Congratulations to Team Hybrid’s Founder/President, James Lin’s 2011 Gold-Widebody-Carbon Fiber-Turbo Scion tC for being chosen by SONY for their 2011 SONY MOBILE MUSIC TOUR NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ADS.
his full SONY Mobile ad of the 2011 Scion tC was also ran on 2 full pages in Motion Sport Compact Auto Show & Expo 2011 Show Guide, pgs 026-027.
Congratulations to SD Chapter’s Dennis Kongvongsai’s 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi for being featured and written about in www.SuperStreetOnline.com. This is also Super Street’s current Top Story. For the exact link of the article, please visit http://www.superstreetonline.com/fea…sti/index.html
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI – The State Of Stance
This San Diego native stalks the streets in a slammed and fitted STI.
From the September, 2011 issue of Super Street
By Joey Lee
Aggressive wheel fitment sure has taken the import tuning community by storm in the last couple of years.
There is such a huge following among enthusiasts who are into all things “stance”-related that they’ve developed their own automotive sub-culture. Low offset wheels on cars lowered beyond possible comprehension are so popular today that there are websites and online forums strictly devoted to just that. It’s crazy to think just how quickly it’s become a mainstay in the import community. You know that a particular style has “made it” when there are an equal amount of people that absolutely hate it. There are guys now who are devoted to all-things wheel fitment-related—and there are guys who devote their time to following them around just to tell them how ridiculous it is.
Websites such as HellaFlush and Canibeat have become household names based on cars that feature aggressively-sized wheels and ride height lowered to the extreme. It’s quite a phenomenon if you think about it. It’s so simple; you take wheels that hardly fit your ride, attempt to make them fit, and then adjust your ride height to minimally clear rotational mass—on paper, it’s so simple. In reality however, it’s actually quite a task.
Often times cutting and reshaping of fenders are required, and with that comes more bodywork. There are even a select few who acquire wheels and then build the car around it, just to make them fit
The “haters” if you will, cry foul at aggressive wheel fitment mainly because of safety issues related to running smaller-than-adequate tires for clearance and looks. These people just find it totally unnecessary to sacrifice safety at the expense of style.
There are also the one-uppers, who recognize this particularly popular style and try to take it to the next level, often yielding preposterous results.
Aggressive wheel fitment than becomes an aberration and these cars just look cartoonish and undrivable. One of the biggest criticisms of the whole “stance” movement is that it leads to people taking short cuts with their cars and only building for style over substance.
The guys/gals who care only for fitment and ride height will sometimes ignore every other important aspect that comes with building a well-rounded, fully-functional vehicle. If this short-sighted behavior continues, many fear that the entire import automotive culture will be relegated to having crappy cars with nice wheels.
Of course, someone will cry diplomacy and shout-out the ever popular “to each their own” statement, but people will continue to see a growing divide between those who are strictly stance-fanatics and those who care more for building complete, well-rounded vehicles.
With that said, we as enthusiasts can breathe a collective sigh of relief because there are guys like Dennis Kongvongsai; who are a part of the stance sub-culture and use aggressive wheel fitment as a central theme while also allocating their time to building the rest of the car.
You don’t know Mr. Kongvongsai and that’s okay. All you need to know about him is that he is responsible for this 2005 Subaru STI.
The most obvious and noticeable modification to his ride that should immediately pop out at you are the 18×9.5-inch Volk RE30s. The forged aluminum wheels stand out not only because of the Volk Racing signature “Mag Blue” colorway, but also because of their relative proximity to the outer wheel wells of the STI. The negative camber in the rear indicates that clearance is minimal and the hammered ride height leaves the rare, Japanese-produced Mature diffuser millimeters away from making contact with the pavement at any given time.
It may look as if this is just your everyday run-of-the-mill “stanced-out” Subaru—but your initial indications are definitely incorrect. Kongvongsai’s STI actually hosts quite a bit of extensive modifications; he just happens to be a very big fan of the stance movement
“I’ve always been into cars,” Dennis explains. “My homies were all into Hondas and other Japanese cars but I was a truck guy. I went to all the shows and meets back then even though I was STIll busy messing around with a couple different trucks. I picked up this Subaru about three years ago because I wanted to try something different. I’m really into cars that are slammed with some nice wheels so I set out to build with that style in mind. It’s a classic look, you know? Growing up around cars, that was the first thing we saw on a modified car rolling down the street; it was lowered on aftermarket wheels. Things have just evolved and the whole stance movement has taken off.”
