by Area1320 uses an ATP GT3076R turbo to power the beast with custom downpipe and up-pipe regulated by a TiAL 44mm wastegate. The entire set up is fueled by a Walbro pump, Agency Power rail and some 820cc top feed injectors. The compressed air is chilled with a Perrin core fitted to some custom piping

by Area1320. The hot gas is expelled with Tomei Expreme equal length headers into a custom 3.5-inch exhaust. All of the fluid cooling duties were assigned to an order of Mishimoto product including their upgraded radiator, fans and the essential Mishimoto oil cooler.

The bottom line is impressive because on pump gas this subtle Subaru turns out a sinister 420whp with 410lb-ft of torque tuned tuned through Open Source by TurboTekTuning, which

70

utilizes the stock ECU through custom map building and selection with a UEGO wideband. The bump in power meant the stock driveline would definitely tap out early. To counteract that, Vitale sourced out an ACT 6-puck clutch along with a lightweight flywheel for snappy revs.

Rather than go sleeper-style, Vitale’s car is decidedly more menacing. Its dark aura is unapologetic and bold thanks to some tweaks from Japanese tuner Zero Sports. A full 4-piece Zero Sports aero kit was added along with a roof vane spoiler.

The front fenders were pulled and rolled as were the rear fenders. The rear deck lid has been shaved clean for that slicktop look. The whole project was then expertly painted at his father’s shop, Vitale Collision in Langhorne, PA and plastered in vinyl by Auditor Clothing Adding to the monochrome look of the project is a gunmetal set of classic Volk Wheels. The legendary TE37s are found on all four corners

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S

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POWERHOUSE

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The EJ25 is a stout 2.5L flat-4 that is capable of producing some serious ponies. A custom turbo kit built by Area1320 uses an ATP GT3076R turbo to power the beast with custom downpipe and up-pipe regulated by a TiAL 44mm wastegate. The entire set up is fueled by a Walbro pump, Agency Power rail and some 820cc top feed injectors. measuring 18x9.5 +22 wearing Nitto Invo tires, a 255/35R18 all around. The Brembo brakes have been taken off, rebuilt and custom powdercoated along with the DBA 4000XS rotors to match the color theme of the car by Liquid Powder Coats.

The right posture was achieved using Stance GR+ Pro coilovers with ride height adjustability and the dampening force offers adjustment as well. But the suspension tweaks didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop there, because Vitale was committed to make this a super handling ride.

A rear 25mm Perrin sway bar was added along with Perrin end-link urethane bushings in several locations. The chassis is stiffened with an HKS Kansai front strut and the rear strut bar is GT-Spec.

The camber is dialed in with H&R bolts set to attack mode with 3.0-degree on all four corners. Great for handling, rough on tires.

Mishimoto Sti.indd 6

The interior received a few JDM-spec STi goodies.

The sport seats were swapped out for a set of Bride Stadia with smooth and sexy carbon fiber backs to drool over and Takata 4-points harnesses. With several items recovered in rich black suede, the items are complimented by STi Limited black carpet and JDM STi floormats. To keep tabs on the motor, Vitale installed an arsenal of Defi gauges including: EGT, Boost, Oil Pressure and finally a 52mm AEM wideband gauge.

Clean, functional and ready to rock the majority of the hot cars on the road, this STi gets the nod from us. At over 500hp at the crank, it is easily up there amongst todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sports cars and exotics. Plus it can seat five and get around in the snow, but now that Vitale has started winning trophies with it, that just might change altogether.

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Finals House of Drift Irwindale, CA

Oct 17-18 2009 Text by Dave Pankew // Photos by www.ourcoolphotos.com

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ith an explosive ending to an exciting 2009 season, Formula D drivers, crew and fans could not help but be overshadowed with the tragic loss of Shaun Carlson. The legendary drag racer and mastermind behind NuFormz racing had been one of the most influential figures in Sport Compact motorsports. It seemed at every turn there was a memorial of some sort for Carlson who passed away suddenly from natural causes. He and his passion will be missed.

When it came time for qualifying, the drivers brought it on with run after run of outrageous maneuvers. Qualifying no.1 was Justin Pawlak in the Nitto Mazda RX-8 with Ryan Tuerck in the Gardella/Mobil1 Solstice and former champion Tanner Foust in the Rockstar / Hankook Scion rounding out the top three. Current points leader Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink/MAXXIS 350Z held his ground by qualifying 7th. With some heavyweights like Vaughn Gittin Jr., and Tyler McQuarrie not in the top 10,

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Forsberg was hoping they would not be a factor but the real threat would come from Tueck. There were a few different scenarios that could play out steal the championship from Forsberg and it came much closer than he would have liked.

The Top 32 commenced and there were a few notable upsets in the first round. Alex Pfeiffer in the Tanaka Racing Vette was able to best Gittin in the Falken Tires Mustang in an all AmericanV8 battle. Then there was privateer Matt Powers in his Nissan S14 who charged past Eric O’Sullivan in the Team Falken Z and Kyle Mohan in the Cooper Tires / Mazdatrix RX-8 in valiant underdog fashion. If that trend continued on with the privateer Doug Van Den Brink’s D’Vanz Ford Mustang versus points leader Forsberg, he could kiss his championship goodbye with a first round loss. The Forsberg versus Van Den Bring tandems were so close, it was too close to call and a “One More Time” was requested. Forsberg gathered up enough nerve for a convincing second run to seal the 2009 title and he must have run out of steam considering he caved during his run with Robbie Nishida driving the Hankook Tires 350Z. In the semi-finals, it would be McQuarrie versus the rookie Powers on one side of the tree and Tuerck versus two-time champion Tanner Foust on the other. In a battle of Nissan supremacy, McQuarrie’s V8-powered 350Z would outgun the tired KA truck motor and let Powers fight for third. Tuerck was still very hungry and although first place could not be attained, he was going to make it a convincing runner-up after eliminating Foust. The battle for third saw WWW.PASMAG.COM – PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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PUSH Foust completely make a meal out of the Powersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Nissan in his highly modified Scion tC. The final round would be a match of a turbocharged-4 in the Solstice of Tuerck versus the NA V8 in the 350Z Roadster of McQuarrie. In an anti-climatic battle, McQuarrie tapped the wall and spun out essentially giving him zero for the second run and gift-wrapping the win for Tuerck.

The results were very telling with Tuerck nailing second in the final standings and McQaurrie right behind him for a personal best of third.

However, this day was all about Chris Forsberg.

One of the most recognizable and genuine people in the series, Forsberg has been grinding away for years and finally has been recognized as a Formula D Champion. Forsberg is also the first champion who has only participated in drifting his whole career (former champs raced elsewhere) and for the second time now Forsberg won the Tires.com Triple Crown Challenge. Hats off to you Chris, keep killing it in 2010!

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Season Finale s Park, Toronto Motorsport

Cayuga, ON

Oct 4, 2009

tos by Luis Cerda

Text by Mark Pereira // Pho

espite the below seasonal temperatures and occasional downpours, thousands of race fans poured through the gates at Toronto Motorsports Park to watch their favorite drivers compete for the last time of the season. Presented by JRP, the Canadian Sport Compact Series (CSCS) Season Finale is always an action-packed event.

Throughout the year, it is clear that the skill of Canadian drifters has improved tremendously and the competition is tougher than ever. This did not seem to have an effect on local Ontario drift team “S1DC” as they swept the podium for the second straight event. While the team was off to a slow start this season, they finished off strong as Lucas Johnson was able to rise above the competition finishing first, which propelled him to his first ever CSCS Drift Championship.

The inconsistency in the weather kept the Time Attack competitors on their toes all day as they continuously made adjustments to suit the track conditions. The fastest time of the day was set by Marco Jorge’s RX-7 in the Unlimited RWD class, but many other drivers set personal bests despite the unfavourable conditions.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature was not so kind to the drag racers and this portion of the event was postponed, but many people will agree it was worth the wait. On Oct. 17, Paul Bhawan who currently holds the record as Canada’s Fastest Sport

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Compact, made everybody take notice by debuting his new ultra sleek FWD Pro Compact Chevrolet Cavalier. Bhawan, unofficially rewrote the record books by posting a time of 8.12 @ 183 mph in the finals which was enough to take home first place in the Pro Compact class for the event, and become an unprecedented 6 – time CSCS National Champion. Rui Mateus was able to win the Bully All-Motor Class, but it was not enough to steal the class championship from David Robert. Other notable class winners were: Adam Drake, Jason Teixeira, Jim Edwards, and Joseph Coniglione.

The story of the day on the show field was Jake Vlemmix’s insane CRX. Jake walked away with another Best of Show award earning him his third Car of Year title. The Lick Your Lips crew showed up with 34 show cars to take home Largest Team.

