What’s a crew?  To the unsuspecting, a car crew is just a group of people who are into cars that hang out together.  For others, a crew is a group of friends who all have similar cars, whether it be make and model, or style, or brand.  For some though, a crew is family.  It always starts as a group of friends, but over the months and years, the relationships deepen, and before you know it, you have a family whose bond is almost deeper than blood.  Liberty VIP is a crew that needs no introduction, and a crew that commands respect wherever they end up.  Now expanding their reach to international levels with Liberty Japan (keep your eyes peeled for a feature soon) and Liberty Canada, the Liberty crew is still tight-knit group.  Kevin Falk hails from South Bay, CA, and is a Liberty VIP veteran, being a part of the crew since 2009, and his M45 is just another reason why Liberty is at the top of their game.

Photos By: Jon Tran exclusively for StanceNation.com

Kevin is no stranger to the VIP car life.  Before this M45, he had a Y33 Q45 for 6-years.  He frequented the VIP-Style-Cars forums, and describes those years as the, “learning years.”  In 2009, he was invited to join the Liberty VIP ranks while he still had his Q.  Sadly for that car, things weren’t meant to be.  Only a year later, after the 2010 Fat Lace Formula D show at Long Beach, the car met an untimely fate with a Toyota Tacoma and was totaled.  Not one to mourn long, Kevin saw it as an opportunity to upgrade to a platform he’s always wanted.  He bought his wrecked Q back from the insurance company, and parted it out so the car still lives on through various friends.  Then he started his hunt for this 2004 M45.

The 2004 Infiniti M45 is a very rare car with only 1500 sold in the US, and Kevin’s Twilight Blue model is even rarer still.  ”I always wanted a Y34 because they’re a legit JDM model that I would always drool over every time I visited Japan.”  Not one to sit idle for too long with a car, Kevin got to work right away on the car.  One of his biggest challenges with the car is the lack of aftermarket support.  When he first got the car, there wasn’t much for suspension solutions.  Starting with a set of cut Tein springs, then moving to a custom set of coils for the front, Kevin caught a break when Parts Shop Max approached him with a solution.

Parts Shop Max wanted to use Kevin’s Y34 for a demo vehicle for their VIP spec coilovers, and hooked him up with the first ever set for the Y34.  Kevin also added their camber and toe arms which were retrofitted from a Z33 so he could fine-tune the camber.  With the suspension finally sorted to his liking, next on the list was sorting his wheels.  When he first got the car, he put on his Work Euroline FS wheels from his old Q45, but he couldn’t stick with the same look forever on the new car.  He wanted something new.  Weds Wheels are a name synonymous with the VIP crowd with their Kranze and Maverick lines being very popular.  Kevin is rolling on a set of 2-piece Maverick 210s wheels with silver/black lips and bronze lips, one of very very few sets that Weds produced.  The wheels are sized up at 19×9 -6 and 19×10 +5 with hi-discs all around to allow big-brakes to be fitted at a later date.

A rare car in a rare color with a rare set of wheels, Kevin certainly wasn’t going to stop the theme when it came to the car’s exterior.  That’s kind of the catch-22 of having a car that isn’t well supported in the aftermarket.  You either have to make your own parts, or you have to hunt down the parts which makes everything that much more satisfying in the end.  Kevin went with Autech bumpers front and rear which blend in well with the car’s factory lines.  Genuine, Nissan Japan OEM optional side-skirts round out the kit.  Lighting mods include Nissan Gloria LED tail-lights, Mercedes R-class fogs with HIDs, and LED DRLs.  Custom lighting is the big thing over in Japan, and it’s slowly finding it’s way to the US, and a lot of the Liberty VIP guys are keen to pick up on it.  The car has a tough appearance and that’s what VIP is about, and the Liberty guys nail it every time with their cars.

On the inside, the distinct VIP touch is there.  LED lighting, dark leather, wood-grain, and some VIP tables courtesy of Black Label VIP finished in black leather with chrome trim.  While not a completely bespoke interior, this Y34 still hits the mark when it comes a plush interior.  That’s the thing when you buy cars likes these, they come so well-spec’ed from the factory, not much needs to be done.  Kevin’s done just enough to leave his personal touch to make the car that much more enjoyable to drive, and when he has his dream car looking this, you better believe he enjoys driving it every chance he gets.

