PASMAG - 112 - Apr/May

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Performance Auto & Sound

Event

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Tokyo Auto Salon 2013 CES 2013

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Pasion

Buyers Guides

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Car Care

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Oil & Lubrication OEM Integration

Display Until 05/27/13 R10760 PM40069655

Volume 15 Issue 01

Apr / May 2013 - $5.99

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2012 Formula DRift Champion Daigo Saito's Lexus SC430 3/5/2013 7:02:32 PM

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T F I DR P I R G TREET

R 6 PAT CTYOYOTA AEC8OMPETE HSD AT CYR P WATCHND DMCC IN D1 A

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CHKE S KUTASRX-7 JAMEM D Z A ITED HSD UNLIM SCS 2012 CCHAMPION RWD

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MOST POPULA R

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The HSD HR coilover is exactly what the performance tuning scene has been crying out for. The HR series coilovers offer the most features and the best quality for under $1350. HSD Coilovers use a Monotube damper design favoured by high end suspension companies and each kit is TUV approved.

This level of quality and performance is usually found on much more expensive suspension products.

HIGH QUALITY MONOTUBE DAMPERS Cheaper aftermarket dampers use a twin-tube design with low pressure gas whereas our Monotube damper design uses large diameter pistons and a much higher gas pressure to better stabilise the oil within, even under extreme and prolonged use.

NEW APPLICATIONS FALL/WINTER 2012 Honda Civic 2012+ Nissan GT-R R35 Chevy Cruze Mazda 2 Mazda 3 2010+

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HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT

FULLY ADJUSTABLE DAMPING

PILLOW BALL TOP MOUNTS

A very wide range of height adjustment is possible without affecting the spring pre-load or the damper stroke length. So whether you want sporty or totally slammed, you still get the full performance of the damper.

Our 16 Stage damping adjustment allows quick, easy and accurate control of the damping so you can tune it to suit your style and setup.

Set to soft for your daily drive, then quickly switch to hard for track days or competition use.

Our coilovers come with Anodised Aluminium top mounts with integrated heavy duty noise-free pillowball bearings all round. A wide range of camber adjustment is included on front strut models.

FOR YOUR LOCAL AUTHORIZED HSD DEALER PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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APRIL 2013

Contents Essentials

16 Sound Advice 18 12volt Insider: The Lifestyle of Mobile Electronics & Beyond

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Tuner Battlegrounds Competitors

104 JDM Special:

46 [ Cover Car ]

Street Brawler 2013 Scion FR-S

Features

Far East Tuners Unite

JDM SPECIAL

105 Power Struggle: American

Baseball's Godzilla Complex

144 Konig Wheels Calendar

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Electrified: 2013 Lexus CT200h

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» Performance Auto & Sound

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APRIL 2013

Contents test reports

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78

84

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Powerbass XL-WB8 Subwoofer System

Audiopipe TA-FS120 12-in.

Subwoofer

Illusion Audio Carbon C12 Slim 12-in. Subwoofer

JVC KW-AV70BT Multimedia Player

Power Page

64 Meguiar's DA Power System Gear & Guides

36 Oil & Lubrication

20 Events

Consumer Electronics Show 2013

Keep your engine running smooth

58 Car Care Detailing Products Get that show-winning shine

66 OEM Integration Complete hands-free functionality

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Driver Profile: DMCC 2012 Rookie of the Year

56

Import face-off 2012 Champions

106

Tokyo Auto Salon 2013

» Performance Auto & Sound

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Performance Auto & Sound Magazine (ISSN # 1710-1573) is published 10 times a year by Performance Auto & Sound Inc. 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada Subscription Rates: (1 year) Canada and USA $14.99 (2 years) Canada and USA $23.99 (3 years) Canada and USA $29.99 Toll Free: 1 (888) 564-SUBS (7827) Email: subs@pasmag.com

GROUP PUBLISHER & CEO Tim Rutledge PUBLISHERS Blake Breslin & Perry Breslin FOUNDER & SR. VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Frank Spezzano

EDITORIAL

GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Shaun Keenan EDITOR Erickson Obiacoro PRODUCTION EDITOR Richard Robles CONTENT EDITOR Jordan Lenssen TECHNICAL EDITOR Garry Springgay TECHNICAL EDITOR MotoIQ

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS MOTORSPORTS EDITORS JACOB LEVETON JEREMY ALAN GLOVER FEATURE EDITORS RICKY CHU ERIC EIKENBERRY STEVEN LOUNG DAVE MACKINNON PAUL PIRRO ADAM ZILLIN

PHOTOGRAPHERS ANTONIO ALVENDIA STEVE BITANGA DINO CARBONARE RCH DESIGNS ICON MEDIA CLIFF WALLACE

ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Queue Gonzalez PRODUCTION / SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Patrick Dinglasan SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Edward Shintani SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Patrick Beltijar GRAPHIC DESIGNER Mike Chan ONLINE

CONTENT EDITOR Jordon Chiarelli

SALES & MARKETING

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Matthew Adolfo SR. PROJECT MANAGER Arnold Adolfo MARKETING & SPECIAL PROJECT MANAGER Justin Hasan ACCOUNT MANAGER Erik Shum

ADMINISTRATION FINANCE MANAGER Michelle Forsyth SR. EVENTS / PROJECT MANAGER Randi Bentia PRODUCT TESTING

COGENT AUDIO LABS - www.cogentaudiolabs.com

Performance Auto & Sound Magazine welcomes unsolicited contributions including stories (typewritten), photos, club news, events, etc.

(Forward to PAS, 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada) Canadian Publications Mail Products Sales Agreement #40069655 PAP Registration #10760

Periodicals Postage Paid at Niagara Falls, NY and at additional mailing offices.

U.S.P.S. # 022-608 U.S. Office of publication: 6120 Lendell Rd., Sanborn, NY, 14132 U.S. 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 www.pasmag.com • pas@pasmag.com

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SoundAdvice

> With Garry Springgay

question&answer

Write us with your car audio questions and you may see your letter in print – just like Daniel, who wrote two great questions last month.

My name is Daniel, I’m from Edmonton, Alberta. I came across your reviews in PAS and I really enjoy them. I have a question: A friend of mine sent me some information on a Gedun amplifier from a build house in China. After contacting them, I am interested in trying one of their 5,000 watt amps. Of course, they try to tell you nothing is better. But are they any good?

Daniel N. I’m happy to hear you enjoy PASMAG. Nice to hear from a fellow Albertan, I was born in Calgary. Unfortunately, many amps with high advertised power ratings that are built in China do not actually come close to their rated power.

I have seen amps rated at 5,000 watts by the manufacturer that in reality are barely 1,000 watts. However, there are some that do perform as advertised. I have never tested a Gedun product, so I can’t tell you whether it’s a great amp or not. One way to know for sure is to check out product reviews. These products are tested under strict industry standards, and the numbers are as real as they get. Another good way to ensure you’re getting what you paid for is to purchase an amplifier that uses the CEA-2006B logo and standards for specifications.

Good luck with your decision, and remember if you do buy a real 5,000 watt amp, you will need to upgrade the alternator and wiring in your car, because it will be capable of drawing well over 100 A of current at full power.

- Garry

I have seen amps rated at 5,000 watts by the manufacturer that in reality are barely 1,000 watts.

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The double chamber reflex design has a characteristic dip in response near the upper tuned frequency.

I have another question. I built a subwoofer enclosure about five years ago called a Dual Reflex Chamber – some call it an ABC (Aperiodic Bi-Chamber – that produced amazing lows but lacked in the high frequencies. I just found out you had a lot to do with reintroducing it since it was abandoned in the 1960s; I said “Hey I know that guy!” I am attempting to construct another one; this time for four Atomic Apocalypse eight-inch woofers. I’ve been reading so many different interpretations on how to calculate the tuning, it would be great if you could shed some light so I build it properly.

Daniel N. The correct name for that enclosure design is “Double Chamber Reflex.” There is really nothing about the design that would refer to a true aperiodic condition, so the “ABC” name is nonsense.

The basic design has been around North America since 1961 and was used in Europe before that. When I introduced this design to car audio in 1990, I was living on the West Coast in Vancouver. The design made more sense back then, because we didn’t have many dedicated subwoofer amplifiers with steep filters, nor did we have woofers with the typical excursion limits of today’s modern woofers.

I decided to try it in a few demo cars I was building back then because it had worked well for a tall, narrow set of home speakers I’d designed for my listening room. The design sounded good and played louder than expected and was used primarily with a sing six, eight- or 10-inch woofer. Around this time I moved to Toronto and Mike “PEZ” Pesdirz jumped on the concept, making it very popular in British Columbia. He shortened the nomenclature to “DCR”.

The fundamentals of the design are: 1) Build an enclosure with two internal volumes (call them A and B); one being double the air volume of the other (A=V2 B=V1).

2) Design the port area and length for the total box volume (A+B) using a formula for two ports.

You find your port dimensions by calculating for two ports being used to tune the entire box to the low resonance. For example, if the enclosure

was comprised of a two-cubic-foot chamber and a one-cubic-foot chamber, you would tune it by calculating for two ports of the appropriate diameter and length for the desired low frequency resonance in a three-cubic-foot box.

3) Then, you cut a third port of the same diameter and length and put it in the divider between the two chambers.

4) The woofer gets mounted in the larger chamber.

5) Acoustic fiberfill should be used in the large chamber only.

The result is an enclosure with two resonant frequencies approximately an octave apart. At the lower frequency of resonance, the driver sees the entire airspace as if the partition didn’t exist. The double chamber reflex design has a characteristic dip in response near the upper tuned frequency.

This design has certain advantages and disadvantages. It is quite efficient due to port output over a wider than normal range of frequencies. This is useful when small woofers are required. It also controls excursion better over a wider frequency range, but with today’s modern woofers this is not a significant advantage any longer. The loss of high-frequency output above Fb2 aids in reducing bass localization, which can detract from proper soundstage development.

However, with most of today’s subwoofer amplifiers using fourth order low pass filters, this also is not as significant an advantage as it was 25 years ago.

The disadvantages (particularly for car audio) are the volume of the enclosure required (usually 50% larger than a traditional vented box) and the complexity of the design. I have been told it’s not a very effective design when using a lot of cone area, due to the efficiency (frictional) losses incurred in the typical long port lengths that are generally required. This design has always worked best with short, small diameter ports, which would be too noisy for use in a system with a lot of cone area.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your system.

- Garry PAS

Performance Auto & Sound

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2013-03-05 11:54 AM

Upgrade Your Style Get the bright white look of HID with Philips CrystalVision Ultra Want a ride that stands out from the crowd? Upgrade to the brilliant look of Xenon HID with Philips CrystalVision Ultra and get style they can see coming a mile away. Get the headlight that’s right for the way you drive – from Philips.

Standard Halogen Bulb

CrystalVision Ultra Bulb

To learn more call 1-800-257-6054 www.philips.com/automotive

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12 Volt insider > With Paul Pirro

The Lifes ty le of Mobile Electronics & Beyond PhotoGRAPHY by GENERAL MOTORS

ears ago, cars simply got people from point A to point B. With the invention of the “fitted radio” by Galvin Manufacturing Corporation (later known as Motorola) in 1930, everything began to change. The mobile electronics industry has evolved quickly during the 20th Century, progressing steadily from simple stereos to highly technical systems and all sorts of other space-aged technologies.

Modern vehicles are equipped with technologies that allow better control of vehicle dynamics and performance. They play a multitude of digital media formats enabling better, safer personal communications via hands-free calling, voice-to-text and even automatic responses when paired with a smartphone or other device. Mobile electronics now encompass entertainment 18

and lifestyle functions — there’s no limit to what the future holds.

Music has become paramount for driving lifestyles. Radios, 8-tracks, cassette players and even CDs have been replaced with HD Radio, USB flash memory and mobile devices that allow us to stream music wirelessly via Bluetooth. Companies like Mosconi have developed products to take advantage of this technology, with the award-winning 6to8 DSP (digital signal processor) for wireless system tuning. Tweaking a high-end audio system has never been easier or more fun.

Bluetooth has changed the way we use mobile electronics.

Along with wireless music and tuning capabilities, it allows us to safely use vehicle displays for navigation, phone contacts and voice calls without using our hands. People with diabetes can even monitor their glucose level by pairing devices with their vehicle!

Going one step further on wireless control, Ford has led the way in voice control with the Microsoft Sync system. The Sync 911 assistant even calls emergency response teams if you are in accident and can’t do it yourself.

Others have since developed their own voice control products, including Chrysler’s Uconnect, GM’s IntelliLink (pictured), and the Lexus Voice Command.

Hyundai also had an impressive showing at both the 2013 CES and NAIAS shows with its voice, gesture and eye control HCD14 Genesis Concept.

Developed by Tobii in Sweden (tobii.com), this technology works similar to the Xbox 360 Kinect — look at the climate control display and move your hand upward and the air to make the vehicle warmer — it’s that simple. In the future we won’t even need buttons to change our audio system, temperature, seating position and more!

Heated and cooled seats are another convenient feature and high-end manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz have taken it further with features like built-in seat massages for mobile stress relief.

While these technologies could be viewed as extravagant things, they could also be re-purposed to function as necessary things.

Consider a future family vehicle that could use massage, lighting and noise-cancelling technologies to help children drift away at nap time. Trust me future parents, you will appreciate something like this in years to come!

With current lifestyle trends leaning towards personal health and wellness, we see new devices

that monitor your overall health via handheld devices. Imagine driving down the road listening to your favorite tune when suddenly you start to feel a pain in your chest. You think to yourself, 'It's just heartburn,' but then your car tells you, “Mr. Doe, your heart rate is elevated and your vitals are showing a possible emergency.

Please relax and use the oxygen that has deployed from the roof.”

An Aspirin appears to you via the command system and your car takes over driving duties, taking you to the hospital which is notified of your status.

Ford is currently developing new technologies like the heart rate-monitoring smart seat similar to what’s described above, with touchless sensors built right into the seat material.

It’s possible with current Bluetooth technology that data could be uploaded from your vehicle to emergency responders for immediate help. While autonomous cars are a decade away according to many experts, the above scenario is a very real possibility.

Vehicle entertainment used to pertain solely to audio upgrades to your head unit and speakers.

Ongoing innovations have lead to more ways to listen to your tunes and extended to vehicle safety and even lifestyle management. Cool gadgets and toys are one thing, but OEM car manufacturers and aftermarket mobile electronics manufacturers are making great strides in developing converging technologies that not only monitor your personal well-being, but might actually save your life.

The future of mobile electronics looks as vibrant as ever and, with no shortage of human conditions to cater to, will surely find new ways to make our lives better. PAS

» Performance Auto & Sound

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January

8-11.2013

2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) LAS VEGAS, NV LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC EIKENBERRY

We came, we saw, we were amazed once more.

The Consumer Electronics Show is a smorgasbord of everything we find delightful in today’s technological universe. Here are a few innovations that caught our eye.

The elephant in the room at CES; Apple. Apple products were everywhere. They have fully emerged as the dominant force in mobile audio and yet Apple doesn’t even bother to display its wares at CES. It truly is the

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"elephant in the room" that everyone tries, unsuccessfully, to ignore. Well, not exactly "ignore" but you get the idea. Apple doesn't make a "car stereo" and yet we believe that every aftermarket manufacturer now offers at least one head unit that interfaces with an iPod, iPad or iPhone. We thought there must be more than a few major-brand aftermarket CEOs who are happy that Apple does not make a car stereo receiver.

» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

2013-03-05 3:26 PM

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2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

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Alpine snared a CES 2013 Innovations award for In-Vehicle Audio with its new TuneIt app for three new receivers. Available for iPhone or Android phones, TuneIt is designed to offer incredible control over a nine-band parametric equalizer, time correction, crossover points and Media Xpander. Settings can be custom created or pulled from 3,000 pre-configured setups. These three CD head units can also stream music from Pandora Internet radio, in addition to offering Bluetooth Plus music streaming from a smartphone. Very capable single-DIN units at near-entry-level price points should make them quite popular.

Earthquake’s tactile transducers are still amazing, and can not only work in your car,

but with your home theater or gaming setup.

Company president Joseph Sahyoun was gung-ho to demonstrate its prowess with two home-theater "rooms" in the Earthquake booth, allowing users to sit on couches being shaken by Michael Bay's "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" on BluRay. When Optimus Prime finally goes off and chops up the bad guys like the end of an old samurai movie, you feel each swing of his battle axe and sword like a punch to the gut, even though the volume levels in the demo room allowed normal conversation. With available audio component space in modern automobiles becoming ever more restrictive over time, tactile transducers offer an exciting way to improve the perceived bass response.

Âť PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

2013-03-05 3:26 PM

www.sylvania.com/zXe

© 2012 OSRAM SYLVANIA. SilverStar is a registered trademark of OSRAM GmbH.

Light of the party.

Roll with our whitest, most stylish light. SYLVANIA SilverStar® zXe headlights are fueled by exclusive xenon halogen gas technology, with all the attitude of HID. Learn more at www.sylvania.com/zXe.

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2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) D-class amplifiers were out in droves.

Today you can put 2,000 watts of power into a metal chassis smaller than your old high school chemistry book. Clarion offers a compact D-class in-the-dash amplifier that can add some real punch to any audio system. Alpine's V-series got a makeover for 2013 and every unit is both small and powerful. How small?

Alpine says 40% smaller. Additionally, the acclaimed dual feedback modulation from the top-of-the-line PDX amps has migrated to the V-series line, giving them excellent damping factor and the lowest noise in their class.

Rockford Fosgate's Punch line of amplifiers received a similar treatment.

The integrated high-level input now has an auto turn-on circuit, making the old "power on wire" a thing of the past. This increases the opportunity for the RF amps to adapt to OEM audio systems seamlessly. Another interesting addition was its Dynamic Thermal management.

If an amplifier senses overheating, rather then powering down completely, the internal circuits are smart enough to scale back the wattage, keeping the music going, albeit at a lower volume.

That's a useful touch.

Cobra’s iRadar app updates real time radar traps to your smartphone! Wickedly cool, especially in States where radar detectors are forbidden. A 2013 CES design award winner, the radar detector installs in the engine bay, connects to phone via Bluetooth, and works with a free app to protect you. It can automatically share radar trap and camera enforcement locations in real-time with other users!

