Hatchbacks may not offer the same kind of thrill as sports cars and muscle cars. They also don’t have the utility of SUVs and pick-ups. Heck, they’re not so much for luxury, either. But at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show, hatchbacks will have their turn in the spotlight as a host of custom-modded hatches will be making their way to Las Vegas.
This list comprises most of the vehicles you’ll see. There are Scions iQs, Ford Fiestas, Ford Focus, and even a Lexus CT200h. Not only are these vehicles modded to the brim, but they also give us an idea on all the possibilities that come with aftermarket works being done on hatches.
The people who think that hatches aren’t cool enough should take a good look at this list and if they don’t change their minds, then they really need to check themselves before they wreck themselves.
But for those like us that enjoy modded hatchbacks, this list will tell us all the vehicles we need to look out for at the SEMA Auto Show.
Check out the 2011 SEMA Auto Show: Hatchbacks after the jump.
Full story
Scion’s fleet of SEMA-bound iQ’s has taken in another world-famous designer in the name of one Jon Sibal. Just like Michael Chang and Tatsu, Scion gave the keys to Sibal to personally design his own iQ to be displayed at SEMA.
With this program, Sibal sought out the help of a number of partners to design his iQ, including MVDesignz, Veilside Premier, Nitrous Express, HRE Wheels, and Air Runner System, to name a few.
The first two were given the task of dressing up the iQ’s exterior and they most certainly went to work on it. MVDesignz put in the iQ’s Matte Metallic Grey paint finish with Bronze Pearl accents. Meanwhile, Veilside Premier put in a number of modified parts including a front bumper, front fenders, a vented hood, side skirts, and a rear bumper. Other exterior enhancements include a Roadwire custom sunroof, smoked frosted lights, LED daytime running lights, an Air Runner System suspension set-up, and a set of 18" HRE 567C Forged wheels wrapped on Toyo Proxes 4 tires with a Stop Tech braking system.
Under its hood, the iQ-RX was also given an array of upgrades in the form of some nitrous additions, including a Nitrous Express universal fly-by-wire single nozzle system, a purge system with a D-4 manifold, and a dual vent purge line kit. The mere addition of nitrous to the iQ makes this one a certified bottle rocket on wheels.
The interior of the iQ-RX is a virtual techie’s playground, thanks to the car being set-up with a motorized 32" Samsung LED TV on the rear that goes well with the XBox 360 right next to it. And oh, there’s also an iPad 2 and an elaborate audio set-up courtesy of Orion Car Audio.
Updated 11/09/2011: Check the picture gallery to see new images of the Scion iQ-RX by Jon Sibal from the SEMA Show.
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.
