JDM-styled? Conversions? Dual deck wings or carbon things? Everyone's always asking what the next big thing is and everyone always seems to think that they have the absolute word on what's cool and what isn't. It's true that some movements have grown from small groups of fanatic worshippers to mass appeal, but I have to say that there is nothing in particular that stands out as the next dominant craze.
Let's take the JDM movement for example. Coined and pioneered by Super Street's very own JDM Wong (And he never lets us forget it!-JN), it's a style and technique that's become very widely accepted. It has become so mass marketed that some purists who fell in love with the style are beginning to be annoyed by its generalization. This is probably because as things hit the mainstream, so many more people grasp the idea, add in their own concepts, and evolve it into their own vision, thus blurring the lines that differentiate the style. Add in the fact that an exponential number of people from all regions and across all cultural backgrounds are becoming import enthusiasts and predictability goes out the window. As the import scene grows, so do the variations of style. Before, you were either the type who leaned toward show/conversion styles or toward JDM/performance techniques. Now you get both ends of each spectrum and everything in between-a trend much in evidence at the recent BFGoodrich Import Revolution at the San Mateo Expo Center.
At IREV, there were pure-bred ITRs with Japanese Type R conversions; rides that got the Spoon/Mugen treatment; and tons of look-alike Acuras sporting everything that wasn't meant to be on them. Yet you could also find Japanese Type R-conversion Integras with Lambo doors, candy paint, and lots of chrome-go figure. The scene has become a melting pot of ideas and it's great to see everyone choosing the styles they like and mixing things up a bit. It makes for a much more creative expression in car styling.
Of course, this new style comes with more people who will say this and say that. To people who don't like someone else's work, I say respect and appreciate everything, even if it isn't your style. (How very Zen of you, RJ.-JN) You don't have to like it, but you don't have to trash it either. If you're a car owner, just be proud of your work and be happy with whatever you do. If someone has something negative to say about it-screw him or her.
I see and meet so many people who always have something negative to say and at times find myself caught up in it as well. Everyone has a reason why they didn't win or why this or that happened or why their car is better. What ever happened to the love of and respect for car tuning? We should all take a step back and remember why we are so into this scene. I believe it's because our love of this car culture inspires us to make our vehicles an extension of ourselves. It only follows that no two people are ever the same. Because of this, there were all types of cars with various tuning styles in play at the IREV in San Mateo. All-show, all-go, street racers, and so on. So why don't we all partake in the revolution-take a deep breath and just respect each other's techniques.