Logic 3 debuted its Ferrari Collection headphones styled by Ferrari. Very classy stuff, if not strictly car audio.

There was a Ferrari in the booth, so we had to stop by.

Viper alarms from Directed have appconnected systems. The SmartStart app allows you to lock, unlock, pop the trunk or even remotely start your car from a smartphone. The version with built-in GPS can even mark where you've parked (at a stadium) and provide directions back to your car later. Still no alarm that electrocutes would-be thieves though, which is a crying shame.

Audi had its e-tron Quattro Le Mans-winning race car on display. Delicious! Dumb name, but a very fast car.

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Âť PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Displayed as it was in a brightly lit white room, it looked a little bit like heaven, minus Morgan Freeman in a white suit.

RE Audio had a U.S.-built four-channel D-class amplifier with Bluetooth input direct from an iPhone! It was a prototype on display only, but it is something being developed for production. RE also showed us an innovative material it uses for forming fitted enclosures for subs that has the hardness of a rock, but the acoustic properties of MDF. Very clever! It uses a spin-molding technique where the mold is split open and a set amount of liquid material is poured in, then the mold is spun in a three-dimensional “shaker” that evenly distributes the material to the outside, forming

↘

RYAN AND THE WEST COAST CUSTOMS TEAM STOPPED BY MAXXSONICS TO REVIEW THE WCC AUDIO GEAR PROJECT.

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» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

2013-03-05 3:27 PM

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2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) the enclosure. This allows RE to rapidly design new enclosures.

Massive Audio had a wide-body Mitsubishi 3000 GT. That's still a great design.

Kicker had some sort of ancient Ford coupe painted up like a WWII Army bomber. Indescribable really… Built as a testament to our troops overseas, it was epic! The roof has a cut-away panel with a cloth sunroof folded all the way to the rear so you could see the bare-bones aluminum aircraft seats and triple "nuclear warhead" subwoofer enclosures where the rear seat should be. Completely epic!

For gamers, Thrustmaster introduced its Ferrari F1 Wheel Integral T500 – a replica of a real Ferrari F1 steering wheel complete with massive force feedback capable of ripping the wheel out of your hands when you go off course and wreck! For the show, it was matched up with a VRX iMotion Z-55 chair, which is a full race seat paired with a carbon fiber motion-simulation platform, assembled in Canada using high-grade stainless steel and aluminum. If we had one of these back at PASMAG HQ, we'd never get any work done! PAS For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/intlCES2013

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» PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

2013-03-05 3:28 PM

RIDE WITH BETTER BEATS. Created by JBL® engineers with a passion for amazing automotive audio, the JBL GTO family of speakers, amps and subwoofers lets you experience the impact of incredible sound. Enjoy premium audio and innovative design from the recognized performance leaders in their price class. www.jbl.com

© 2012 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved. JBL is a trademark of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries. The “Hear the truth” logo is a trademark of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.

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2012-12-19 11:37 AM

Elect rified Story by Dave MacKinnon Photography by RCH Designs

I

magine it’s the second week of January. For car audio enthusiasts this always means the same thing – the Consumer Electronics Show is in full swing. If you were part of CES and entered the North hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, you would have been greeted immediately to the right by the massive Pioneer Electronics booth. Directly in the corner of the booth, closest to the main entrance was the newest Five Axis creation, a new 2013 Lexus CT200h that highlights Pioneer’s 2013 car audio products.

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The relationship between Five Axis and Pioneer started when the Scion brand arrived in North America 10 years ago and has remained a strong bond ever since. Five Axis has built most of Pioneer’s CES demo vehicles since, and this slick silver Lexus is another fine example of the outfit's modern styling and creativity.

Pretty much all the Pioneer Five Axis vehicles are treated to a custom widebody and aerodynamics treatment. The CT200h is no different.

Five Axis has stretch the fenders out

and create cool new front and rear bumpers to accent the car's sexy style. Tucked under the big fenders is a set of 19- by 8.5-inch FIVE:AD S7:F wheels wrapped in Yokohama Advan Sport tires at a healthy 235 mm width with a 40 series aspect ratio. StopTech four-piston calipers in the front and drilled rotors all the way around upgrade the braking duties.

The style of a car is as much about its color as it is its stance. The car is lowered utilizing Tein Flex coil-overs that give it an aggressive look. The

» Performance Auto & Sound

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Elect rified 2013 Lexus CT200h

Lifting the rear hatch reveals an amp rack and subwoofer enclosure that looks like something that can only be found in the reactor core of the Star Trek starship."

body is finished in satin aluminum, and highlighted with orange and blacked-out chrome accents. The theme continues when you open the doors, with reupholstered seats and doors in laser-etched EcoDesign Ultrasuede with satin gunmetal leather accents.

With Lexus highlighting several parts of the dash in a high-gloss black finish, the Five Axis team picked up on this cue and decided to trim the midbass woofers (installed in the stock location of the doors) from Pioneer’s TS-D1720C 6.75-inch component speaker 32

package for a perfect match. The tweeters from the set have been flushed into the bottoms of the A-pillars and, for rear fill, a set of Pioneer TS-D1702R 6.75-inch coaxials round out the audio.

Five Axis quickly discovered the integration of the flagship Pioneer AVH-X8500BHS multimedia DVD receiver in the CT200h would be a trickier install than in most vehicles today.

Because a standard two-DIN head unit measures four inches in height and seven inches wide, and the opening of the factory radio in

the CT measures only 6.75 inches wide, there was no option but to perform a bit of dash surgery in order to fit the receiver in the tight leather trimmed center console. With the gear selector to the left, Five Axis' only option was to modify the panel to allow the source unit to slide right into the dash then reupholster it using the same leather to restore the area to its stock aesthetics.

Lifting the rear hatch reveals an amp rack and subwoofer enclosure that looks like something that can only be found in the

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All the Pioneer Five Axis vehicles are treated to a custom widebody and aerodynamics treatment with stretched out fenders and cool new front and rear bumpers."

Essentials › 2013 Lexus CT200h Built by: Five Axis

Horsepower: 134 hp

SUSPENSION TEIN Flex coil-over suspension system WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES Stoptech High Performance big brake kit (four-piston opposed, fixed, bolt-in-bridge caliper with 328 mm x 28 mm cross drilled rotor (f), cross-drilled rotors (r)) FIVE:AD S7:F Wheels - 19x8.5 (f/r) Yokohama Advan Sport - 235/40 ZR19 (f/r) EXTERIOR Five Axis custom widebody conversion Satin aluminum exterior finish Black chrome and orange Accents Interior Uniquely appointed seats Ultrasuede® EcoDesign™ (appointed headliner, seat inserts and satin gunmetal accents) Piano black accents 3M Crystalline window fil AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS Pioneer Electronics (AVH-X8500BHS – Multimedia DVD receiver with 7-in. touchscreen, TS-D1720C 6.75-inch component speaker package (f), TSD1702R 6.75-in. two-way speaker (r), PRS-D800 Class FD two-channel amplifier (x6), TS-SW2501S4 10-in. shallow subwoofer (x2))

Elect rified

reactor core of the Star Trek starship. On the ends of the somewhat cylindrical enclosure are sealed cabinets, each serving as a home to a Pioneer TS-SW2501S4 10-inch shallowmount subwoofer. Suspended between the enclosures are six Pioneer PRS-D800 Class FD two-channel amplifiers, each capable of producing 125 Watts of power per channel, or 300 Watts when bridged to a sub. Two of the amps are bridged, each driving a subwoofer and the rest drive the midrange and highfrequency TS-D drivers in the car. The side panels of the hatch area have been recreated and wrapped in dark grey vinyl to give the amp rack more presence.

The beauty of having Five Axis build you a demo car is that once it’s done, it becomes hard to tell what was original from the factory and what was fabricated by Troy Sumitomo and his team. From the interior panels and upholstery to the awesome body modifications and attention-to-detail with respect to color – the best compliment you can pay the car is to say that it just looks right. And it certainly does! pas

2013 Lexus CT200h

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/ElectrifiedLexus

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buyers GUIDES

Oil & Lubrication guide It's the most important part of your car! Keep things slippery and smooth with products from these industry leaders!

Quaker State Defy Motor Oil

I quakerstate.com

Quaker State Defy Motor Oil is designed to effectively meet the changing needs of engines and help higher mileage engines defy time. Preventing up to 98% of future wear to help extend engine life, the syntheticblend lubricant is formulated to help revitalize seals, reduce leaks and minimize oil burn-off while zinc antiwear agents target high-temperature and high-wear surfaces.

AMSOIL

Signature Series SAE 0W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil $10.55/quart I amsoil.com

AMSOIL SAE 0W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil delivers extraordinary lubrication in automotive gasoline engines.

Formulated with industry-premier synthetic technology and premium additives, AMSOIL motor oils exceed the high performance standards of modern engines while providing increased fuel economy and extended drain intervals. AMSOIL withstands the effects of higher horsepower and heat and is engineered to outperform competitive conventional and synthetic motor oils by reducing engine wear, oil consumption and emissions.

Mobil 1

Red Line

I mobil1racingstore.com

$11.49/quart to $45.95/gallon I redlineoil.com

Racing Oil 0W-50

Mobil 1 Racing 0W-50 is a fully synthetic motor oil specifically designed to maximize horsepower in a wide range of race applications, including highlyloaded flat-tappet engine designs used in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. Mobil 1 Racing oils are engineered to help on-track vehicles reach the peak of their performance potential. Recommend for longer duration and high-RPM operation where heat build-up may be an issue. Not recommended for street use.

0W-20 Motor Oil

As Red Line’s lightest passenger car motor oil, 0W-20 is designed to increase fuel economy and improve cold starts while providing excellent wear and friction protection across a wide range of operating conditions. It also helps maximize performance with a high natural viscosity index (VI), providing thicker oil film in bearings and cams.

It is the factory recommended weight for the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ and numerous small cars, hybrids and trucks from Honda and Toyota.

*Prices are subject to change

ENEOS

Sustina Synthetic Motor Oil I eneos.us

Sustina is a revolutionary full synthetic motor oil made with innovative technology to provide exceptional sludge protection and long-term sustained fuel economy.

Sustina utilizes JX Nippon Oil & Energy’s own W BASE oil technology to maintain stable oil viscosity over a wide temperature range. This allows Sustina to reduce internal engine drag, improving fuel economy up to two percent!

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buyers GUIDES

oil & Lubrication guide

M7

Pro Oil 10W-40

$79.99 I m7worldshop.com

M7 Pro Oil is specifically formulated to improve horsepower while at the same time protecting the engine during extreme conditions. With a proven combination of power and protection through special formulation, the unique M7 blend has anti-wear additives specifically designed for automotive and race engines that run at high-RPMs. M7 Pro Oil is a full synthetic and meets the requirements of API SN and ILSAC GF-5.

Maxima

Royal Purple

Pennzoil

$13.95/quart I maximausa.com

$10.38/quart I royalpurple.com

I pennzoil.com

RS Series Motor Oils

MAXIMA RS four-cycle engine oil is a full synthetic, triple-ester based race-grade oil for the ultimate in engine performance and protection.

The advanced formula contains special anti-wear/extreme pressure additives to protect critical components from extreme loads and peak temperatures generated by high-performance engines. The regenerative highviscosity index and synthetic polymer system resist mechanical break-down, increases horsepower and torque and extends engine life. Available in 0W-10, 0W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40 and 15W-50

HPS Motor Oil

Royal Purple’s new line of HPS street/ performance motor oil is designed for vehicles that have exceeded the factory warranty period. Formulated with Royal Purple’s proprietary Synerlec anti-wear additive technology and utilizing a more robust zinc/phosphorous anti-wear package than warranty API oil currently allows, it provides exceptional oil film strength and load capability and is a cost-effective alternative to the XPR line of racing-grade oil. Available in 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40 and 20W-50.

Motul

Ester Core Racing Motor Oil

$39.95 (2L) I motul.speclube.com

For several decades, Motul has perfectly mastered the technology of esters. Combining this technology with an optimum selection of highperformance synthetic base oils and an innovative additive package gives it exceptional synergy and performance characteristics. The latest Ester Core evolution is used exclusively in the 300V range to guarantee maximum performance beyond existing standards. Motul sets the standard in racing motor oil. Technical partners include: Prodrive, Subaru, Mugen and Nismo (GT-R specific oil).

Ultra Motor Oil

Designed specifically to keep SRT engines running clean, Pennzoil Ultra Full Synthetic Motor Oil helps engines to exceed the toughest of industry standards. The proprietary formula aids in the prevention of the build-up of sludge, damaging deposits, corrosion and engine wear while providing oil stability and endurance under extreme conditions. Specially formulated with Hyper Cleansing Technology, Pennzoil Ultra is the highest level of clean your engine can get.

Lucas Oil

Synthetic Oil Stabilizer I lucasoil.com

Light enough for an import and tough enough for a semi, Lucas Synthetic Oil Stabilizer can be used in new equipment that requires synthetic oils or any equipment that needs enhanced performance. It can be used to protect new and used transmissions, gearboxes and engines and to control heat in motorcycles, air-cooled engines and drivetrain components. It also increases oil life by 50% and reduces oil consumption and friction for increased power and MPG. *Prices are subject to change

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buyers GUIDES

oil & Lubrication guide

Torco

SR-1 Synthetic Oil

$11.60/liter I torcousa.com

Torco SR-1 Super Street Series Synthetic Oil is the ultimate purpose-made oil for your high-performance street car. Designed using Torco’s 60-plus years of experience in developing and producing hardcore racing oils, SR-1 uses advanced CAT-safe oil technology for the best in protection and power. Available in 0W-20, 5W-30 and 5W-40.

MPT Thirty-K

Full Synthetic High Performance Motor Oils

$14.95/quart I mptindusties.com

Comprised of 100% synthetic ester and polyalphaolefin base stocks with zero highly-refined petroleum or viscosity modifiers, MPT Thirty-K Motor Oils are fortified with the finest additives available, including extra zinc and phosphorous for anti-wear. Special friction modifiers such as molybdenum also guarantee longer engine life, reduced heat and friction and better fuel economy.

PROLONG

Permatex

$19.99 I prolong.com

I permatex.com

ENGINE TREATMENT

Prolong Super Lubricants Engine Treatment and Booster System protects gas and diesel engines from the two leading causes of engine wear: friction and heat. With its exclusive Anti-Friction Metal Treatment™ (AFMT) advanced technology, Prolong treatment chemically bonds to metal surfaces to generate a protective layer that prevents metal-on-metal grinding.

It restores engine efficiency, optimizes fuel economy and protects the engine in the event of oil or coolant loss.

Dielectric Grease

Permatex Dielectric Grease is the best choice for today’s high-energy ignition and electrical systems. The nonconductive silicone formula seals out moisture and dirt, inhibiting corrosion to protect electrical connectors and wiring. Permatex Dielectric Grease lubricates and seals the rubber parts of electrical connectors to prevent voltage leakage, and extends the service life of bulbs and lamps. It is also resistant to high temperatures, helping to prevent spark plugs from fusing to the boot.

Slick 50

Recharged High Mileage Engine Treatment $19.99 I slick50.com

The Recharged High Mileage Engine Treatment provides your engine with vital lubricants to keep your car running like new for a longer period of time. This treatment protects against power-robbing friction, heat and water, while revitalizing seals, cleaning and preventing sludge to enhance emission system durability. It’s peace of mind so your high-mileage car runs as if you just pulled it off the lot.

Summit Racing Equipment Oil Filter Relocation Kits

$40.95 (single filter) / $50.95 (dual filter) I summitracing.com

A Summit Racing Oil Filter Relocation Kit is ideal for moving your oil filter away from engine heat or to a more accessible place. All relocation kits include a bypass adapter, filter mount, oil hose, brass fittings, stainless steel hose clamps, mounting hardware and instructions. The kits require a Fram PH8A or equivalent oil filter (sold separately). *Prices are subject to change

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Tomy Boisvert-Bellemare DMCC 2012 Rookie of the Year Story and Photography by Jeremy Alan Glover

After winning the Drift Mania Canadian Championship's ProAm division in 2011, Tomy Boisvert-Bellemare (better known as ‘Tom Tom’) moved up to the Pro ranks in 2012 to take on the veteran DMCC drivers.

Piloting his 450-hp SR-powered #64 JDM 1992 Nissan Silvia S13, Tom Tom proved without a doubt that he's at the same level as the seasoned pros. The 24-yearold Trois-Rivières native was not only named the DMCC “Rookie of the Year” in 2012, he also finished the season in fourth place overall behind fellow Quebecker Francis Tasse. Given the talented field of drivers fighting for the title, this is no easy task. But his consistency kept him at the top of his game, impressing everyone in the DMCC. We caught up with Tom Tom to ask him a few questions about his season.

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How was your first full DMCC season as a Pro driver?

My first season in the Pro ranks went pretty good, but I saw quickly that I had to adapt very fast if I wanted to be able to keep up.

Do you have any new sponsors for this coming season?

My current sponsors are all coming back, and we’ve been working hard over the winter to get some new ones for next season.

Who was your toughest competitor?

Mike Pollard!

Tell us about your car?

My car used to be my daily driver. I drove it for two years before turning it into a fulltime drift car. Now it has around 420 hp at the wheels.

What were your personal highlights of the season?

The best moment for me was being able to go against Pat Cyr during the last round at Sanair. He got so close to me that his front tire was on my door. I lost the battle but it was a really fun tandem.

Are you going to be changing cars for the upcoming season?

I will be sticking with my ride.

It’s just too expensive to swap out chassis.

» Performance Auto & Sound

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Essentials › JDM 1992 Nissan Silvia S13 Driver: Tomy Boisvert-Bellemare Engine: 2.0L SR20DET 4-cylinder

Team: Backyard Builders Horsepower: 450 hp

Engine Modifications Balanced and blueprinted Head ported by (TK Race Heads) Garrett GT3071t.64ar Turbo Wiseco 87 mm 8.5:1 Pistons Eagle rods ARP studs ACL bearings. 01 over Brian Crower (valves, springs, retainers) Tomei (lifters, Procam 280) OS Giken cam gears GReddy (air intake and 80 mm throttle body) Blitz 1,000 cc injectors OBX fuel rail Aeromotive Tsunami fuel pump Megasquirt (tuned by Vincent Gagnon) Hallman boost controller Mishimoto radiator Tial (wastage and blow off valve) Ford coil pack

Are you changing anything with the setup?

