Japan has an extremely strong minivan market, 100% domestic with a vast selection ranging from the smaller 660cc-powered kei-vans all the way to top of the line V6 equipped Elgrands and Alphards. The new Nissan Elgrand I drove last year got a tremendous amount of attention from all the top tuners, with tons of different kits and parts having been developed. Kenstyle, above, created an all-chrome grille to emulate the front end of the much loved previous generation model.
The JDM scene wouldn't be complete without two of the biggest style-driven movements to have evolved in the last twenty years. I am of course referring to VIP and Vanning, something that has began to get more international recognition and following. So let's take a look at some of the cars and vans that stood out the most, starting with the Junction Produce Century in the opening picture. Taketomi-san of Junction Produce is pretty much the man that began and pushed the bippu style (VIP pronounced in Japanese is bippu) and has continued to evolve it and apply it to an ever-expanding lineup of cars.
LS-like projectors on a Celsior! Nice touch, as were the visibly cambered
This previous gen Mark X from
You just have to appreciate the attention to detail that goes into transforming some of these vans. Take this Vellfire from
Of course nothing would be complete without custom interior upholstering. Why bother with expensive limos!
Not sure if this Accord Wagon classifies as VIP, after all over the last few years the term has lost it's "strictness."
...going wild with both the exterior and interior and finishing off with a trunk-space-eating audio install. However, the most impressive thing was the adjustable negative camber on the rear wheels, an invention that will potentially save lovers of extreme camber tons of money in tires!
The Century just screams VIP doesn't it! This
Takero's has always been the master of the Honda Odyssey! They will do anything a customer may require but personally it's the sports oriented builds that I've always liked and for 2011 they prepared these two vans, the first fitted with more wet carbon body parts than a time-attack car...
...the second going for a more street-oriented feel but with plenty of character. Both were fitted with
Yet another kit for the Lexus LS, this time from
The TE52 Elgrand is now sold in the US as the Quest, albeit sporting a totally different front end. Still, those wanting a true JDM look can try to source the necessary Nissan parts to make a conversion. The S-chassis guys have been doing it for decades! Then you can create something very cool like this
I wonder why there were so many pink cars at the show this year! On top of the Lexus IS convertible we saw in the
...and this Celsior from
Oh yes! We have to take another look at the D'custom Freak/
Another VIP specialist
DAMD had quite a few cars on display and with young kids in Japan these day preferring to get into Kei-vans rather than sports cars this is one area they have to try and stay competitive in. Not sure the green tinted lights would pass the shaken however!
I'll let Linhbergh tell you more about this crazy Estima, for now this image will have to do.
The fathers of VIP! Don't like the Roller on 22s? Too bad! What Taketomi-san does has to be accepted, he is bippu all the way...
...but for those that prefer a little more JDM, this Crown Athlete will probably be more suitable!
LS on BBS, very nice...
...but what is going on in the engine bay is even more exciting. Thanks to
A new-gen RA6 Estima from T-Garege (no its not misspelled, it's the company name)...notice the front mount intercooler!
To finish up one of only a few pictures I managed to get in the super-cramped NATS stand, where cars created by the students of the Automobile College were on display. Nothing like a bit of bosozoku-inspired tuning.
More from TAS shortly.
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
No comments:
Post a Comment