However, the 2009 Team of the Year award went to Modified Society with nearly 100 Show Car entries throughout the 2009 season.

“Team CSCS would like to thank all our competitors and fans for their ongoing support over the past 7 years. Despite the tough economic times and turbulent weather conditions, 2009 proved to be our strongest season to-date. We look forward to continuously raising the bar as Canada’s premier sport compact racing series,” says Chris Pereira, CSCS Director of Operations. With 2009 now in the record books, we’ll catch you at the track in 2010. For more visit www.cscs.ca or www.pasmag.com.

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND – WWW.PASMAG.COM

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Round 9 Sept 25, 2009

Road Atlanta - Braselton, GA

Text by Dave Pankew // Photos by www.world-challenge.com

GT Class eteran Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, FL got a great launch at the start in his all-wheel drive No. 8 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60 and never looked back. Pilgrim cruised to his ninth-career SPEED World Challenge GT win at Road Atlanta, part of the Toyo Tires Road Atlanta Grand Prix Presented by Dish Network.

Eric Curran, of East Hampton, MA., and Championship point leader Brandon Davis, of Huntington Beach, CA, completed the podium.

At the race start, Pilgrim’s Volvo looked like it was shot out of a cannon. The Volvo’s launch was magnified by the fact that Curran’s No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette, which was right in front of Pilgrim, did not move at the start. This allowed Pilgrim to take the early lead - a lead he would never relinquish. He won by 6.467-seconds over Curran at an average speed of 103.168 mph.

“The start was just how the Volvo should go,” Pilgrim said. “I had just enough room to get by Eric [Curran] without dropping my tires on the left side. Eric didn’t move. I don’t think he got a very good start. I thought, if Eric got a good start, he would cover the middle, so I was already going to go left. I went left and I was gone. I could not believe how good the start was.”

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Touring Car Seth Thomas, of Cumming, GA, earned a long overdue and emotional win in Round Nine of the SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championships at Road Atlanta, part of the Toyo Tires Road Atlanta Grand Prix Presented by Dish Network. Thomas’ BimmerWorld teammates James Clay, of Blacksburg, VA., and Nick Esayian, of Encinitas, CA, swept the podium, respectively making BMW dominate Touring Car. In front family and friends, Thomas got a great launch from his third starting spot in the No. 38 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i. At the start, he easily slipped in behind teammate Esayian, who started from the pole, and drafted behind him for the first 14 laps before passing Esayian for the lead. From there, Thomas cruised to his third SPEED Touring Car win of the season. He won by 1.692-seconds over Clay.

“Nick made one little bobble and I had a run coming out of five and I had to take it [the lead],” Thomas said. “I felt like if I took it that he and I could pull away even further [from the field] because it is my home track and I know all of the little ins and outs.

“We’ve been close to winning before here. My home track really has been a jinx for me. I’ve had some good luck. But, many times, the finishing results have been the result of bad luck. This win was very special for my family - especially with my grandfather being here – it was extra special because he is 86. I wanted him to see me win here at my home track. I wanted him to see it in person. It was ultra important for me.

Thomas’ teammates James Clay, of Blacksburg, VA, and Nick Esayian, of Encinitas, CA, swept the podium, respectively as the BimmerWorld team dominated the day.

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/ s e r i T l a t Continenter Driver Training BMW eWl,in Quebec Mirab Text and Photos

ing.com)

r (www.jagimag

by Jeremy Glove

ith the winter season in full effect, many tuning enthusiasts (southern states excluded) face challenging cold weather conditions with ice and snow at every turn. We’ve teamed up with the tire experts at Continental Tires and the driving experts at BMW Driver Training to experience the toughest conditions and sharpen our skills in snow.

First of all, this was a unique and educational experience since any driver training we’ve done has always been on dry pavement. It was amazing to have the chance to take part in the first BMW winter driving training course since the old one, was held in Montebello about five years ago.

Now the revised course is taking place at the amazing ICAR facility in Mirabel, Quebec under loads of Canadian snow!

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The day started far too early, but once all of us “students” arrived, signed in and had breakfast we went into the classroom for the official start of the day. We were introduced to our instructors: Pierre Savoy, Philippe Letourneau and Jean-Francois Veilleux. After introductions, we started the in-class theory learning about ABS systems, Continental winter tire technology, driving techniques (like how to control oversteer and understeer) and of course about the systems that BMW has on their cars to help improve safety in poor weather conditions.

One half of the students would be driving turbo BMW 335i’s and the other half in dieselpowered BMW 335d’s all equipped with Continental Winter Contact 225/45R17s. The tires and alloy wheels used are all offered through BMWs

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND – WWW.PASMAG.COM

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winter tire package from their dealers. We were assigned a manual 335i and proceeded to the first exercise. To get us warmed up, we did some slalom tests with all the traction and stability systems activated. Then we tried it again with the BMW ETC system that allows some wheel slip and lastly we turned off all the computer aids to really have some fun and see the difference traction control can make. During the slalom, we were shown proper hand positioning and instructed not to shuffle them around the steering wheel like a ham-fisted journalist.

After we had become comfortable in the cars and how the stability systems work, we started our first actual exercise, emergency braking. To make it really interesting, the instructors disengaged all the systems including the ABS! It was a great exercise that really proves you have to look to where you want to go and how to properly avoid accidents in any situation. It was an exercise where a lot of cones got eaten. At the wrap up, the instructor put the systems back on to show how much they really helpâ&#x20AC;Śit was impressive when comparing them side by side.

The next exercise was one we were exited about from the start, learning how to control over and understeer. We got to try out the different techniques on how to control them on a huge circle skidpad. Now we were ready to swap cars with the other group and found ourselves driving an automatic BMW 335d.

WWW.PASMAG.COM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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es / r i T l a t n e n i t n ning i Co a r T r e v i r D r BMW Wi, nQuteebec Mirabel

One half of the students would be driving BMW 335i’s and the other half 335d’s all equipped with Continental Winter Contact 225/45R17s and BMW alloys.

The torque of this car was impressive and really ripped through all kinds of snowy conditions.

The next exercise was our area of expertise; how to control a sustained drift on an hourglass shaped course layout. We had lap after lap of sideways snow action! It was all about being smooth on the throttle, looking where you want to go and doing it perfectly together. We received some compliments from our instructor and two other students in our group, but then again, we’re all about drifting!

The last event was a competition style event.

It was an AutoX-style ice race that put all the

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students against each other on a course that combined everything we learned during the day into one action filled race and the winners would get some special prizes. The course started out with a reverse 180, then into the accident avoidance braking zone into a full-throttle run around the skidpad. The final section led into a series of S-turns, a slalom course and finally a stop-box. Any cone that was hit during your run would be a 3-second penalty added to your total time. We each had one practice run and one timed run. Even though it was just for fun, this was still a race! Once we all finished our runs we went

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indoors for debriefing and to find out who won.

They named off the 3rd place, then 2nd place and then they named first place. As soon as they said the winning car number, we couldn’t believe it… we won and did the PAS Magazine name proud! In the words of our favorite fictional NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby, “If you’re not first, you’re last!”

If you find yourself facing the harsh realities of winter each year, we’d suggest the BMW Winter Driver Training in one way or the other especially for those living in areas such as Canada. The equipment enabled our BMW test cars to perform exceptionally well with the Continental Winter Contact tires biting though the loose snow and ice to maintain sure grip and good road manners under these conditions.

www.conti-online.com

www.bmw.ca

WWW.PASMAG.COM – PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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t a e B g REVa8 Ecxhian ust for RX-8 R

nkew Photos by

Text by Dave Pa

at.com

www.racingbe

outed as one of the leading authorities on Mazda tuning, Racing Beat is a good place to start when it’s time to modify your Mazda.

Their engineering and design is proven and even contracted to tune up Mazdas from the factory. When it comes to Mazda RX-8 performance, they may not manufacturer any outrageous bodykits or insane turbo systems, but you can rely on solid performance from each and every part.

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The Racing Beat REV8 “street legal” catback exhaust system is a solid replacement for the restrictive OEM Mazda RX-8 exhaust.

The exhaust is a durable system offering real horsepower gains backed by in-house dyno testing. The REV8 exhaust system is constructed of 304 stainless steel Racing Beat connecting-pipe, muffler canisters, tubing, flanges, and outlet tips. The replacement connecting-pipe is manufactured using 3-inch (OD) tubing and features cast stainless steel flanges for positive exhaust gas sealing.

The Racing Beat REV8 exhaust system

will certainly stand out from the crowd with its distinctive twin tip outlet design! A first of its kind offered for the RX-8, these highly polished stainless steel tips offer a radical change from the standard single tip design and provide a well-balanced look to the updated rear tail lights of the RX-8.