For next season, we will be working on the engine setup a little, but our main focus will be maximizing traction with the steering and suspension.

What were your best results this year?

My best event in 2012 was the last round where I finished third.

What was your most difficult point in the season?

I didn’t have a lot of trouble this season mechanically speaking, but I had some trouble when I hit the wall at St-Eustache. It was hard to get the car back to the previous setup. We also had three rocker arms blow apart in the engine, which caused a lot of damage too.

#64

EXHAUST Custom 3-in. mandrel bent DRIVETRAIN Ogura (Super Single Comp clutch and flywheel) Tomei two-way differential CHASSIS / SUSPENSION Seam-welded chassis Part Shop Max angle kit Tein (tie rods and tie rod spacers) Megan Racing (coil-overs, tension rods, toe arms, camber arms) WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES Nissan Skyline wheels Yokohama Advan tires S14 front brakes 300ZX rear brakes Hawk brake pads

Was it hard to adapt to the Pro ranks?

It was more as a challenge.

It was hard at the start of the year, but throughout the season we found solutions and setups that were more competitive. Next year we will be ready guaranteed.

Is there anybody you would like to thank?

Of course, I’d like to thank my team: Martin Langlois, Vincent Gagnon, Alex Fortin, Mathieu Inkel, Eric Desaulnier. Without all of them, none of this would have have been possible. I would also like to thank my sponsors for the great support throughout the whole season: Kustom Cars Shop, MChip Audio & Performance, JD Performance, Equipment Select Lift, Centre de location CAT, Prostreet Coating.

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The 2013 DMCC season is shaping up to be a good one. With the experience and confidence Tom Tom gained last season, we're expecting him to battle hard for the Pro championship once again.

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/DMCCrookieoftheyear

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YellowStuff is perfect for Drift racing but EBC now offer their new long lasting BlueStuff NDX full race pad for heavier cars and longer race applications

EBC Brake pads are 100% British Made

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EBC’s latest race pad, Bluestuff NDX, is a full race compound capable of street use. Brakes have bite from cold right up to 1400°F. Bluestuff features super strength interlayer for pad bond retention and are surface scorched - bed-in times are reduced to 1 or 2 laps maximum.

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BRAWLER Story by Ricky Chu | Photography by Antonio Alvendia

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BRAWLER Life wasn’t meant to be easy. Even if you’re born into money, you face challenges along the way. When you want something, you can’t always expect it to be handed over to you without putting in work. More often than not, the more pain and suffering you endure during your journey, the sweeter the reward is in the end. That’s how Rob Kochis of West covina, calif. felt when he went on what seemed like an endless quest to seek out and build his dream 2013 Scion FR-S.

a

s many stories from diehard car dudes and dudettes go, Kochis started gathering parts for his FR-S before he actually owned it. Fortunately, he was no stranger to fixing up cars and knew the path he had to head down. His first ride was a Toyota MR-2 turbo, but “my parents made me sell it because they heard I was driving too aggressively on the streets,” Kochis recalls. His more recent 2008 Nissan Sentra Spec-V build also went south.

Kochis made a visit to his friend Mike’s place to try to come up with a plan B by looking at more cars on the Internet. They came across SpeedHunters.com where his infatuation with the Rocket Bunny FR-S began. Like an overgrown boy that just saw his first issue of “Playboy,” Kochis’ obsession for the car began to blossom. “I was working 50 hours a week doing sales for Verizon Wireless and was going to school full-time, so I knew this wasn’t going to be easy,” he tells. The popularity of the FR-S meant that getting one wouldn’t be so simple either, with some Scion dealerships selling the car for more than $7,000 above sticker. However, that didn’t stop Kochis from committing to display his yet-to-be-purchased FR-S in the

JDM Sport booth at the 2012 SEMA Show. And at this point, he really had to get his hands on the car and body kit because that was all part of the agreement to get into the booth.

After getting shunned by dealerships left and right, Kochis finally got in touch with George Burg from Dealership Services Direct who found him the exact FR-S he was looking for and at sticker price. With the first task in his dream build complete, there was so much more to do.

Next Kochis managed to track down Kei Miura on Facebook and messaged the TRA Kyoto owner regarding the FR-S he was planning to build for SEMA. To his surprise, Mr. Miura responded with a sponsorship offer; so Kochis quickly sent the necessary funds over to get the ball rolling. Slowly more sponsors started lining up and things got off to a smooth start. Anyone that’s ever built a SEMA car can confirm there will be problems up to (and sometimes past) the eleventh hour.

With this FR-S project, the installs and body work didn’t even begin until five weeks before the show because of various complications.

“People helping out were telling me the car just wouldn’t be done on time, which was a huge heartbreaker,” Kochis recalls. Starting to feel the

the maSSive front BumPer giveS the fr-S an aggreSSive looK that looKS liKe it’S aBout to devour everYthing in itS Path, AND THE NEW BODY LINES FROM THE WIDENED FENDERS ARE CURVACEOUS ENOUGH TO MAKE KATE UPTON JEALOUS.

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pressure, he woke up one morning with a huge resurgence of determination to get his project completed by SEMA. As the parts started to come in, he would load them up in his 240SX coupe and make a run over to Kennedy Nguyen at Platinum VIP to get things put on the car.

On went the TRA Kyoto Rocket Bunny body kit – the precursor to all this madness. The massive front bumper gives the FR-S an aggressive look that looks like it’s about to devour everything in its path, and the new body lines from the widened fenders are curvaceous enough to make Kate Upton jealous. Stare at it long enough and you begin to understand why Kochis became such a lunatic about it. Kennedy was able to match the factory Hot Lava paint perfectly and yet somehow still made it look better than when it came off of the Scion assembly line.

A few of the final body kit pieces had gotten lost in transit and Mr. Miura had to rush to ship them to the States in time for SEMA. The scary part is this was only the beginning and both time and Kochis’ bank account funds were running ridiculously low.

He had some money set aside from his commissions dedicated to this car, but full sponsorships don’t come easy nowadays and he was burning through that stash at an accelerated rate.

Fully aware that a body kit and paint job don’t make a complete car, Kochis put a little bit of his own flavor when figuring out the interior of his dream car. Buddy Club racing seats with Takata harnesses were the first to go in followed quickly by a 9K Racing shift knob made out of a .50 caliber bullet.

The shifter and emergency brake boots are made from snake skin, which is not a combination you’ll see very often unless you hang out a lot with Jimmy Goldstein.

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The Official Sponsor of:

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BRAWLER

At this time, the car wasn’t even halfway complete. Forgestar F14 wheels were chosen and paired with Toyo T1 Sport tires like a wine connoisseur would do with cheese. A regular suspension upgrade might have given the FR-S sick stance and handling, but then it would be too low to drive daily. This would not do, so Kennedy put on the Platinum VIP Phantom Cup kit to help raise the front when it’s called for. Yet, even with the project deadline getting dangerously close, more unforeseeable problems would arise. The Rocket Bunny side skirts, while amazing, didn’t allow extra spacing for the larger wheel and tire combination, making driving the car to Las Vegas and back practically impossible.

Kochis had to raid his rainy-day funds once again to pay for a trailer just to get to the City of Sin. By the time the car made it to SEMA, Kochis and friends were literally (and figuratively) running on empty from lack of sleep and wired from too many energy drinks. But the car did make it, which is the most important part, and became the talk of the show. It was getting a lot of attention on the social media front and, Kochis, who had been turned down many times over for sponsorships, was now rubbing elbows with industry leaders such as Kenji Sumino, President of GReddy Performance Products.

What was once a fantasy for Kochis began transforming into an even more unforgettable experience after a chance encounter with some PASMAG brass over at Aria’s Haze nightclub during the week. “To put it simply, I was impressed with Robert’s attitude and enthusiasm as much as his car,” says Shaun

Keenan, Managing Editor. “I knew I wanted to work with him and before long we were talking about a cover feature.”

When the week was finally over, Kochis got back to his real life where a rude awakening saw him get let go by Verizon.

Rather than hang his head and sulk, however, Kochis decided to go full force with the branding of his FR-S and marketing his company, Stay Crushing. While waiting for those unemployment checks to roll in, he decided to move back home and pay some bills by slinging stickers and t-shirts out of the trunk of his car at events. Although things have been a bit tight, he loves the hustling life whether it’s getting up at 8 A.M. to unload a container or making parts runs in exchange for a tow from Victor Reyes at Emergency Hooker.

As many hits as it got from SEMA, the Stay Crushing FR-S was seriously lacking on engine modifications. But thanks to a sponsorship from Vortech, its brand new supercharger kit was installed in time for the shoot. Vortech’s Brian Ellis and Neil Tjin worked frantically with the R&D team to make sure the kit (still in development at the time) not only made it in time for the shoot, but also fit and ran perfectly so they could go until full production with it.

The kit features a gear-driven V-3 H67BC centrifugal Vortech supercharger (designed for the FA20 Boxer engine) with an internal oil reservoir and remote fluid drain hose for simple fluid changes. The factory cold air ram intake benefits from a stylized airbox and reusable high-flow air filter housing that

Teamed up with a Borla header and Injen downpipe and exhaust, the Vortech supercharger is expected to make 260 hp at the wheels.

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BRAWLER Essentials › 2013 Scion FR-S Driver: Robert Kochis Team: Stay Crushing Built by: Jordan Innovations Engine: 2.0L Boxer FA20 Horsepower: 260 whp Engine Modifications Vortech Superchargers (supercharger, intercooler, hoses, blow-off valve, air filter, intake) Password:JDM carbon fiber engine bay and fuse covers Borla UEL header EXHAUST Injen Technology (cat-back exhaust, down-pipe) DRIVETRAIN ACT (Street Disc clutch, Street Lite flywheel) CHASSIS / SUSPENSION JDM Sport coil-overs (f) Function & Form coil-overs (r) Whiteline (sway bars, bushings, rear strut tower bar, control arms (f/r)) Platinum VIP Phantom Cup kit Battle Version bolt-in roll bar Custom Ultra Nebula-coated strut bars by neo-chrome.com WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES Forgestar F14 Super Deep Concave wheels – 19x9.5 -7 (f), 19x10 -19 (+25 mm spacer) (r) Toyo T1 Sport tires – 235/35 R19 (f), 245/35 R19 (r) Stoptech (12-in. two-piece slotted front rotors, four-piston front calipers, braided lines) EXTERIOR TRA Kyoto Rocket Bunny body kit (bumpers, side skirts, fenders, grilles, brake ducts, spoilers) Beat Sonic roof spoiler Spyder Auto taillights Lux Life roof wrap Paint and body work by Platinum VIP INTERIOR 9K Racing .50 cal bullet shift knob Snake skin and suede shift boot STRI gauges ATI gauge pods Buddy Club reclining racing seats Reupholstered rear seats by Dealership Services Direct Takata four-point harnesses M7 Japan TOUCH R.A.C.E unit AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS Pioneer Bespoke Scion FR-S head unit OEM Audio Plus (Cirrus-Logic DSP amplifier, subwoofer amplifier, 1-in. front tweeters (x2), 4-in. midrange speakers (x2), 6.5-in. front woofer (x2), 8-in. subwoofer with custom wrapped enclosure, QuickSync wiring harness) Granjaworks custom rear trunk set up available through OEM Audio Plus SPONSORS Toyo Tires, Forgestar Wheels, Takata Racing, Rocket Bunny, TRA Kyoto, 6666 Customs, OEM Audio +, M7 Drive Energy Drink, Buddy Club USA, Beat Sonic, Function & Form, Injen Technology, JDM Sport, Stoptech, International Aero Products, Jordan Innovations, Mishimoto, ACT Clutch, ATI, STRI Gauges, Spyder Auto, Whiteline, Battle Version, VIS Racing, Lux Life, El Stig, Phillip Granja Interiors, Dealership Services Direct, 9K Racing, Drifting.com, OMG Drift, Jimmy Up, Platinum VIP, Phantom Garage, Emergency Hookers, Granjaworks, Password:JDM, GReddy, Downstar, Vortech Superchargers, 86FEST, 86TECH, SOCALFRS, Borla, neo-chrome.com, levape.com, JS Design Factory, FRS86, Motormavens, JDM Zipties

The kit features a gear-driven V-3 H67BC centrifugal Vortech supercharger (designed for the FA20 Boxer engine) with an internal oil reservoir and remote fluid drain hose for simple fluid changes. works with the integrated air-to-air intercooler for maximum efficiency. The complete bolt-on system maintains a “factory-type” appearance, and can be installed in about four hours. Teamed up with a Borla header and Injen down-pipe and exhaust, it’s expected to put down 260 hp at the wheels on the Evasive Motorsports dyno. We’ll be revisiting the install in a future issue of PASMAG to update you with real-world numbers.

To round everything off, the stock audio system has been upgraded by OEM Audio Plus with a Special Edition Reference 400CF | Scion FR-S system that features eight new speakers, two amplifiersa and a vehicle-specific sub enclosure. It was finished off with a custom wrap

by Granjaworks, available directly through OEM Audio Plus. Each component is built from the ground up by OEM Audio Plus and integrate fast

and easy with the Quick-Sync wiring harness. All drivers utilize the factory mounting points and connectors for a truly integrated look with no cutting, splicing, drilling or guesswork.

Kochis still feels a bit like Cinderella (the guy version of it) with people he idolizes going completely out of their way to help on this build.

“It really is like a fairytale,” he says.

That said, you’d think he would be content with the great feedback and huge amount of publicity the car has received, but not Kochis. He now wants to attack every car show across the country and rack up on trophies like a deranged soccer mom in 2013. Judging by what we’ve seen from him to this point, it shouldn’t pose much difficulty for Kochis and his FR-S. But if you do see him reaching for t-shirts and stickers from his trunk store, buy a few and always try to “stay crushing.” pas

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/StreetBrawlerFRS

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1.866.450.FIRE (3473) • visit us on facebook • call for special pricing visit us online at www.wheelfire.com

CV2

GT8

CV Series

MRR Concave Series Sizes 20x8.5, 20x10

HR3 HR9

GT Series Sizes 19x8.5, 19x9.5

HR Series

Hereborrani Series Sizes 20x8.5, 20x9.5 22x9, 22x10.5

CV8

CV Series

MRR Concave Series Sizes 20x8.5, 20x10

HR Series

Hereborrani Series Sizes 19x8.5 19x9.5 20x8.5 20x9.5

GT7

GT series Sizes 18x8.5 18x9.5 19x9.5 19x9.5 20x8.5 20x10

FREE SHIPPING / FREE MOUNTING / FREE BALANCING & FREE INSTALL KIT

100% WHEELFIRE FITMENT GUARANTEE, MILITARY DISCOUNTS, NO HIDDEN FEES - NO TAX EXCEPT IN FLORIDA *Free shipping for usa where ground shipping is available, canada shipping does not include broker fees and taxes

MRR Wheels.indd 1

2012-08-13 11:00 AM

Import Face-Off

2012 Points Champions

PhotoGRAPHY by Cliff Wallace

Forced Induction Pro Points Champion

All Motor Pro Points Champion

West Region FWD Points Champion

Southest Region Forced Induction Sport Points Champion

West Region All Motor Pro Points Champion

Northeast Region All Motor Sport Points Champion

Amoris Martinez

Br ad Grodi

56

Jason Lumpkin

Joel Sipes

Anthony Dinallo

Marc R ozzo

» Performance Auto & Sound

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Import Face-Off

2012 Points Champions Midwest Region All Motor Sport Points Champion

Paul Inth ir ath

Overall National Points Champion

Northeast Region FWD Points Champion

R ob Morse

Aaron L opez

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/IFO2012results

Performance Auto & Sound ÂŤ

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2013-03-04 2:53 PM

BUYERS GUIDES

CAR CARE GUIDE

WHAT’S BETTER THAN A SPOTLESS CAR WITH A MIRROR-LIKE REFLECTION? NOT MUCH! OUR GUIDE WILL HELP POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO KEEP YOUR RIDE IN TOP SHAPE.

AUTOGLYM AQUA WAX

$21.99 I autoglym.com

GTECHNIQ

DAYTONA

$169.99 I gtechniq.com

$29.99 I autogeek.net

EXO ULTRA DURABLE HYBRID COATING For the ultimate in dirt, sun and moisture protection, GTechniq EXO gives your paint a long-lasting, showroom quality finish. Tested to last over 600 washes, it is strong enough to use on cars, boats, planes and recreational vehicles! The UV filter also gives excellent protection against long periods in the sun, and water beads dry without leaving dreaded spot marks. Enjoy years of surface protection with just one application!

Aqua Wax is a super-fast product designed for a brilliant, smear-free finish on all exterior surfaces – even when the vehicle is still wet! There is no need to dry the car between washing and polishing. Aqua Wax contains carnauba wax for exceptional durability and is suitable for all paint types, including metals, rubber, plastic and glass.

SPEED MASTER WHEEL BRUSH Your search for the perfect wheel brush is over! The Daytona Speed Master Wheel Brush lets you clean where you never thought possible! A flexible wheel brush with a thick, reinforced stem that curves, bends and conforms to clean behind spokes, in between the brake caliper and the dirtiest part of any wheel – the barrel. The feathered bristles provide the necessary agitation to remove brake dust without scratching the finish.

BLACK MAGIC

EASY SHINE CLAY & WAX KIT

$16.99 I blackmagicshine.com

The new, patented ‘Clay Magic’ clay bar cleaning system is a fast two-in-one clay and wax system that eliminates deep dirt and contaminates the typical car wash can’t remove. The kit leaves a durable wax shine that beads water and provides a deep and beautiful finish.

AERO PRODUCTS

RICCARDO

$39.99 I internationalaeroproducts.com

$21.99 I eshine.ca

SHIELD

SHIELD is a catalyzed, co-polymer protector that chemically binds to painted surfaces to create a deep, luscious shine while protecting painted surfaces for up to two years. The easy-to-apply protector has been a detailing staple of its sister company International AERO Services, which has been cleaning muti-million-dollar private aircraft for years.

DETAILING CLAY

Riccardo Clay is a premium mild clay bar that will effectively remove contaminants without harming your paint surface. Using three pre-cut flat pieces, it eliminates the need to cut and flatten sections off a large bar. The unique Polyelastic formula sets this clay apart; not only is it very flexible, it will not crumble and works great with any clay lube. Comes with a plastic flip-top case for storage.

