The latest Import Tuner has a feature on the VIP'd 1999 Lexus GS 400 pictured above. Here's a basic breakdown:

Using a genuine Junction Produce body kit, including the bumpers, side skirts and rear wing, Johnny added a Ugo roof spoiler and JDM rain guards, chrome door handles and a trunk bar. To highlight the gleaming white paintjob, he painted the roof and part of the trunk black. Lowered to touch the ground, the chassis sits above a set of 20-inch Fabulous Profounds with an offset of +23 in the front and +29 in the back. Falken FK-452 tires stretch around these ridiculously deep dished wheels that tuck perfectly underneath the fenders. These tires avoid tragically rubbing against the car through the use of an Air Runner suspension kit with an eight-valve electric solenoid upgrade-the choice system for VIP cars in Japan.

Really like the contrasting roof, but only because it reminds me of the ES 350 and its panoramic glass. (I had to laugh at the owner's motivation: "My previous car was a Mazda RX-7 and I was tired of being cooped up in it like a coffin and not being able to take my friends out.")

When I started watching this video interview with 5Axis founder Troy Sumitomo, I wasn't really expecting to learn anything new about his company's Project IS-F concept, but it turned out to be pretty interesting, especially the insight into design inspiration:

Note: This is potentially NSFW, Bikinis abound.

It's very easy to picture the concept car exactly as Sumitomo describes it, you can definitely see traces of a jet fighter all through the bodywork.

There must be something special about crazy Lexus SC's in the Bay Area, because San Francisco resident Kristie Wells spotted another variation on what seems to be a local phenomenon:

I don't know what astonishes me more, that there would be three strikingly similar cars all within a 100 mile radius, or that a photo of each car somehow made it onto the Internet independently of its owner.

For whatever reason, Wald International decided that the IS-F was in need of a body kit, and the above photo is a digital mockup of the potential design. Here it is from the rear:

Hopefully this goes through the same process as the IS body released last year, which started off as an over-the-top photochop. The front end might be almost passable, but I see the rear and think of a 2000 Hyundai Tiburon.

[Via: Club Lexus]

Lexus UK is launching a special edition of the Lexus IS 250, dubbed the SR edition, and it features a full body kit, some very nice 10-spoke alloy rims and some sporty interior upgrades, including some aluminum pedals.

The body kit's very subtle, but it works, especially with the wheel combo. Once again, I was tricked into thinking that there was a matte black paint option, but it's just the photography.

The Lexus IS 250 SR goes on sale May 19th, and will retail for £24,990 (manual) and £25,800 (automatic) respectively.

[Via: World Car Fans]

Job Design, a Japan tuning firm specializing in Lexus & Toyota modifications, has released a new body kit for the Lexus LS, consisting of front wheel vents, a super-dropped suspension and new front & rear bumpers.

I think it's only natural, in light of the LS' rather somber and elegant design, that body kit manufacturers would feel the need to gussy it up, but surely there's a better option than making it look like a mix between VIP & Buick.

[Via: Kultivate's Weblog]