And with that, we come full circle to the beginning.  Kevin and his M45 live up to the expectations everyone has for Liberty VIP.  Despite being all over the US, Canada, and now in Japan, their cars are all distinctly different from one another, yet it’s easy to tell that they are Liberty VIP cars despite the mandatory Liberty plate, and the pin-stripping found on most of their cars.  Liberty VIP has almost carved out their own style within the VIP community with their top-level builds and adhering to a philosophy of quality over quantity.  This is probably why any car rocking a Liberty plate gets respect anytime it rolls to a show or meet, and you better believe it’s not alone.  Liberty VIP always rolls deep because going to a show or meet alone isn’t the best time (ask me how I know, lol).  A show or meet is a time to get together with friends and family, and catch up and look at some cool cars.  That’s why crews exist since everyone will eventually find a family to call their own.  Well, almost everyone.  There’s a few lone-wolves out there, but that’s how it is in every walk of life.  Kevin knows who his family is, and there’s a reason he’s been rocking a Liberty plate since 2009.  A crew like this isn’t around just because of the cars, but the people behind them who all share a mutual passion.  That’s why the Liberty VIP name carries the weight it does, and it’s why wherever they go they get respect.

• Wheels/Tires/Suspension

  Wheels:
  Weds Maverick 210S silver / black spokes with bronze lip
  19×9 -6 & 19×10 +5
  high disk all around (clears BBK)
  Continental Extreme Contact tires 215 f / 225 r

  Suspension:
  Parts Shop MAX coilovers 1st ever Y34 set
  Parts Shop MAX camber and toe arms (Z33 arms)
  camber is set at max in front for -5.5 and at -6.5 in the back to keep a nice balanced look

  Brakes:
  slotted rotors only at the moment

• Exterior

  Autech bumpers (1 of 2 known Autech kits in USA) front and rear
  Nissan OEM (Japan) optional side skirts
  Nissan Gloria LED tail lights
  Mercedes R-class fog lights with HID kit
  LED DRL kit -super bright OEM look
  M3 style trunk spoiler
  20% front door tint, 15% back doors, sunroof and back window tint

• Interior

  black leather with heated and cooled seats
  graphite birds eye maple
  Tech package
  LED pod lights
  LED lights for every interior light (white)
  LED strip lights under doors (blue) when doors are open
  JP Missions neck pads
  DAD can air freshener
  DAD dash mat
  Galahad lighted ash bottle
  CarMate small rear drink and cigarette table in black “leather” and chrome
  Infiniti floor mats
  Black Label VIP lighted front table in black leather and chrome
  Block iPhone holder I picked up in Japan a few years ago mounted on the drivers door

  Trunk:
  LED lights replaced stock lights
  Thick pile optional “M45″ embroidered mat

• Engine

  custom cat-back with dual pipes and an equalizer “H” pipe
  Magnaflow SS muffler for the smoothest
  Magnaflow double wall slash cut tips

And that brings us to our third and final set of Auto Fashion IMP event photos. Everything that needed to be said about AF IMP has already been said. Simply put, if you are a fan of euro cars AF IMP should be on top of your “shows to attend” list. Big thanks to our photographers Takashi Fukui and Kumax for the awesome photos. We hope you enjoyed our thorough coverage of this spectacular show and we will see you back soon with a very special feature.

Photos By: Takashi Fukui exclusively for StanceNation.com

We’re back with the second part of our Auto Fashion IMP photo coverage! This time around we will be sharing photos from our other talented photographer, Kumax. He didn’t take as many photos as Takashi did but that’s no problem as there are almost 100 photos below. We will be back with final 150+ photos tomorrow so make sure you come back for more. We hope you are all having a great weekend! If you guys see any cars that you would like to see featured on our site here let us know in the comment box below and we’ll try to make it happen.

Photos By: Kumax exclusively for StanceNation.com

Known as one of the biggest and best euro-only car shows in Japan, Auto Fashion’s IMP is an annual event held near Osaka, Japan. Since our photographer Takashi happens to be a euro car owner himself he decided to pretty much go all on the photos. In this particular post we have close to 200 photos to share with you and we plan on breaking the coverage down into three separate parts! For those who aren’t familiar with AF IMP, they’re a European car magazine out of Japan who have been putting these events for years now. Bigger and better year by year mind you. As always, click on the thumbnails below for high resolution photos and make sure you come back tomorrow to check out part 2!