*Prices are subject to change

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BUYERS GUIDES

LUCAS OIL

SLICK MIST SPEED WAX lucasoil.com

LEXANI

GRIOT’S GARAGE

$15.99 I lexani.com

$34.99 I griotsgarage.com

CAR CARE SYSTEM

Lexani Wheel Corporation introduces four cleaning products for automotive enthusiasts who want nothing but the best in car care. The Spray Wax, Instant Detailer and Gloss Enhancer, Tire Shine, and Wheel and Tire Cleaner are made from superior formulas created to prolong that “fresh from the showroom” feeling. Designed to use on conventional finishes, quickly remove fingerprints, oils and deep dirt for a spotless, high-luster finish from your tires to your interior.

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HIGH GLOSS VINYL AND RUBBER DRESSING Griot’s High Gloss Dressing allows you to achieve professional results on interiors, exterior trim, tires and all the plastic and rubber parts of your vehicle, keeping your surfaces clean and moisturized for years to come. There are no dangerous solvents, and special UV blocking agents also keep your vinyl and rubber parts from cracking, fading or hardening.

Lucas Oil Slick Mist is a polymer paint gloss intensifier that can also be used on glass, chrome and vinyl decals. Use it as a traditional wax, quick detail spray or just spray it on your vehicle between rinsing and drying for the easiest polish ever. Slick Mist outperforms the competition and will leave your finish slippery and shiny, with long lasting protection.

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

2013-03-05 11:24 AM

CAR CARE GUIDE

TURTLE WAX RINSE FREE WASH & WAX $7.99 I turtlewax.com

MEGUIAR’S

WHITE WAX AND BLACK WAX meguiars.com

Knowing that and black cars account for 70% of vehicles on the road, Meguiar’s introduces its new White Wax and Black Wax, designed to tackle specific problems facing light and dark paints and maximize the results consumers crave. Using Super Micro Abrasive Technology (SMAT), the waxes deep-clean surfaces and accent the brilliance of white paint, as well as the ‘wet’ look that only dark paint can achieve. They’re also backed by Meguiar’s well-known, industry-leading care technology and performance guarantee.

Turtle Wax Rinse Free Wash & Wax is the fastest, easiest way to clean and shine your car without rinsing. This product will remove dirt without scratching your finish and leaves a protective layer with extraordinary shine. Appropriate for paint, plastic, rubber, decals, glass, chrome and more; urban dwellers and those without access to a hose can wash anywhere, anytime. It also conserves water and prevents harmful run-off into the environment. One bucket of water will wash and wax an entire vehicle!

*Prices are subject to change

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND

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BUYERS GUIDES

CAR CARE GUIDE

SYLVANIA

RAIN-X®

$20 I sylvania.com/HRK

$7.99 I rainx.com

HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KIT

PERFECT DOSE CAR WASH

Over time, the sun’s harsh UV rays make your vehicle’s plastic headlight lenses hazy and cloudy, drastically reducing light output and creating potentially-dangerous glare during nighttime driving. The Headlight Restoration Kit from SYLVANIA restores road visibility and minimizes glare caused by oncoming traffic. Featuring a durable and proprietary UV block clear coat, it prevents future hazing and yellowing.

Because it’s almost impossible to get the right mixture of products when cleaning your car, Rain-X ensures the perfect amount of car wash every time.

New water soluble film technology allows car wash packs to dissolve quickly in water, providing a perfect three-in-one mix to wash, rinse and wax your car. It also means less mess and wasted product compared to jug car wash alternatives.

MOTHERS CAR CARE PRODUCTS I mothers.com

For 2013, Mothers has four new and innovative products to enhance your vehicle’s appearance, including the LeatherTech Foaming Wash and Moisture Infusion Gel Cream, Professional Paint Restoration System and Back-to-Black Tire Renew.

With special micro-emulsion and hydrating formulas, the LeatherTech line is meant to clean and restore your surfaces to like-new condition, while the Paint Restoration takes car of water spots, oxidation and swirlmarks and scratches from damaging car washes. The Back-to-Black cleaner will remove tire scuff marks and dirt, even restoring white walls with no rinsing required.

SHINING MONKEY

SONAX

REJEX

$19.99 I shiningmonkeycorp.com

$15.99 I sonaxcanada.com

from $14.95 I rejex.com

360 TYPE II DETAILER

Introducing a first-to-market formula that is safe on all vinyl and matte paint finishes.

Made to clean and protect the surface, the 360 formula will build resistance to staining and fingerprints the more you use it! Use it on your interior, exterior, glass, LCD screens, iPad, iPhone, smartphones, dashboards and any other hard surface.

This is an environmentally-friendly formula that uses proprietary polymers to protect the surface by leaving behind an invisible nano-layer of hydrophobic film.

WHEEL CLEANER

SONAX Wheel Cleaner is a highlyeffective, environmentally-friendly, acid-free solution that is safe for all wheel surfaces. Just spray the yellow solution on your wheels and when it’s ready to rinse, the color changes to purple. Power spray or manually wash to remove dirt and brake contaminants for an impeccably clean wheel surface.

PROTECTIVE FINISH

RejeX is a thin-film polymer paint sealant designed to provide an ultra-high gloss, non-stick protective finish for any vehicle.

Forget old-fashioned waxes; this very thin film (less than a micron) prevents stains and adhesion of common contaminants such as brake dust, melted race track rubber, exhaust and bug splatter for a quicker cleanup every time.

SANCTIOND

MISTER CARTOON’S CLEANING PRODUCTS $9.99 I sanctiond.com

Combining his love of cars, culture and lifestyle, Mister Cartoon’s SANCTIOND products provide detail and cleaning products aimed at getting your car spotless and brilliant in a fraction of the time. The Wheel and Tire Cleaner removes tough dirt and returns your tires to their deepest blacks, while the Spray Wax and Spray Detailer allows returns your interior and exterior to a showroom quality finish. *Prices are subject to change

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power pa g e

Meguiar's

DA Power System

by PAS Staff

meguiars.com / meguiarscanada.com @meguiars facebook.com/meguiarsUSA youtube.com/meguiars

T

here is nothing like a car in showroom condition. The sparkle and reflection of a freshly cleaned car is enough to draw anyone’s attention. And while it’s nice to admire, when it comes time to put the work in, often we don’t have the time or patience to hand wash, wax and buff out the finish.

A number of companies have come out with products and accessories to help alleviate the work involved, but the result is usually something that looks less than spectacular, or doesn’t last as long as a traditional wax job. Even the systems that attach to your drill can leave swirl marks and do more damage to your paint than if it was left alone.

Thankfully, Meguiar’s has stepped in with a new take on the drill-activated wax and polishing system, learning

64

from the mistakes of previous rotary-action designs.

Meguiar’s DA (Dual Action) Power System takes the standard drill-attachment and adds an additional oscillating motion to avoid the dreaded swirl marks that result from so many other systems. The system is designed with a number of attachments to work safely and provide a showroom finish on both clear and gel coat surfaces, even for a first time user.

Anyone who has hand waxed

or polished their car knows the elbow grease required for a proper finish. The Meguiar’s DA system not only takes the effort out of the work, but comes with a number of pads to ensure a great finish every time. The compounding pad removes oxidation, stains, light scratches and water spots. The polishing pad helps to remove swirl marks, and enhances the paint gloss and depth. Finally, the waxing pad pushes the wax into the paint to moisturize it for the final shine.

It can take hours to wash, dry and wax your car, but the Meguiar’s system cuts that time down by a fraction. We were invited out for a live demonstration of the system and the results were incredible. Within

30 minutes the system brought the finish back to showroom quality on cars that looked like they had very little hope.

We’re awaiting packages to come into the office to try on our own cars and we can’t wait.

With time often a concern, if we can make our cars look new in very little time, that’s always a good thing. Many of our staff members are loyal users of Meguiar’s and with the number of new products coming out, check back at PASMAG and PASMAG.com for our impressions throughout the season.

The system is available in stores in spring, or online right now at www.meguiars.com. pas For additional photos, visit

pasmag.com/MeguiarsDApower

» Performance Auto & Sound

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OEMguide buyers GUIDES

Integration

We know you spend most of your time inside your car, so why not make it better? Our guide is full of options to improve your experience and convenience!

Scosche

cellCONTROL

$129.95 I scosche.com

Parrot

Phoenix Gold

$99.99 I parrot.com

phoenixgold.com or gentec-intl.com

UNIKA Steering Wheel Interface The Parrot UNIKA interface connects your steering wheel controls to any existing Parrot MKi hands-free system, putting the features of your hands-free system within reach. The UNIKA is completely invisible inside the vehicle and compatible with all steering wheel controls.

ACX600.5 Amplifier

A 2013 Best of CES Innovations Award winner, the ACX600.5 is a one-of-a-kind, apppowered, Bluetooth-equipped “App Control Amp.” Simply put, the ACX600.5 amplifier is the first mobile audio amplifier to have its controls and status fully adjustable and viewable by an iOS or Android app, providing the user the ability to intuitively manipulate the amp’s crossover frequencies, bass boost, gain levels and more from virtually any smartphone or tablet.

Cell phone usage is one of the biggest safety hazards while driving. Scosche’s new cellCONTROL automatically disables the distracting texting and emailing functions of a smartphone by automatically connecting to a user’s phone via Bluetooth when the car is in motion. It is completely tamper proof and will automatically alert the system administrator with any removal or misuse, but still allows existing wireless music capabilities.

Rockford

PUNCH P400X4 Amplifier

$349.99 I rockfordfosgate.com

Rockford’s PUNCH P400X4 can seamlessly integrate with your factory stereo system. It accepts signal from a speaker level source and using Rockford’s new C.L.E.A.N. technology, the amp can quickly be adjusted for maximum signal input and power output. The P400X4’s integrated crossovers and Punch EQ allow you to customize the sound down to the finest detail.

iDatalink

Maestro RR Universal Car Radio Replacement Interface $189 I idatalink.com/maestro

New for 2013, the iDatalink Maestro RR interface retains complete Ford SYNC and GM OnStar hands-free and steering wheel controls with compatible Kenwood DNX receivers. In addition, the Maestro RR unlocks additional Kenwood display functionalities with select vehicles, such as DTC error code and tire pressure information, touch-screen climate controls as well as performance gauges. *Prices are subject to change

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buyers GUIDES

OEM Integration

Bavarian Soundwerks

MAXXLINK

$159.99 I bavsound.com

$150 I maxxlinkaudio.com

Spec.Dock iPod / iPhone Ashtray Dock

VLOC-6V3 Output Converter

Bavarian Soundwerks offers a host of iPod/iPhone, Bluetooth, USB and multimedia integration Kits for BMWs. The Spec.Dock converts your ashtray into a useable docking station so your iPhone remains firmly seated, visible and accessible while on the road. It also provides charging and direct connectivity to your entertainment system with iPhone 5 compatibility as well as retains the use of your existing ashtray cover to hide it when not in use!

The VLOC-6V3 is a six-channel line output converter and line driver.

Designed to handle almost unlimited voltage input, it easily integrates aftermarket amplifiers and signal processors into the most complex OEM systems. The VLOC-6V3 features turn-on sensing along with summing and blending to allow full control of the full-range signal while eliminating turn on/off thump. Once installed, the VLOC-6V3 unit allows full functionality of your existing system.

Wirez

Line Driver and Level Converter gotwirez.com

The Wirez LCDSS10-2 is both a line driver and line level converter. In line driver mode, it can produce up to 10 VRMS on the RCA outputs and is great for inexpensive source units and OEM systems. In level converter mode, it accepts up to 100 W per channel from the factory head unit or amp. It also features a ground level detection remote turn-on output so it won’t turn on when the car doors are closed like lesser, inexpensive units.

Axxess

ASWC-1 Interface

axxessinterface.com

GROM Audio USB2P Kit

gromaudio.com

The USB2P allows users to connect their Android, iPhone and USB flash drive directly to your existing car audio system for complete media control. It supports MP3, WMA, iTunes (AAC), FLAC and WAV file formats to deliver CD-quality sound while adding control of your device through your existing steering wheel and head unit functions. With Bluetooth-enabled devices, listen to your music or talk hands-free for the ultimate in convenience and connectability.

If you want an interface that automatically connects to your existing audio system and adds fully-functional steering wheel control, look no further than the ASWC-1. It automatically identifies the vehicle and stereo to preset the controls and works with top radio manufacturers like Pioneer, JVC, Kenwood, Alpine, Eclipse, Sony and more for enhanced control and the convenience of quick installation.

*Prices are subject to change

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buyers GUIDES

OEM Integration iSimple Connect

$229.95 I isimplesolutions.com

Designed as the successor to the best-selling iSimple GateWay, the Connect offers all the premium features of the standard GateWay kit, plus the ability to connect devices via USB or Bluetooth. The Connect is currently available for select GM (ISGM651) and Toyota (ISTY651) vehicles.

KICKER

SoundGate Factory System Upgrades

$1,249.95 (with DSP option) I kicker.com or gemsen.com

mObridge

M1000-M-DA2 MOST Advanced Analog and Digital Pre-Amp mobridge.us

The M1000-M-DA2 gives pure, phase-coherent, flat frequency response for vehicles equipped with MOST Fibre Optic networks.

With eight channels of output, the powerful 400 MHz Blackfin DSP and Burr-Brown D/A Converter ensures studio-quality sound while maintaining factory functionality for Bluetooth voice and navigation control. The DA2 also features optical Toslink connection for external signal processors. MOST networks are found in vehicles like Porsche, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Land Rover and Mini with many more to come.

KICKER high-performance audio upgrades are designed to cosmetically integrate into Chevy, Ford (shown), GMC, Jeep and Dodge vehicles. Consisting of a 10-inch subwoofer, made-to-fit enclosure and a low-draw integrated 200-watt amplifier for powerful bass and clean sound, you get intense performance with minor mods and maximum cargo space. Also available with a multi-channel DSP amp option to enhance your existing factory speakers.

VIBE

DeltaBox Line ConvertEr $32 I vibecaraudio.com

The Delta Box Line Converter provides the perfect solution for integrating your aftermarket amplifier with your factory-fit OEM head unit.

Not only does it derive a low-level RCA output for your amplifier from the speaker outputs of the head unit, but thanks to VIBE AUTOSENSE technology, the line converter provides a remote turn-on for your amplifier without adding a separate switch or locating an ignition-switched 12-Volt supply in the vehicle.

PAC Audio

Radio Control Interface

$229.95 I pac-audio.com

The latest addition to the RadioPro line — the RP5-GM32 — combines PAC Audio’s most popular and innovative steering wheel control interfaces and radio replacement modules into a single unit that facilitates full functionality of an upgraded aftermarket radio. The RP5GM32 also retains important safety and convenience features such as OnStar, steering wheel controls and factory amplified audio systems (including Bose).

*Prices are subject to change

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MOBILE

|

MARINE

|

POWERSPORTS

|

HOME AUDIO

It just got real.

The new W6v3

More output, more technology and legendary W6 sound quality in the smallest enclosures ever!

10W6v3-D4 600W, Dual 4ohm 10 inch Subwoofer Driver Rec. Sealed Enclosure: 0.55 cuft.

12W6v3-D4 600W, Dual 4ohm 12 inch Subwoofer Driver Rec. Sealed Enclosure: 1.0 cu. ft.

How we play.™ © 2013 JL AUDIO, Inc. For more information on our W6v3 Subwoofer Drivers, please visit your Authorized Dealer or www.jlaudio.com.

In Canada contact GemSen Distribution at www.gemsen.com.

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buyers GUIDES

OEM Integration JL Audio

CleanSweep CL441dsp Audio Interface

$349.95 I jlaudio.com or gemsen.com

The CL441dsp digital signal processor brings high quality sound to your aftermarket amplifier and speaker system without changing the interior aesthetic or your factory-installed head unit. With Automatic Digital EQ, four-channel and left/right auxiliary inputs and fourchannel outputs, the CL441dsp automatically analyzes the entire frequency spectrum and applies 30 bands of powerful equalization to each channel for the cleanest, flattest audio signal possible. Gone are the days of replacing your head unit to obtain optimal sound quality!

AudioControl LCQ-1

$299 I audiocontrol.com

The AudioControl LCQ-1 is a powerful six-channel signal processor that works as a gateway between factory-installed head units and aftermarket amplifiers. The LCQ-1 can easily “tune” their audio systems with an ideal combination of discrete equalization controls and AudioControl’s OEM integration circuitry. The LCQ-1 maximizes factory installed audio systems to bring the best out of your car audio system.

Cerwin-Vega

Output Converter and Driver

$59.99 I cerwinvegamobile.com

The new IOEMHL line output converter and driver is designed to accept the high-level output of any OEM source unit or amplifier and provide a high-performance RCA level output signal. It also boosts mediocre RCA signals to be cleaner and more powerful.

Finished in black powder-coat with a CNC-machined brushed aluminum cover plate and heavy-duty, nickel-plated RCA outputs, the IOEMHL is anything but a standard build.

Beat Sonic Shark Fin Antenna

$115 I optionsauto.com

The Beat Sonic FDA43 Functional Shark Fin Antenna is designed specifically for the 2013 Scion FR-S. Pre-painted and color-matched to OEM colors, it provides exact fitment to match the contours of the FR-S. It requires no modification and is easily reversible for quick installation and removal and retains all OEM functionality. Also available for Subaru, Toyota, other Scion models and universal applications. Available at Options Auto Salon.

Massive Audio BiT Series Amplifiers

$349.95 to $449.95 I massiveaudio.com

New for 2013, Massive Audio introduces three new Nano BiT amps featuring class-D outputs, turn-on sensors and high-level speaker inputs for OEM integration and high-power output from a small package. The Bx2 measures just 1.6” H x 5” W x 6.3” L but packs a hefty 120 Wrms (x2) at four ohms and outputs 480 Wmax! The Bx4 doubles the work load with 120 Wrms (x4) at four ohms and matches the size of the 1,600 W Mono B2 for a great stackable system at a fraction of the size!