Utilizing in-house dyno test facilities, the Racing Beat engineering staff have undertaken extensive exhaust system testing with the RX-8 Renesis engine. Research has found that simply adding a large-diameter “straightthrough” muffler can result in an extremely

loud, buzzy sounding exhaust and power gains are only modest. Racing Beat focused their developmental efforts on optimizing the power output, while maintaining a moderate, but still aggressive exhaust tone.

Based upon initial test sessions, it appeared the Mazda engineers did not leave much “untapped” horsepower behind in the stock exhaust system. Although it appears there might be modest power gains available from a “cat-back” exhaust system, be wary of big horsepower claims from any aftermarket exhaust manufacturer because we tested them all.

Renesis rotary with Racing Beat REV8

+ 3.5 HP

Renesis rotary with “Brand X” aftermarket system

+ 3.5 HP

Renesis rotary with “Brand Y” aftermarket system

+ 1.5 HP

Jump on the throttle and the REV8 exhaust comes alive with an aggressive note that enhances the driving experience. Refined and modest while cruising; aggressive and authoritative under acceleration - that is the balance that Racing Beat strived to achieve!

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G N I N U T P I R G OR THAT F T I K A S HA nkew Photos by

Text by Dave Pa

.com

www.griptuning

electing the right body kit often starts with finding the right products to suit your budget. The helpful styling experts at GRIP Tuning pride themselves on offering tuners an extensive line of affordable high quality exterior upgrades for many of today’s most popular platforms. Based in Warren, MI, GRIP Tuning specializes in the design, distribution, and sales of affordable, high-quality body kits.

What most enthusiasts might not know is that GRIP Tuning also provides some of the best availability and shipping times in the aftermarket industry thanks to their nationwide network of distribution centers. GRIP Tuning’s reputation stems from their award-winning products for the Chrysler 300C and Dodge Charger, and thier body kit offerings have now expanded to include affordable and durable ABS kits for sport compact applications.

S

Their strength has always been to provide attractive, durable and very affordable bodykits, all made in the USA. Their other forte has been the ability to find niche markets in the industry for cars that are popular, but not very well supported by other manufacturers, making GRIP Tuning a logical choice when looking for appearance upgrades.

Since the GRIP Tuning kits are made in the USA and within the reach of virtually any enthusiast’s budget, they have a loyal customer base. The entire GRIP line is available as full kits, or individual pieces. So whether you’re looking for a mild appearance upgrade or a full multi-piece transformation, GRIP has a solution. And since their distribution network is rock solid, you can be sure it’s in stock and ready to ship. We decided to take a look at a few GRIP Tuning bodykits for some hot sport compact platforms.

MAZDA 3 Mazda’s hot hatch, the Mazda3 has been a huge success and GRIP Tuning has introduced a wallet friendly 7-piece body kit for the 5-door. Designed for

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‘04-‘06 hatchback models, the kit includes everything tuners need to amp up the look of their Mazda3.

The durable ABS plastic kit includes a 2-piece front bumper, side skirts, 2-piece rear, and hatch wing with vortex generators.

06-08 CIVIC COUPE

CIVIC COUPE When it comes to the new Civic, it’s safe to say the aftermarket support has not been there for the hot Sport Compact like it used to be. So GRIP tackled the project head-on, revolutionizing the look of the ‘06‘08 Honda Civic Coupe with a simple, yet attractive lip kit. This 4-piece kit consists of a front lip, side skirts and a rear lip. Constructed from durable ABS plastic the lip kit attaches easily with 3M double sided tape and some mechanical fasteners in no time.

SCION TC COUPE

SCION TC Redefining the popular styling of the Scion tC with a dramatic 8-piece kit, GRIP delivers head-turning looks for Scion owners without breaking the bank!

The Kit includes a 2-peice front bumper, sideskirts, 3-piece rear, and rear spoiler.

04-06 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK

Source: www.griptuning.com • 1-800-435-1197 customerservice@griptuning.com

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND – WWW.PASMAG.COM

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S S A P E G A T S K BAC ELS FAST WHE

fastwheels.ca

www. nkew Photos by

Text by Dave Pa

t lane Life in the fas et’s face it…successful racing is futile without loads of money. Sure you hear about the Cinderella teams that get a podium here and there on a shoe string budget, but their stories are rare and becoming more so. Big money teams typically clinch the victories, because they can afford the R&D, the best parts and the ringers behind the wheel that push the cars to victory. Now, with companies scaling back their sponsorship and the resources for racing programs drying up, they will have to become more innovative or find ways of working miracles.

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Fastco Motorsports didn’t skimp on the race shop either. Last year when they added 35,000 sq. ft. to the warehouse they put 5000 sq. ft. aside for a state of the art race shop. The shop boasts a new 3 axis CNC machine and a Faro arm.

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As a young man, Glenn Chaplin liked cars.

One weekend in 1966, a buddy asked him if he would work as a pit marshal at Le Circuit for the weekend - the new racetrack north of Montreal. That weekend happened to be the inaugural race of the Canadian-American Challenge Cup series. At the time, “Can-Am” cars were the fastest things on the planet.

These were purposely built sports racers weighing 1200 lbs, and were powered by 7 liter, V-8 engines making 700+ horsepower.

“These cars would do 190 miles an hour down the back straight and literally shook the ground as they went past”. By Sunday night Glenn was “hooked” and wanted to go racing.

The problem however, was money. “I realized pretty quick that the only way I was going to go racing was to start my own business,” Glenn states. “Owning your own business is one of the few ways to make the time and money required”. So with that in mind, he developed a business plan and in August 1970, he opened Auto Motion Speed Shop, and started selling speed equipment from the basement of his parent’s house.

In April 1972, with $1100.00 in inventory, he quit his day job and opened a 1500 sq. ft. store in Cartierville, a suburb of Montreal. “My entire wheel inventory consisted of two used

chrome reverse wheels and 100 empty wheel boxes that my supplier had given me. I needed to fill the store. The boxes cost me nothing and made the store look full”.

By 1975, in his mid twenties, he was finally racing a Datsun 510 in the Quebec Production Car Championship. Within two years however, he had to give up his passion for going fast.

“I was sleeping in a tent next to the race car with my wife and infant son,” the 60 year old admits. “Needless to say, the wife was not too pleased with my pursuit of speed and convinced me to give it up in favor of buying curtains and furniture! I always planned however to get back into racing - someday”.

As the years past, the kids grew up and the mortgage went down. As for the business there were some good years and some lean ones.

Glenn sold Auto Motion in 1980 then bought it back in 1982 when the new owner went under.

He changed the name to Lazer Auto and opened 3 more locations over the years. During the 1990 recession, business tanked and he

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND – WWW.PASMAG.COM

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was forced to re-organize and sold his one remaining store the following year. “Guys weren’t buying car accessories, they were handing the keys to the bank because they couldn’t make their payments”.

With the recession behind him, he incorporated Fastco in 1990 and set out to import, and later manufacture alloy wheels. In 2002, he entered the tire business when he inked a deal with Falken Tire and became their first distributor in Canada.

Over the years, Glenn managed to secure contracts with wheel and tire shops, buying groups and OEM customers that helped expand his operations and product lines. As his sons grew up they joined the business and the hard work finally paid off.

Although he had all kinds of achievements under his belt, Glenn still yearned to get back to racing. By 2007, a full 30 years after he called it quits, he was planning to get behind the wheel of a Super Touring car and compete in the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC). His son Lee, now 29 would be his

When talking to Glenn it doesn’t take long for his philosophy to come through; “My business is driven by the same two principles that apply to racing. I constantly improve my products and services and I do everything at 110%”. And that’s not just talk. He is maniacal when it comes to organization and cleanliness. All pallets in the warehouse are plastic to eliminate dust and wood chips. The warehouse and race shop floors are swept daily and washed weekly with a Zamboni! You could eat off them. During the winter months when business is slow, the staff actually wash and vacuum the warehouse racking to keep them dust free. Every office wall has a motivational poster on it and even the office files are color-coded for better organization.

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teammate in a second car, and his other son Bob, now 32 would assist in promotions and logistics for the new team. It wasn’t until Chaplin stumbled across an incredible deal while shopping for racecars that this became possible with the purchase of three matching Hyundai Tiburons. Originally built for Hyundai Canada by Key Motorsports, these cars were ideal for the Canadian Touring Car Series.

These were full competition cars based on the 2003 Tiburon chassis and had countless hours and dollars spent on them. The vendor had not raced them the previous year and Chaplin was able to pick them up at a good price. Glenn then worked with Hyundai Canada to update the vehicles to 2008 specs. They ran most of the last year with the cars but had teething problems due to a lack of time, parts, equipment and crew.

