There seems to be a set template that people follow when it comes to building EVOs. Typically, you'll see them lowered with an exhaust; some will change the wing and the blow-off valve, then they throw some wheels on. Those who attempt to front like they like the stock wheels will even go as far as to paint them and roll up to a meet and stunt the freshly-painted stockies as new rolling stock. To say that some of them lack their own sense of style would be an understatement. If you've been to an EVO meet you'll notice that many of them just seem to blend in with each other.inline_mediumwraptextright25795976/featuredvehicles/sstp_0912_2006_mitsubishi_lancer_evolution_9sstp_0912_01_o+2006_mitsubishi_evolution_9+front.jpgTrue

Get Off In Two Pages What is TRA Kyoto? Who is Kei Muira? TRA Kyoto (Top Resin Art) is a company based out of Kyoto, South Japan towards Osaka. Known mostly for their fiberglass work, TRA has a few other product lines - 6666 Customs, Rocket Bunny and Number 6 - that produce aero parts, wheels and a few other custom parts. Kei Muira, the owner of TRA, designs all of the aero and wheels from CAD software and machining. His CAD design skills have even landed him contract work doing fiberglass work for everything from drift kits, to VIP kits to off-road 4x4 projects. Some of the companies that get in line for his services include Supermade, D-Max, NKB, B-Spark, Schmieden, Top Rankaz and Quadruped.inline_mediumwraptextright30997578/featuredvehicles/sstp_0912_honda_civic_ef_mad_max_muirasstp_0912_01_o+honda_civic_ef+front_view.jpgTrue

One of the few rear wheel driven hatchbacks, the KP61 Toyota Starlet is definitely my favorite hatchback of all time. These are pretty rare here and I wouldn't blame you if you haven't ever seen one. Only the second generation Starlet made it to the States, and only from the years 1981 to 1984. But if you have seen a modified one in person, up or even just lowered, you'd know this car is incredibly small. To give you an idea of how small this is, in stock form (before removing any unnecessary weight), Starlets weigh less than 1700 pounds. Starlets aren't ridiculously small like a Mini Cooper and they're not as large as the newer MINI. And it definitely doesn't have the feminine clout that the MINI does.inline_mediumwraptextright26925439/featuredvehicles/sstp_0912_1981_toyota_starletsstp_0912_01_o+1981_toyota_starlet+sunset.jpgTrue

2010 Nissan Cube I love the Cube. There, I said it. This oddly-shaped and quirky looking (let's just say it) "box" has me feeling excited and the last time I felt like that was this morning at 6something a.m. and also when the first gen Scion xB came out a few years ago. It's a superb offering for the B-spec market from Nissan, making up plenty of ground over the Versa sedan mostly because it just looks and performs like it is: totally f'in bueno. And in a small car segment that's quickly growing by the minute, it's good to see another JDM original take over and score big in the realm of cool.inline_mediumwraptextright26786287/featuredvehicles/sstp_0912_nissan_cube_new_carsstp_0912_01_o+nissan_cube+side_view.jpgTrue

For a long time I've been waiting for someone stateside to build a Corolla just like this one and at TORC's Toyotafest I finally did. Cesar Fernandez's orange AE71 was one of the most impressive cars at the show. I have to admit, my first car was one of these generation Corollas (but a coupe), and I hated it. But long after I got rid of it, I started to realize they had some serious potential. Maybe even more potential than the Honda I traded up for.

Growing up as a product of the '80s was both weird and interesting. Off the top of my head, I can name plenty of things that serve as sentimental reminders of that era. Do things like Storm Shadow with kung fu grip, flux capacitors, and HKS jog your memory?inline_mediumwraptextright26501869/featuredvehicles/sstp_9905_1994_toyota_supra_jza80sstp_9905_02_z+1994_toyota_supra+side_view.jpgTrue

Idespise the color yellow. Out of the entire spectrum of colors, it's by far my least favorite. But Jeff Diaz is starting to change my mind. When I first caught wind of his authentic Civic Type R from one of my buddies in Seattle I figured, eh what the hell, I'll check it out. I was expecting your run-of-the-mill Spoon theme, but what I witnessed was actually quite different. The fact that Diaz has the balls to run a yellow car on yellow wheels is what really hooked me.inline_mediumwraptextright26519551/featuredvehicles/sstp_0911_1999_honda_civic_type_rsstp_0911_01+1999_honda_civic_type_r+front_right.jpgTrue

Let's face the facts once and for all: when Subaru came out with this hatchback on 'roids and slapped on an STi badge on the back, don't even front like you weren't as shocked as I was. I remembered distinctly how much I was flabbergasted when I first saw the photos of the new version. I think it was a Monday morning as I worked out my delts, balancing atop a bed of nails, surfing the Interweb when I came across a picture that Elliott Moran sent to me. It was a photo of what seemed like a cross between a Ford Escort and the Saab my uncle used to drive. When I saw the badge names and slowly realized that Subaru done gone wild like a college sorority sister, I nearly pissed myself. I was flabbergasted, so much so that I checked my flabbers and found that they were indeed thoroughly gasted.inline_mediumwraptextright30719613/featuredvehicles/130_0911_2008_subaru_impreza_wrx_sti_grb_asstp_0911_01+2008_subaru_impreza_wrx_sti_grb_a+front_right.jpgTrue