*Prices are subject to change

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AMPLIFIERS • SPEAKERS • SUBWOOFERS • PROCESSORS • MOTORCYCLE AUDIO

W W W . A R C A U D I O . C O M A R C A U D I O I N C 4 7 1 9 G R E E N L E A F C I R C L E # 4 M O D E S T O , C A 9 5 3 5 6 T E L : 2 0 9 . 5 4 3 . 8 7 0 6 FA X : 2 0 9 . 5 4 3 . 9 2 6 9

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t e S t e p o r

t

Powerbass

XL-WB8 Subwoofer System revie w

By Garry Springgay

I

If you’re into big bass but your ride is tight on space, the folks at Powerbass have developed an ultracompact subwoofer system that will fit virtually any vehicle. The system is called the XL-WB8 and utilizes the highly-regarded XL-84 eight-inch woofer. Providing a very impressive amount of bottom end while taking up a minimal amount of room, the system is priced affordably at just under $200 USD. powerbassusa.com

www.facebook.com/powerbassusainc

Features The XL-WB8 system uses a specially-designed vented enclosure and the aforementioned XL-84 woofer. Overall build quality is better than one would expect for the price; this is a well-made product with a very nice finish. Wrapped in aviation-grade textured black vinyl, the ruggedly constructed enclosure is manufactured of 0.5-inch MDF and lined with polyfill. The woofer attaches with eight screws hidden by a trim ring. Wiring connections are handled by spring-loaded terminals capable for up to 10-gauge wire

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Quick Tech Specs Power Handling Frequency Range Sensitivity Nominal Impedance

20-200 watts Continuous 35 - 250 Hz 83 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W 4 ohms

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Powerbass XL-WB8 Subwoofer System

in a flush-mounted cup on the side of the enclosure. The vent has an effective area of about 4.5 square inches, and is tuned to approximately 30 Hz. The Powerbass XL-84 woofer is the heart and soul of the system, and is built around a polycarbonate and glass fiber basket. To ensure proper cooling and maximize power handling, the woofer employs generous venting between the spider and the top plate.

The cone of the XL-84 is a non-pressed pulp blend for excellent tonality and the dust cap is an injection-molded inverted style decorated with an orange logo. Connecting the outer perimeter of the cone to the basket is a Santoprene surround, while the lower side of the moving mass utilizes a linear Conex material spider. Powering the woofer is a large, single-stacked 42-ounce ferrite magnet, driving a two-inch voice coil wound on a BASV former.

The woofer is fully cosmetically finished rather than a stripped-down version that some brands use when sold in a loaded enclosure.

For a system that measures roughly eleven inches tall, nineteen inches wide and less than six inches deep, it produces bigger sound than you’d expect.

listening For a system that measures roughly 11 inches tall, 19 inches wide and less than six inches deep, it produces bigger sound than you’d expect. With my amp

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crossover set to 100 Hz at -24 dB per octave, the little system produced deep musical bass, and frankly sounded like a much larger woofer. Power handling was great right up to its 200 watt limit and I appreciated the natural sounding timbre of the system. Low bass passages were reproduced with surprising authority and the system maintained good attack and decay.

While I was listening, a friend stopped by, I asked him to turn around and tell me how big he thought the woofer was. After 30 seconds of listening to Thomas Dolby’s Key to My Ferrari, he said “That’s a 12!” In his

defense I wasn’t surprised, because this little system can rock! Over the next couple of hours we listened to all kinds of music and both came away suitably impressed.

On The Bench From a measurement perspective, the system produced data that correlated closely with the listening tests. Frequency response measured much lower than you’d expect from an eight-inch system, thanks to the well-chosen tuning frequency of the enclosure.

If a small, inexpensive woofer system is what you need to put some bass in your ride, the Powerbass XLWB8 should be on your short list of products to consider.

Meguiar’s® DA Power System is versatile enough to compound, polish and wax your car. Simply attach the right pad with your favorite Meguiar’s product and let the drill do the work for you.

Conclusion If a small, inexpensive woofer system is what you need to put some bass in your ride, the Powerbass XL-WB8 should be on your short list of products to consider. Whether you listen to 50 Cent or Zac Brown, the Powerbass XL-WB8 will provide you with great-sounding bottom end, at a price almost anyone can afford. pas

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/PowerbassXLWB8sub

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Meguiar’s®

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Audiopipe

TA-FS120 12” Subwoofer review

By Garry Springgay

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f your ride is limited for space to install a subwoofer enclosure and you have a similar restriction when it comes to your bank account, there is still hope. Shallow woofers work well in very limited depth locations - and we’re looking at one that also works with shallow pockets.

Meet the TA-FS120 from Audiopipe. This is a valuepriced, dual voice coil, 12inch shallow-mount woofer requiring less than three inches of mounting depth.

With a depth of only 2.875 inches and a price tag well under a hundred bucks, the TA-FS120 is one of the lowest priced shallow-mount woofers available. audiopipe.com

Rated at 250 watts of continuous power, the woofer is nicely made with a cast aluminum basket finished in a high gloss black powdercoat. The dual four-layer, four-ohm voice coils allows two- or eight-ohm configurations, while the high-gloss piano black finish on the injection-molded poly cone provides a great background

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for the Audiopipe badge.

From a technical perspective, the woofer uses a large diameter, slim-profile ferrite magnet to drive the fourlayer, 1.5-inch voice coils. A single linear-type Nomex/ cotton spider provides control and compliance underneath the cone, with a butyl rubber surround for cone control and compliance

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Quick Tech Specs Power Handling Frequency Range Sensitivity Nominal Impedance

250 Watts RMS 25 - 500 Hz 87.7 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W (1.414 V @ 2 ohms) (2) 4 ohm coils

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It’s easy…with the right tool.

Meguiar’s® DA Power System brings the detailer’s secret – “dual action” – to your garage. Simply attach Meguiar’s DA Power System to your drill to see great results in less time.

For free personal car care advice, go to Meguiars.com or call 800 347-5700 Mon-Sat, 7:00am to 3:00pm Pacific Time

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Audiopipe TA-FS120 12” Subwoofer

Thiele-Small Parameters Model = Audiopipe TA-FS120 Coils in parallel Revc = 1.910 ohms Fo = 49.879 Hz Sd = 0.049 M² Vas = 1.005 cu-ft Cm s= 0.082 mm/N Mmd = 116.755 g Mms = 123.031 g BL = 8.951 T·M Qms = 6.156 Qes = 0.919 Qts = 0.800 Lev c= 0.386 mH No = 0.371 % SPLo = 87.716 dB EBP = 54.27

around the perimeter of the cone. Speaker connections are handled by spring-loaded nickel-plated terminals that accept 10-gauge cable.

Tinsel leads are stitched to the spider to eliminate lead slap under high excursion conditions. A rubber gasket trims out the mounting flange, and helps provide an air tight seal to hard surfaces.

Listening According to the manual, the TA-FS120 is designed for sealed enclosures ranging from 0.8 to 1.8 cubic feet, or a two cubic-foot vented enclosure. The major reason most people buy a

shallow woofer is because they have very little room for an enclosure, so I decided to do my listening in a sealed enclosure on the smaller side of the recommended range. Mine measured 0.9 cubic feet after deducting the displacement of the woofer.

The Audiopipe shallow woofer sounded better than expected for a woofer on the economical end of the scale, with lots of output in the 50 to 150 Hz range. Bass output was relatively wellcontrolled and musical. After some experimenting, I found that using a steeper slope on my low pass filter improved the sound quality of

the system. I ended up using a crossover frequency of 90 Hz with a -24 dB per octave slope. If you stay within the rated power handling of 250 watts, you will have no problems with power handling.

But if you overdrive this woofer, it will let you know.

Extremely low frequencies were evident, but at lower output levels. This will be less of a problem in your car due to the vehicle's transfer function that my large listening room lacks. A larger enclosure would undoubtedly help too, but the whole reason for needing a shallow woofer in the first place is usually because you don’t have enough space.

W ith higher-end features and excellent value, you may find it o ffers among the best bang fo r the buck.

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SHIFT To the next level of performance.

Tried-and-true mobile entertainment built by those who love live music.

The new CompR™ 10-inch Subwoofer (4 Ohm) matches perfectly with our new KX400.1 400-watt Mono Amplifier for exceptional bass.

Buy them together online at www.kicker.com, or visit your nearest Authorized KICKER Dealer.

KICKER is distributed in Canada by Gem-Sen. www.gemsen.com www.kicker.com

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Audiopipe TA-FS120 12” Subwoofer SPL vs FREQ

Impedance vs Freq

On The Bench After the break-in and all the listening was done, I allowed the woofer to normalize overnight and moved into the lab for some precision measurements. With the dual coils wired in parallel with a DC resistance of 1.9 ohms, I measured the drivers Thiele-Small parameters. My results were quite a bit different than what was stated from Audiopipe, although they do not indicate how the woofer was measured to achieve their numbers. This can lead to inaccurate data being used to design your enclosure, so it pays to verify all of the data before using it to engineer an enclosure.

My data agreed with the manual (that the woofer is able to work in sealed or vented boxes), but indicates the best results would be in significantly larger-than-recommended sealed enclosures. While examining the free-air impedance curve, I also noticed a second resonant spike around 230 Hz that seems to be a mechanically induced harmonic.

The nearfield response curve also shows this aberration as a drop in the woofer's output due to the impedance rise, but because almost everyone uses a low pass filter well above this frequency, it’s not going to be an issue in normal use.

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Conclusion If you want to put some bass in your ride and need a very affordable, shallow woofer to do it, the Audiopipe TA-FS120 should be on your list of products to consider. With higher-end features and excellent value, you may find it offers among the best bang for the buck. pas

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/AudiopipeTAFS120

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Illusion Audio

Carbon C12 Subwoofer review

By Garry Springgay

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ot long ago I had the pleasure of reviewing a pair of unusual and innovative Illusion Audio C6 components. This time we are looking at a 12-inch subwoofer from the same Illusion Audio Carbon Series of products that also features a front-mounted motor structure. According to Duane Pilgrim at Orca Design and Manufacturing (the world-wide distributor and designer of the new Illusion Audio products), the goal for this woofer was 'compact size without compromise.'

By designing a woofer with a front-mounted motor assembly, the result could be a shallow-mount, lightweight subwoofer with all of the output of a conventional full size woofer. orcadesign.com

Like the other Carbon Series products, these Carbon Series subwoofers are highend products designed for discriminating buyers with deeper-than-average pockets. How deep exactly? The Carbon C12 woofer is rated for 400 watts of continuous power and 800 watts peak — it has a MSRP of $849 USD and costs about $50 bucks more in Canada.

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illusionaudio-america.com

facebook.com/IllusionAudio

Features For that price, you certainly get a very high-quality woofer that uses no-compromise technology and materials.

The cone material in the C12 is autoclave-formed woven carbon fiber for ultra low mass and high strength.

Built around a shallow, castaluminum basket, the C12 is designed with 12 narrow

Quick Tech Specs Power Handling Frequency Range Sensitivity Nominal Impedance

400 watts RMS / 800 watts peak 30-500 Hz 84 dB/SPL @ 1.0 W/1 M 4 ohms

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Illusion Audio Carbon C12 Subwoofer

Thiele-Small Parameters Model = Illusion Audio C12 Method= Double Curve - Delta Mass

Revc= 3.670 ohms Fo= 24.456 Hz Sd= 0.0445 M² Vas= 47.06 L Cms= 0.1676 mm/N Mmd= 247.258 g Mms= 252.649 g BL= 17.863 T·M Qms= 2.155 Qes= 0.447 Qts= 0.370 Levc= 0.4637 mH No= 0.149% SPLo= 83.752 dB EBP= 54.7

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The subwoofer sounded very good with a natural, musical sound and very good authority on the close-mic’d kick drum. basket spokes to eliminate acoustic reflections. And thanks to the front mounted motor, the C12 subwoofer can be mounted in a space just 4.875 inches deep. Attaching the cone to the basket is a wide-roll rubber surround up top and a Conex progressive type spider on the bottom.

This combination delivers a maximum suspension excursion of +/- 25 mm. Driving the moving mass is a high-power neodymium motor assembly, which is another great example of the materials and design used in the product.

The result is a motor weighing roughly one tenth of a traditional ferrite magnet, but with a higher magnetic energy. The housing of the neo motor employs built in heat sink fins for improved cooling and reliability at high power levels. Keeping the C12 cool is also easier than conventional woofers, since the motor as-

sembly is out front of the cone in the airflow and not trapped inside an enclosure.

By implementing dual magnetic gaps and a short low inductance voice coil, the C12 can provide very long throw excursion and drastically reduce intermodulation distortion. Centered in the woofers dual magnetic gaps is a three-inch (76 mm), fourlayer copper voice coil wound on an aluminum former for maximum heat transfer and dissipation. Wiring connections are made via goldplated, spring-loaded binding posts, which are electrically connected to the voice coil with special copper alloy foil/aramid fiber tinsel leads covered with silicone rubber damping sleeves.

According to the manufacturer, the C12 works best in a sealed type enclosure, with about one cubic foot of internal volume.

Listening Following my standard practice before doing any listening or measuring, the subwoofer was exercised for several hours to break-in the suspension. After letting it cool and normalize overnight, I mounted it in the suggested one cubic foot sealed enclosure and began my listening with Marc Cohen’s "Walking in Memphis." The subwoofer sounded very good with a natural, musical sound and very good authority on the close-mic’d kick drum. The subwoofer also did an excellent job reproducing the plucked and slapped bass in Dire Straits' "Heavy Fuel" and Ricki Lee Jones’ "Danny’s All Star Joint." More bass heavy type tracks such as 50 Cent’s "Patiently Waiting" and the Pussycat Dolls "Don’t Cha" were reproduced with surprising authority and, even under high power transients, the ultra long excursion of the C12 subwoofer didn’t show any audible signs of mechanical stress or bottoming, even though my instrumentation showed it had received brief signals well in

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Illusion Audio Carbon C12 Subwoofer SPL vs FREQ

excess of the woofer’s 400-watt rating. Make no mistake, this subwoofer is designed to sound great and the C12’s musicality is sure to impress. It will handle power, so while it may give up a few decibels to other subwoofers when compared at one watt of input (regardless of the levels I played it at), the

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Illusion Audio C12 handled the power with confidence. Never once did I think about it being a shallow mount, non-traditional woofer. That fact alone means it’s pretty special.

On The Bench After my listening session, I let the woofer cool and normal-

Impedance vs Freq

ize overnight, then fired up my trusty LMS analyzer to measure its frequency response and small signal parameters. As I expected from listening to it, the response curve was smooth and without any unwanted aberrations. The overall output level was also lower than most conventional subwoofers, but

then again, those options won’t mount in less than five inches of depth and/or handle 400 watts.

I’m happy to report that my Thiele-Small parameter measurements were almost identical to the C12’s published specs, which is a testament to the consistency in the build quality.

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Conclusion Whether you need a subwoofer to do your music justice or need to fit it in a small space, or both, the Illusion Audio C12 is one of the most musical shallow-mount subwoofers you can buy. It will handle a lot of power, provide you with accurate musical bass, and mount in spaces that ordinary subwoofers simply can’t. Sure, this combination of mounting flexibility and power handling doesn’t come cheap, but the cost of this subwoofer gets you a well-engineered, well-made product as well as entry into an exclusive club of audio aficionados. pas For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/IllusionC12sub

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JVC

KW-AV70BT Multimedia Player re view

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by Garry Springgay

t seems like every time I find a multimedia receiver with all the connectivity and convenience features I want, the audio section is lacking. Or, I get a really great audio player, but it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles I’d like to enjoy during my drive. If you have been waiting to buy a new multimedia receiver for your car that had all the features and high-end audio performance as well, your wait may be over. Thankfully, the folks at JVC have built a product focusing on high performance audio and an uncommonlygood blend of features, some of which aren’t even found anywhere else. jvc.com

jvc.ca

facebook.com/jvcusa

facebook.com/JVCCanada

youtube.comJVCAmerica

@JVC_USA

@JVCCanada

youtube.com/JVCCanada

Features The double-DIN sized JVC KW-AV70BT offers all the usual good stuff, including a high-quality, seven-inch TFT display, DVD playback, iPod/iPhone connectivity, Bluetooth, Pandora, four-volt preouts and a high-power internal amplifier. But it’s the additional and unusual added features that really make this unit worth every penny of its $549.95 USD list price.

Features like the removable motorized face for security or the “App Link” mode, which provides on-screen use of many different music, driving and convenience-oriented apps for the iPhone, are welcome additions. One of my favorite things about this unit is the MotinX-GPS Drive app for mapping

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MEASURED SPECIFICATIONS AMPLIFIER CEA-2006A power per channel (all channels driven @ 4 Ω) A Wtd S/N ratio (ref. to 2 V/1 W @ 4 Ω) amplified output THD+N (ref. to 2 V/1 W @ 4 Ω 1 kHz ) Frequency response (-3 dB)

20.2 watts/ch (x4) -81.2 dBA (CD) 0.05% 20 Hz – 20 kHz (CD)

PREAMP SECTION Max usable RCA output voltage A Wtd S/N ratio (ref. to full output voltage) Output impedance Frequency response (-3 dB)

4.0 Vrms -86.5 dBA (CD) 293 ohms 20 Hz – 20 kHz (CD)

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JVC KW-AV70BT Multimedia Player

4 OHM Power vs THD+N

and control of your entire portable music collection. Still want more? How about compatibility with your vehicle’s steering wheel controls, high- and low-pass filters, three-band parametric EQ and dual-zone capability to keep the kids in the back seat happy. The KW-AV70BT is even compatible with a rear view camera, an optional SiriusXM tuner and includes another set of A/V inputs for any other device such as a game console or second DVD player.

Controls and Ergonomics

and live traffic reports. When the KW-AV70BT is connected to your iPhone with the optional KS-U30 cable, it gives you full navigation functionality without spending a grand on a full-navigation unit.

And here’s some real value — the app costs about $20 bucks a year — and, because it is integrated with Wikipedia and Facebook, it’s more accurate than the preloaded maps you get with more expensive navi units. Other fun and useful on-screen apps include the high-quality MOG music service, Tunein and Inrix traffic.

Apple iPhone users can also bring Pandora stations along for the ride by connecting via the rear-mounted USB cable. But the

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cool stuff doesn’t end there. The unit can be set to display all of your information at a glance, but if you find the display distracting, you can set it to go dark and come back to life using the built-in proximity sensor. This sensor will re-activate the display whenever your hand gets close to the unit. It works like magic and it’s really cool.