To put it frankly, Dennis’ STI is no high-horsepower, all-wheel-drive monster. While many Subaru heads build for power and often times have grandiose dreams of creating a time attack track machine, Dennis has built with pure style in mind. The only tarmac that this Subaru will ever attack is of the street-variety so aesthetics are a key focus of his build. OEM white paint remains intact but carbon fiber components from Seibon and VIS are added to provide visual contrast. The Seibon carbon front lip has been paint-matched however, for a more streamlined look and to direct more awareness to the dual-vented ARC carbon hood scoop. The cockpit of Kongvongsai’s sedan follows with a similar two-toned scheme. Garish red Bride material drapes the rear seats and all four door panels of the STI, offset with the stock black fabric, to match the red Bride Cuga front seats.
Being that the central theme of this STI is based on all things stance-related; the underside of this GD-chassis sees the most significant amount of mods. Stance GR+Pro coilovers give Dennis the ability to get his Subaru as low as humanly possible while fender braces have been installed for better structural rigidity. Larger-diameter swaybars from Whiteline and Kartboy endlinks replace the original unit’s front and back. In the three years that he’s had his Subaru, the native San Diegan has gone through an assortment of different wheels before finally settling on his Volks. Luckily for Dennis, he can switch up to another set of wheels if he chooses and always has a fresh set of BF Goodrich rubber, courtesy of his sponsorship through Team Hybrid.
Hate it or love it, there’s no denying that the stance era is here to stay. It may be scaled down to a lesser degree in the coming years, but enthusiasts will always be into wheels and ride height—some are just more into the overall look and care little for function. Luckily we have guys like Dennis Kongvongsai who provide a great example of how to build a nice vehicle that incorporates stance as an essential modifcation and doesn’t just use it as a deterrent to cheap-out on the rest of their build.
Tuning Menu
2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Owner Dennis Kongvongsai
Hometown San Diego, CA
Occupation insurance salesman
Props James Lin of Team Hybrid and Hybrid Hunnyz; Wrong Fitment Crew; Mizu Cooling Solutions; VIP Tint & Glass; NOS Energy Drinks; K4RT3OY; BF Goodrich; Meguiars; Chemical Guys Detailing
WWW bfgoodrichtires.com; mymizu.com; teamhybridforums.com; wrongfitmentcrew.com
Here was a Tweet from BFG yesterday….
Another good looking @tmhybrid car w/KDWs via @superstreetmag ’05 Subaru Impreza WRX STI – The State Of Stance http://bit.ly/owSlyD
Congratulations to LV Chapter, Terrance “Keoni” Vierne’s Sunset Orange-Turbo Charged-Voltex WideBody EVO IX for making a 5 page full feature in Fast Fours Magazine (Australia) September 2011 Issue, pgs 058-062.
Keoni said, “With the help of James Lin of Team Hybrid and Evasive Motorsports I was able to get the front and rear fenders and the side skirts to finish the kit off.”
Fast Four said, “He didn’t skimp where tires are concerned either, with the wide 18×9.5” Volk Racing CE28N “Time Attack” wheels matted to 245/40/18 sized BFGoodrich KDW II Tires. The aggressive tread pattern evacuates what little rain falls on the roads in Las Vegas, while the sticky compound does an excellent job of harnessing the power the EVO produces.”
Magazine & online scoreboard as of 09/16/11:
2 published Cover article
4 published feature articles
2 published feature international article, 8 online features
6 event coverages
3 flyers
2 national ad and 1 TV Show.
The onslaught of Team Hybrid cars, the Team and Hybrid Hunnyz in major international and domestic magazines is here!
Hybrid Goal: 4 Months Straight in the 4th Qtr. of 2011:
September 2011 “International” Magazine: Published, check and done!
October 2011 “Domestic” Magazine: Published, check and done!
November 2011?
December 2011?
Congratulations to Team Hybrid for being featured in the Motion Auto Show & Expo 2011 event coverage and written about in www.PASMag.com.
For the exact link of the article, please visit http://www.pasmag.com/events/top-eve…-2011?q=motion
PASMag online wrote, “…With car clubs like Hybrid, TW Competition, and Euro Projects, there is no doubt the competition was fierce…”
Once again, metioned first and included amogest the best of the best for over a decade and a half now.