Photos By: Takashi Fukui exclusively for StanceNation.com

The Japanese have a way of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. They can transform a collection of plants into a beautiful Japanese garden, a sushi roll into a fire-breathing dragon, even a piece of paper can be folded into a work of art. For Daisuke Miyazaki of Osaka, Japan, the medium he chose to metamorphose is the stunning Toyota 86 you see here. Known in the States as the Scion FR-S, this particular Toyota 86 is the RC version, a base-model only available in Japan and New Zealand. With unpainted bumpers, no air conditioning, and no option for an automatic transmission, the RC Hachi-Roku truly is a blank canvas.

Photos By: Jean-Christophe Pepino exclusively for StanceNation.com

To help him realize his vision, Daisuke-san enlisted the help of Osaka-based Todoroki. Already in love with the styling of the 86, he set out to improve upon it. A set of Todoroki front fenders add a measure of aggressiveness to the car, and a full Chargespeed bottom line kit in carbon fiber perfectly compliments the car’s body lines.

With the body mods taken care of, it was time to perfect the car’s look with an aggressive stance. A set of Todoroki SPL coilovers with external reservoirs introduce the 86 to the pavement, and a carbon fiber TRD strut tower bar, Todoroki stabilizer bar, and Todoroki rear upper arms keep the suspension under control. A Cusco roll cage and spot welded chassis keep body flex to a minimum. To take advantage of the Hachi-Roku’s new ride height, Daisuke-san added a set of custom-colored Work Meisters. To fit the 18×10 +12 fronts and 18×10.5 +17 rears wrapped in 215/40 and 225/40 rubber, Daisuke-san had to modify the wheel wells and accept a steering angle limited by wheels that hit the stabilizer and a “nightmare” rear arm angle and mounting location, but the resulting look is a thing of beauty.

To back up the race look of his car, Daisuke-san stepped up the power of the 86. A Todoroki air filter handles the intake side, while a Kakimoto Racing front pipe and muffler handle the exhaust duties. A NOS nitrous setup brings power output to 315 hp at 6900 rpm, and an upgraded ORC clutch and flywheel help put that power to the ground. The plugs have been upgraded to HKS versions, and a Sard radiator and Todoroki oil cooler are on board to keep the motor running smoothly. An EcuTek tune has been added to maximize Daisuke-san’s engine modifications.

With more power on board, Daisuke-san upgraded the braking system to match. Project Mu SCR slotted rotors were fitted behind the Meisters, and Brembos borrowed from an Impreza STI bring them to a stop with the help of Project Mu HC+ pads. To fine-tune the interior, Takata seat belts keep Daisuke-san firmly planted in the Bride seats, and he controls the 86 via a OMP steering wheel. A Trust all-in-one meter lets Daisuke-san know what’s happening under the hood.

In genuine Japanese fashion, Daisuke Miyazaki has crafted this showpiece from the base model, cheapest Toyota 86 offering. Like the Japanese gardeners, sushi chefs, and origami masters of his country, he has created a work of art that is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

• Wheels/Tires/Suspension

  Damper Todoroki SPL “stance” coilovers with separated tank
  Springs F : Craft 12 kg/mm 　　R :Craft 14 kg/mm
  Wheels F18 inch 10 J　　INSET 12mm　　R 18 inch 10.5 J　　INSET 17mm
  Wheels color SPL order
  Tires F 215 / 40　　-18 3bar 　　R 225 / 40　　-18 3.2bar
  Brake calipers Impreza STI Brembo
  Brake rotors Project U SCR
  Pad Project U HC+
  Stabilizer Todoroki original
  Strut brace TRD carbon
  Uppermount rear arm Todoroki original

• Exterior

  Body kit Charge Speed Bottom Line front and rear under bumper
  Todoroki front fenders

• Interior

  Steering wheelOMP
  Body welding Spot welded chassis
  Seats Bride
  Seat belt Takata
  Meters, etc – Trust all in one meter
  Rollcage Cusco

• Engine

  ClutchORC single
  LSD / Final ratio ATS final 4.5
  Gearbox 6 gears normal
  Flywheel ORC
  Engine code FA20 (Comp. ratio 12.5 ：１)
  Computer Ecutek
  Plugs HKS Racing #8
  Air cleaner Todoroki original
  Muffler Kakimoto Racing ф 　・ Frontpipe Kakimoto Racing ф
  Misc.Todoroki original oil cooler

This is our first time covering the ImportFest event but something tells us it wont be the last time. Held in Vancouver BC on June 8th, this successful event attracted a ton of cars from all over Canada and even a few from the states (judging by all the Washington plates). There were sponsors booths left and right as well as some of the most well known models in the industry as you’ll be able to see in the photos below. With that said we will get right into the photos brought to you by the awesome Marcel Lech. Click here to check out some of his previous work.

