Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Bentley, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota
SEMA Preview: 650 hp Evo X, GT-R and Tundra tuned for Toyo

Click either image for a high-res gallery
Toyo has tapped a handful of tuners to produce six SEMA creations to highlight its range of track-ready and dirt-friendly tires. Unfortunately, we've already seen the 800 hp, Bentley Continental-based Tetsu GTR, but joining that rolling abomination to tasteless consumption are a handful of rides that better represent what SEMA is all about.
To begin with, Bulletproof Automotive is trotting out a customer-owned Nissan GT-R, wearing limited edition (and GT-R specific) BBS LM-DBK-P wheels wrapped in Toyo's 20-inch Proxes R888 tires. An Amuse Super Tough Titanium exhaust, Endless monoblock six-piston front and rear brakes and a smattering of carbon fiber aerodynamic parts round out this track- and show-friendly package.
Vivid Racing will be joined by several other firms bringing tuned Mitsubishi Evolution Xs to the show, but Vivid should stand out with its Porsche GT3 RS paint job, 18x10-inch AME Tracer 02 wheels and 650 hp on tap. We'll be on hand in a few weeks to find out how Vivid went about freeing those extra 350 ponies.
Additionally, an unnamed sixth vehicle will be accompanied by a 2009 Toyota Tundra CrewMax SR5 built by Two Brothers Custom Trucks, along with Choppin' Block Custom Fab's four-door 1931 Studebaker Model 54, riding on a custom air suspension, Centerline Smoothie wheels and powered by a Chevy 350 fed by a trio of two-barrel carburetors.Hit the jump for all the details and stay tuned for our SEMA coverage beginning the first week of November.
Gallery: Toyo Tires at 2008 SEMA
PRESS RELEASE
Toyo Tires® Booth Vehicles Announced for 2008 SEMA Show
Includes 2009 Nissan GT-R and 1931 Studebaker
September 29, 2008 – CYPPRESS, CALIFORNIA -- SEMA show attendees have come to expect the very best from Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. and 2008, in the Toyo Tires® booth, will be no different. From the ultra high performance Proxes® T1R™ to the race-ready Proxes® R888™ and the aggressive Open Country M/T®, the Toyo Tires line of products will be showcased on six customized vehicles. Built by some of the best in the business, the list includes a 2009 Nissan GT-R, a 1931 Studebaker and a rare, 800-horsepower Bentley from Japan. The Toyo Tires booth is located on the first floor of the South Hall, booth 43069.
Nissan's long awaited GT-R has received the full treatment by Bulletproof Automotive, including a set of brand new 20" Toyo Proxes R888 tires, the first of their kind by Toyo. Known as the GT-RR.com 2009 Nissan GT-R, this powerful all-wheel-drive sports car features Limited Edition BBS LM-DBK-P wheels shod with the Proxes R888 D.O.T.-approved competition tires in a 285/35ZR20 size up front and a 315/30ZR20 on the rear. The Nissan GT-R is also loaded with high-grade carbon fiber components, an Amuse Super Tough Titanium (STT) exhaust, and Endless monoblock six-piston front and rear brakes. The Proxes R888 is the Official Tire of SPEED World Challenge®, and is popular with both professional and amateur racers around the globe.
Old school street rodders can feast their eyes on a one-off 1931 Studebaker Model 54 4-door sedan, a creation of Toyo event manager, Adrian Puente. Puente's car was built by Choppin' Block Custom Fab of Fresno, California, and rides on Toyo Proxes® 4 tires, 235/40ZR18 in the front and 275/40ZR20 in the rear. The wild "Stude" has a chopped roof, entirely new frame, custom fabricated hood to cover a Zoops outfitted Chevy 350 with three deuces (two-barrel carburetors) and a retro-style fabricated sheet metal interior. A custom air bag suspension provides the "slammed" look while the car rides on the Proxes 4 tires and Centerline Smoothie wheels. The Proxes 4 is a popular all-season, ultra high performance tire for passenger cars, which comes in a broad range of sizes from 15 to 28 inches in diameter.
Another highly sought after Japanese performance car on display in the Toyo Tires booth is the latest, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. Constructed by Vivid Racing, this all-wheel drive car stays grounded with 265/35R18 Toyo Proxes® R1R™ extreme performance tires wrapped around 18x10-inch AME Tracer 02 wheels. This compact 2-liter Evo churns out a mind numbing 650-horsepower, has Valdi aero components and a show-stopping Porsche GT3 RS green paint job. The Proxes R1R extreme performance tire has won in several forms of competition including the street stock classes of SCCA® National Solo, Time Attack and the 2007 Formula DRIFT® championship.