Additional features include full hands-free connectivity for taking and making calls via Bluetooth, as well as Bluetooth music streaming from virtually any enabled device. An Android phone or basic USB drive can also be connected as a mass storage drive via the USB port, providing on-screen playback

When it comes to ease of use, the KW-AV70BT boasts a very user-friendly GUI that allows you to make adjustments and selections from intuitive menus without much fuss. The touchscreen-based soft keys are big enough to access without accidentally activating something else, and their placement is very logical. The GUI is also designed to promote safe driving. In order to turn the volume up or down, you twirl your finger around the screen in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. To skip a track or tune the radio up, you simply swipe the screen from right-to-left or left-to-right for previous track or for tuning down. Up and down motions can also be used to change folders or playlists and find preset radio stations. The screen can also be customized with separate settings for backgrounds, text and buttons, meaning an almost infinite number of combinations to get things exactly the way you want them.

listening To begin my listening session, I first connected the KW-AV70BT’s amplifier to my reference system speakers to get a feel for the performance of the internal amplifier. A few songs later, I concluded the internal amplifier was more than adequate for the casual user and sounded just fine. Of course, the biggest limitation with internal amplifiers in head units is the limited power. Even the best performers can only manage about 20 watts per channel of usable power, which is

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JVC KW-AV70BT Multimedia Player

okay for listening to news or stock market reports, but any real music lover will add external amplification.

So, switching to the four-volt RCA outputs, I connected the JVC as the source in my reference system.

From a sonic perspective the KWAV70BT sounded excellent with good frequency response and very low noise — I also appreciated the intuitive controls. This is a product that has been designed well enough to make reading the owner’s manual almost unnecessary. During listening I found no fault with the sonics of the KW-AV70BT. All in all, the detail, stereo image and overall tonal balance were spot on and virtually indistinguishable from my high-end reference CD player.

Amplifier Outputs, Max Flat

Preamp Outputs, Max Flat

Front/Rear; Crossover

Sub Out; Crossover

On The Bench Moving back into the lab, I put the unit through its paces. The resulting measurements confirmed what I had experienced when listening. Frequency response was very flat and the signal-tonoise ratio measurements were among the best I’ve seen in recent memory. The internal amplifier produced the full rated 20 watts per channel, while the pre-outs measured a full four volts of usable output. Source impedance was average for a high-performance audio player at 293 ohms.

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Conclusion If you have been waiting for a multimedia receiver with the perfect blend of features and performance, the JVC KW-AV70BT might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for. It offers excellent value and if you are an iPhone user. The wide range of available apps makes it an even better buy. The best part is, you can have all the cool connectivity toys and your inner audiophile won’t have to compromise when it comes time to sit back and enjoy the music. pas For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/JVCkwav70bt

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RENNEN F181 HYPER SILVER

18”, 19” 5x100mm - 5x120mm +25, +30, +35, +40, +45

UNDERGROUND

15” - 18” 4x100mm, 5x100mm, 5x114.3mm +38, +40, +42, +45

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E PhotoGRAPHY by Steve Bitanga gideon perez (www.babeblvd.com, www.stevebitanga.com)

Hair & Makeup by Valerie JC (www.iconimage.com) Wardrobe by Acqua Couture Swimwear (www.AcquaCouture.com)

birth

date

May6

Location

los angeles California

Zo d ia c Sig n

Taurus Weight: Height:

100 5’1” Measurements

32 | 23 | 35 Ethnicity

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Filipino

la Pasion might only be 5’1” and 100 POUNDS, but she’s a Taurus through and through. Her passion for her work is evident at first glance, with a stunning frame and an infectious smile that helped her win her first ever competition as Miss Hot Kush in California in 2010.

Living in the San Fernando Valley, Ela has taken full advantage of the industry and the Los Angeles lifestyle, making use of her motto that when she wants something, she goes out and gets it. And with her drive and beauty, we imagine anybody would have a hard time turning her down!

the

interview Where are you from, and where are you living now? I was born in

the Philippines and moved to Los Angeles at a very young age. I left the city briefly to attend college and I’m now in the San Fernando Valley part of L.A. I came back with high hopes to pursue my dreams.

How long have you been modeling? I have been

show modeling for about a year-and-a-half. I started taking pictures around this time last year.

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ela pasion

When my mind is set on something, I make it happen.

Even if it takes time, my persistence pays off if I’m passionate about it."

How did you get your start?

I started when I won the Miss Hot Kush Girl contest at the Kush Expo in Anaheim in November 2010. I joined the contest to win some extra cash, but I had no idea what kind of modeling opportunities would come out of it. Before I knew it I was doing photo shoots, online interviews and I started gaining a following. Let's just say I went with it!

Describe yourself in three words or statements.

Enchanting, sweet and friendly.

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What is your best beauty, fitness, nutrition secret? The

best way to stay beautiful is to be healthy! I love to exercise and eat right. There is no better feeling after a great workout. Exercise also plays a role in producing hormones that make you happy, and a happy girl is a pretty girl. :) What is the strangest photo shoot you’ve done? I've been

asked to do bondage before. It was at a group shoot and I wasn't too crazy about the concept, so we did a milder version of what he wanted. I wore leather with a chain on my neck but it still felt really weird!

Who is your favorite model or celebrity? I totally adore Zooey

Deschanel. She's so cute and funny.

What ARE YOUR BEST TRAITS? One of the few traits I love about myself is that I’m determined. When my mind is set on something, I make it happen.

Even if it takes time, my persistence pays off if I’m passionate about it.

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What is your top unfulfilled fantasy? I have

a fantasy where I'm making love on a private beach, but it hasn’t happened yet. I'm still wishing it'll take my breath away.

Do you have any pets? I have a Cocker Spaniel named Mona.

She's a puppy and is the absolute cutest thing ever!

What are your hobbies? Any hidden talents you'd like to share with the world?

In my spare time, I love to workout. I also love to cook! Even if I’m on a strict diet I love to make amazing food for my boyfriend and family. I'm obsessed with the Cooking Channel and Giada DeLaurentiis is my idol!

What is your favorite food?

I love all kinds of seafood. One of my favorite restaurants is King Fish. They change their menu everyday depending on the day's catch. It's a great place if you love seafood — the good kind, not the battered and deep fried stuff. I

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was raised eating seafood and it’s so healthy for you! It is low in fat and high in protein. My favorite comfort food is Filipino. I don't eat carbs, but when I have cravings I always stay true to my roots. :) Everyone has their weird habits. Do you have any?

No I'm totally normal and perfect! (haha) Just kidding! I have a bad habit of being messy. I'm not the neatest and it sucks. It's not that I don't know how to clean — I can tidy up very nice. It's keeping it nice that I have a problem with!

I'm working on it. (haha) What is your dream car?

I want to buy a white Nissan 370Z someday.

What do you look for in a guy? What would he have to do to get your attention and to keep you interested?

I love guys who are personable and friendly. I don't like posers.

I'm also the damsel-in-distress type, so if he can make me feel safe and loved, I'll be happy.

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What gets you in the mood?

What are some of your turnons? Dirty movies get me in the

mood. ;) (haha) How do you feel about pick-up lines? I don't really remember if

anyone has anyone ever used one on me. Hopefully the guys were all clever enough to know they wouldn't work on me anyway.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how wild are you in the bedroom? I give

myself a 10. I may not seem like that type in person, but you know what they say about the sweet innocentlooking ones.

What do you wear to bed?

Why? I like sleeping naked because

it feels good. :) Who are your heroes in reallife? Why? My real-life hero is my

mom. She's the strongest woman I know. I would be lucky to even be a fraction of who she is.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? I would love the power to

teleport, because traffic sucks!

Tell us about any upcoming projects of yours? I have been

saving up for some time to visit the Philippines. I've never been, so I'm really excited. Another trip I will be taking is Las Vegas. I will be in Vegas a few times for modeling and some partying. This summer is going to be great! I'm looking forward to it.

The best way to stay beautiful is to be healthy! I love to exercise and eat right.

There is no better feeling after a great workout."

With any ‘spotlight’ type of job, you are looked upon as a role model. What advice would you give out to aspiring models? It's an honor to be seen as

a role model. My advice to aspiring models is to always be positive. I've let myself down and been too hard on myself a few times. Always remember why you love to model and, more importantly, why you love yourself.

Do you have any shout outs or last words? I would like to thank

all my friends and mentors. I would not be here without you and your support. I would also like to thank Performance Auto & Sound for the opportunity to be a PASMAG model. I am a huge fan of the publication, and it’s an honor to be involved! pas

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/ElaPasion

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MODIFY • TUNE • COMPETE • WIN

Competitors

Jason Hughes

Photos by Cliff Wallace

David Whitehead

Vehicle: 1991 Nissan Silvia • location: Brampton, ON • Car Club Affiliation: Drift Posse

Vehicle: 2003 Acura RSX • location: Tampa Bay, FL • Car Club Affiliation: ILDS:Faction

Vehicle: 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE • location: Massapequa Park, NY • Car Club Affiliation: Driven Designs

Photos by Faryl Loew Photography

Peter Chriskopoulos

To c o m p e t e , re g i s t e r a t www.tunerbattlegrounds.com

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inspired by precision Both our Sporttech and Speedtech lines of springs are available in an extensive range of applications Reduce vehicle body roll and precision engineered for optimal increase the traction and gripping performance and comfort. ST Sport power of your tires with a set of Springs lower the center of gravity ST Anti Sway Bars. Precision to reduce body roll in corners engineered to provide the best and limit weight transfer under performance possible, our cold acceleration. Manufactured to the formed solid steel design is highest worldwide quality standards, powder coated for durability and each spring is custom wound from come complete with polyurethane high-tensile steel and rigorously bushings and all hardware tested and inspected to ensure needed for easy installation. absolute strength and reliability.

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aving a tuned car does not necessarily mean it has been tuned correctly. Recently, an American friend lamented to me, his sad story about a certain 2013 VR38DETT GT-R engine that was created by a supposedly reputable Stateside tuner. The apparent ease with which their builds could reach nine-second quarter-mile times were something this particular company prided themselves on.

Inexplicably, immediately after the build had been completed, the engine exploded, sending piston through block. All this before my friend could even take delivery of the package. He had yet to even drive the car, having sent it to the tuner immediately after taking delivery. This screamed negligence to me since the car was brand new. Not only was he out of pocket now, but he was also left with a busted VR38 and a useless R35. Needless to say, having lived in Japan for almost 10 years, I have seen and experienced a lot of automotive situations, but nothing even remotely like this. This type of situation just doesn’t happen here.

I don’t quite understand what it is that makes people certified power junkies. It’s almost as if they believe that “Power is everything.” But this couldn’t be farther from the truth. That’s not to say Japanese tuners don’t crave power, but Americans, Australians and Europeans, for example, take it way off the scale in a variety of ways.

Take American Major League Baseball (MLB) for example – it’s a power game. Most of the players are big, beefy and heavily set.

In Japan, it is the opposite, where technique and form takes a much stronger precedence since the physical size of the players is inherently different.

When he made his MLB debut, a lot of people mocked, criticized and ridiculed Ichiro Suzuki’s potential, claiming that his supposed “frailty,” “diminutive size” and “lack of strength” would see him crushed in the game even before he stepped up to the plate. Boy were they all dead wrong! He is

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arguably one of the greatest all-rounders to have ever played the game.

What was it that made him a success, and how does this relate to a busted R35 and tuning in general? Let me explain a few things. The “ether” that makes Ichiro a MLB superstar can be distilled and then superimposed onto what makes Japanese sports cars some of the greatest in the world. Ichiro plays baseball the way Japanese professionals tune their cars. He’s reliable, consistent, accurate, dependable, super fast and supremely strong, despite not looking it.

Japanese tuners prefer total tuning balance over outright power and always have.

They believe that power is worthless if it can’t be put to use and this is a solid philosophy, reflecting deeply-seeded attitudes that have existed for decades in the Japanese automotive industry and for centuries in Japanese culture in general. Why then do American tuners, for example, feel that massive numbers are the only way forward?

Simply because an engine has big potential? The ability in getting power to work in harmony with every other component, in achieving the ideal balance between the sum of the parts, is what separates Japanese tuners from the rest of the world.

It is ignorant to think that because an engine can make big numbers, that it can sustain them; that the rest of the car will just somehow follow. The R35 is a complex web of computers, electronic servers and mechanical components that need to work in finely-tuned harmony for everything to function at an optimum level. Consider also the other areas such as chassis, brake and suspension tuning. The big question relates to synchronizing them so that everything works together perfectly.

This leads me on to one more very important point about the mindset of a Japanese enthusiast, tuner or manufacturer.

The argument in the U.S. about form being greater than function has warped the minds of many. These people mistakenly believe visuals take precedence over mechanicals and this is perpetrated in the media as a suitable approach to tuning. I ask you though, what good is a car that looks great on the surface, but is useless underneath? What good is taking a Japanese sports car and removing or diminishing its performance attributes?

The truth is that form always follows function and it’s an approach the Japanese have been following since they started making cars. If it’s broken, then it doesn’t matter how good it looks. It’s as good as useless;

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nothing more than an ornament.

Basic design principles dictate that function is more important than form so, how is it then, that a great many people have gotten this fundamental truth completely back to front?

Regardless, education is half the battle, so it’s refreshing to see more and more people taking function, not appearance, as seriously as the Japanese do. The reason the R35 is perceived by many as “ugly” is simply because it works the way it was intended.

Its “form” is a direct result of its “function.” It looks the way it does because of the way it works.

All this leads me back to one particular baseball player. He might not look like the toughest, biggest or strongest player in the game, but Ichiro is definitely one of the all-time greats and is quite literally an R35 in human form. Adding any more power than absolutely necessary will just spoil the overall balance to his game, much the same way adding power to an engine without considering the other elements of the package will lead to chassis imbalance, cornering instability and in the case above, extremely expensive engine failure. “Power” and “Stance” junkies would do well to take note. PAS

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s with any Tokyo Auto Salon, it’s sensory overload from the minute you get in to the minute you leave. This year we had a ton of spectacles to witness inside and outside the Makuhari Messe in Chiba and an indication of how much bigger 2013 was, was in the opening of the North hall, which has remained empty for many years previously. It was literally the “Attack of the Toyota EightySixes” this year with an unprecedented 91 individual builds of the car present in virtually every corner of the four gigantic halls. Everywhere you turned, you were bound to bump into one; and after four straight days at the show, I was actually starting to get a little tired of seeing them. Some of the builds were simply astounding, some simply awful. Japanese tuning is like that though. It tends to polarize people; you either love what the tuners build or you simply scratch your head and ask yourself what the hell you’re supposed to be looking at? It’s a quirky, idiosyncratic and sometimes questionable tuning style, but is always a huge load of fun to take in.

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CHIBA, JAPAN Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall

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2013-03-05 4:55 PM

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Thanks to Abflug and Pentroof, I had backstage access for the Thursday setup day and some of the shots you see here are from that day, so please don’t mind the “mess” at the Messe. When I left, it was 9 P.M. and I thought there was absolutely no chance the halls could be cleaned overnight for the Friday opening, but sure enough, in true Japanese style, it was absolutely spotless the following day. Friday brought with it all the industry insiders, big-wigs and the press, but for some strange reason, the TAS organizers only gave us four hours alone with the cars – that’s nowhere near enough time to cover a single hall, let alone four of them! By 1 P.M., the freaks had arrived in droves on special advance tickets and there was only one thing on their minds; the girls. I am constantly blown away by how intense their fascination with the TAS girls is and sure enough, at some booths, the mosh pit was five deep with a sea of camera and cell phone wielding “otaku.”

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CHIBA, JAPAN Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall

Getting photos during this time is difficult to say the least but, with a flash of the press card, in I go to have some quiet time with the girls uninterrupted. You can’t imagine how it feels to have hundreds of cold stares boring holes into your back while you’re trying to take your shots! Some say over 70% of the people that go to TAS do so for the girls. I don’t doubt that at all. The TAS is really the best way to kick off the year for automotive fanatics and there were lots of interesting new products being developed by the biggest names in the game. Despite there being an absolute overload of Hachi Rokus at the show, it was clear the Japanese are absolutely in love with the platform and are innovating at a superior level and pace. This is a good sign for the industry and all its followers, but one has to ask the question: “What the hell is wrong with you, Nissan?” You’re wondering why I say that, but there is still no S16 Silvia to speak of and the show needs it; the industry needs it, the 86 and BRZ need it. I think Nissan has dropped the ball big time and the success of the Toyota 86 and BRZ at this year’s TAS is damning proof.

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CHIBA, JAPAN MAkuHArI Messe INterNAtIoNAl exHIBItIoN HAll Despite extreme sleep deprivation, I had an absolute blast shooting my brains out. I left the show, however, puzzled about one very important thing. A lot of people are concerned about the future of the Japanese tuning industry and their concerns are valid. When the day comes for some of the tuning legends to move on, who will be there to step in and take their places? There to grab the torch and run with it? The worrying thing is that there doesn’t appear to be many people following in the footsteps of these giants and that’s not a very good sign at all. I suppose they are, after all, very big shoes to fill. PAS For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/TAS2013

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Don’t let the shop name fool you, Wacky Mate does the exact opposite of wacky with this RX-7.

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eople lose focus too easily.

When confronted with a new project and the vast choices available when selecting upgrades, it’s often far too easy to get lost in it all. Getting the latest flashy part can distract from sticking to the original plan, which is why tuning shops are a great help to guide customers in the right direction. As Sakakibarasan of Wacky Mate tells us, cars are

for driving and that’s pretty much all they focus on when it comes to advising their customers. You can’t get more down to earth than that.

When you take a look at some of the rides these guys have built, it quickly becomes obvious that Wacky Mate knows how to fuse function with performance. Their RX-7 demo car is a testament to this simple way of thought — aggressive and powerful,

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but built with a certain focus that doesn’t spoil its drivability.

Located a short drive south from Nagoya, Wacky Mate has never been one to limit its area of expertise on a particular model. Sakakibara-san and his trusty mechanics always enjoy working on a variety of cars.

They are known for thinking outside the box, able to custom fabricate anything in order to fit a specific part

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and/or build a complete car from the ground up. It might be hard to believe, but this is something that is getting harder to find in Japan, where everything is available in a catalog and delivered in a day or two. When it came time to build up the FD3S, the idea was simple: the car had to be an example of what could be done with a reasonable budget to create a wellbalanced setup.