Photos By: Marcel Lech exclusively for StanceNation.com

As I write this feature, a lot is going through my mind.  The past few weeks have been a real test to me and my character as I come to terms with where I fit into this thing we call the, “scene.”  I thought long and hard about it.  You see, I’m not a Lexus guy, a Toyota guy, a VIP guy, a VW guy, or insert-marquee-here guy.  I’m just a car guy.  I like everything from VIP sedans like this, to lifted trucks, to drag cars, to slammed, old-skool American Muscle.  I have my preferences though.  There’s a reason I write the VIP features here, and a reason why I have three Lexuses in my garage.  None are quite this cool though.  Maybe someday.

Photos By: Chris Anderson exclusively for StanceNation.com

Teppei Koresawa has his preferences too.  Prior to this UZS190, third-generation Aristo, he had a second-gen JZS161, so it was a natural progression.  I had a similar bout, buying my first Lexus, an IS300 in 2006 and just coming to like the brand, and choosing to buy more (both a UCF10 and UCF20 LS400) in the coming years.  Sticking with a certain brand or model breeds a sense of familiarity, yet keeps things exciting with a new chassis or new model.  Most of the time, you already have a game-plan in your head for the newer car before you even get it, so when you do, you jump straight in.

Teppei is certainly one of those who jumps right in with his cars.  It seems to be a common trait with the Japanese, but like a lot of others, Teppei has done pretty much all of the work to this Aristo himself.  It really kind of puts things into perspective when you look at it too, that this is very far from a simple car.  Custom bumpers, hood, fenders, lighting, this car has it all which means that Teppei has been a very busy guy over the two years he’s had the car.  This car is a great example of some of the new-age VIP builds going on in Japan that are really aggressive.  Third-gens have really been getting under my skin as a platform that I want to try my own hand at so let’s get to it and find out what makes this Aristo so special.

VIP is all about presence, and Teppei’s Aristo certainly makes itself known wherever it goes.  The wild and aggressive exterior has  been customized by the owner himself which when it comes to the levels that Japan is at is no easy feat.  Custom vents on the hood and fenders and tweaked bumpers are the norm now for Japan.  While most here in the US are satisfied with their expensive, VIP, body-kits from Japan, our friends across the pacific have the testicular fortitude to cut up their big-dollar kits, or even make their own.  Teppei’s Aristo finds a nice balance between a racer-type style, and the VIP style.  The Job Design and Sard IS mix of aero give a very aggressive, almost GT style look with the rear diffuser and diffuser-mounted brake light and the super aggressive front end.  The car features custom, front and rear ducting, and to help swallow up those massive wheels, both the front over-fenders and rear quarters were radiused for extra clearance.  Still adding to the custom touches, Teppei added some vents to both front fenders and crafted a one-off vented hood to finish off the front end.

The icing on the cake, at least for Teppei, is his custom, triple-projector headlights.  Not only were they the hardest part of his build (thus far), they are one of his favorite features.  The custom lights are made up of LS600H projectors and CCFL inverters and a relocated blinker with LED accents finishing them off.  The rear tail lights are finished in similar LED fashion, and like always look absolutely amazing.  Teppei is just keeping with the trends though, with VIP lighting in Japan escalating to some serious levels of fit, finish, and presentation.  Teppei’s solution keeps with his theme of balancing the aggressive, race-style and the more traditional VIP flare.

Such a car wouldn’t be much without the right set of wheels.  The wheels can make or break a car, and in the VIP community, big and wide is the only way to go.  With such crazy body-work and fender work, Teppei needed a suitable wheel to match his car’s theme.  SSRs can be seen anywhere from the showground to the race track so it made sense for our man to look at their various offerings.  Teppei chose SSR MS3s finished in brushed aluminum faces and black barrels and lips that tie in perfectly with the details of the car.  Coming in at a very healthy 20×9.5 -16 and 20×10.5 -21, they do a fantastic job of filling up those custom fenders.

