Hitting you guys up with Part 5 of our Re-Up 2011 post rounding off the iM Features and iM Highlights that you’ve seen over the course of the year.
We can’t thank you guys enough for continuing to hold it down with us here on illmotion and be sure to look forward for more features and highlights in the new year!
Stay tuned for two more iM Re-Up specials featuring illmotion x DTP Vancouver and probably our biggest event in 2011, Sunday School: Show & Shine 101.
On to our final Features & Highlights of 2011:
|OWNER: Ricky Luu |VEHICLE: VW MKV GTI
Clean and proper is a perfect way to describe Ricky’s GTI sitting on nicely stanced set of CCWs. Still a work in progress, we’ll be paying close attention to what Ricky has in store for next year!
Without a shadow of a doubt, it can be agreed the Volk TE37 is one of the most classic wheels of all time. It’s no wonder Reggie rocked a set on his E92BMW 328xi.
Gonna keep things moving along while we’re on a roll here with Part 4 of our Re-Up 2011 special showcasing vehicles that’ve featured or highlighted over the past year…
|OWNERS: Cecilia & Colin |VEHICLES: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X & Subaru Impreza WRX STI
One of our very first features that kicked off the 2011 season for illmotion. Highlighting the perfect marriage between two rival manufacturers.
Here’s another dope feature coming out of Toronto courtesy of the homie GAWA. Have a second look at David Soo’s tastefully modded Honda Civic Si sittin’ on some fresh AME wheels.
No stranger to the iM Crew, Josh Sivadas unleashed this E46 M3 Cabriolet sitting on some matte black Volk TE37s. Although having parted with the car earlier this year, we can’t wait to see what Josh has in store for his new project!
illmotion’s own Jason Hoang continues to keep the haters talking with his new project, a Subaru STI sedan. This is only the beginning. You’ve been warned.
|OWNER: Orlando Tan |VEHICLE: 1986 Toyota Corolla GT-S
One of the sickest AE86s in Calgary, we were excited to shoot this car since we first started illmotion. It wasn’t until this year that we finally got to shoot this beast, and what a beast it really is.
Gonna keep things going with our Re-Up 2011 showcasing cars that have graced our blog over the last year.
As Christmas is slowly winding down, we just wanna wish you guys a Merry Christmas and we hope it was a good one!
Leggo!
|OWNER: Mike Salek |VEHICLE: 2005 Ducati 999R
Although not your typical iM Highlight, when we were given the opportunity to shoot Mike’s hefty collection of bikes we were damn excited to do so. Peep Salek’s Ducati 999R.
As 2011 draws to a close, we would like to take this time to review the year that was the Features and Highlights of illmotion.
None of this would be possible without the cooperation of the owners during the shoots, but more importantly the continuing support of you all! Thank you all for making 2011 another great year and we cannot wait to get the 2012 season started!
Happy Holidays everyone! We hope you guys get all that you wish for and we hope that you all be safe and have fun this holiday season!
Let’s get this Re-Up started…
|Owner:Brad Atkins |Car: 2000 Honda Civic SiR
Some of you may remember when we first featured Brad’s Civic back in 2010, this year he upped the ante by boosting his SiR and doing a 5-lug conversion. We cannot wait to see what wheels Brad’s got this year š
This year we were blessed with some sick content coming out of Toronto courtesy of GAWA. Chris Chu’s STI was just the beginning of the quality that we saw coming from TO.
Now, this is one MR2 that took the internet by storm this year, and it was because of this little fall shoot we did. Find out why bloggers and car lovers alike straight geeked over Redlyne’s perfection.
If you are a frequent reader here on illmotion, you’ve probably noticed that there is a pretty popular platform amongst the numerous vehicles that have been featured or highlighted since we’ve started. If you guessed the Honda S2000, give yourself a round of applause.
What is it though that makes the Honda S2000 so popular to modify?
A look into the S2000’s history and you will find out that this RWD Convertible Sports Coupe introduced by Honda was received well by critics and drivers alike since it’s induction to the automotive industry in late 1999-early 2000.
The S2000 was a favorite amongst critics because of it’s high engine output and high redline(courtesy of its F20 inline 4 engine), well balanced suspension and handling, and it’s ultra smooth gearbox. With such an awesome reception from owners and car enthusiasts all over the world, it’s no wonder the Honda S2000 is a fan favorite.
What makes the S2000 an obvious contender for upgrading and tuning however, is it’s virtually unlimited array of aftermarket parts that are available for it from top notch performance manufacturers like Spoon Sports, Type-One Racing, Mugen, T1-R, J’s Racing, Phase, ASM-the list can literally go on forever.
With such an excellent selection of manufacturers to choose from, “Gangster D” knew right from the get go what his goals were to set the tone on how his idea of a tastefully modified “Street/Track” S2000 should look and perform.