For 2009 however, the team has made a serious effort to correct these issues. Over the winter they hired Martin Cote to be the team’s full time crew chief. Martin has over a dozen years of racing background working with the Jim Russell Driving School, as well as both Porsche and Ferrari teams including a stint in the European Ferrari Challenge series.

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Martin got right down to business. He completely disassembled the cars and rebuilt them from scratch. He had the motors redone and increased their output to 300+hp. He also upgraded and modified the 6 speed trannies and installed ultra close ratio gears to take advantage of the extra horsepower.

The cars were then lightened by installing carbon fiber body panels. A host of other changes were made including the addition of in-car cameras, new brakes, fuel cells, seats, front-end splitters and all new electrics and data acquisition equipment, The wheels on the racecars are of course Fast Wheels. In fact, Fastco made a wheel specifically for their racecar program. The model FC01 is a 17”x 8” forged alloy wheel and was made using flow form technology. This process allowed them to make an exceptionally strong wheel that was also extremely light. Their 17” x 8” wheels weighs in at 16.6 lbs.

Fastco is also in the process of developing a 17”x 9”

wheel, which will weigh 17.8 lbs.

One of the most important elements of these cars are their appearance. Although Glenn is sure the cars will be competitive this season, it’s also important that they look good. “We’re in the alloy wheel business, we’re selling sizzle. If I were down to my last $1000.00, I’d probably spend the money on touching up the paint rather than buying parts to make the car go faster”.

Chaplin states that although his son is trying to become the next Canadian Touring Car champion, his mission is to promote the Fast Wheel brand and have a good time doing it. Other members of the team include Steve Pender who wrenches #74 and Ray Bisson who handles #75. Maxime Fortin and Rick Gravel round out the crew. “I wanted to make this happen my whole life,” admits Chaplin. “Finally, with the help of my sons and Fastco it has. It just took me 30 years.”

www.fastwheels.ca

24/11/09 11:22 AM

S S A P E G A T S BACustKoms JGYC nkew // Photos

Text By Dave Pa

by www.jgy.cc

hen it comes to performance parts and service for your Nissan there are loads of options. A quick search yields sites like: Nissan Stuff.com, SentraStuff. com, SilviaStuff.com, SE-RStuff.com, SE-Rparts. com, G20Stuff.com, G20parts.com and lastly 240SXStuff.com. What many enthusiasts may not know is that all of these operations are owned by the same company – JGYCustoms.

Based in rural Atkins, VA, JGYCustoms has grown from a simple passion for cars into a full service tuning and fabrication shop. Back in the day, owner Jason Garrett Young had a friend with a B12 Nissan Sentra, which they spent many hours under the hood during his teen years. Young got further enchanted by the Nissan Sentra when he watched the movie “Boyz in da Hood” and there was a scene with a jade green Sentra sporting a crazy body kit. He picked up a 1992 Sentra XE and was hooked on all things Nissan from there on in.

It was this passion that led him to open JGYCustoms and specialize in the more modest everyday Nissans. At JGYCustoms you will find a much more broad range of Nissan knowledge and parts than just the typical 240 and 300ZX specific shops. However, one of JGYCustoms’ strengths is their motor swaps, loads of SR20s and their ability to shoe-horn an RB into anything.

Whether it is a fox body Mustang or a 3-series BMW…if it’s rear wheel drive, JGY will find a way to power it with either an RB25 or RB26.

The JGYCustoms facility is impressive and occupies more land and floor space than many famous tuning shops in out in California With 7,500sq. ft. of interior space, the property houses several acres and at every turn there are loads of performance parts, cars, engines and general cool stuff to look at. In the parking lot we found all kinds of trick cars: Skylines, 300s, 240s and swapped Sentras in addition to their car hauler pulled by a massive Chevy 3500 dually. Upon stepping into the lobby, you know that JGYCustoms is going to have plenty of eye candy and loads of projects to stare at in awe. The lobby is filled with trophies, plaques and

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framed magazine articles of years past. They have several performance parts on display and typically a built motor or two on a stand to show customers what they are all about. Step past the french doors and you’re in the administration area where several computer terminals are located to keep the scheduling, shipping and engineering of new products in constant motion.

The crown jewel of the facility is a 700 sq. ft. clean room that is used to build all kinds of performance motors. Here we saw a built SR20 and an RB26DETT with a Brian Crower stroker kit and loads of Tomei goodies hanging off of it.

What you also may not know is that JGYCustoms isn’t one of those shops that makes customers wait for parts but has plenty of stock.

“We have like $5,000 in Koyo rads in stock alone,” laughs Young. “I’d say at any given time we have around $250,000 of inventory ready to roll for our clients.”

Then there are also a wealth of motorsets in stock. All kinds of ultra-clean low mileage: CA18s, SR20s, VK56s, VG30s and the mighty RBs from JDM Skylines are found lining the shelves. But many of these elaborate swaps require advanced fabrication and JGYCustoms always delivers on

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their motto: ‘JGY doesn’t claim to be able to build it, they will show you they BUILT it!’ To accomplish this they have a variety of benders, a mill, a lathe and a welding station.

Since JGYCustoms occupies two buildings connected by a tunnel, there are two distinct areas. In the second building there are a variety of shop and employee projects separate from their clientele.More used parts like seats, interiors and body panels are found on racks here. There is also a paint room with a fume hood for smaller projects. Also on site is the

Mustang Dyno, a load bearing testing dyno complete with cooling and exhaust fan to tune their monster creations.

Beyond all the interesting customer cars and insane shop car projects, there are a few rarities that have yet to see the road. We spotted two ‘67 Fairlady Zs and the remnants of a dune buggy powered by an SR20DET! Whether you’re looking to order parts online, need a simple swap or an RB-powered anything, JGYCustoms is the place to start! Hit them up at www.jgy.cc for all your Nissan needs.

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STEERING WHEELS BUYERS GUIDE

Text by Mark Pereira

NARDI DEEP CORN STEERING WHEEL

PERSONAL NEO GRINTA WHEEL

SHUTT SR STEERING WHEEL

www.nardicanada.com

www.nardicanada.com

www.shuttusa.com

The Deep Corn Line from Nardi is still one of the most demanded by lovers of race cars who appreciate elegance of its design and the comfort of the secure grip. It comes in sizes from 330mm or 350mm, either in black perforated leather or suede leather with black spokes and red thread. For an improved driving feel and superior grip, this wheel from Nardi is sure to impress.

Having a Neo Grinta wheel from Personal is like holding victory in your hands. Choose from 330mm or 350mm sizes and red or black suede or black leather. For superior grip and improved steering feel, Personal offers this and a huge lineup of racing wheels for a variety of applications.

SPARCO EVO

MOMO DRIFTING 33 WHEEL

www.sparcousa.com www.jrponline.com

www.momousa.com

Sparco steering wheels continue to be the most popular steering wheels on the market year after year because their innovative designs represent the best in style and performance.

Sparco steering wheels, unlike many models from other leading manufacturers, can be found in a wide range of sizes to fit your vehicle or application. This selection allows you to find the wheel that fits your specific needs, whether you are driving your SUV on country roads or handling your Civic on the track.

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SHUTT SR steering wheels are designed and manufactured using the highest quality materials. Installing a Shutt steering wheel is relatively easy and will require a car specific adapter hub, now easily offered

by Shutt USA. Aftermarket steering wheels can change the feel of the whole car and bring a beautiful finishing touch to the interior. A quick release can also be used to extend the wheel towards the driver (required in some cases) and when you remove your steering wheel can add another level of security to your vehicle.

Celebrating Momo Drifting’s success, the Drifting 33 has arrived. The new model, joining the best selling Drifting 350mm, has a reduced 330mm diameter for a more precise steering response and better feel. Drifting 33 is covered in genuine leather and includes red or blue leather inserts at the top of the rim in order to aid the driver’s steering control during spirited use. Its design is completed by an embroidered Drifting logo on the rim and a glossy, color-coordinated central button. MOMO Drifting 33 steering wheels are available in either red or blue.

DUB DESIGN INDUSTRIES ULTIEM STEERING WHEEL

VERTEX 10 STAR STEERING WHEEL

www.dubdesignindustries.com

www.vertex-usa.com

Dub Design Industries (DDI) is raising the bar on aftermarket steering wheels. The new Ultiem Steering Wheel line looks more OEM with a beefier horn unit and billet aluminum frame with a solid aluminum flat bottom. It’s a sporty yet elegant design that raises eyebrows by not following the same path as aftermarket steering wheels tend to do.

The steering wheel comes in the popular 330mm size with a 90mm deep dish for better control during spirited driving. The Italian Leather with Vertex embroidery accents the steering wheel with horn button included. The steering wheel is available in red or blue.