Of course this big sedan is brought down ever so close to the earth, and the age-old question of bags or coils begin to type on people’s keyboards.  Like cars, I can appreciate either setup, and like cars I have my preference.  Teppei does too, and he’s sitting on the same side of the fence as me.  This big-body is rolling static on RSR Black I coilovers spec’d to Teppei’s liking.  To achieve the necessary camber, and other adjustments, the rest of the suspension components have been tossed aside and upgraded as well.  Up front, the arms were shortened along with the knuckles, while out back a host of Silk Road pieces find new homes where the old tie-rods, tension rods, and upper arms used to be.  The car has millimeter perfect fitment with the right amount of tire tip in the rear to make guys like me all tight in the pants.  While camber may not be your thing, just remember what style of tuning we’re dealing with here.

Filling out the wheels both front and rear is a Brembo big brake kit.  I still see a lot of people confused to see a car like this with big-brakes, but let’s take a few things into consideration here; it is a big sedan, so the bigger brakes do help out, and secondly big wheels with tiny brakes just looks odd.  It’s just one of the many details that really finish this car out.  Even the Trust intercooler, and quad-tip, carbon exhaust, while very performance oriented, fit right at home on this Aristo.  The details of this build are what make it special, and Teppei did a great job mixing in a lot of performance oriented cues into a VIP build.  It’s definitely a big trend I’ve been seeing in Japan, and I really like it since I have a big background in performance vehicles.

And that brings us back to the beginning.  Teppei here is just like me, a car guy.  While he has shown that he prefers VIP tuning, he didn’t stay confined to any rules of what a VIP car should be.  He took influence from GT cars and more performance oriented cars and applied it to his car to create his own look.  Even though that look is trending in Japan, everyone has their own take on it.  What I’m getting at is you don’t need to stick to some imaginary rule-book.  Build your car for you, and do what you like to it.  Mind you that you should stick to a theme, but don’t let something so trivial of, “that’s not the norm,” stop you from doing something to your car.  Do it because you love it.  Do it because you love cars.

• Wheels/Tires/Suspension

  Wheel: SSR Professor MS3 (Brushed black barrel wrap)
  F- 20 x 9.5 -16
  R- 20 x 10.5 -21
  Brakes: Brembo brake kit
  Arms: Front – shortened upper arm and knuckle
  Rear- Silk Road upper arm / tension road / tie rod
  RSR Black i Coil Overs

• Exterior

  Lighting: Head- LS600H Projector + CCFL inverter + Blinker relocation
  Tail – LED installation
  Arch elevation and over fender
  Custom one off vented bonnet
  Rear side duct
  JOB DESIGN + One off fender flap
  Front/Rear – JOB DESIGN + SARD IS
  Genuine Audi White Paint
  Carbon pillars

• Engine

  Custom Carbon wrapped quad tip exhaust
  Trust Intercooler

Not sure how many of you are familiar with the X5 event held in Osaka, Japan but let’s just say it’s not a typical show that you would expect out of Japan. X5 is all about variety and you will see everything from USDM style cars, to lifted trucks to even random stuff like classic American muscle cars. This year our photographer Takashi Fukui stopped by to grab a few photos for us. It always surprises us just how much of an influence US has on Japan. Whether it’s small things like the Hawaii and California license plates or bigger things such as LHD cars, we must be doing something right. We hope you have a great weekend and see you all back here tomorrow.

Photos By: Takashi Fukui exclusively for StanceNation.com

By now we are all familiar with the Slammed Society side of Formula Drift, right? Now that you have seen my coverage of Formula Drift it’s time to check out a few of my photos from Slammed Society. As expected, Florida always delivers. The fitment scene in Florida has been on the rise for quite some time now. The turnout was really good and there were plenty of quality cars in attendance. I also snapped some photos of the drift cars that you will enjoy. Click the thumbnails below for high resolution photos! Huge shout out to the Formula Drift crew for everything!

Photos By: Sid Fligel exclusively for StanceNation.com

Hello again Stancenation! I am back with coverage of Round 3 of the 2013 Formula Drift season and let me tell you Round 3 did not disappoint. First off, it was supposed to rain the entire time. I mean the forecast was so bad that I thought about canceling my flights and building an ark to get me there and back. I am kidding of course, but you get the idea. Instead of torrential downpour we got sunny skies. Sunny skies though made for quite the humid weekend. Needless to say, I was drenched in sweat by the end of each day.

