The world’s biggest automotive aftermarket show has kicked off in Las Vegas with some of the largest and most lavish displays in its history, including some amazing new exhibits from Toyo Tires.
Toyo has brought more than 20 concept vehicles to three separate stands at the 2013 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, showcasing modified metal, blisteringly quick on- and off-road racers and beautifully restored classic machinery.
Baja 500 off-road rally champion BJ Baldwin is displaying his ballistic trophy truck in its customary position – high in the air. This time it’s suspended more than two metres above a fully customised Nissan GT-R. Aside from startling show-goers, the display also mirrors Baldwin’s recent real-life jump in a Monster Energy promo, as seen here.
The Chevrolet-based truck is shod with Toyo’s extreme Open Country M/T-R racing-spec tyres, which will help BJ in his quest for back-to-back Baja 1000 crowns.
With more than two metres of clearance between its roof and the 850-horsepower trophy truck above it, there’s no need for the Liberty Walk Nissan GT-R to hug the ground as much as it does, but at SEMA, ‘need’ takes a definite back seat to ‘want’.
The 600-horsepower all-wheel drive brute sits low on its 20-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in Toyo’s competition-spec Proxes R888 semi-slick tyres, thanks to adjustable coil-over suspension.
Toyo’s SEMA staff knew it’d take a real neck-snapping head-turner to draw attention away from their aerial display, so they turned to famed Japanese classic tuner Akira Nakai, who brought his personal Porsche 930 to the stand.
The 930 holds a special place in the hearts of Porschephiles by combining classic Porsche 911 looks with brutal turbocharged power, resulting in a car that still claims the nickname ‘widow-maker’ on account of its ferocious on-boost power delivery.
Akira chose Toyo’s Proxes R888 tyres and KW coil-over suspension to tame the peaky 3.3-litre turbocharged flat six, also fitting Recaro racing seats and racing harnesses to offer greater control and stability to the driver.
An all-wheel drive version of the new Lexus IS has metamorphosed into the ultimate road machine, bearing more than a passing resemblance to its touring car cousin.
Renowned tuner Gordon Ting built the Kontrabands 2014 Lexus IS, fitting Toyo’s Proxes T1 Sport tyres, a Toyota Racing Development aero kit, huge Brembo brakes and a Spartan, Sparco-based interior.
The recently launched new generation Corvette Stingray wasn’t exactly wanting for attention, but thanks to Michigan-based design house TZD it’ll now garner even more adoring fans.
Thanks to one-off Vossen Monoblock wheels wrapped in Toyo’s Proxes T1-R ultra-high performance tyres, the vastly improved looks and dynamics of the 580-horsepower Corvette have taken another giant leap forward.
For fans of classic metal, two muscle-bound marauders are lighting up the Toyo Treadpass area – a new highlight for the 2013 show.
The two bruisers hail from 1969, but both the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Bronco have been rebuilt to more than make up for their age.
The Bronco boasts a huge off-road lift kit, housing 33-inch Toyo Open Country M/T tyres for maximum traction, while a fuel-injected 351 Windsor – that’s about 5.8 litres in new money – takes care of grunt.
But for full-on V8 madness, the Camaro stands apart. Using GM’s newest and most brutal LSA engine, the ‘Lou’s Change’ Camaro, as built by V8 Speed and Resto, needs Toyo’s track-ready Proxes R888 tyres to get the massive power down.
From humble beginnings in 1967, the SEMA Show has grown from five cars displayed in the basement of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to more than 2000 concept cars and trucks filling the Las Vegas Convention Centre to bursting point. Around 200 vehicles will wear Toyo tyres at this year’s event alone.
These are just a few examples of the beautifully modified metal on display this year, so for more from Toyo’s stands and the 2013 SEMA Show, check out Toyo Australia’s Facebook page for a taste of the action.
