What a year it’s been. I don’t say that negatively, but with pure admiration for the innovation that all industries have displayed. “The show must go on” is like this year’s official slogan. I don’t need to cite all of the unfavorable complications, but there have been many. The cancellation of public events and gatherings has been one of the most substantial changes, which hit our automotive industry hard.
One of the notable events missing in November this year was the SEMA Show. With no annual showcase scheduled to display our industry’s newest project vehicles or products, and no central meeting location for critical business partners, the automotive aftermarket was left to fend for itself.
Last week, we published GReddy’s GPP Live event on our website — its Facebook Live replacement for the void that the SEMA Show created. This week we have Toyo Tires’ revolutionary solution to that same dilemma. We present the Toyo Tires Treadpass 3D.
Allow us to spend a moment dissecting that name. You see, for anyone familiar with Toyo’s Treadpass segment of the SEMA Show, you’re already hip to this year’s festivities. For everyone else, the Treadpass has become a crucial aspect of the outdoor SEMA Show setup. It connects two of the massive Las Vegas Convention Center’s halls with a carpeted pathway that features a lineup of some of the industry’s finest new builds from some of its biggest names. With each stunning example — equipped with Toyo Tires — raising the bar for the next, the Treadpass has become a staple for any attending media.
Moving onto the 3D addition to the event’s name, which is new for this year as Toyo hosted the event in a private location. Instead of SEMA attendees having the opportunity to soak up the details in person in Las Vegas, Nevada, fans of the brand need only report to Toyo’s new interactive website for their tour around the vehicles. Front Street contributor, and automotive culture extraordinaire, Drew Manley, was invited to the private occasion to give us on-site access to the wild yet clean featured builds. Follow along as we walk you through a few of our favorites, with a full gallery of his excellent photography located below. We hope you enjoy it!
5150 Lux’s 1993 Toyota 4Runner
This is not your typical 4Runner build. You won’t find any raised suspension or rooftop Overlanding tent. No supply containers, winches, or running boards, either. However, one thing that this 4Runner shares with its more common off-road brethren is big tires — except these Proxes TQ tires are wide, not tall. You see, 5150 Lux created this wild SUV with drag racing on the brain. That becomes more apparent when you notice the impressive 2JZ engine swap in the engine bay, followed closely by the one-off tube frame chassis connecting throughout the vehicle. It’s a refreshing take on a dated chassis. Even though it’s not quite finished yet, with its custom widened Volk Racing Group C wheels hunkered inside tubbed wheel wells, it’s sure to be even more of a standout once it’s completed.
5150 Lux's 1993 Toyota 4Runner
| Exterior: | Full drag race style tube chassis; 5.5-foot rag top; Steve Demman paint job |
| Interior: | Custom interior by Chuy; Old school Alpine 7909 stereo |
| Engine/Performance: | 2JZ BC Stroker motor; custom made exhaust manifold; custom modified Garrett turbo with Tial housing |
| Wheels/Tires: | Rebarreled Volk Racing Group C rims; Toyo Tires Proxes TQ tires |
CSF Performance’s 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
Ravi Dolwani from CSF Performance isn’t new to building high-speed cars. Loyal readers will remember his Porsche 991 Turbo half-mile car we featured right here on Front Street. Back for a second go-round, this Evo X from our good friends at CSF Performance is ready to go for a tear — again. Not to be confused with its first iteration showcased two years ago at the SEMA Show, this new build of the same chassis started all over from the ground up. We liked seeing products from Turbosmart in the engine bay, and the Rotiform wheels with wide 275/35/R18 Proxes RS1 rubber were a nice touch, too. As pretty as it is sitting under the lights, the car is meant for track time. In fact, just a day or so after this event, Michael Essa piloted this Ferrari red-painted, big-aero-having, powerhouse around the Buttonwillow Raceway Park course in the Global Time Attack Finals — more on that another time, though.