Photos By: Sid Fligel exclusively for StanceNation.com

If that wasn’t strange enough, then the driving definitely peaked your strange meter as I know it did mine. Top 32 went as usual with the only real upset being Tyler McQuarrie beating Mats Baribeau after he qualified 5th. Drivers like Justin Pawlak, Daigo Saito, and Vaughn Gitten Jr. all qualified like they should but others like Mats Baribeau and Dave Briggs really shined in qualifying and it paid off for them. Then you have drivers Matt Powers and Ken Gushi who didn’t qualify for the top 32 and that opened the door for some interesting match ups.

Top 16 is where things began to get interesting. To start it off, Robbie Nishida undid Justin Pawlak who was number 1 going into the top 16. Fredric Aasbo knocked off the number 2 seed Kenny Moen, Matt Field beat Dai Yoshihara, and Michael Essa took out Taka Aono. Top 8 got underway with the lights shining bright on the track. An almost eerie evening was upon us. The track was prepped for a champion and the podium was waiting impatiently. Top 4 featured Nishida vs Essa and Gitten Jr. vs Saito. When it as all said and done, Essa and Saito emerged from the smoke ready to take on each other for the championship.

Michael Essa was seeking his first first place finish this season while Daigo Saito was hoping to score his second in a row after being crowned the champion of Round 2 in Atlanta. MIchael Essa would eventually beat Saito and bring home the carbon fiber trophy.

With Round 4 lurking around the corner, the points standing look like this:

1. Daigo Saito – 257.00
2. Vaughn Gitten Jr. – 244.00
3. Michael Essa – 241.50
4. Chris Foresberg – 202.00
5. Fredric Aasbo – 197.50

One thing I truly love about the car scene is how car guys from different areas of the world can fall in love with a certain styling, and utilize that style in their own car builds. Like how real VIP styling has really made its way over to North America, and how classic euro styling has emerged all over the world. This 2010 Volkswagen Golf R is the perfect example of this adoption of style; Owner Yasunobu Fukuda has drawn upon USDM styling, and transformed his car into a US inspired Golf R, complete with US products like Airlift air ride, and a clean white on white color scheme. Taking inspiration from the USDM market really makes his car stand out in Ishikawa, Japan, where the rest of the scene is dominated by the traditional JDM styling, which makes this Golf R so unique and noticeable.

Photos By: Kazuki Hirota exclusively for StanceNation.com

Yasunobu has owned his Golf R for 3 years now, and in those years it has certainly been through some changes. It began with a set of H&R coilovers, which were short lived, as he felt the desire to go lower, as most of us do! So he began researching air ride suspension, which proved to be more of an issue than anticipated, as the utilization of air ride in VAG cars in Japan is still largely a minority compared to static suspension. So Yasunobu had to do his research, and research he did! With the help of north American forums such as “Air Society”, and with advice from Open Road Tuning, he was able to piece together everything necessary to get his Golf on the floor.

The suspension set up consists of Airlift Slam XL struts in the front, and Airlift Slam Specialties in the rear with Dorbitz Design D-cups and H&R shocks. To keep his air in the right places, the system is controlled with the very popular and effective Accuair E-Level management, combined with dual Viair 400c compressors and an Accuair 3 gallon tank. The entire system was installed flawlessly by the guys over at A-Spec, in Japan.

With his suspension all set up, it was time to set his sights on a set of rollers. Keeping with his USDM theme, Yasunobu purchased a set of BBS RS’s from the US, and had them shipped to him in Japan. With the RS’s sized at 17×9.5 and 17×10, and paired with a set of 215/40/17 Nitto Neo Gen tires all around, a nicely aggressive stance was achieved, with a nice amount of poke front and rear.

The exterior modifications made to this Golf R are what truly make it unique in Japan, because Yasunobu imported several OEM US bits to really make it feel like something you would see in coverage from a North American show, which include taillights, side markers, mirrors, and fuel cap. The front bumper was shaved, and a one off badgeless grille was made, which clean up the front end nicely. All of the simple modifications, including the sticker placement and choices, come together so well to create a jaw dropping Golf R, that would fit in without a second thought at SOWO or H20i.

Overall, Yasunobu has built a clean and classy Volkswagen, and lets not forget that it is still a Golf R, so it has the power to back up its looks. Boasting a 2.0 turbocharged four-cylinder motor, and all-wheel drive putting the 270hp to all four wheels, we are sure that this R doesn’t just sit around looking pretty.