I keep hearing that the extreme side of the Japanese aftermarket-tuning scene is quickly becoming a thing of the past. I was beginning to think this was the case until I made the trek down to Osaka in the Kansai region of the country. It is amazing how much difference a few hundred kilometers can make in Japan, while most cities look pretty much exactly the same it is the people and their attitudes that change completely. People in Kansai are very open, friendly, always willing to chat no matter where you go. This general attitude reflects greatly on their cars, with tuning and customizing being far more diffused than in the north. With this chilled out atmosphere also being shared by the police, which seems far more passive than up in Tokyo, it isn't surprising that people and of course shops, take advantage. Final Motion, situated in the heart of Osaka city, is a place we have been meaning to visit for a while, and in particular take a look at some of the cars they build. The crazy R34 Skyline GT-R you see here was built for a customer, who can be often seen blasting around Central Circuit as well as the streets of the city!inline_mediumwraptextright26518144/featuredvehicles/sstp_0911_nissan_skyline_gtr_r34sstp_0911_01+nissan_skyline_gtr_r34+left_rear.jpgTrue

In the 240SX game, stance is usually everything. It can practically make or break the car. First impressions between owners are judged by overall stance and wheel fitment. If you go widebody, that's even more evident. Wheel wells today are stuffed with as much rim as possible and not just with cotton like years past. Jared knew that he had to come correct so he contacted Fortune Auto for a set of their 40-way adjustable coilovers. The Fortune Auto units give Jared the flexibility to go as low as he wants and to close the distance between the fenders and the staggered 17x9.5/18x10.5 Enkei RPF-1s.inline_mediumwraptextright30720735/featuredvehicles/sstp_0911_1989_nissan_240sxsstp_0911_07+1989_nissan_240sx+enkei_rpf1_wheels.jpgTrue

Hondas have really made a return to the spotlight in a big way. Not so much for all the hoopla and obsession over what's "JDM" and what's not. That's old news. And no, big body kits have not made a comeback either, despite what some guy on whatever internet forum claims will happen. Hondas are back in a big way because people have gone past just simply purchasing JDM parts and have taken customization to a whole new level. Custom fabrication is the weapon of choice now and enthusiasts have really gone above and beyond to set themselves apart-particularly in their engine bays. A simple wire-tuck just doesn't cut it anymore. People are shaving engine bays, tucking brake lines, and doing custom fuel line set-ups. Many have gone as far as to do full brake booster deletes and clutch master cylinder tucks. Doing engine bay wire-tucks are almost as common now as lowering a car and getting wheels. The new hotness right now isn't even tucking wires. Enthusiasts are showing wires now but in "mil-spec" form. Mil-spec harnesses are custom engine wiring harnesses that have tefzel wiring, new pins and plugs; all shrouded in Raychem heat shrink. The coolest thing about it is the mil-spec disconnect is that it's visible on the firewall. No mil-spec harness is complete unless you get to show off the quick-disconnect. If you're wondering what that plug looks like, just imagine the big plug that OCP used to shove into the side of Robocop's head.inline_mediumwraptextright30269379/featuredvehicles/sstp_0910_1988_honda_crx_k20sstp_0910_01_z+1988_honda_crx+rear_view.jpgTrue

The showstopper's SI is the first FD civic to rock all the JDM goods and thensome, but it didn't come without its headachesinline_mediumwraptextright25455769/featuredvehicles/sstp_0910_2007_honda_civic_si_4_doorsstp_0910_01_z+2007_honda_civic_si_4_door+front_driver_side.jpgTrue

Tuning Honda Civics has come a long way in the 21st century. It almost seems as though there is a set formula that one must abide by in order to be deemed "cool" by Internet forum sticklers. It's all about getting the "rare" JDM parts, the context of rare is usually determined by the price someone pays for an item rather than the actual difficulty of attaining said part(s). For example, an EG Civic with a "rare" Spoon wing and some "rare" Regamaster Evos might earn you a "damn doggie that's tight :thumbup:" from a forum maven with over 20,000 posts (a :thumbup: gesture is one of highest approval). Anything less might engage what most fear more than death - an Internet hating frenzy that many refer to as a "flame war."

Let's face facts shall we? In today's day and age, it's getting harder and harder to find a build that has the complete package of performance and luxury. You either have the fully-built track cars or you have the cars with class. The luxury rides spend their days on the club circuit rather than the race circuit. The track cars soil man-panties and not the ones worn by the club breezies. That's just the way it is. The market tends to dictate what people are looking for and the masses want a track or show vehicle-never an amalgamation of the two. The IS300 you see laid out so elegantly before you however, represents a change in the tide. See, this IS has an aggressive streak and unlike a failed R. Kelly/Jay-Z mash-up, it is truly the best of both worlds.