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SHIFT KNOBS & PEDALS BUYERS GUIDE

SHUTT - RACING SHIFT KNOB

Buddy Club Racing Spec Shift Knobs

S-MAX - PRO SHIFT KNOB

www.shuttauto.com

www.buddyclub.com

www.speedmaxperformance.com

Top performance race inspired design.

All aluminum 47mm spherical shape and texture projected to enable optimal grip with great look and style.

All Buddy Club racing spec shift knobs are designed by Buddy Club’s No.1 race driver and feature a top area made of super nylon for good grip and heat resistance. The bottom section is constructed of T6 aluminum for precision and strength. Buddy Club drivers use them across the globe to win races.

Finding that correct gear in the heat of competition may pose a problem for the short shifters found in some vehicles out there.

The S-Max Pro Shift knob, counter-weighted knob actually aids in the momentum of shifting as the counterweight positively slams the gear into the gate. CNC-machined from 6061-T6 aluminum, the knob comes in two styles: one with a crown cap, one with a dome.

A direct fit for Honda, Acura, Nissan and more.

PASSWORD:JDM - BALANCED SHIFT KNOB www.passwordjdm.com Ergonomically designed and optimally balanced to 6.1oz, the PasswordJDM found 6.1oz to be the magic number for a shift knob on a FWD car. At 6.1oz, the PWJDM Balanced Shift Knob perfectly pairs with the shifter rod length of any B, D, H or K series. It’s so well designed, that you can feel it while you’re driving. Threaded to a metric 10x1.5, this shift knob will fit many other vehicles besides Hondas.

MOMO - SPHERE SERIES

OBX RACING - CARBON SERIES

www.momousa.com

www.obxracingsports.com Need to give your shifter some tuner tech flair for gettin’ your shift on? With a carbon fiber sleeve sandwiched between two anodized billet aluminum pieces, the OBX shift knob has racer attitude built right into it. Wrap your fingers around the sleek, performance inspired design of the OBX shift knob and you’ll be ready for some ninja-quick shifting action! Cool and functional, the carbon fiber and anodized aluminum shift knob will give your Vehicle’s interior the perfect, race-infused finishing touch.

From MOMO’s successful line of shift knobs, The Sphere is a high quality, comfortable and classic design available in a number of modern finishes and materials including perforated steel, black leather, wood or aluminum. For an improvement to any car’s interior and feel of accurate shifting, the MOMO Sphere shift knob is a great upgrade.

MOMO - GRAND PRIX PEDALS www.momousa.com MOMO Grand Prix Pedals are made from high quality billet aluminum with black or vividly bright colored rubber grip inserts to match your interior. MOMO racing pedals offer style and quality, featuring universal fit for all manual transmission equipped vehicles and also available for automatic transmission.

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RACING SEATS BUYERS GUIDE

Text by Mark Pereira

SPARCO EVO

TENZO R GT CARBON FIBER SEATS

PRO CAR SPORTSMAN PRO SERIES

www.sparcousa.com www.jrponline.com

www.tenzoracingsports.com

www.procarbyscat.com

Evolved from the Rev seat, the Sparco Evo was designed and developed in co-operation with the most prestigious Sparco drivers of the DTM and ITC Championships. Cushions and back can be customized in various colors and is also available in carbon fiber shell. Back and cushions can be removed to customize the back rest, height of the leg rest and the cushion padding.

Tenzo Racing Sports delivers the new GT-Spec carbon fiber seats. Key features include soft and supple leather, micro-adjustable seat recliner and a full carbon fiber base and back. Models are also available in contrast stitching (on black model), universal fitments, sliders sold separately.

Buddy Club Racing Bucket Seats

TECNOCRAFT DRY CARBON T1 RACING SEAT

www.buddyclub.com Racing Bucket seats are an important part of tuning, they provide the driver with better body support and protection. Buddy Club racing bucket seat has quality, safety and leading ergonomics built in.

They feature a Carbon or FRP frame with anti-skid fabric upholstery.

The P-1 Limited Edition carbon racing bucket seat weighs only 5kg, combined with excellent strength and comfort, it is the true choice of champions.

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Procar’s new seat is perfect for any style vehicle. Everything from a competition show car to track-driven race car. The all new Stealth sport seat recliner is your perfect solution, featuring a micro recliner mechanism that allows you to adjust the seat back to ensure your maximum comfort. It also offers a lever to allow the seat to move forward for retaining easy access to rear seat. Its all-steel frame is TIG-welded for strength with injection molded foam for maximum comfort and durability.

MOMO T-CLUB www.momousa.com

www.Tecnocraft.com A culmination of international racing seat design efforts have finally produced a seat worthy of the Tecnocraft marque. The Tecnocraft ‘T1’ Racing seat is the ultimate example of purpose-driven weight reduction – an industry standard 100% dry carbon seat made to adapt to multiple automotive makes and models. While also retaining an aesthetically organic, muscular appearance, these rigid seats maintain excellent seatback comfort due to their spine-formed, ergonomic nature. An added pair of T1 seats to replace OEM seats a stock vehicle virtually guarantees 100+ lb. weight reduction.

MOMO T-Club racing seats are built with a tubular steel frame unit covered in fabric with lateral protection zones in leather and adjustable leg support cushions. Like the MOMO Start seat, the T-Club is available in various colors. The MOMO T-Club features adjustable leg support cushion, 5 seat belt openings, 4 lower fixing points (type Y) and weighs just 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg).

BRIDE - ZETA III TYPE-L

RECARO PRO RACER HANS

www.lot-usa.com

www.recarousa.com

Support, safety, comfort, durability, style are now available in Type-L for US-sized drivers. Rarely do you find all these qualities in a single race seat, which elevates the new BRIDE Zeta III Type-L to an unprecedented level above the competition.

Utilizing state of the art technology, these racing seats are comfortable for extended use, yet have the bolstering necessary to withstand the rigorous conditions of circuit racing. Equally noteworthy is a radical new sparkling silver metallic fiberglass finish, the first of its kind, which rounds out the total package. In other words, strap into a BRIDE Zeta III Type-L, and accept no compromise!

The Recaro Pro Racer HANS is the ultimate professional racing shell for the HANS restraint system. The seat is made out of glass fiber reinforced plastic GPR and is also available in Carbon-Kevlar fiber material (Pro Racer HANS SPA). The seat builds the optimum interplay between HANS system, harness, helmet and racing shell, in order for the HANS system to achieve its full potential.

Features include special belt slots, shock absorbing foam for increased safety, full ergonomic support in the lumbar zone, and well defined seat contours. All Recaro race shells are only FIA approved when used in conjunction with Recaro side mounts and the side mounts are hard mounted to the floor of the vehicle.

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GAUGES BUYERS GUIDE

Text by Mark Pereira

DEFI RACRE GAUGES

SUNPRO NEW SPORT ST GAUGES

www.tein.com

www.sunpro.com

DEFI Racer meters are available in blue, red, and white illumination. Designed specifically for the North American market, these meters feature readout in standard units. The semi-black face dial makes the meter face invisible until turned on, and features LED illumination for a crisp and vibrant color. DEFI Racer gauges utilize stepping motor technology, full 270 degree range movement, and an adjustable outer bezel. All meters are electrical type which allows for the sensors to be remote mounted. Offered in 52mm size, and come complete with meter, sensor, harness, bezel, and pod. DEFI Racer meters do not require the use of a DEFI link controller. Available in boost, temperature, pressure, EGT and voltage.

Sunpro, “The Performance Legend,” has introduced a line of Sport ST gauges to complement the look of today’s new-era muscle cars, sport compacts and street-savvy trucks. Sport ST performance meters feature vibration-proof, air-core, electronic driver or bourdon tube meter movement to ensure the pointer responds rapidly to system changes for a precise reading while their contemporary styling reflects the design characteristics of today’s most popular modified applications. “All gauges feature an attractive black dial face and illuminated pointer for easy viewing as well as through-the-dial lighting for enhanced night visibility.

AUTO-TECH INTERIORS (ATI) GAUGE MOUNTS

IGNITED - MTR GAUGES

www.autotechinteriors.com ATI (Auto-Tech Interiors) continues to expand its innovative product line of gauge mounting solutions. Designed to make for the easiest installation possible, ATI produces the highest quality products while providing clean and functional products for the aftermarket. New applications include Nissan 370Z, Subaru WRX/STI, MazdaSpeed3/Mazda 3 and Mitsubishi Evo X. To learn more about ATI products, call (949) 241-5010. Dealer inquiries are welcome.

