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.
Kia geared up for the 2011 SEMA Auto Show with an armada of presentations starting with this fascinating surf and skate-themed Rio hatchback. The car was built in cooperation with Antenna Magazine and was designed to be a “one-of-a-kind retro ride aimed at totally radical surfing enthusiasts.”
The exterior of the Rio 5-door was treated to a sunset-metallic golden-brown paint and a custom body kit that includes a front splitter made of wood that matches the Thule roof rack and hand-made wood surfboard mounted on top. The car has also been lowered with a modified suspension for better handling while a new set of 17" three-piece gold wheels finish off the exterior details.
Inside, the Antenna Rio 5-door comes with custom front and rear seats and dash and door panels that are dressed in brown and beige plaid waterproof bathing suit fabric. There’s also a wood grain center console and a headliner upholstered in dark brown suede with a towel holder built in that rounds out the car’s themed retro-surf look. Meanwhile, the rear center console was turned into a shelf that can hold beach accessories, including sun tan lotion, surfboard wax, and bottled water. Then, there’s the rear hatch, which has been modified to hold a retro gaming console that plays 80’s-style arcade games, a retro-looking record player to play music, mood lighting, and shelves to hold sandals and clothing.
Needless to say, this particular Rio is more about its looks than it is about its performance capabilities. Don’t expect it to burn some rubber on the road, but when it comes to the perfect chill-out ride, Antenna Magazine’s Kia Rio "Retro Surf" is a retro hot spot on wheels.
Updated 11/09/2011: Check the picture gallery to see new images of the Rio 5-Door "Retro Surf" by Antenna Magazine from its official debut at 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.
The Lexus CT200h talks a big game about being an environmentally friendly sports hatchback that defies the typically bland designs of other hybrids on the markets.
The car’s attendance at the SEMA Auto Show certainly adds more credence to the car’s tuning worthiness and Meguiars’, known for being one of the best auto surface care companies in the world, has decided to bring their own iteration of the Lexus sports hybrid hatchback.
The look of the render suggests that the Meguiar’s CT200h will be decked in a two-tone paint color featuring a vibrant yellow body paint with a gloss black paint on the bonnet, roof, and pillars of the hatchback. According to Meguiars, the color scheme was inspired by Meguiars Ultimate Wash and Wax product line. In building the car, Meguiars enlisted the help and assistance of some of the aftermarket industry’s heavyweights, including Glasurit Paint Systems, Rotiform, Falken Tires, CKS Suspension, Street Concepts, and Shoreline Motoring.
The powertrain of the CT200h appears to be the same - a 1.8-liter VVT-i petrol engine with a powerful electric motor that produces 134 horsepower - but even if there doesn’t seem to have any performance modifications, the true essence of the CT200h sports hybrid hatch is uncompromising and efficient performance with drop-dead good looks.