First up is the chassis. While the FD might boast modern-looking lines, there is no hiding the fact the car first went into production 20 years ago.

Body stiffness has also come a long way since then, so Sakakibara-san addressed this with the addition of a roll cage. It not only tightens the feel and handling of the car, but it also adds an element of safety seeing that it often participates in Wacky Mate-organized track day events.

Under the car, the rubber bushings

around the suspension links are replaced with pillow ball ends and harder polyurethane items, giving an instant increase in precision from the driver seat. Seeing as the car still serves as a daily driver for one of the Wacky Mate mechanics, a certain level of comfort was needed, so the suspension couldn’t be too extreme.

This is where A’PEXi N1 dampers come in — a tried and proven setup that does the job both on the street and on the track.

Quality power delivery was far more important than outright horsepower numbers, so the 13B engine under the bonnet received a well thought-out series of modifications.

First up, the twin-rotor was taken apart, ready for a series of side port openings on each of the housings.

The shape and size of the ports were matched to the rest of the engine spec to give good low-end pick up

and a strong mid range. Once the apex seals were replaced with fresh items, the motor was reassembled and dropped into the engine bay, ready to receive the rest of the upgrades. Mounted on a HKS exhaust manifold is the externally-gated GReddy TD-06H-25G single turbo, which replaces the sequential blowers the FD comes with as standard.

A custom titanium exhaust system and GReddy front pipe helps channel away spent gasses as well as intensifying the rotary exhaust note.

A large-core GReddy intercooler was chosen for the application and plumbed into position with custom piping and a Fujita Engineering intake elbow for better flow. An A’PEXi Power full computer unit custom mapped for both street and track carefully manages the 800 cc/min injectors and extracts the best from the engine.

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According to Sakakibarasan, the 414 horsepower the car develops is just right for a balanced FD, but the modifications don’t end there. The stock transmission was replaced with a six-speed HKS sequential gearbox that's mated to a HKS twin-plate clutch for instant, raw gear changes. It might be a little heavy around town, but it’s such an essential part of the character of the car that it was an easy choice to go with. The driveline is beefed-up with an OS Giken limited-slip differential to help cope with the 332 lb-ft or torque the 13B also develops.

With high levels of performance comes the need for matching looks; something that hints at the capabilities of the

car. For this, Japan’s best rotary specialist relied on RE-Amemiya to transform the RX-7. The AD wide-body kit has become a signature look for RE-Amemiya.

On this particular application it looks very well-suited paired with the white 17-inch Volk Racing TE37 wheels. The stock pop-up headlights have been retained and, with the addition of contrasting carbon detailing (Craft Square mirrors, front fenders, diffusers and the front and rear spoilers), it gives a unique feel to the car. Open the driver side door and the upgrades continue with a set of lightweight Bride bucket seats and Nardi steering wheel.

Auxiliary instrumentation is kept to a minimum with the Power FC Commander taking center stage

on the console; the Blitz boost controller is easily within reach on top of the steering column.

The three dash-mounted GReddy gauges are positioned towards the driver, displaying water and oil temperatures and oil pressure — all vital parameters when doing a spot of track driving. For those in-the-know, the tall gear lever and white HKS shift knob hint at the serious transmission upgrade this FD hides!

Wacky Mate really ticked all the right boxes with this RX-7.

Customers are even encouraged to take the car out for a drive at circuits like Suzuka, where the shop regularly organizes track days. A few laps in this beast would be the best sales pitch any tuner could make! pas

Built by: Wacky Mate Location: Nagoya, Japan Engine: 13B side-ported rotary Horsepower: 414 hp Torque: 332 lb-ft Engine Modifications Side-ported 13B engine HKS (external wastegate, SPF filter) GReddy (TD-06H-25G turbo, front pipe, front pipe, intercooler, alternator pulley) Wacky Mate (custom titanium exhaust system, racing radiator) Custom (intake pipe, intercooler piping, air separator tank, oil catch tank) Fujita Engineering intake elbow In-tank fuel pump 700 cc/min injectors A’PEXi Power FC ECU EXHAUST HKS exhaust manifold DRIVETRAIN HKS (twin-plate carbon clutch, 6-speed sequential gearbox) OS Giken 2-way LSD CHASSIS / SUSPENSION A’PEXi N1 adjustable dampers Pillow ball bushings WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES Volk Racing TE37 wheels - 17x9 (f/r) Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 tires - 255/40 ZR17 (f/r) EXTERIOR RE-Amemiya (AD front bumper, AD front spoiler, bonnet, AD front wide fenders, carbon fiber fender diffusers, AD side skirts, AD rear over-fenders, carbon rear diffuser, carbon vortex generators, carbon fiber rear wing) Craft Square carbon side mirrors Interior Cusco bolt-in roll cage Bride bucket seats Nardi steering wheel Works Bell snap-off steering wheel Blitz Dual SBC boost controller Power FC Commander GReddy gauges (oil temperature, oil pressure, water temperature) HKS (shift knob, extended shift lever) AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS Pioneer Carrozzeria head unit SPONSORS Wacky Mate For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/WackyMateFD

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DR EAM WEAV E R F LY L I K E A B U T T E R F LY, ST I N G L I K E A B E E Abflug has always tended to be a brand that absolutely polarizes people. You either love the styling or you hate it. That public acceptance (or lack thereof) hasn’t stopped a great many people tuning their cars in the most extravagant ways imaginable and during the late '90s and early 2000s when many people were drawn to the outrageously-stylized Abflug creations for the JZA80 Supra. No doubt, most of you reading this will have either heard of or seen something by Abflug during your time as an enthusiast.

ne particular person who wanted to go even further than anyone else is Akihiro Tamura, who owns, arguably, the craziest JZA80 of them all. The “Abflug Schwarzer” as it is known, started life as a seed of thought, with Tamura correctly reasoning that the lustrous appeal of a swoopy Supra coupled with the flair and extravagance of an Abflug design was a road far less traveled, but one definitely worth exploring.

So, it was with this mindset that he contacted the President of Abflug, Uwabo Masamichi, who, together with a team of designers in Japan, penned the elements to the car you see gracing the pages of this issue of PASMAG. Don’t let it’s debate-stirring exterior fool you, because this is no “flash-in-the-pan,” hard parking hipster chariot.

There are almost 620 other reasons under the hood why you will need to read on and discover what lengths the Japanese will often go to in their pursuit for individuality and the perceived notions pertaining to perfection. The Abflug Shwarzer is indeed unique. Tamura wanted a design that no one else had and Abflug duly accommodated the request, utilizing the skills of Super GT aerodynamicists to create never-to-berepeated design concepts for the car in collaboration with Tamura’s visions for the build.

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The look of high performance

Philips LED DayLight daytime running lights deliver the latest in high performance and style along with the fastest, easiest installation ever. Available in LED DayLight 4 and LED DayLight 8.

To learn more call 1-800-257-6054 www.philips.com/automotive

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Tamura’s love affair with all things Supra began in 2001 with the purchase of this 1999 vintage, 2JZ-GTE equipped chassis. It has culminated in a 12-year love affair with the platform and, when I asked him why he chose a Supra in the first place, his answer was revealing. “A lot of people love the Supra since it is kind of like an accessible Japanese supercar.

Naturally, I have had a lot of difficulties (with the car) since 2001, but I was lucky to discover a company like Abflug who shares the same passions as I do. Now that I have spent so many years with the chassis, I just can’t devote my time to any other platform. My goal was to push custom design and tuning for the JZA80 right to the limits. Abflug and Pentroof have helped me make that happen.”

A lot of method has gone into the madness this build represents; every aspect of tuning has been carefully considered. Painted in glossy Piano black, the entire kit is a bespoke creation, from the ostentatious hydraulic scissor doors, outlandish, Enzo-esque rear bumper assembly; beset with Ferrari tail lamps and underbody diffuser, to the extremely aggressive, custom front bumper that has been installed with bespoke HID headlights unlike any you’ll ever see again.

If one can manage to tear their eyes away from the exterior, this black beast has enough tricks under the body and inside the car to keep even the most jaded enthusiasts entertained.

The 2JZ was sent to renowned engine tuning

specialists Pentroof where it was stripped and rebuilt from the ground up. Internally, the block remains standard, but the heads are ported and polished and paired with lumpier cams; treatment that is part of their “Complete Tune” 2JZ engine packages.

Giving the car adequate thrust is a tried-andtrue Trust T78-33D turbo coupled to an F-Con V Pro engine management system. Abflug manufactured a one-off complete titanium exhaust system from the headers back to suit the build and this bulletproof gem of an engine produces a thick and juicy spread of torque and power.

Its maximum shove of 620 hp is developed at 4,880 rpm, which is backed up with a similarly broad amount of twist, with 650 lb-ft of torque delivered at a user-friendly 4,460 rpm.

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Combined with the Getrag six-speed manual, TRD limited-slip differential and an Exedy Hyper twin plate clutch and flywheel assembly, the Abflug Schwarzer sprints through the quarter mile at 10.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 201 mph – serious performance for a build this intricate.

Suspending all this power is a set of Abflug’s own custom “European Taste” adjustable dampers and springs. Endless racing was brought in to take care of braking duties, supplying six-piston calipers for the front and four-pot calipers for the rear; the entire ensemble is mated to slotted and ventilated oversized discs and Endless Racing brake pads. Rolling stock was also provided by Abflug in the form of 19-inch multi-spoke Gran Revolfe Prism “Model II” wheels sitting on each corner measuring a modest but functional 10 inches wide and -27 offset at the front, and 10 inches wide in the rear with a -40 offset. These jewels are wrapped in Yokohama Advan Sport rubber measuring 245/35 and 295/30, respectively.

Swinging open and lifting up the surprisingly-light carbon fiber-clad doors of the Supra reveals a completely re-trimmed and customized interior dominated by a pair of carbon fiber-shelled Bride “Stradia Japan SPL” semi buckets. There are also swathes of red-stitched custom Abflug Alacantara adorning all surfaces of the interior, including the entire dash assembly, center console, shift boot and handbrake boot. Tamura controls all this with a 325 mm Abflug Ital Spirit

steering wheel and monitors the cars vital signs via a complete set of Defi Step-Master gauges. You’ll also notice a complete padded cage system that extends from the A pillars right through to the rear of the car, giving the chassis much needed rigidity.

The Abflug Schwarzer is a heady and intoxicating cocktail of style, function and pure dedication. Tamura’s goal was to create something uniquely memorable and pour every ounce of creative energy into a project that, eventually, culminated in critical acclaim at the Tokyo Auto salon in 2012. I had to ask the question though, “Why Abflug?”

Tamura’s second answer was equally as insightful as his first. “I have dreamed of cars since I was a child and my opinion was that Abflug was a creator of supercars. I decided that I would love to create my own and the spark for the project ignited what you see 12 years later.”

He pauses for a moment, thinking back to some long distance memory buried deep within his subconscious and then, looking up, exclaims, “I wanted to tell a story with this car. A story for young enthusiasts about what tuning really embodies. About pouring your passion into a project like this. I had these dreams as a young guy and now I feel like it’s my responsibility to encourage those dreams in others.”

“That is why I built the Abflug Schwarzer.”PAS For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/SupraDreamWeaver

ESSENTIALS › 1997 TOYOTA SUPRA JZA80 VEHICLE: 1997 Toyota Supra JZA80 OWNER: Akihiro Tamura ENGINE: Toyota 2JZ-GTE inline-six HORSEPOWER: 620 hp @ 4,880 rpm TORQUE: 650 lb-ft @ 4,460 rpm TOP SPEED: 201 mph QUARTER-MILE: 10.8 sec.

ENGINE MODIFICATIONS PentRoof 2JZ “Complete Tune” kit Trust T78-33D turbocharger HKS F-Con V Pro EMS EXHAUST Abflug custom titanium full system DRIVETRAIN Getrag six-speed manual transmission Exedy Hyper twin-plate clutch and lightweight flywheel TRD two-way limited-slip differential CHASSIS / SUSPENSION Abflug “European Taste” adjustable dampers and springs WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES Abflug “Gran Revolfe Prism II” wheels – 19x9 -27 offset (f), 19x10 -40 offset (r) Yokohama Advan Sport tires – 245/35 ZR19 (f), 295/30 ZR19 (r) Endless Racing (six-piston front calipers, fourpiston rear calipers; slotted/vented oversize rotors, carbon composite brake pads (f/r)) EXTERIOR Full “Abflug Schwarzer” custom body kit and diffuser Carbon-clad Abflug hydraulic scissor doors Custom HID headlights Ferrari taillights INTERIOR Bride Stradia Japan SPL seats Abflug Ital Spirit 325 mm Schwarzer one-off steering wheel Abflug Alacantara “European Taste” interior trim Defi Step-Master gauges AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS Full Clarion Cravia system

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Formula Drift Champion & Rookie of the Year

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D1 Grand Prix (2nd Place)

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aigo Saito is one of the most decorated drift drivers in the world. After clinching the Formula D championship last October with a win at the final event at Irwindale, Saito is now the only driver to claim both the D1GP and Formula D championships. The car you see here is the Lexus SC430 Daigo built with his team in Japan before the season started, then transported to the U.S. to pursue the Formula D championship as a rookie. With a rumored 1,200 hp and nearly 1,000 lb-ft of torque, this car is nothing short of amazing.

This drift car began as a standard Lexus SC430 before Saito and his team stripped it down to a bare shell and prepped it to receive a Formula D-legal roll cage. The majority of body panels have either been replaced with Seibon Carbon pieces or trimmed down to the bare minimum in an effort to reduce the weight. Bride seats and Prodrive harnesses keep driver and the occasional passenger secure, while Saito grips a Prodrive steering wheel. All dash components were removed and replaced with carbon fiber blockoff plates, while all engine vitals are monitored by a Racepak dash unit. Replacing the center console, a custom carbon fiber switch panel contains the Blitz boost controller, push-button ignition, nitrous bottle pressure gauge and switches for features like the wipers (required for Formula D competition), electrical and other systems. Other than that, the interior is completely void of all other distractions and creature comforts.

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Under the hood, the Lexus looks surprisingly empty. In an effort to prevent any car-to-car contact from disabling the vehicle, many important components are relocated to the trunk. The 2JZ-GTE motor, most commonly found in the Toyota Supra twin turbo, is known for pushing high horsepower — in this case, around 1,200 in total. This motor is stroked from three- to 3.4-liters via a Brian Crower stroker kit and stuffed with new internals like a custom set of JE pistons, BC pro series connecting rods and BC 272 VVTI cams. Air is pushed through a K&N filter, HPS hoses, custom CX Racing intercooler and Garrett GTX-4294R turbocharger before entering the motor through a Q45 throttle body. The fuel system features a custom fuel cell before a pair of Bosch 044 fuel pumps while engine cooling chores are handled by a custom rear-mounted KOYO radiator and electric water pump. Oil cooling is handled by a similar custom, rear-mounted KOYO oil cooler. As if the stroked and turbocharged motor wasn’t enough on its own, Saito plumbed-in a dry nitrous oxide system to help spool the turbo in lower RPM ranges. All fluids are replaced with NEO Synthetics, a partner of Bridges Racing for several years now.

Looking in the trunk, all the space is being taken up by engine components. The custom fuel cell, KOYO oil cooler and radiator cooler and associated catch cans block off the majority of space with the 10-pound nitrous bottle and associated bottle warmer taking up space on the passenger side of the trunk.

An Odyssey battery and tie-down sit on the trunk floor on the driver side, with an AEM methanol injection pump mounted on the shock tower. All sheet metal behind the rear shock towers is reinforced with custom tubing (per the Formula D rule book), which helps

reduce weight and reinforce the area that contains the many valuable systems of the car. In between the trunk area and passenger compartment is an Accusump dry sump system as well as an aluminum fire wall, which is required to keep the driver separated from the fuel tank.

Suspension is one of the most vital parts of any drift car, and Saito has used components similar to what he ran on his past JZX Toyota Chaser chassis. All four corners contain DG5 coil-overs with custom-rated Swift springs. All of the suspension arms are replaced with adjustable IKEYA Performance Auto & Sound « 129

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Driver: Daigo Saito Engine: 3.4L 2JZ V6

Team: Achilles Radial Bridges Racing Drift Team Horsepower: 1,200 hp Torque: 1,000 lb-ft

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Formula arms. The power is transferred through Prodrive GC05k wheels — sized 18x10 inches in diameter — to 265/35 R18 Achilles ATR Sport 2 tires and Achilles 123S tires in the front and rear respectively. Stopping is handled by lightweight six-piston Wilwood front calipers, and four-piston rear calipers that are hooked up to the hydraulic hand brake.

In his inaugural Formula D season, Saito took home two event wins, two additional podiums and a top-four finish on the way to the championship. Until now, winning the championship as a rookie has never been achieved aside from the inaugural season of Formula D. If that’s not enough, Saito also won his second consecutive Formula D Asia title, competing in

a similarly-built Lexus IS chassis.

With the next season just around the corner, expectations around Saito can’t be set any lower than the top. But, will he become the first driver to repeat back-toback championships since Tanner Foust? We can only wait and see.

Rest assured, Saito will have a big target painted on his back in 2013!

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While Saito earned his 2011 FD Asia championship in a Toyota Altezza, he decided to build a Lexus IS convertible for 2012 to match his FD USA car.

Both cars feature 2JZ engines with a rear-mounted radiator and oil coolers, and sport a flat-black livery to promote the Achilles Tires they both drive on. Saito fared well in FD Asia, winning both of the first two events of the 2012 season and defeating top drivers like Manabu “Max” Orido, Ken Gushi and Tengku Djan. Asian motorsports photographer Cheryl Tay got up close and personal with Daigo’s FD Asia car, which looks remarkably similar to the U.S. SC430 car.