Standing out from other S2000s in the game is Gangster D’s fully authentic Spoon Sports Wide Body Kit and Shine carbon side diffusers. Gangster D’s definitely putting in Work with a nice set of white Emotion XT-7s playing the field for this S2000’s “shoe game”.
If that wasn’t enough for an exterior introduction, Gangster D keeps it going with suspension goodness for days. Rocking front and rear Sway Bars, a Tower Bar and an X-Brace from Spoon Sports and many more suspension mods, there is no doubting this S2000s ability to stay planted to the concrete.
A look inside of Gangster D’s S2000 and you will find a few interior OEM pieces from the AP2, as well as Spoon Sports seats for both the driver and passenger. Comfort is key here as Takata Harnesses keep both occupants strapped to their seats.
For engine breathability, this is one S2000 that goes unnoticed when it’s Type One 70R Sparrow Exhaust is heard ripping it up at the track, or tamely galavanting the city streets, minding it’s own business.
As you go into further detail with Gangster D’s S2000, you will see there is a lot more to it than what has been mentioned (have a look the spec list and you will see). With such an amazing list of parts on this beast, Gangster D’s S2000 is living proof of how an S2000 can look, handle, and perform at the track, or even just cruise on the daily.
With what seems like an unlimited list of parts that are available to S2000 owners, the possibilities of building a one-off S2000 are endless. So if you’re in the market for a new tuning platform, the S2000 could be just what you are looking for, and look no further than Gangster D’s S2000 for some inspiration…
|OWNER: Gangster D |VEHICLE: Honda S2000
//EXTERIOR
Full Authentic Spoon Sports Wide Body kit
-Spoon Sports S-Tai Front Bumper
-Spoon Sports S-Tai Bonnet
-Spoon Sports Front Wide Fenders
-Spoon Sports Rear Wide Fender Flares
-Spoon Sports S-Tai Rear Bumper
-Spoon Sports Carbon Rear Diffuser
-Spoon Sports 3D GT Wing
-Spoon Sports Dry Carbon Coupe
-Spoon Sports Hydro Blue Wide Mirror
-Spoon Sports Short Antenna
-Shine Side Carbon Diffuser
1320 Performance Dry Carbon Front Splitter
Honda OEM AP2 headlight
Honda OEM AP2 Taillight
//INTERIOR
Safely 21 7 Point Roll Cage
Spoon Sports Carbon Kevlar Bucket Seat
Mugen Driver Seat Rail
Spoon Sports Sport Seat
Bride FO Passenger Side Seat Rail
Takata 4-Point Seat Belt Harness
Takata Shoulder Pad
Zoom Engineering Carbon Kevlar Rear Mirror
Isotta Nivola D Steering Wheel
Prodrive Horn Button
Honda OEM AP2 CR Shift knob
Honda OEM AP2 Door Panel
Honda OEM AP2 Center console
Honda OEM AP2 Roll Hoop with Speaker (06+)
Honda OEM AP2 Cluster Bezel
//SUSPENSION.AND.BRAKES
Spoon Sports Strut Tower Bar
Spoon Sports X-Brace
Spoon Sports Brake Calipers
Spoon Sports Brake Hose Set
Spoon Sports Engine Torque Damper Kit
Tein Master Circuit RA Coilovers
Alex Motorsport oversize Front and rear Sway Bar
Type One Racing Front Anti-Bumpsteer Kit
Type One Racing Rear Anti-BumpSteer Kit V2.0
Type One Racing Half Shaft Spacer
Type One Racing Tow Hook
//WHEELS.AND.HARDWARE
Work XT7 17x9JJ +38 Offset – all around
Project Mu Racing Floating Wheel Nuts
//ENGINE
Samco Intake Hose
Spoon Sports Air Cleaner
Spoon Sports Engine Fresh Air Duct (For S-Tai Bumper)
Spoon Sports Oil Cap
Spoon Sports Carbon Kevlar Plug Cover
Type One Racing Response Header
Type One Racing 70R Racing Convertor
Type One Racing 70R Sparrow Exhaust
Spoon Sports Radiator Stay
Spoon Sports Radiator Hose Set
Spoon Sports Thermo Switch
Spoon Sports Reservoir Tank Cover
Spoon Sports Magnetic Drain Bolt Set
Jās Racing Magnetic Oil Differential Bolt
Phase N1 Dual Radiator
Phase Radiator Cap
What is perfection? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as: “an exemplification of supreme excellence”. Lexus has been striving for perfection since its debut in 1989 with the Lexus LS 400, or “FlagShipOne” for all you history buffs. As we all know, Lexus is the luxury division of Toyota that has created cars that feature comfort, style, performance and sex appeal as standard options.