CSF Performance's 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
| Exterior: | Ferrari Red paint by LTMW; Livery concept by CSF, installed by Rhino Films & Detailing; Custom molded Streetfighter LA widebody kit by LTMW - Rendering by Jon Sibal Design Works; Verus "VX1" Carbon Fiber Wing and End Plates Chassis Mounted by Afterhours Composite Works; All Lexan windows; CAD designed and CNC machined uprights by Afterhours Composite Works; Varis LED taillights; Jun x Craftsquare carbon fiber mirrors; 3D-printed custom fender louvers; Afterhours Composite Works custom carbon fiber race aero designed by Mike Kojima from MotoIQ Garage; Hardware by DownStar Garage |
| Interior: | ASC Speedmetal custom Interior paneling; ASC Door panels - Black Alcantara with red stitching custom upholstery by Rogelio’s Upholstery; Tilton Adjustable race pedalbox; Rywire PDM Controller; Aim Sports Digital Dash; Fire Suppression System; Cool Suit system with fan; Sparco Circuit II Driver’s seat - Black Alcantara with red stitching custom upholstery by Rogelio’s Upholstery; Sparco Rev II Passenger’s seat - Black Alcantara with red stitching custom upholstery by Rogelio’s Upholstery; CAE Billet Shifter; Sparco Steering wheel in black Alcantara - Black Alcantara with red stitching custom upholstery by Rogelio’s Upholstery; GMG FIA Spec Roll Cage; Hardware By Chasing Js & Downstar |
| Engine/Performance: | II4 Turbo Stroker Engine; 662awp/461awtq on Mustang AWD Dyno; Garrett GTX 3582R; Sheepey Race Manifold + Up-pipes; Magnus Motorsports Fuel Rail; Injector Dynamics 1700X; Mahle Motorsports Pistons; Magnus Motorsports Race Intake Manifold; CSF Cooling: Radiator, intercooler + 3 oil coolers; Dry Sump Oil Delivery by Peterson/Magnus Motorsports); Twin Turbosmart Gen-V WG40M w/ individual positioning sensors; Turbosmart blow-off valve; XRP HS-79 PTFE hose & Hydraflow Clamps by Burns Stainless; Syvecs S8 ECU; Tilton twin disk clutch; Rywire custom wiring harness and plumbing |
| Suspension: | KW Suspensions custom-spec competition coilovers with external reservoirs; Stoptech Trophy big brake kit; Whiteline Performance tie rod ends; AK Motorsports full subframe kit; Ralliart Control Arms |
| Wheels/Tires: | Rotiform WGR 3-piece concave forged wheels (18x11-inch +5 front and 18x11-inch -25 rear); Chasing J’s Titanium open-ended lug nuts; Toyo Tires Proxes RS1 275/35R18 |
Bisimoto’s 1975 Porsche 935 M16
Back to his old tricks, Bisimoto has reinvigorated yet another dated Porsche chassis from the confines of his facility. This time, he utilized a twin-turbocharged 996 water-cooled powerplant, with AEM Performance Electronics Infinity engine management and Turbosmart boost control goods; this vintage chassis is likely a rocket ship! Covered in a Porsche-specific Mexico Blue color, the 935 front end and rear-mount turbochargers leave it all out on the table. There’s no hiding that this car needs to see racing environments to be appreciated in full, which is why it makes sense to see its wheels wrapped in Toyo RR slick racing tires.
Bisimoto's 1975 Porsche 935 M16
| Exterior: | M16 Bodywork and paint courtesy of DreamWorks Paint & Body; Glasurit Mexico Blue paint; Andy Blackmore Livery; Illustrious Auto Styling Livery wrap and vinyl; APR Dual Element wing and splitter; Bisimoto carbon fiber winglets |
| Interior: | AEM Performance Electronics CD5 dash; Momo Prototipo steering wheel; SOS Customs RS carpet Kit; Bisimoto reservoir socks; Bisimoto 6 point roll cage; Dyme braided plumbing; Bisimoto 935 shift knob; Momo SuperCup racing seats and seat belts |
| Engine/Performance: | Twin-turbocharged 996 water-cooled powerplant; AEM Performance Electronics Infinity 708 ECU, sensors, universal fuel pressure regulator, IAT sensor, boost, fuel pressure, and oil pressure sensors, boost control solenoid; Rywire Mil-spec engine harness; Traum 9:1 compression pistons; ARP headstuds and bolts; Bisimoto twin turbo system with custom Spearco Liquid to air intercooler; Bisimoto custom fuel tank system; CSF radiator with custom Bisimoto shroud and ducting Bisimoto level 2.4 camshafts; Bisimoto springs and titanium retainers; Bisimoto IMS bearing kit; Vibrant Performance stainless tubing; Bosch 2200cc injectors; Golden Eagle ductile iron sleeves; AEM 380lph Fuel Pump; NGK Iridium spark plugs; Odyssey Extreme 35 battery; PurOl “Elite Series” synthetic motor oils 20w50; Bisimoto custom head work; Bisimoto custom Steel Rods 997 Porsche gearbox and shifter Quaife LSD; Bisimoto Action 6-puck clutch, pressure plate, and aluminum flywheel; Turbonetics BTX5657; Turbos Turbosmart Gen 5, 40mm Wastegates; Godzilla Blowoff Valve; Bisimoto billet turbo drip tanks; Vibrant HD Clamps; AEM Dryflow filters; WPC treatment and coatings |
| Suspension: | KW Clubsport coilover suspension with lift kit; Bisimoto strut tower reinforcement; RSR sway bars |
| Wheels/Tires: | Brixton Forged wheels (18-inch front and 19-inch rear), Toyo Tires RR tires (275/35ZR18 front, 345/30ZR19 rear) |
Rather than walk you through every car that made its appearance at this private event, we want you to pore over the details in our gallery below. The remainder of the information can be found by using the Google Maps-esque interactive Treadpass 3D website. If this is any hint at the future of car shows, we’re wholly on board for a shock to the system.
Photography by Drew Manley
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Gallery