Congratulations to SoCal Chapter’s Daniel Speilman’s 2006 Twin-Turbo Ings+1 350Z for being featured and written about in www.Night-Import.com. For the exact link of the article, please visit http://www.night-import.com/2011/08/…-hybrid-z.html
Title of Article: Hybrid Z “Never Ending Authenticity”
Written by: William Lee
There is no ‘back in the days..’ when it comes to a team’s reputation. What’s current is current and most of us in the scene today will know about Team Hybrid. First off, if you are not familiar with this team, Team Hybrid is very well known in the automotive industry, not only in Southern California, but almost everyone in the US will know or heard about this team at least once. Established in 1995 by James Lin, the team has been representing at major car shows, sweeping almost every award category. But today, instead of explaining the history of this infamous team, I want to take this time to feature one of the member’s ride, a ride that’s more than just authentic parts, but with an overall outstanding execution.
I first met Daniel Spielman, owner of this beautiful 350Z, at Fontana Nissan Meet in Fontana,CA. There were plenty of rides that dropped jaws from every angle.. To be honest, it was only the bright wheels that, but after talking to Daniel about his car, there was much more to it.
Only a few aftermarket companies design a favorable body kit for a specific make and model and from the few, our supporters Ings+1 have not disappointed us throughout the years. On this Z is an authentic Ings+1 N-Spec body kit with a Ings+1 Carbon Fiber High Mount GT wing. Is it different from many of the Zs we’ve seen before? Personally, Yes, but one might ask if it flows well overall? Once again, my answer will be, Yes.
Exterior
BMW Frozen Grey Paint Job
ings+1 N-Spec Body Kit
ings+1 CF Hight Mount GT Wing
CraftSquare TC-R Carbon Fiber Mirrors
Asuka Type 3 Double Sided CF Hood
Asuka Double Hump CF Roof
The photos might not show it too well, but the paint is not a stock Nissan color. What you can somewhat see is a BMW Frozen Grey Paint Job, a semi-matte finish, which doesn’t make the car shine like other cars, but out-stands with its uniqueness.
What really caught my attention when I first saw Daniel’s Z were these custom finished Volk TE37s and in between the 6 spokes, a BBK that no other Zs have in SoCal, Endless 6-pot BBK w/ Raw Aluminite Finish and the companies name in original font.
When looking at the stance of the car, we automatically know this car was built to function. Once the hood was opened for an engine bay shot, I was not disappointed to see a GTM Twin Turbo Kit w/ Garett GT28RS Turbos, tuned and monitored with Haltech products.
Engine
GTM Twin Turbo Kit w/ Garett GT28RS Turbos
GTM 3″ Down Pipes
Cosworth Intake Manifold w/ CF Velocity Stacks
Haltech Engine Management System
Haltech Dual Wideband Controller
Haltech Boost Controller Solenoid
UpRev Osiris Reflash
Deatschwerks 850cc Injectors
Synapse Synchronic Blow-Off Valve
Tial 38mm Wastegates
Fast Intentions SS Intimidator Exhaust
Power Enterprise Large Capacity Oil Pan
Koyo 36mm Double Row Radiator
OS Giken Twin Plate Clutch
OS Giken SuperLock 1.5way LSD
Nismo SS Braided Clutch Line
ARC Radiator Cap
ARC Oil Cap
ARC Titanium Radiator Cover
ARC Catch Can v1
EVO-R Burnt Titanium Timing Cover
Daniel focused on one part more than the other mods; Suspension. Sitting on Zeal FunctionXS Coilovers custom valved for 12k/10k, there were much more suspension products installed in order to feel the maximum handling capability of a track built car.
Suspension
Endless 6pot BBK w/ Raw Aluminite Finish & Old School Font Type
Zeal FunctionXS Coilovers custom valved for 12k/10k
19″ Volk Racing TE37s in Orange
BFGoodrich g-Force KDW2 Tires (275×35 / 295×35)
ARC Titanium Strut Bar
Cusco Sway Bars
SPL Rear Camber Links
SPL Rear Toe Links
SPL Rear Traction Links
SPL Eccentric Lock Out Kit
SPL Front Sway Bar Endlinks
SPL Rear Sway Bar Endlinks
The modification goes on with the interior being fully modded with a custom built-in roll cage, Bride seat, and Team Orange edition Works Bell QR and Steering wheel. Everything from inside to outside was modified with quality parts to not only make the car look competitive, but also a show winner.