Fortunately, I had the chance to experience three of those features in person by shooting Tim’s Lexus IS 300. Tastefully modified, it stands out, but not too much. It’s very subtle, timid and clean. When he purchased it back in 2004, Tim’s goal was to take a fairly common car, at the time, and turn it into something that is unique, subtle, and to customize it in a way that mostly represents him. Tim told me he got a lot of inspiration from the website My.IS, a Lexus IS forum.
As far as modifications go, here’s what Tim’s done so far:
AERO:
Carson-Tuned Front Bumper and Rear Valance
RMM Side Skirts
UGO Roof Spoiler
Gloss Black Roof Vinyl
TRD Trunk Lip Spoiler
Matte black JDM Altezza Front Grille
Matte gunmetal WORK Emotion CR-Kai Wheels
ENGINE:
TurboEast Headers
HKS Super Drager II Axle Back Exhaust
K&N FIPK II Intake
Titan Motorsports Adjustable Exhaust Cam Gear
Apexi SAFC-IIStage 1 Valve Body Upgrade
M Transmission Cooler
Again, he wanted to keep it clean and subtle. In the near future, he does have plans to add a little more juice to his “FlagShipOne” car. But for the time being, I’d say he’s got a pretty fly ride. Wouldn’t you?
If you are new or fairly familiar to the car scene, you probably already know that you could break the scene down into two main groups. There is the group that represent the “Performance” side of things, and the group that represents the “Appearance” side. Dig a little deeper into the scene and a few builds will definitely stand out and represent a little bit of both.
When looking for that perfect balance of “Appearance” and “Performance”, there’s no disputing Jamie’s decision to opt for Honda’s rear wheel drive sports car, the S2000, as his platform. The exterior may scream “aggressive” with a quick glance. However, if you were to disect Jamie’s S2000 all the way down to its chassis, you will soon realize that there is a lot more to it than it’s stance, eye catching Volk CE28Ns, J’s rear wing, and J’s front canards.
Jamie, who actively participated at many Race City Motorsports Park Track Days, knew exactly what performance parts were needed to better his skill and technique on the road course. The more Jamie was on the track, the more the suspension, aero, and chassis were upgraded, with help from Japanese manufacturers like J’s Racing, T1-R and Cusco to name a few.
With the true passion of a car enthusiast, nothing was completed simply overnight, but achieved with careful thought and taken step by step, until the car performed precisely to Jamie’s driving style.
With an aggressive exterior and the proper knowledge on how to modify a vehicle according to a driver’s habits on the race track, Jamie’s S2000 is undeniably a true testament to achiveing that perfect balance between “Appearance” and “Performance”.
So if you ever get a chance to see Jamie’s S2000 in action at the track or even just cruising the streets, you now know there’s a lot more to it than it’s striking “Appearance”.
|OWNER: Jamie Fry |VEHICLE: 2002 Honda S2000
|ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN:
J’s Racing Tsuchinoko intake
J’s Racing oil cap
J’s Racing rad cap
T1R exhaust
T1R sweat bands
Tien hood dampers
|WHEELS:
Volk Racing CE-28n 17 x 8.5
Volk racing lug nuts
245/40/17 Dunlop Direzza Star Specs tires
Stop Tech slotted rotors
Hawk Performance Plus pads
|AERO
J’s Racing 3D GT Wing Type 1
J’s Racing Rear Diffuser CFRP
J’s Racing front half spoiler
Jās Racing carbon fiber canards
J’s Racing version 1 carbon fiber hood
Siebon carbon fiber trunk
APR carbon fiber mirrors
|INTERIOR:
Bride low max vios III
T1R shift knob
Cusco Roll Cage
Takata 4 point harness x2
For a few more pics be sure to check them out HERE
A little bit of a different approach with flickR picks today… I’ve been looking at wheels lately and I’ve got a bit of an obsession with every wheel now. Browsing through illmotion’s photostream, I happened to stumble upon Andrew’s photostream with a bunch of sick VW’s/Euros on sick ass wheels.
Some wheel porn – courtesy of Andrew of ShutterGarage.com! Thanks Andrew!
Visit Shutter Garage here
Visit Andrew’s Photostream here
And finally – what we can all consider a love/hate relationship.
Earlier this year, Porson replaced his Civic Si with a full Mugen RR conversion with an Evo X. After a few months of ownership, lots have already gone into this daily driver. Last week Porson took the first step of going winter mode by installing his roof-rack for his fat cat. We decided to go downtown for a quick shoot before the sun set. Now to the pictures.
Lots more is planned for this car after winter. Both cosmetic and performance. Even though I love his wheels and they look super aggressive with his Evo, he may be getting new wheels because another Evo around town is rolling on the same setup. š Big ups to Porson for making this photo shoot happen.
Re-Up 2011
