Whether fixing up a car or simply choosing the right clothes to wear, the dilemma is not always the costs or the options, but the critic within us. This exists as a result of the creativity within us and the combinations or color coordinating that we like to call "style." Simply put, some have it, while others are still stuck in the genre of the late '80s along with Milli Vanilli and MC BREED. It is this same "style" that dictates whether you'll be the show favorite or the target of jokes from an automotive Eminem who picks you apart with a straight face and bag full of compliments that are programmed to patronize you and make a good joke.
Fortunately for the latter, Import Tuner does not "showcase" these vehicles and focuses more on the cars that make statements about the world that we live in. A perfect example of this is the 1999 Acura Integra driven by Kevin Yee. His car is the perfect amalgam of steel and style equipped with the gift of sight, speed and sound.
One glance at the exterior reveals a custom paint job, which features a "Jungle Graphic-Airbrush" with finger-painted streaks-the first of its kind. While the paint helps attract attention, the underlying beauty comes from the vehicle's altered bodylines, which have been revamped through the addition of a Wings West RS style air dam body kit that helps alleviate unnecessary ground clearance.
Follow the ominous lines of the car down south and you will find an APR GT-1 spoiler perched atop the rear deck that helps finish off the package. Sitting directly beneath the wing and peaking out of the rear valance is a dual cannon, custom Saber Exhaust with 4-inch dragger tips. The exhaust ends the kit on a good note and adds to the overall sporty and ominous feeling.
With an estimated 270 hp, the performance options on this ride are numerous to say the least. For starters, the forced fed engine is nourished through a Metalex custom turbo header, which utilizes a Garrett T3/T4 turbo as the mouthpiece for air. All air is then guided to a Spearco front-mounted intercooler where it is chilled and served to the Metalex custom intake. Additional performance features include the Tial Waste gate and Zen blowoff, the first to assist in regulating boost pressure and the later to help release built up pressure upon shifting.
To optimize the longevity of a turbocharged engine, additional fuel is a must, as it not only helps create additional horsepower, but also prevents detonation. To resolve this problem, a Bosch external fuel pump was installed along with a STR fuel rail and a Car-Tech boost dependent fuel regulator. Additional goodies include an ITG intake, Hyamme cam gears and an APEXi V-AFC unit.
The union of all these mechanical attributes translates into horsepower; from there it is translated to the wheels, where the message is relayed to the asphalt. To get the message across clearly, a set of white 17x7 Enkei RP 05 rims wrapped with 205/40R-17 Toyo tires have been hired to do the deed. To help negotiate high-speed turns is a Spoon front upper tower bar along with rear lower tie bar. The Zeal Type R coilover system was installed along with Type R lower control arms (6-inch adjustable) to help manage ride height for both the track and the show circuit.
The ramifications of speed are evident: more horsepower equals more speed, stiffer suspension equals faster turn rates, better tires equal better traction. But what about stopping? If you get fatter don't you have to buy new pants? Pants that will fit you? Well, just as appropriate, but much more serious, is the braking system of any car. With an increase in speed and horsepower, you have to be able to stop! The braking system of this Integra features two-piece, 12-inch "Chopstick" slotted discs with four-piston Willwood race calipers in the front, while the rear assembly houses Type R slotted discs. The entire brake system is laced up to steel braided lines and adds for a more performance oriented braking and less of that "spongy" feeling.
Step into the cockpit and find yourself tantalized by an electronic feast of gizmos and gauges galore. What car would be complete without the re-upholstered interior, the staple item of the import scene? While the white and blue motif is clean, the one thing that sets this ride apart from the rest is the attention to detail. For example, take the robotic gauge pod that is custom fitted in the SRS air bag location. The neon-lit, automated enclosure houses four Autometer gauges that monitor oil, water, volt and the air/fuel ratio.
If a lot of you are saying, "Hey I thought of that" or "I wanted to do that"-too bad! Some people watch things happen, while others make things happen. Now read on!
Look closely at the floor board and you will find a custom molded floor panel casting used to hold the Sony PlayStation, which can be played through a 7-inch Panasonic TV.
Another point of inerest is the custom woofer enclosure in the trunk that accommodates the two Eclipse 10-inch aluminum drivers. In between the two woofers, you will find a custom casing for the air brushed helmet that is surrounded by two Precision Power amps. The first amp is a PC4400 amp that produces 400 watts while the PC2200 has an output rating of 200 watts. Navigating the system is a Panasonic CQ-DRX900U head unit that features a swing out center channel. While the two amps amplify all signals, the Eclipse 2101 EQ helps to fine tune the frequencies of the MB Quart speakers that provide the front and rear fill of the system.
Given the magnitude of mods to this Integra, one would have to say that many competitors aren't ready to take on or even show beside a vehicle of this caliber. From its artistic impressions down the side of the metal to the tricked out details in the interior, this Integra is definitely a force to reckon with.