Since its launch over 18 months ago, Nissan's venerable flagship vehicle - now synonymous with these three famous letters:

Everyone notices this car without realizing it. Although the casual consumer might see this as just some silver sedan with a WRX badge on the back, the roaring, melodious purr of the exhaust is a dead giveaway that there is something more to the car than meets the eye. Pedestrians turn their heads, but enthusiasts always come up for a closer look. Subtle as it may seem, the 5D exhaust is the car's only real outwardly visible modification but it's just one of Subaru's latest in their ever expanding line of dealer-optional SPT gear. Under the hood and beneath the chassis are SPT suspension braces, a nice way to tighten steering response for standard street driving and the occasional weekend at the track. Shifting also sees improvements by using a STI short throw with a knob to match. Alas, it's still not a STI or putting you remotely near the realm but these SPT parts for the WRX are made for those of us who still like to tap into our inner Paul Walker from time to time. The SPT line is available now with even cooler swag for the STI.

Built For The Track But Can Still Haul A Proper Load - Why Do The Japanese Always Get The Really Cool Stuff?

Originality is something Isami Amemiya-san knows a thing or two about. Over the years he has used the FD3S Mazda RX-7 as a canvas for his creations, and of these there have been many. But who could have prepared themselves for the Genki 7? Sitting in its low-lit stand at the main entrance of this year's Tokyo Auto Salon, it looked like something out of a sci-fi flick. Within minutes of the show's opening a crowd quickly formed around the RE Amemiya booth, with curious people taking a closer look at the RX-7 turned spaceship. It was then and there we knew we had to feature this car in full detail, as it was like nothing we had ever seen before.

Hello avid readers of Super Street, welcome to another beautiful Civic I can't wait to tell you about. This car is the business. For all you subscribers and/or chronic masturbators, you might remember a similar car we featured in our April issue on page 58. In that article, I hinted that this track-inspired style is quickly turning into the shape of things to come in the Honda community. I'll sit here and try not to gloat and scream "I told you so" but Danville's car helps cement this theory.inline_mediumwraptextright25454713/featuredvehicles/130_0910_1996_honda_civic_hatchbacksstp_0910_01+1996_honda_civic_hatchback+k20_k24_hybrid_engine.jpgTrue

Mine's is the most famous GT-R tuner in the world but when Mine's head, Michizo Niikura, first saw the new 370Z he was impressed with the Porsche-esque styling. "After driving it for the first time, I obviously felt the lack in power compared to the GT-R but I really liked the good engine response typical to a well-built NA engine," says Niikura.

Alex Soto could be called an up-and-comer in the Honda community, but he's by no means a newbie. You may remember his Civic hatch that earned multiple magazine and online features and we were sure it was only a matter of time before he'd be back with something brand new for that ass. On behalf of Super Street, I am proud to give you the first look at his latest project as well as an exclusive interview with the young man behind the most unassuming build in this country that costs more than an arm and a leg to put together.

I'm not sure how this happened, but just the other day, my girlfriend and I (let's call her Sweet Cakes since that's the code word for bozack pumps at my local freak shop) happened upon some interesting Japanese movies on xvideos.com. Now before you jump to conclusions about my personal life, I want to explain some things first. Yes, I do call one of my pumps my girlfriend, and no, I don't call her Sweet Cakes. If you must know, her name is Kevina. And, yes, that's the female version of Kevin. If you really must know, I had a friend in elementary school named Kevin and we played "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours" on the daily. OK? Now let's move on.

Facebook's "Pick Your Five!" is by far one of the most addicting applications on the site, from the "Five Things I Don't Leave the House Without" (my #1 is my iPhone) to the "Five Biggest Pet Peeves" (my favorite option was Vietnamese people who claim to be "half French") to the "Five People You Want on Your Side in a Bar Fight" (Jesus seems to be on everyone's list. Who knew JC loved fighting?). These top five lists can cover any topic you like making it another bottomless pit of more crap that I would rather not know about my friends. Yet, it's addicting because for some reason Facebook users love creating and filling out these lists, evidenced by my live feed mainly consisting of friends' "Five Favorite Movies of All Time," "Five Bands I've Seen Live in Concert," "Five Albums that Shaped Me," and "Five People I Want to Punch in the Face." Sure, I've done my fair share of top fives but it became endless and grueling until I came across one that actually stumped me: "Five Cars I Want in My Garage."

Can the new Hyundai Genesis coupe fill the shoes of the 240SX? While most of Japan is going green and discontinuing all the turbo and sport compacts cars, Hyundai comes out of left field to offer us the new Genesis Coupe. No it's not a Tiburon, far from it. With the Silvia/240SX line coming to an end, Hyundai's noticed that there was a huge following that is now left with no new car option. Silvias were great because they were an inexpensive sport compact, with a turbo 4-cylinder and rear-wheel-drive layout. Since then no manufacturers have been offering anything with all those characteristics. It's about time someone offers an affordable turbo RWD car to the tuning breed like you and me. Just about any other affordable (under $25k) car is either FWD or just kind of `light on its feet'.