Steely, cold, and downright awesome. That’s what the Scion iQ-MR by Tatsu represents. The car is headed to the 2011 SEMA Auto Show as part of the Scion contingent and the industrial-looking exterior makes us pine for the days when less was definitely more.
To add some spunk to the iQ-MR, Tatsu added some graphics from G1 Design while the exterior panels come from Specialty Cars. Other notable parts of the iQ-MR’s exterior include a KW Variant 3 Suspension system and a new set of 15" Axis Wheels from Sakura that have been wrapped around RT615 Falken Tires with 4-pot piston Fastbrakes. Meanwhile, the interior of the iQ MR is pretty much bare and bones with little sticks and stones. The cagework and the interior paneling come courtesy of Specialty Cars while the seats, steering wheel, window net, and belts all come from Sparco.
As for performance, Tatsu gave the Scion iQ a new Mavrik Motorsports engine with 292 duration, stock-lift webcamshafts and a Micro Image clutch kit, a lightened flywheel, and an AEM engine management system.
Updated 11/09/2011: Check the picture gallery to see new images of the Scion iQ MR by Tatsu from the SEMA Show.
It takes a special kind of tuning talent to turn a rather mundane Scion iQ into a piece of racing art for the 2011 SEMA Auto Show. Fortunately, Scion found the right person in Michael Chang.
In turning the iQ into a wicked little racer, Chang enlisted the help of Evasive Motorsports in breaking some attitude to the iQ. A plethora of EM custom materials were used on the exterior, including fender flares, a vented, a Voltex GT wing and trunk mount, a carbon front lip, front splitter, side splitter, and rear diffuser. On top of that, the car was also fitted with Voltex carbon canards, a Wraptivo Matte White vehicle wrap with custom Red Pin striping, and a set of 17" Advan Racing RT wheels wrapped on Toyo R888 Racing R-Compound tires with a Wilwood 6-piston front and rear brake kit. Inside, the iQ-RS was dressed up EVO seats with 6-point, 3" racing harness, racing side mounts, a steering wheel, pedals, and a Weld-On quick release, all of which were sourced from Sparco. Then there are the custom parts, which Chang himself put into the car. There’s a carbon fiber door panel, a rear trunk panel, a 6-point roll cage, a carbon dash trim, a rally-style shifter, a carbon fiber center console, a warning indicator and toggle switch, and an 11" touch-screen display.
With all these modifications in tow, Chang and EM also modified the engine by putting an a carbon air induction box, a heat-shield with a gold thermal reflector, a custom transmission cooler with a carbon cover, and custom Koyo full-size radiator, among other things.
Updated 11/09/2011: Check the picture gallery to see new images of the Scion iQ-RS by Michael Chang from the SEMA Show.
Cartel has been a fixture in the auto scene for the better part of the last 15 years, so when you’re in the discussion of an aftermarket company that knows what it’s doing, they’re right up there at the top. That’s why it wasn’t all that surprising when Scion came looking for companies that can build a special edition iQ that would rock the SEMA Auto Show, they knew who to call.
To give the iQ a distinctly Cartel-ian look, Cartel went ahead and chopped off the roof and sealed the doors. In their place, the company added a one-piece welded rocker and side panels, as well as a custom glass front window and custom metal fabrication on both the exterior and interior panels. Cartel also fitted the car with an AccuAir Suspension and E-Level air management package included SNAPON toolbox drawers and tools molded into the car’s rear bumper before dressing it up with 18" (front) and 19" (rear) Lorenzo WL028 wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes 4 tires with Wilwood Dynapro brake calipers.
Meanwhile, the interior of the iQ was given a massive overhaul, one that carries the style and influence of Cartel. The seats were treated to a black carbon fiber and Orion Grey finish, as were the door panels, which incidentally carry some blasting speakers. There’s also an iPad in the front dash, a tire rack and roll cage, an Autonet Mobile WiFi, a 12V and 110V power charging station, and Scosche wiring and Interface modules.
The sound system comes courtesy of Alpine Electronics, which brought a full cavalcade of elements including two PDX 4-channel Power Density Digital Amplifies, a PDX Mno Power Density Digital Amplifier, two sets of Type-R 5.25" component two-way speakers, a Type-R 6.5" component two-way speakers, and a Type-R 10" Thin Subwoofer.
Updated 11/09/2011: Check the picture gallery to see new images of the Scion iQ "Pit Boss Cartel" by Cartel from the SEMA Show.
There’s no chance you can wipe the smile off of the Mazda 2Turbo’s face because quite frankly, this is the most awesome Mazda 2 we’ve ever seen.
Details behind the car’s specs have yet to be revealed - we actually found the photos on Mazda’s Flickr page - although the caption it came with pretty much sums up what this car is all about: “One of our most powerful turbocharged engines in our lightest platform. ’Nuff said!”
The name seems to suggest that the race-spec hatch will come with a turbocharged engine that could potentially be akin to something a lot more powerful than the car’s existing 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 100 horsepower.
Exactly what kind of powertrain lies under that hood? At this point, it’s anybody’s guess. But if we were to take a little stab at it, we’re guessing that it could be somewhere along the lines of a 2.3-liter unit that pumps out 244 horsepower. It seems a little outrageous given the car’s current capabilities, but then again, that’s what the SEMA Auto Show is all about.
Whatever the case may be, we’re itching to find out what the Japanese automaker has in store for us with this gnarly little beast that’s already looking like it’s armed and ready to tear up race tracks from here to Timbuktu.
Updated 11/09/2011: Check the picture gallery to see new images of the Mazda Turbo 2 from its official at the SEMA Show.
The upcoming Chevrolet Cruze Z-Spec is the more tuned-up Cruze that will be headed to the 2011 SEMA Auto Show. On the flip side, another Cruze will be going to the show, too. Only this time, it’s a little more subdued than the Z-Spec Concept.
This model is called the Chevrolet Cruze Dusk and just like counterpart, the Sonic Dusk, the list of modifications come with subtle and sophisticated improvements, including a mild concept ground effects package. The Cruze Dusk also receives a fresh new grille, as well as a new set of dark-tinted wheels.
Inside, the modified Cruze sedan gets an all-new interior trim kit, new custom seat inserts, a suede-trimmed steering wheel, an accessory shift knob, sports pedals, and an overhauled audio system.
The modifications done on the Cruze sedan may not be as extensive as other models we’ll see at SEMA, but rest assured, it still has enough to turn a few heads in Las Vegas.