GLOWSHIFT ELITE 7-COLOR SERIES www.GlowShift.com // (888) GS-GAUGE The GlowShift Elite 7 Color Series is an exceptionally crafted product line packed with an array of outstanding and elite features. Each gauge in this series employs a Swiss precision stepper motor to drive a red LED illuminated needle. The driver can choose between 7 solid colors or 2 color cycling modes to backlight the black gauge face. Adjustable high and low warnings points can be programmed to trigger visual and audible driver alerts. A Peak Recall function allows the driver to review the highest recorded value on each gauge. The unique power connectors on the Elite series allows all models in the series to be daisy chained for easy installation.

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www.ignitedperformance.com Introducing the MTR Series performance gauges from Ignited Performance. Key features include a sleek “Black-Out” face, precision dials, LED back lighting, and an opening ceremony every time you turn your ignition! Each MTR Series gauge comes with an aluminum mounting bracket/stand and the required sensor/sending unit (where applicable).

Gauges are available in 52mm and 60mm

AEM ANALOG EGT / BOOST GAUGES www.aempower.com AEM is proud to announce the release of its Analog EGT and Boost Gauges, the newest additions to its high-tech analog gauge line. AEM’s EGT and Boost gauges unite unsurpassed accuracy, speed and control with an easy to read, analog interface. The AEM analog gauges also offer a 0-5v analog output for use with data loggers and virtually any engine management system, such as the AEM EMS or FIC. The backlighting is user adjustable to 7 colors, allowing users to easily match the EGT and Boost gauge to most factory gauge clusters. Each gauge comes with interchangeable black / silver bezels and is available in black or white gauge faceplates.

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PROSPORT DIGITAL CLOCK GAUGE www.prosportgauges.com In addition to the many gauges offered by the experts at Prosport, this Blue LCD clock display is designed to upgrade your interior and flawlessly match with other performance gauges. This digital clock is totally blacked out when shut off, for a sleek tuner-inspired look. This 12 volt digital clock matches both Prosport Performance Series and Digital Series gauges. Only 1.25 inches deep, this unit is also available in amber color.

STRI RACING DSD & X-LINE SERIES www.stri-racing.com Available in two different series, the DSD series and X Line series from STRI Racing both provide precision, performance and durability for the hardcore enthusiast at a reasonable price. STRI’s DSD racing gauges offer all of the functions a winning driver requires. Controlled by an advanced microprocessor, the DSD gauges are the latest in technology. Using the highest quality components DSD gauges will keep tabs on your car with surgical precision.

Slamming sound demands slamming power – and sometimes that means mounting an auxiliary battery into an impossibly tight spot.

Because it’s non-spillable, the ODYSSEY® battery can be mounted in any position except upside down. And thanks to plates made of pure virgin lead, it has twice the overall power and three times the life of conventional batteries. Need Extreme power? Get THE EXTREME BATTERY. To locate a dealer, visit www.odysseybattery.com.

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STACK PRO-CONTROL STEPPER MOTOR ANALOG GAUGES www.stackinc.com Stack’s Pro-Control range of the already popular 52mm Professional Stepper Motor Analogue Gauges bring total control and driver awareness of critical engine functions. Key hardware features in the Pro-Control series include a larger viewable area for improved visibility, pre-made wire loom for ease of installation, and solidstate sensors to ensure unrivaled accuracy.

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exterior BUYERS GUIDE

Text by Mark Pereira

AIT BMagic Carbon fiber add-on kit for Mitsubishi Evo X

SEIBON Carbon Aero Kit – Nissan 350Z

www.aitracing.com

www.seiboncarbon.com www.andysautosport.com // (800) 419-1152

The AIT BMagic carbon fiber add-on kit is designed for the popular Mitsubishi EVO X. AIT is among the first choice brands for many elite show car builders to create a show stopping car.

This EVO X kit is just one of many great products offered by AIT. As a leading designer and distributor of FRP composite body kits, stylish fenders, spoilers and carbon fiber hoods, AIT offers applications to cover every vehicle from show cars to race ready. AIT Racing products are well renowned for quality and fitment in the market.

The Seibon TT-Style Carbon Fiber 4-piece lip kit is constructed of durable, exotic and lightweight carbon fiber material. Known for impeccable fit and finish, Seibon carbon fiber products are designed and constructed to be functional, aerodynamic and look hotter than Megan Fox in your bedroom! Seibon products are at the forefront of carbon fiber technology, using high modulus carbon weaves that are both lightweight and strong. Their carbon products utilize a glossy clear coat that is UV-protective and will help protect from discoloration over time.

Stillen Front Lip Spoiler

Stillen G37 urethane body kit

www.stillen.com // (866) 886-9784

www.stillen.com // (866) 886-9784

Utilizing Steve Millen’s expansive racing heritage, Stillen is proud to release functional high quality urethane front lip spoiler for the Nissan GT-R R35. The Stillen Urethane Lip Spoiler adds 2 inches of length to the OEM fascia, and installs directly onto the vehicle over the factory piece. This lip spoiler is designed to hold additional air onto the nose, with flares on the side corners producing a canard effect for extra control. Constructed out of high-quality polyurethane, this front spoiler is nearly indestructible and carries a limited lifetime warranty.

This means it can stand up to the hazards of the race track or the drive around town.

The Infiniti G37 Coupe continues to collect awards and capture the attention of the media and car enthusiasts alike. STILLEN further improves the appearance with our urethane body kit. Designed and crafted at STILLEN’s in-house studio. The urethane lip spoiler, side skirts and rear valance add a distinctive, customized edge to the already striking G37 Coupe.

When modified with these simple to install pieces the G37 takes on a more purposeful, agressive appearance. The look, fit, feel, and finish are factory quality, thanks to STILLEN’s rigid production standards and the direct molding process used to create all of our urethane components. As with all urethane components, the G37 parts come with a limited lifetime warranty against cracking or breaking under normal use.

APR GTR35 Widebody – G35 Coupe

GReddy Gracer Front Spoilers

www.aprperformance.com

www.greddy.com

The APR GTR35 Widebody Aerodynamic Kit for the Infiniti G35 Coupe has redefined tuning for the executive level sports touring coupe. Offering an increase of +45mm on the front and +50mm on the rear of each side of the car, the APR GTR35 Widebody Aerodynamic Kit provides the G35 Coupe a whole new level of high speed traction. To enhance stability, the APR GTR35 Widebody Aerodynamic Kit includes a carbon fiber front wind splitter that is designed as a front undertray.

Front spoilers are the first point to receive airflow resistance; the design of the front spoiler determines the final handling of a vehicle. GReddy Gracer front spoilers are designed to reduce airflow going beneath the vehicle and also direct air to critical areas such as the radiator and intercooler. These high quality urethane products are available for a number of popular applications including Mitsibishi EVO X and Subaru WRX/STI.

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Password:JDM Dry Carbon Fiber Hood www.passwordjdm.com Introducing the world’s first true dry carbon fiber Nissan GT-R hood developed by Password:JDM. Its no secret, lighter cars do go faster and by reducing the weight up from top, it also lowers your car’s center of gravity, making it corner that much better. This dry carbon hood retains the original shape but reduced the overall weight by utilizing a state of the art manufacturing process and race quality dry carbon fiber to scale in under 15lbs. Password:JDM is the first to market a weight reduction initiative for the all new Nissan GT-R and this hood is the first item of many product release to achieve that goal.

Password:JDM Dry Carbon Fiber Hood www.passwordjdm.com Introducing the world’s first true dry carbon fiber Nissan GT-R hood developed by Password:JDM. Its no secret, lighter cars do go faster and by reducing the weight up from top, it also lowers your car’s center of gravity, making it corner that much better.

This dry carbon hood retains the original shape but reduced the overall weight by utilizing a state of the art manufacturing process and race quality dry carbon fiber to scale in under 15lbs.

Password:JDM is the first to market a weight reduction initiative for the all new Nissan GT-R and this hood is the first item of many product release to achieve that goal.

MR. Bodykit - Mustang Headlight Splitters www.mrbodykit.com These custom headlight splitters from Mr. Bodykit are manufactured in flexible high pressure injected urethane and require simple prepping, priming and paint or you can order them from Mr. Bodykit pre-painted to factory match OEM mustang colors for a quick and flawless install. Mr. Bodykit offers an extensive line of aero accessories and exterior upgrades for a number of popular vehicles and specializes in parts for all generation Mustangs.

Chargespeed – Z33 Super GT style widebody www.chargespeed.com Since its establishment in 1986 in the city of Osaka, Charge Speed has been Japan’s top quality manufacturer of body kits, performance parts, and other car accessories. The Charge Speed Super GT style widebody is made for the Fairlady Z / 350Z (Z33) chassis. The widebody kit includes the following parts: Long nose (110mm longer) type front bumper, side skirts, rear bumper, Super GT style wide blister front fender (20mm wider on each side), Super GT style wide rear blister fenders (25mm wider on each side).