This year, the popular ultra high performance Toyo Proxes T1R takes center stage on an 800-horsepower Bentley Continental-based Tetsu GTR. Built by ASI of Japan, and with only 29 planned for production, this Bentley is truly a rare and distinctive luxury car. ASI, which stands for accuracy, spirit and imagination, is a Japanese company that builds limited-edition luxury classics. Featuring a wide body to cover its 295/25R22 Proxes T1R tires, the car is clad with exotic Nakamura Tetsuei art both on the hood and interior, melding Japanese tradition with modern style.
Light truck enthusiasts will be impressed with a custom 2009 Toyota Tundra CrewMax SR5, featuring 37x13.50R20 Open Country M/T tires on 20x9-inch BMF S.O.T.A. wheels. Built by Two Brothers Custom Trucks with graphics by Eye Kandy Designs, this wild looking Tundra features a six inch Stage 2 lift. The Open Country M/T has won everything from the 2006 Baja 1000 to, short course off-road racing, to rock crawling competition. These versatile tires are known for their civilized on-road operation while delivering high traction and durability for enthusiasts who want to explore beyond the highway.
A sixth vehicle, soon to be announced, will be shod with Proxes® ST II™ tires, the newest high performance tire for sport trucks, SUVs and select crossovers from Toyo. The Proxes ST II combines Silent Wall™ and other cutting edge Toyo technologies for a high image product that delivers style, performance and ride comfort.
To learn more about the wide range of Toyo, log on to toyo.com. Toyo manufactures and distributes a complete line of replacement tires for high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks, buses andÝoff-road and construction applications.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mehdi Cheddadi 7:36PM (10/06/2008)
"that rolling abomination to tasteless consumption"
like your taste was good, pffffff
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P.V. 7:57PM (10/06/2008)
650 hp Evo!? WHAT!?!?
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hydrogenvodka 8:48PM (10/06/2008)
Didn't anyone immediately remember this image about not ricing your GT-R?
http://blogs.cobbtuning.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/r35_manual4.JPG
-damn, couldn't be helped...
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choppyferrari 10:34PM (10/06/2008)
Rice wins out in the end...
Ninja 10:21PM (10/06/2008)
Finally the R35 is starting to look like the R34 i love.
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JDMlover 10:58PM (10/06/2008)
THATS ONE BAD ASS TRUCK!!!! :O
The speed on that evo would be crazy....and the skyline???!!!!
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Dino 11:16PM (10/06/2008)
650 hp evo X? We're all over it:
http://www.evoxforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8167
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Cardude 12:15AM (10/07/2008)
They all look great! Toyota really needs to let TRD loose on it's showrooms, Camrys, Corollas, Tacomas, Tundras, the whole enchilada! It worked for chevy with SS, so it can work for you too Toyo!
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JDMlover 1:24PM (10/07/2008)
DAMN RIGHT
if they did that their models would kick ass....then noe one can say toyota does not perform...why dont they do it? i would to see a supercharged corolla with some trd suspention...droooool...or even a camry
JDMlover 1:27PM (10/07/2008)
DAMN RIGHT
if they did that their models would kick ass....then noe one can say toyota does not perform...why dont they do it? i would to see a supercharged corolla with some trd suspention...droooool...or even a camry
Throwback 8:46AM (10/07/2008)
I'll take the Studie. Hot Rods will live forever, they may be powered by electric motors in the future, but they will always be there!
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Toy Yoda 8:46AM (10/07/2008)
So, they put bigger turbos on the 650hp Evo. Does that mean bigger lag too? Cause lag is kind of annoying.
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tanooki2003 8:55AM (10/07/2008)
650HP form an EVO?? No way!
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Serge 10:03AM (10/07/2008)
Why not? GM had a 1000+ HP Ecotec HHR!!!
The engine probably has nothing to do with the production EVO engine at that point, but if they really tried 650HP is possible at like 10,000RPM :)
EvolutionVII 2:08PM (10/07/2008)
http://www.norrisdesigns.com/demo.asp
4G63 are quite tuneable and the new 4B11 seems to be capable of even more!
Mike 10:04PM (10/07/2008)
650 from the 4B11 is great to see, the old motor (4g63) can handle much more, AMS evo VIII is doing 1100+
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cameron 11:13AM (10/28/2008)
This is a very nice car I think if I had the money I would buy this car no questioins asked. email me back about this car I would like to know more about it
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