Interior
Custom 4 Point Roll Cage
Bride ZETA III Type-XL Bucket Seat
Schroth Profi III 5-Point Racing Harness
Team Orange Personal Steering Wheel
Team Orange Works Bell RAPFIX2
Works Bell Short Hub
DEFI Boost Gauge
DEFI Oil Pressure Gauge
DEFI Water Temp Gauge
DEFI Control Unit II
Injected Performance Dual Wideband Gauge
Nismo 380RS Pedal
Nismo GT Titanium Shift Knob
EVO-R Carbon Fiber Dash Trim
Pioneer AVIC-D3 Head Unit
This is only the beginning for Daniel. He has been in the automotive scene with his Z for quite a long time, but very soon, it will go through a major makeover. Let’s just say it will definitely be an eye-catching Z than it is at its current stage.
via Daniel,
Shout out to the Team Hybrid family, Ivan & Serf, BFGoodrich, Z1 Performance, THMotorsports, EVO-R, Corner3 Garage, and JER.
*Some parts listed in the Mod list were not added for this photoshoot.
Congratulations to NorCal Chapter’s Joseph Bacigalupi’s 2005 Subaru-Voltex Wrx Wagon for being featured and written about in www.FatLace.com.
For the exact link of the article, please visit http://fatlace.com/main/evolution-of-a-subaru/
Title of Article: Evolution of a Subaru
Written by: Andy
Flashback to when we first launched our new site layout. Remember that Subaru wagon with the modified Voltex rear diffuser that we featured? Well the owner, good friend of mine Joe Bacigalupi, has done some minor modifications to his wagon since then.
I have known Joe for about 5-6 years now and he always seems to amaze me with what he has up his sleeve. When he first purchased the Voltex diffuser and told me he was going to hack it up to make it fit his wagon, I thought he had lost it.
To spend that kind of money and risk blowing it all away with just one mistake is not something I would want to do. I guess that’s why Joe’s wagon stands out though, he was willing to do something that no one else ever attempted. But wait, it doesn’t stop there though. I guess Joe’s envy for sedan parts got the best of him.
He purchased sedan front fenders prior to buying the diffuser to fit his 18×9.5 Work VS-XXs. He already had the Voltex diffuser, why not buy the front bumper and sideskirts? DONE. Last christmas, his wife Ona handed Joe a folded piece of paper and she told him it was his Christmas present.
To Joe’s surprise, it was a paid invoice for the last piece of the puzzle, a Voltex hood.
BEST GIFT EVER! By the way Ona, my birthday is on August 3rd. Just sayin…
A few months ago, Joe was posting all this non sense about considering a part out on Facebook and on forums that we usually lurk. He even had pictures of his wagon disassembled. I didn’t know what was going on but I was skeptical.
Knowing Joe, I had a feeling he was up to something but I let it play out and didn’t say anything to him. A few days ago, he sends a picture of his wagon fresh out of the bodyshop with a brand new paint job. You sneaky bastard Joe. We met up this morning and he gave me first dibs at shooting his wagon and revealing it to the world to see. This is the final result of his masterpiece, for now…
The weather was clearing up so we made our way to the beach. Every chance I get, I enjoy sitting shotgun in this wagon. The Recaro Evo 9 seats hug my man curves perfectly. We blasted down the Great Highway listening to Katy Perry through his killer sound system while I admired his redone interior. Joe went with the classy, yet gangster black suede with red stitching. We arrived at the beach before all the July 4th craziness began.
This is my favorite mod, his custom license plate. If you don’t know Chinese, ask one of your Chinese friends what Bak Gwai means. Joe is rocking the I Get Rad JDM EGO plate frame. What up Jay!
It’s a little strange seeing Joe’s wagon without the infamous Subaru hoodscoop but I guess it would serve a purpose thanks to his stealth front mount Perrin intercooler. Why not just seal the hoodscoop opening with some carbon fiber. Under the hood, this wagon is equipped with a Tomei ARMS M7760 Turbo with all the supporting mods and a full titanium Trust Ti-R exhaust.
A Vertex 10th Anniversary 330mm steering wheel lets Joe get his GT5 on in real life. And that’s a speaker by the way above the vent. It sounds like Justin Bieber is singing to you directly in front of your face when your driving.
Well, apparently Joe isn’t done with this car yet. I have no idea what else he has in mind but for some reason, I prefer it that way…
In Import Tuner March 2011 issue, pg. 052, there is an article about SEMA, Las Vegas 2010. Congratulations to Team Hybrid’s Founder/President, James Lin’s 2011 Gold-Widebody-Carbon Fiber Scion tC for being shown in the event coverage and making the “Hottest 60 from the 2010 SEMA Show.” Import Tuner wrote, “If you missed out, here’s a glimpse of some of the newest products, hottest models and show-worthy rides.”