PHOTOGRAPHY by Cheryl Tay

Engine Modifications Garrett GTX-4294R turbocharger Brain Crower (valvetrain, VVT-i camshaft, cam gears, 94 mm stroker crank, Pro Series connecting rods, head gasket) HKS GT50 wastegate and V-Pro standalone EMS GReddy (RZ 40 mm blowoff valve, oil cooler adapter, Profec boost controller) Racepak multiplexor HPS silicone hoses K&N air Intake Blitz stainless mesh air filter Bosch 044 fuel pumps Infiniti Q45 throttle body NGK spark plugs JE Pistons 87 mm pistons and piston rings V-Pro electronics Koyo radiator and oil cooler Davies Craig water pump Odyssey dry cell battery AEM water injection pump EXHAUST Custom (four-in. exhaust, header, up-pipe, down-pipe, tips) HKS manifold DRIVETRAIN SPEC twin-disc clutch and lightweight flywheel Holinger dog-type transmission OS Giken LSD Supra axles CHASSIS / SUSPENSION DG 5 adjustable coil-overs with Swift Springs Ikeya Formula (adjustable control arms and links) Cusco non-adjustable front sway bar WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES Prodrive forged wheels — 18x10 (f/r) Achilles Radial tires — 265/35 R18 ATR Sport 2 (f), 265/35 R18 123s (r) Wilwood brakes (master cylinder, Dynapro six-piston calipers (f), Dynapro four-piston calipers (r), drift brake) Solid sprint car rotors EXTERIOR Seibon Carbon body kit (hood, front fascia, rear bumper, fenders, side skirts, trunk lid, doors) Interior Racepak (digital dash and data logger) Prodrive steering wheel Blitz boost controller PLX Devices M-300 wideband a/f ratio gauge Safecraft fire system Bride racing seats SPONSORS Achilles Radial, Garrett Turbos, M7 Drive, Brian Crower, Seibon Carbon, Driftpac

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/SaitoFDLexus

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We here at PASMAG mostly feature cars from the United States, Canada and sometimes from Japan. Rarely do we see a car come our way that has more of an international flavor. That’s why we jumped at the chance to showcase Australian native Simon Podlewski’s Nissan 180SX, a wild beast of a vehicle that Podlewski and Aussie auto shop Morpowa put together for the sake of tearing up time attack courses. s you can imagine, for a car focused on time attack, performance is everything. And that is apparent as soon as you pop the hood of this bad boy where the engine has been swapped for a three-liter Toyota 2JZ customized by Rhemac Performance, another Australian auto shop, so it almost resembles the GTE member of the engine’s family. The big difference is that instead of twin turbochargers giving it that extra kick, a single Garrett GTX 35/40 turbo has been installed.

Other significant performance upgrades include Bosch 2,200 cc fuel injectors and fuel pump, a PWR intercooler and a MoTeC M800 ECU. All told, this set-up generates a whopping 710 horsepower at the wheels.

As important as the engine mods are, there are other major factors at play in order maximize the car’s potential on race day. One such factor is aerodynamics – that’s what the entire focus of this 180SX’s exterior is all about. Employing the help of famed aerodynamicist Andrew Brilliant – a man who’s helped many IndyCar and American Le Mans teams fine-tune their aero packages – Podlewski and company most notably widened the front fenders and added a front splitter for improved engine cooling. The splitter was also installed in order to strike a balance with the tremendous amount of downforce the massive rear wing produces.

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Moving to the wheels, you’ll see the wells have been tubbed out for the sake of the massive 18- by0.5inch ROH Modena wheels and Hankook Ventus TD Z221 tires. As far as stopping power goes, there are Alcon six-piston front calipers and Brembo GT-R rotors and calipers in the back with Ferodo DS3000 brakes pads at all four corners. Connecting the engine’s power to said wheels, the drivetrain has also been completely redone with a Tremec T56 six-speed manual transmission, Xtreme twin-plate clutch and a Nismo two-way LSD. MCA dampers, Whiteline sway bars and Ikeya Formula adjustable arms, knuckles and steering spacers keep the driveline about as smooth as 710 horses is going to get.

The interior of the car is intentionally very spartan so that race performance may be optimized. The passenger and rear seats have been removed while the driver’s seat has been replaced with a Velo podium bucket seat. The old helm has also been swapped in favor of an OMP Racing 320 mm Carbon S steering wheel. The dash has been upgraded with a custom instrument binnacle and a MoTeC LCD dash unit, whereas the area where the back seats used to be is now home to a custom multi-point roll cage.

Most interestingly found in the interior is the crank for a hyrdraulic e-brake – something you’d expect to see in a drift-spec car, but not really in a time attack one. This feature, in all likelihood, was included because it’s possible Podlewski was intending to enter drift competitions with this car. (The Aussie was also an accomplished drifer, nicknamed “Pitbull” for his aggressive style, before catching the time attack bug.)

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ESSENTIALS › NISSAN 180SX BUILT BY: Simon Podlewski LOCATION: South Australia ENGINE: 3.0L inline-six 2JZ HORSEPOWER: 710 whp

ENGINE MODIFICATIONS Engine swapped for 2JZ customized by Rhemac Performance Ferrea stainless valvetrain Titanium retainers Garrett GTX 35/40 turbo Tial external wastegate BMC cone filter PWR intercooler LS2 electronic throttle MoTeC M800 ECU Bosch (2,200 cc/min fuel injectors, 044 fuel pump) Wilwood remote brake bias adjuster EXHAUST 6Boost exhaust manifold DRIVETRAIN Crower connecting rods T56 six-speed manual transmission PPGearbox dog engagement gear set Xtreme twin plate clutch Nismo two-way LSD CHASSIS / SUSPENSION MCA dampers Whiteline swaybars Ikeya Formula (adjustable arms, knuckles, steering spacers) WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES ROH Modena wheels – 18x10.5 (f/r) Hankook Ventus TD Z221 tires (f/r) Alcon six-piston frontcalipers Brembo GT-R rear calipers and rotors Ferodo DS3000 brakes pads (f/r) Hydraulic e-brake

EXTERIOR Silvia S15 front end conversion Widened front fenders Front splitter Rear spoiler Tubbed wheel wells INTERIOR Passenger and rear seat delete Custom multi-point roll cage OMP Racing 320 mm Carbon S steering wheel Velo podium bucket seat MoTeC LCD dash unit Custom instrument binnacle SPONSORS Morpowa, Infinity Signs, Hankook Tires, MoTeC, MCA Suspension, Rhemac Performance

Finally, as previously stated, the entire vehicle was put together by Morpowa. The shop, located in South Australia, was first founded by Simon’s father Mark; and it was because of Simon that the shop shifted its focus to performance, ultimately allowing him to put together this monster.

With all things said and done, building a car for time attack and having nothing to show for it would be pretty sad. Fortunately – or perhaps even expectedly – Podlewski’s 180SX has performed up to standards, highlighted by a second place finish in the Open class at the car’s World Time Attack debut back in 2011. PAS

For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/DownUnder180x

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PASMAG.com Exclusive Interview S T o R Y & p h o t o g r a p h y

Skyline GT-R Importer and Guru, Sean Morris

b y J a c o b L e v e t o n

ean Morris is North America's encyclopedia of Skyline GT-R knowledge.

After working for Motorex as part of the team that was legally importing Skylines and bringing them up to U.S. compliance specifications, Morris went on to work for Igor Sushko’s AutomotiveForums.com Skyline R34 GT-R N1 race team, which competed in World Challenge in 2006. Since then, he has worked for several shops that specialize in GT-R tuning, and runs several blogs related to car importing and Skyline GT-Rs. We sat down with him to discuss his interest in the famed chassis and specifically his work to get the first two R32 Skyline GT-Rs imported into the U.S. under the Show or Display exemption.

How did you first get interested in Skylines?

Sean Morris: In 1991, I went to Japan with my dad, we had a family business at the time exporting cars to Japan. We went over for an auto auction in Tokyo; one of our good customers was selling a few cars there. On that trip, I saw some videos of Skyline GT-Rs racing against other cars and beating them – they were probably “Best Motoring” videos or something along those lines.

I remember the GT-R was faster than almost all the other cars in the videos, and it sparked an interest.

When did you get a chance to drive your first Skyline GT-R?

SM: In 1998 at SEMA, I was at the show with Hiro from Motorex who I knew because he was also in the export business at the time. The car was Motorex’s car that was brought over as a demo – it was white and pretty much bone stock. It was supposed to be in the show – they had a 1998 R33 in the show and were showing some of the crash testing video. That was the car that came to be known as “Big Bird” and was raced at Pikes Peak by Rhys Millen.

That car also starred in the “Fast and Furious” movie.

You’ve become a bit of a guru on getting a car imported legally.

In general, what does it take to bring a car into the U.S.?

SM: You’ll need to bring any car in through a Registered Importer, which can bring it up to current Federal standards, but there are a several agencies you will need to be aware of, as each has its own requirements.

First, you’ll need to satisfy U.S. Customs, which is now the Department of Homeland Security. The gatekeeper to getting a car into the U.S., they take your money up front for the import tariff, which is around 2 to 3% of the cost of the car.

Then you have the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is in charge of emissions on a Federal level. Even if you don’t have “smog” laws or other environmental laws in your state, you still have to meet the Federal EPA standards. Anything over 21-years-old from year of manufacture, and in the original engine configuration is exempt from EPA standards, which is something that came into effect for the two R32 Skylines we imported.

Next up is the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is in charge of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and part of the (Department of Transportation (DOT). There are standards on things like glass, headlights, seat belts, airbags, reflectors, rollover standards, all those are part of the DOT standards. Reading through the FMVSS book is like a bad version of a ‘choose your own adventure’ story. The book is about four inches thick with four-point type, lots of references to other areas sections of the code, etc.

If the car is over 25-years-old, it doesn’t need to meet the FMVSS. There’s also the “Show or Display” exemption, which allows you to bring a historically- or technologically-significant car into the country without bringing it into compliance of the standards, though the car must be approved first.

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Does importing a race car to the U.S. differ from importing a car you plan to drive on the street?

SM: Any of the drift cars or time attack race cars that are brought over for special events or for a few months have to be bonded for triple the value of the car, and if they don’t leave after the six months or year they were allowed to be brought in for, someone is liable for that bond. You can get these approvals for research, demonstration, racing, etc.

There are a few circumstances where you can legally import a car into the U.S. permanently. You can bring some cars in as a permanent race car if you can convince several people who work for agencies like NHTSA, EPA and others the car you’re bringing in is an actual race car. It’s a lot trickier than it may seem. When I worked at RB Motoring, we brought in two R34 GT-R cars for Sushko’s race team. The cars raised some red flags, even though the car was a former Super Taikyu race car with a full roll cage and all that.

We even invited several government employees down to the Long Beach port to inspect the car once it landed.

They finally accepted our petition to import the car with all the documentation we had.

You can also legally import a car if it was originally a U.S. car. Sometimes people will ship it overseas if they’re in the military or something along those lines, but you can bring those cars back fairly easily. There’s also a ‘minor differences’ option. If the car is a Canadian-spec car like a Civic SiR or something along those lines and is nearly identical to the U.S. car, it can be brought it in as long as you can prove it can be brought to full U.S. specs (by swapping things like the speedometer, adding airbags if needed, etc.).

Finally, there’s NHTSA’s Show or Display exemption, which is how we brought in the two R32 GT-Rs. If the car doesn’t fall under one of these exemptions, it will be very expensive although not impossible to bring the car into the U.S. legally and get the blessing of all of the government agencies.

How did you get the idea to apply to get the R32 GT-R Nismo approved?

SM: I was working for Stillen at the time and I was browsing one of the UK GT-R forums where a guy was talking about the Group A special FIA Homologation paperwork that was filed in Japan for the Nismo R32. On the forum, he posted everything that Nissan did to get the cars to be Group A legal. I’m a big Group A fan so I was interested in the paperwork. Sushko was living in Japan at the time, so I asked him if he could get me a copy of the paperwork, and he did.

When I first read it, I found some cool information in there about how this Nismo edition was unique. A friend of mine who worked at Nissan Corporate stopped by for lunch that same day, and he mentioned something that I never thought about before. He talked about how Nissan only made 560 cars, and only 500 were available to the public. That number rang in my head, and I started thinking about the Show or Display exemption. In general, the production of a car needs to be under 500 to qualify for this exemption, but this number was so close, I figured maybe the NHTSA would accept it.

One of the important aspects the NHTSA looks for is a unique VIN, which makes it easier to keep track of the car. The nice part about the Nismos is they each have a unique VIN that is easy to track. Starting with VIN BNR32100000 through BNR32100560 (those are all the Nismo Edition R32 VINs) you know right away if the car is a Nismo Edition or not. I put together the request with a lot of the same paperwork that Nissan used to get the car approved for Group A, and submitted it. I called to verify the NHTSA got my paperwork, then waited. This was in August 2011.

The guy who does the approvals at NHTSA doesn’t like Nissan Skylines, he’ll flat out tell you that. I knew there was another Skyline on the Show or Display list, it’s the R34 V-spec “Early,” which doesn’t actually exist. They made more V-specs than regular GT-Rs, the only thing unique with all the R34s was the paint color and he didn’t think that was significant,

but it was still approved somehow. I talked to him on the phone, he had a lot of reasons about why he shouldn’t approve the R32 Nismo, but I had answers that fulfilled all of the requirements. He didn’t understand why anyone would want one of the “rocket ships.” I called him a few times over the following month to followup on my application, but he never answered.

I left a few polite voicemails, and that was about it. I kind of gave up, and let it be.

Some 14 months later in September 2012, I open my mailbox and find a letter from the NHTSA. At first, it didn’t even register the letter could be related to the Nismo, I thought it might be related to Motorex or some other old stuff. When I opened up the letter, I skimmed it real fast, but I was trying to read it and skim it at the same time and I didn’t comprehend it.

The letter had the VIN numbers of the Nismo cars, it had my name at the top, and all I saw was the word “granted” around three quarters of the way down. I re-read it and realized my request to bring the Nismo cars over had been accepted. First thing I wanted to do was post my letter on Facebook, but then I decided to just wait. I called a few people I knew to tell them, and they all agreed that we should just bring a car over and announce the approval that way. I talked to a friend in Japan, Hara from Hara International, who we knew from the Motorex days. His company does a lot of exporting of cars from Japan to all over the world. I told him about the paperwork from NHTSA, and he started searching for cars for us.

The first car he found was car number 500, and we bid on it at auction, but we didn’t get it. We kept looking, but these cars aren’t just sitting around for sale all the time since there are so few of them. About a month later, two cars came up for auction on the same day – cars 383 and 500. We won 383, free and clear, and we won 500, but the owner wouldn’t sell it because he had a reserve in place that we didn’t hit. We talked to the owner of car 500, his reserve was a bit higher than we wanted to spend, but we negotiated back and forth on price, and finally found middle ground. I had already talked to a friend in Chicago who was willing to buy car 383, so we were all set.

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Show or Display:

The first R32s in the U.S.!

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here’s no denying the fabled history behind the Nissan Skyline. The turbocharged all-wheel drive monsters are commonly referred to as “Godzillas” for their ability to act like “monsters” and dominate the competition in Group A racing. Starting in 1989, the R32 GT-R won 29 straight JTCC races, and took the championship every year during the R32 production cycle from 1989 to 1993.

In order to be legal for the Group A competition, several production changes are needed to the aero and valvetrain and produced in a quantity of at least 500. Nissan produced 560 “Nismo” editions, withholding 60 for racing purposes and making 500 available to the public in Japan. Fortunately for the U.S., this limited production run and significant historical background has made the Nismo version of the R32 a likely candidate for the “Show or Display” exemption for importation. And, these two R32 cars you see here are the first two cars to be imported legally under this exemption.

In the U.S., all imported cars must meet both Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency regulations unless they are either 25-years-old (DOT standard) or 21-years-old (EPA standard), or exempted by one of a few exemptions.

The “Show or Display” exemption allows cars with historical or technological significance to be requested for importation for the purpose of showcasing said significance to the general public without being brought up to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards required by the DOT. Cars imported under this exemption can only be driven up to 2,500 miles per year, and generally seen to be produced in limited supply, generally 500 or fewer. The Show or Display exemption for the R32 Nismo edition was originally applied for in early 2011 by Sean Morris, and was granted in September 2012.

Shortly after the exemption was granted, Morris secured these two cars, and began the lengthy process to import them. Chassis BNR32-100383 was found initially, and had been lightly modified with LED taillights, an aftermarket steering wheel, dash-mounted tachometer, blue racing seat, blue Willans harnesses and a set of aftermarket wheels. The gunmetal paint, which is standard for all Nismo edition R32s has seen its share of road time, but is still in good condition given the age of the vehicle. Out back, the trademark Nismo wing was removed by a previous owner, but the hood diffuser, bumper ducts and side skirt add-ons that came from the factory on the Nismo edition are still in place. Under the hood, the factory metal-bladed turbos are still in great shape, which is almost as rare as an unmodified FD RX-7 these days, although the exhaust has been replaced with an aftermarket unit.

Chassis BNR32-100500 was a special find for Morris given the significance of the 500 units available to the public, and was located shortly after BNR32-100383 was purchased. This chassis was in much better condition overall, and nearly stock in all aspects. Both the OEM rear spoiler and special Nismo edition trunk diffuser are still intact, and the interior still retains both the OEM seats and steering wheel. For commuting purposes, Morris added an OEM Nismo shift knob as well as a Pioneer DEH3400 head unit (Japanese head units operate on different bands as North American stations). The car also came equipped with a special Kenwood “N’FIT” dealer-installed stereo option. Unfortunately, the 20-year old speakers had seen better days, and Morris replaced them with six-inch Polk speakers in the front door, and four-inch threeway Pioneer speakers in the rear deck. The car is otherwise stock all the way down to the five-star wheels and even the air box under the hood.

Several bids were actually placed on this car at auction, and although Morris’ bid was a winning bid, the owner at the time had set the reserve higher and didn’t want to let it go. After some careful negotiation, Morris was able to secure the car for a fair price and import it to the U.S. under the Show or Display exemption.

These two cars are the first two to be legally imported to the U.S., and are legal to drive on the road up to the 2,500 mile annual limit without any further modifications. While chassis number BNR32-100383 has been sold since it arrived on U.S. shores, Morris is still holding on to BNR32-100500 for the time being. It holds a special place in his heart as the first GT-R he has owned, which is interesting since he worked for Motorex for many years. That said, everything is for sale... for the right price!

Visit www.pasmag.com/showORdisplay for the rest of our exclusive interview with Sean Morris, Nissan GT-R importer and guru, to learn how to import your own JDM rocket ship. pas For additional photos, visit pasmag.com/showORdisplay

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