I am excited to see what the future holds for Yasunobu and his Golf R, whether it be engine modifications, interior work, or different wheel and tire packages, I know that it will all be done tastefully and well! Let us know what you think about our good friend Yasunobu’s car down below, and as always, thanks from all of us here at StanceNation.

• Wheels/Tires/Suspension

  BBS RS 5×112 F.9.5 R.10×17
  Nitto Neo GEN 215/40 all around
  F.Airlift slam XL struts w/K sport adjustable sway bar link with Dorbritz designs sway bar brackets
  R.Slam Specialties SS6 with Dorbritz designs D-cups
  H&R shocks
  AccuAir E-leveling system with touch pad
  Viair 400cc Compressors w/AccuAir 3 gallon tank & 3/8 lines

• Exterior

  US OEM side markers
  US OEM tails
  US OEM mirrors
  US OEM fuel cap
  Front Bumper Smoothened
  One-off badge less grill
  Rear wiper delete

• Interior

  3M dinoc carbon trim
  Osir foot rest
  All new led bulbs

• Engine

  NEUSPEED cat-back exhaust for mk5 R32
  NEUSPEED P-Flo

For centuries the human race has sought after balance.  From the Eastern culture influence of zen to simple childhood stories we, like Goldilocks, seek out what is “just right” for us.  The quest is complicated by life itself and the fact that everyone is different, another person cannot lead you to find your own balance.  It is a personal experience and the search is not limited to those seeking spiritual enlightenment.  Automotive enthusiasts are caught in the struggle of determining our goals and opinions — not to mention the distraction of others.

Photos By: Kazuki Hirota exclusively for StanceNation.com

Manufacturer engineers fight a similar battle in the creation of vehicles from the very beginning.  The car must perform, yet be comfortable and safe.  It must make power, yet maintain efficiency and reliability.  BMW engineers obviously took careful consideration during the conception of the E46 M3, as their creation would become highly respected and sought-after.  Reviewers hailed the M3′s power and balance (of course) contained in the attractive, well-appointed German coupe.  The differences between non-M 3-series and the M3 were vast, especially in comparison to the E36-precursor.

Kazuki Hirota, of Toyama, Japan, was drawn to the E46 M3 like many others.  He tells us he had always wanted one and patiently awaited the financial opportunity to make one his approximately a year ago.  Kazuki is a part of the ‘USDM’ movement in Japan, a sub-culture that derives its style from popular trends here in the United States — very similar to the ‘JDM’ explosion of the early 2000′s here stateside.  As a member of LowBallers Japan his build reflects a similar feel to that of the American LowBallers’ counterparts.  Regardless of his stylistic influence, Hirota’s BMW seamlessly blends US trends with traditional Japanese attention to detail.

For Kazuki’s purposes the S54 remains as Munich intended, with an exhaust being the only modification.  With nearly 340bhp from the factory the individual-throttle 3.2L dual-VANOS straight-6 has plenty to offer him, he admits that he regularly stretches its legs to into the triple-digits.  For now, the only change planned is a straight-pipe exhaust system for a bit more volume.

Dressed to impress the M3 exudes a James Bond-like attitude.  It’s classy but can totally kill you while jumping off of a train and it always gets the girl, if you will.  It is aesthetically understated, allowing the CSL decklid and carbon lip spoiler to accent the natural lines instead of being brash and obnoxious.  The ample rear fenders were further widened by 2mm in order to fit the wheel and tire setup Hirota had in mind.

Wheel dimension and determining ride height proved to be a dilemma for Kazuki.  He obviously wanted the car to ride low in order to accomplish his aesthetic vision for the vehicle, but he wanted to avoid ruining the car’s character by damaging the driveability.  This was where his quest for balance makes itself most obvious.  Kazuki felt that oni camber and too small of tires would be a waste of the M3s natural disposition, mottanai as the Japanese describe it.  While he was not looking for all out track machine, the M-performance could not be eradicated.

XYZ RS coilovers with shortened-stroke dampers were selected for the task, featuring 16K springs front and rear.  The specifications of the 18×10″/18×11.5″ concave Rotiform TMBs were carefully chosen to have the same angularity of the concave face for the staggered wheels front and rear (this is Japanese attention to detail).  235/40/18 and 275/35/18 Goodyear RevSpec tires provide the ample foot print and the aggressive look Hirota wanted.