WWW.PASMAG.COM – PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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exterior BUYERS GUIDE

ABS Dynamics - Nissan Body Kit

Ford Mustang Hot Wheels Complete Body Kit

www.absdynamics.com

www.extremedimensions.com // (888) 611-AERO

ABS Dynamics introduces a new product designed for all 95-96 Nissan 240SX. The Kouki full drift body kit is an excellent upgrade with a top quality finish to enhance the look and aerodynamics of any 240SX. Hand made using only the highest quality of fiberglass, this kit will stand up against the punishment of both street and track use. ABS Dynamics offers a full product application line for Nissan 240SX and 350Z models.

Extreme Dimensions is proud to announce a new exclusive Hot Wheels Complete 12-Piece Body Kit 2010 and up Ford Mustang. This complete kit is available in Duraflex and consists of the Hot Wheels Front Bumper, Hot Wheels Rear Bumper, Hot Wheels Side Skirts, Hot Wheels Hood, Hot Wheels Trunk, Hot Wheels Fenders, Hot Wheels Wing, Hot Wheels Roof Wing, and Hot Wheels Window Scoops. This complete kit was engineered for excellent fitment, finish, and durability. To ensure authenticity of this product, please be sure to purchase this product from Extreme Dimensions or an authorized dealer.

Tecnocraft Dry Carbon Fiber Glass Engine Hatch www.tecnocraft.com One of the most functional and extremely noticeable Lamborghini upgrades weighs in at just under 10lbs without factory Lamborghini Gallardo glass. With weight reduction in mind, performing a dry carbon conversion of one of the heaviest and most intricate parts of the Gallardo was not an easy task, but rather, a mandatory one by Tecnocraft standards. If the gorgeous hand-built Gallardo V10 didn’t catch your attention enough, this upgrade guarantees increased spectatorship and even comes with the option of “burned edge” UV clearcoat.

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Hot Wheels Complete Body Kit – Nissan 370Z

Hot Wheels Complete Widebody Body Kit – Chevy Camaro

www.extremedimensions.com // (888) 611-AERO

www.extremedimensions.com // (888) 611-AERO

Extreme Dimensions is proud to announce a new exclusive Hot Wheels Complete 9-Piece Body Kit 2009-2010 Nissan 370Z. This complete kit is available in Duraflex and consists of the Hot Wheels Front Bumper, Hot Wheels Rear Bumper, Hot Wheels Side Skirts, Hot Wheels Hood, Hot Wheels Fenders, Hot Wheels Wing and Hot Wheels Roof Wing. This complete kit was engineered for excellent fitment, finish, and durability. To ensure authenticity of this product, please be sure to purchase this product from Extreme Dimensions or an authorized dealer.

The new exclusive Hot Wheels Complete 11-Piece Widebody Body Kit 2010+ Chevrolet Camaro is available from Extreme Dimensions. This complete kit is available in Duraflex and consists of the Hot Wheels Front Bumper, Hot Wheels Rear Bumper, Hot Wheels Side Skirts, Hot Wheels Hood, Hot Wheels Front Fenders, Hot Wheels Rear Fenders, Hot Wheels Wing, and Hot Wheels Roof Wing. This complete kit was engineered for excellent fitment, finish, and durability. To ensure authenticity of this product, please be sure to purchase this product from Extreme Dimensions or an authorized dealer.

Hot Wheels Complete Body Kit 9-Piece – Hyundai Genesis Coupe www.extremedimensions.com // (888) 611-AERO The new Hot Wheels Complete 9-Piece Body Kit 2010+ Hyundai Genesis Coupe is now available from Extreme Dimensions. This complete kit is available in Duraflex and consists of the Hot Wheels Front Bumper, Hot Wheels Rear Bumper, Hot Wheels Side Skirts, Hot Wheels Hood, Hot Wheels Fenders, Hot Wheels Wing, and Hot Wheels Roof Wing.

This complete kit was engineered for excellent fitment, finish, and durability. To ensure authenticity of this product, please be sure to purchase this product from Extreme Dimensions or an authorized dealer.

WWW.PASMAG.COM – PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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exterior BUYERS GUIDE Chaser Aerodynamics wide body kit www.aerokits.net // (866)360-KITS Chaser Aerodynamics offers a large selection of carbon fiber composite auto body parts. Shown above is a complete carbon fiber wide body kit for the Nissan 350Z, it includes 4 over fenders, full replacement front and rear bumpers, and side skirts. All of Chaser Aerodynamics, LLC’s carbon fiber wide body kits are made using 3K 2x2 twill carbon fiber fabric with a UV resistant gel coat. Other carbon fiber wide body kits are available for the NSX, RX7, Supra, S2000 and 240SX.

AACstyle Illuminated LED Wing www.AACstyle.com // (800) 407-5776

Grip Tuning Mazda Body Kit www.griptuning.com Mazda’s hot hatch, the Mazda3 has been a huge success and Grip Tuning has introduced a wallet friendly 7-piece body kit for the 5-door. Designed for ‘04-‘06 hatchback models, the kit includes everything tuners need to amp up the look of their Mazda. The kit includes a 2-peice front bumper, sideskirts, 2-peice rear, and hatch wing with vortex generators. Built from durable ABS plastic, the kit is ready to install

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The AACstyle Illuminated LED Wing is a direct replacement for all Chrysler 300 and 300C models. There is no drilling or major wiring required. You simply remove the original badge, route the wires through the existing pinhole and connect it to your parking lights through a connection inside the trunk. This wing can also be used as a third brake light. Available colors include red, white, blue, green, orange and purple to match any vehicle theme. Each wing contains 30 High-Powered ORACLE high-flux LEDs. These wings are hand assembled at our facility in New Orleans, LA.

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Origin 350Z Urban Line Aero Kit www.origin-lab.com The latest design from Origin featuring ultra clean styling and durable construction.

Select either the full replacement or half front spoilers for those that deal with city life on a daily basis. All of Origin products are hand-laid fiberglass to ensure strength and flexibility for years to come. Enhance the look of your 350Z with unique styling from Japan.

Strut Grille Upgrade www.strutwear.com Strut has created a collection that complements the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro and the owner who drives it with pride. The entire collection features a primary and lower bumper grille with a jewelry-grade stainless steel which surrounds diamond woven mesh. Both feature the distinctive Strut shield. An additional Strut shield is included for the rear of the vehicle.

BRS Autodesign Second Gen xB widebody kit www.brs-autodesign.com // (310) 594-2369 Check out the sickest Scion xB wide body kit on the market. The new Scion xB is the perfect platform to release this durable high quality body kit. BRS Autodesign produces its own line of designer body kits and accessories. BRS Autodesign delivers custom designed body kits to customers who wanted their cars to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Whether it is to win awards or just roll in style, BRS designs deliver custom body work that is guaranteed to turn heads.

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VIS Racing Titanium Carbon Fiber hoods www.visracing.com VIS Racing is proud to offer the new Titanium Carbon Fiber hoods. These hoods are made with a new innovative material that has not been available in the United States until now: the all new Titanium Carbon Fiber Weave. Titanium Carbon Fiber Weave differs from the regular black carbon fiber weave in that it is interwoven with the same traditional, grade-A carbon fiber threads with a new, high sheen, reflective Silver Kevlar threads. When viewed at a normal viewing angle or in the shade, the Titanium Carbon Fiber hood takes on a gun-metal hue, but at the right angle under the sun, it takes on a glittery, silver color that simply dazzles your eyes. It is a visual spectacle that you have to see to believe it. As with the traditional black carbon fiber hoods, these hoods are made with the same quality construction that is associated with VIS carbon fiber hoods: UV-coating, durable skeleton and frame, and clean sub-structure. Many applications to choose from, please call for pricing and availability.

Make sure when purchasing a VIS hood, look for the ViS authenticity badge. Hood pins are required. All VIS hoods are for off-road use only.

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Tracy

Nova Text by Mark Pereira raphy) w.myspace.com/slopezphotog Photos by Stanley Lopez (ww

for a while f you’ve been reading PAS meet some to get now, you’ve noticed we the world. in dels mo ort of the hottest imp girl’ every ‘it new the you g brin Our endless quest to eye, sure the than meets issue involves much more ves and cur r kille le, y smi they have to possess a sex cover our ng turi cap but look super good in a bikini, we e cas this in and rs hou shot can literally take e few days just to spend tim wished it would’ve taken a bad City Sin This a. y Nov with the adorable Miss Trac as she’s one model we sim girl certainly tops our list, tats, car Her love for fast ply couldn’t get enough of. down on the dance floor ting get and s me toos, videoga come true… oh yeah make her every guy’s dream l cutie and confessed tota a did we mention she’s also up? Let’s see if this clean she actually enjoys cleaning during our interview. freak gets down and dirty

I

from?

