Viva Lexus Vegas

Custom-built cars take centre stage at 2011 SEMA show

EPSOM, UNITED KINGDOM – Oct 28, 2011: Lexus returns to SEMA, the world’s largest specialist auto show, in Las Vegas next week with another display showcasing the work of America’s top customisers, plus its own latest sports designs.

For its fifth appearance at the show, Lexus is presenting nine cars, three of them special commissions that explore the potential for more extreme styling and performance.

Project GS F Sport by Five Axis
Troy Sumitomo and Five Axis return to SEMA with a new take on the all new GS F Sport. Finished in Glacier White with Slate Gray accents, the car has a bespoke widebody conversion, a custom-built twin-tailpipe exhaust and AirRunner TC-5 air suspension. The flared wheelarches house FIVE:AD S5:F alloys and a Stop Tech Big Brake kit is fitted.

CT 200h by Five Axis
Five Axis has also worked its magic on the CT 200h, focusing on maximum fun with a widebody conversion, a JDSU Dark Passage paint finish and a TEIN performance suspension system.

The cabin is just as edgy as the exterior, with seats that have laser etched inserts in UltraSuede, a synthetic microfibre material from EcoDesign and an illuminated headlining, also finished in UltraSuede. The upholstery has been created by California specialist Turinmodel. This one-off low-riding CT 200h has custom FIVE:AD 19-inch forged wheels and a Stop Tech braking system.

IS coupe-cabriolet by VIP Auto Salon
VIP Auto Salon has modified many Lexus models in the past and for this year’s SEMA show it has given the IS coupe-cabriolet a stop-and-stare reworking with a Chameleon paint finish by K&W and a carbon fibre body kit and bonnet. The car also gains a high performance exhaust, lowered springs, Bilstein shocks and F Sport 19-inch full-faced forged alloy wheels. A Power Enterprise Rotex Supercharger kit by Apexi and VIP Auto Salon sharpens engine performance, with a TOM’S-engineered brace for the upper shock towers strengthening the car’s rigidity.

Top Stitch has created special seat inserts for the show car, and even the lighting has been customised, with high-intensity discharge fog lights and LED running lights.

Lexus LX 570 by JT Grey Racing
Taking its place alongside the customised specials is the latest ultra-tough LX 570 racing SUV from JT Grey Racing. Last year the team campaigned the LX to an overall championship victory in the SCORE International Off-Road Racing competition, including a maiden win in the gruelling Baja 1000 for driver Joe Bacal.

The LX 570 – a close relation of the UK’s Land Cruiser V8 – is equipped for the extreme racing environment with 37-inch BF Goodrich BAJA TA race tyres, interchangeable with 17-inch F Sport forged off-road wheels, plus Custom King Racing Shocks, a battery of roof-mounted 70-Watt carbon fibre high intensity discharge lights and Sparco race seats. Power is from a 5.7-litre V8 engine.

Lexus F Sport
Lexus focuses on the dramatic styling of its F Sport models at SEMA, taking the opportunity to unveil the new GS F Sport for the first time. Demonstrating that hybrid power does not mean bland styling, the GS is joined at the show by F Sport versions of the CT 200h and IS coupe-cabriolet and saloon, plus the ultra-high performance IS F saloon.

The SEMA show opens at the Las Vegas Convention Center on 1 November.