Keep striving for balance, it has obviously worked well for Kazuki.  He found the balance within his E46 M3 build.  So deliberate, weigh the options and stick to your goals.  Maybe that porridge is too hot or too cold.  Maybe that pillow is too hard or too soft.  Whatever the case may be, this RHD Japanese M3 on TMBs is just right.

• Wheels/Tires/Suspension

  Rotiform TMB “Concave”
  F.10J R.11.5J
  Goodyear REVSPEC RS-02
  F.235/40R18 R.275/35R18
  XYZ Coilover RS spec
  326POWER Spring “Charabane”

• Exterior

  CSL type trunk
  Rear fender 2cm wide body work

• Interior

  USDM Mirrors and other small stuff

• Engine

  MOTEC full titanium exhaust

It’s always fun seeing how the car scene is evolving in other countries around the world. Not sure how many of you noticed but “USDM” is “in” at the moment, especially in Japan. What exactly is “USDM style” though? Everyone will have a different answer to that question so what I did is get in touch with a couple of my friends from Japan and ask them directly if they can tell me what it is about USDM style that they find so appealing. The answer is as expected. Simplicity. It’s relatively cheap & simple and cops tend to not hassle you as much as if you had an obi-kyan bippu ride for example. USDM Style usually consists of a set of aggressive wheels, a relatively healthy drop, either a simple lip aero or aftermarket front bumper, and of course to finish things off you gotta rep a few stickers of your favorite blogs and brands, though not necessary. Oh, you also want to get your hands on some USDM license plates!

Photo By: Takashi Fukui exclusively for StanceNation.com

But as you can imagine, everyone interprets the USDM style differently and our friend Issei is here to show off a few photos of his simple yet attractive BMW 330i. Rocking the California plates proudly all the way in Kyoto, Japan, Issei-san’s E46 is sitting on the ground with the help of Yellow Speed Racing coilovers.

Exterior wise it features things like a custom carbon fiber hood, carbon fiber trunk and carbon fiber roof spoiler. Fortunately for Issei, he had the skill required to do some fender work as well so he not only pulled them properly but actually added some over-fenders which he wonderfully blended in the stock body.

Final result is a jaw dropping fitment on a custom set of OZ Racing Wheels sized at 18×8.5 +15 all around. Who said you had to have a 7+ inch lip and double-digit negative offsets to “push boundaries”? Issei certainly disagrees and he let’s the car speak for itself.

I personally enjoy the overall appearance of Issei’s cars. Simple doesn’t usually get you on the cover of magazines or “best of show” award, there is no denying that if your car is your daily driver, simple is the way to go.

Second car we have for you is Issei’s friend Takahiro and his 2009 Volkswagen Touran Highline. Pretty unusual car to customize the way Takahiro did but I am liking it very much. When I first saw the car I thought it was just lowered on some wheels, but I was completely wrong. First and foremost the thing that blew me away was the front bumper. It’s completely custom and features parts of Porsche Carrera 997 S front bumper!

Even in the rear, the entire lower half was perfectly customized with a mix of Porsche Cayman lower half of the bumper. Just brilliant if you ask me. Now I am stuck here wondering if this thing sounds as good as it looks!

This gorgeous Toucan is sitting on a custom set of coilovers and some pretty unique wheels. At least they’re unique in Japan. They’re genuine German RIAL Le Mans wheels sized in 19×8.6 +22 in the rear and 19×8.5 +30 in the front with a 215/35 set of tires all around. That stance is on point there is no denying that.

I’ll leave you here with a few more photos of the Touran. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing more of these two soon. Big thanks to our photographer Takashi Fukui for the cool photos!

When you think of Wekfest, you imagine good venues in good locations. And of course, Wekfest LA doesn’t let you down. Wekfest LA has been held at The Queen Mary Events Park in Long Beach for years now. I have attended all three years and I must say, the quality of cars in the show and the beauty of the location are always superb. This year the sun was out, not a cloud in the sky, and there was a slight cool breeze…just enough to help me forget that I was getting sunburned. Just as previous years, the main entrance leads you in to the vendor area. Each vendor had cars displayed to advertise and promote their products. After browsing the vendor area, I made my way to the park to where the car show was. Walking through the show, I was reminded that people come from different aspects of the “scene” and I could definitely appreciate the different styles of modding. There was everything from full on show cars, to race ready cars and of course, the slammed and stanced cars. Needless to say, this show was great and I am definitely looking forward to next year! Now on to some photos. Enjoy!

Photos By: John Markley exclusively for StanceNation.com