Where are you originally and yes I currently live ada Nev as, Veg I am from Las there now. modeling for?

How long have you been rs. yea I’d say between 4 and 5 rt in modeling?

How did you get your sta and acting classes when ng deli mo Well, I took some off from there.

I was 18 and it sort of took ng a model?

What’s the best part of bei of creative and lot a Meeting and working with eling! trav the love also I talented people.

108

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s my eyes n io t n e m h it w d e k Everyone I’ve wor ry photogenic (smiles)” and tells me I’m ve

k, what When it comes to your loo ngths? stre r you are say you would have to ld wou del My strengths as a mo with ked wor I’ve ne ryo Eve s. be my eye me I’m very tells and s eye my ns ntio me photogenic (smiles). words.

Describe yourself in three ind. a-k -ofone sy, Lovable, clum so far?

Any modeling highlights , FHM Magaboy Play in d ure feat n bee I’ve on this rse cou of zine, The Source and I’ve also ine! gaz Ma PAS of er issue’s cov ood lyw Hol , been a UWC Ring Card Girl ed 2 Juic the in d ure feat Poker Model and to come! re mo lly efu hop and e gam video y. Any Wow, you’ve been very bus dislikes about modeling? es, but I really It can be very hectic at tim

THE ESSENTIALS

h great people like being able to meet suc for work! If ld wor the und aro and travel e to be not hav I had to pick a dislike, it’d ). ghs (lau p! getting enough slee

uty tips?

Do you have any secret bea food and sea of lots eat I ! lthy Eating hea k lots of drin mainly Asian cuisine. I also ay. green tea everyd How do you keep in shape? ce until When I go out, I always dan I sweat! t kiss?

Do you remember your firs my first ber em rem lly Umm…I don’t rea (laughs). at gre t tha n’t was it ss kiss… gue desire?

What is your top unfulfilled el all around trav to ted wan ays alw I’ve Asia. Mainly Japan!

/23/32 rpio Measurements: 34C Sign of the Zodiac: Sco cers, sense dan d Goo ns: n-o Tur Birth date: November 9th NV s, lish Hometown: Las Vega Nationality: Filipino / Eng le Pet Peeves: Snoring Turn-offs: Negative peop os tatto , cars fast or, hum of

WWW.PASMAG.COM – PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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Tracy

Nova

Do you have any pets? she Yes, I have a Chihuahua. But name Her all! at one like act doesn’t ss in pine hap is Keiko which means ss! pine hap me gs brin She Japanese.

What do you do for fun? working, When I’m not traveling and nds, play frie e I just kickback with som favorite my on up h catc video games, the Asian to go e, anim and ws sho tv ot pool, cookKaraoke bars, bowling, sho to clean! like I not, or it eve beli ing, and Room service anyone? st?

e?

Have you ever posed nud make y The . boy Play for e, Yes I hav the models you feel comfortable and all are so nice! ke What can a guy say to ma lt? me you nice Anything sweet…whispering et! swe ble dou is ear things in my

What frightens you the mo Bugs! Ewwwww.

eone?

How do you seduce som e! star y sex my With

session?

Do you have a prized pos it! out with lost be I’d My phone!

Any upcoming projects? er.com. You I working for HollywoodPok poker play and site web can go to the have your ter bet you But ! me inst aga actually game face on, because I’m d! really goo

e of food?

What is your favorite typ namese, Viet , ean Kor se, ane Jap hi, Sus seafood. and e nes Filipino, authentic Chi What is your dream car? uding the I have a few dream cars incl and Nissan 350Z, 240SX (Silvia), I’m w, kno I w, kno I Skyline GT-R. t wha … san Nis with ed ess obs ). can I say (smiles Do you have a favorite quote or saying?

“Perfectionism is the highest order of self-abuse.”

110

’ve ever What’s the best prank you e? played on someon over the toilet Putting clear plastic wrap s, goe e seat... so when someon r! ove it splashes all

dels Any advice to aspiring mo out there? , always be Just keep your head up high positive and be yourself! rds?

Any shout outs or last wo ance Auto form Per Thank you everyone at Randi lly ecia esp e, azin and Sound Mag my fans, all and ez Lop nley Sta tia, Ben love and friends, and family for all the h!

Mua s! guy you love I support.

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND – WWW.PASMAG.COM

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Tracy Nova FRIDAY

January 2010

01 SATURDAY 02 SUNDAY 03 MONDAY 0 4 TUESDAY 0 5 WEDNESDAY 06 THURSDAY

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y Lopez (www.m

22 SATURDAY 23

Photos by Stanle

FRIDAY

yspace.com/slop ezphotography)

SUNDAY

CANDY

White with lip, Red wit two-stepped machine lip, Black wh two-stepped machin e machine lip,ith two-stepped machine lip Gold with two-stepp two-stepped, Virtual Chrome wit ed h 15x7.5 et 30, machine lip.

16x7 112

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AD

INDEX AIT Racing . ............................................106

MECA .......................................................... 55

American Bass .......................................49

Mishimoto / Motovicity .....................85

Auto Page ................................................. 45

Mobile Technical Training ..................47

BC Racing .................................................69

Odyssey Batteries .............................. 101

Brand X .......................................................57

OBX Racing .............................................115

Braketron .................................................. 11

Oxygen Audio ..........................................43

Chaser Aerodynamics . .....................105

PasswordJDM ......................................103

Direct Auto Imports .............................10

Performance World Car Show . ....... 95

EncryptR .................................................115

Precision Power .....................................31

Exedy .............................................................3

Powerbass . .............................................39

Fidanza .......................................................81

Racing Beat ............................................. 87

FLI Audio ....................................................41

Rent n Roll .................................................77

Grip Tuning .............................................104

Sassy Assy Clothing ...........................111

HKS / JRP . ....................................................5

Scosche .......................................................9

HKS / Motovicity ......................................2

Sony .......................................................... 116

Horesepower Freaks .............................. 7

Speed Depot . ...........................................51

Import Show-Off ...................................58

Speedtech Racing ................................65

INJEN / Motovicity . ...............................27

Sprint Booster / JRP ...............................4

Installer Institute . ............................... 17

Stinger ........................................................13

JBL ............................................................... 53

Stoner ........................................................ 92

JGY Customs ..........................................113

Sun Automobile .....................................84

JL Audio . .................................................... 25

Takeda ........................................................91

JVC ..............................................................114

Traklite / Wheel Fire . ...........................89

Kinetik ............................................... 56, 99

Turbo Kits ..................................................73

Kumho Tires ...............................................2

Turbosmart . ............................................ 76

Kyowa Wheels / Wheel Fire ...............71

Turn In Concepts .........................79, 101

Lamin-X ......................................................93

Universal Technical Institute . ........63

Lucas Oil . ...................................................37

UP Rev Engine Management .............72

Maxxsonics / Crunch .......................... 35

Weapon-R ..................................................19

McGard ...................................................... 23

XXR Wheels / Wheel Fire .................... 33

VISIT US

O NLINE AT PASMAG.COM Ad Index 11.10.indd 1

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JVC 11.10.pdf 1 11/16/2009 3:24:20 PM

Vehicle with JVC headunit.

HANDS-FREE. STRESS-FREE. Vehicle without JVC headunit.

Vehicle without JVC headunit.

JVC Bluetooth Enabled Headunits With Bluetooth features like an external echo-cancelling microphone, voice-dialing, phonebook access profile and wireless streaming audio, along with features such as variable colour illumination, dual USB ports, 2-way iPod and iPhone control, DVD playback and Navigation with text-to-speech, you'll be happy you decided to go with a JVC headunit. JVC Bluetooth enabled models let you keep your eyes on the road, and since it's the law in many places, keep your money in your wallet. Oh yeah...and it might just help save your life.

iPod is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. The Bluetooth work mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by JVC is under license.

Not all headunit models compatible with all iPod and iPhone models. Please refer to manual, or contact authorized retailer for specific iPod compatibility.

www.jvc.ca

mobile.jvc.com

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ODUCTS FOR R P E C N A M R O F R E P HIGH

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LONG TUBE ADERS HE • True bolt-on long tube

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HONDA MEKIT SUB-FRAENT

REINFORCEM • Eliminates tearing of subframe when running larger than stock sway bars • Includes 24mm sway bar for improved road handling • Applications for Civic, Integra, RSX • Optional 32mm sway bar for race applications is also available • Optional anodized colors of black, blue, red, and full polished

EVO FRONT LICAL HE DIFFERENTIAL

• Superior operation and maintenance free design to that of the OEM differential.

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