FR-S with Targa-style top leads Scion's SEMA brigade

Thu, 30 Oct 2014

The Scion brand seems to be a bit rudderless in the auto industry at the moment. The company just doesn't seem to know what audience it wants to appeal to. For this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the automakers is kind of just going wild with bizarre customs like a turbocharged FR-S with a targa top (pictured above).

Taking the roof off of a FR-S isn't an entirely new idea, but this targa-top version at SEMA is certainly a new take. In addition to just chopping a panel out of the roof, the custom also adds a louvered rear window in an especially cool touch that lends an '80s coupe vibe. To take the wild look even further, the car wears a bespoke wide body kit with an integrated rear spoiler and center-mount exhaust, and all of the bodywork is done in metal. Being for the premiere aftermarket show, performance also has to play a role, and the upgrades include a Greddy turbo kit, coil-over suspension from KW and big brakes from Wilwood.

If the FR-S seemed just slightly inspired by the '80s, the xB for the show goes for a look that's a decade older with inspiration from '70s conversion vans and skateboarding. With design help from skateboarder Riley Hawk, the custom is painted in shades of groovy earth tones with bubble windows in the rear, and the cargo box on the roof stores skateboards. The interior features touchstones of the time with a mix of wood-grain trim, shag carpet and comfy brown leather.

Finally, Scion is going metal with a custom tC inspired by the band Slayer. The exterior wears a custom paint job with the band's logo, airbrushed skulls, red lights and even swords shaped into the wheels. The ghoulish look makes it inside too, but so does a Pioneer sound system to replace the rear seats. It should be deafening, and according to Scion, some of the band members are going to demonstrate it by playing guitars through the setup at the show.

All three of these customs are weird in their own way, but you certainly can't call any of them boring. Scroll down to read all about them in the company's announcement, and check them out in more detail in the gallery.

Scion Scores with SEMA Entries

Early Look at Targa Top FR-S, Slayer tC, Riley Hawk xB and Tuner Challenge Cars

October 30, 2014

TORRANCE, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2014) – Demonstrating a range from retro to ruthless, Scion unveiled its lineup for the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas Nov. 4-7, 2014. Six builders put their own interpretations into the Scion tC, FR-S and xB with custom upgrades, individual style and creativity.

Additionally, the newly revealed, two-tone Scion tC Release Series 9.0 demonstrated "show car" style drivers will be able to own this winter. All vehicles were on display ahead of the SEMA Show at a Scion event in Silver Lake, California.

Head-Turning Targa Top FR-S

High quality craftsmanship and an open-air experience came together in the Scion FR-S T1, built by Jeremy Lookofsky of Cartel Customs. The two-tone combination features a black targa top and custom color – Azzuro California Blue – over a muscular, all-metal wide body and integrated rear spoiler. The vehicle has been lowered and sits on custom 19-inch forged wheels. Other vehicle highlights include:

High-mounted custom center exhaust
GReddy street turbo kit
KW coil-over suspension
Wilwood Big Brake Kit with custom nickel-plated finish
OEM Audio+ System 400 complemented by a Pioneer AVIC-8000NEX head unit

"It's an honor being involved with Scion for the seventh consecutive year bringing design concepts to reality and setting the bar for the SEMA Show," Lookofsky said. "We have won two Mothers® design awards and SEMA fan favorite awards throughout the years, and I'm pretty confident our FR-S will come home on a positive note as well."

Killer-Sounding Slayer tC

Mike Vu of MV DESIGNZ translated the look and sound of thrash metal band Slayer into the Scion tC. The "Scion x Slayer Mobile Amp tC" will fascinate fans with a custom paint job with airbrushed logos and skulls, suicide doors and Billet Slayer sword blade wheels with spike-style center caps. The interior turns up the volume even higher with a custom Pioneer audio system with towers of speakers, a custom mixer and a 32-inch monitor for media playback.

Fans will get to see this metal-inspired sports coupe in action when Slayer band members demonstrate its audio capabilities at the SEMA Show by plugging in two guitars to jam without any external equipment.

Retro Rolling Riley Hawk xB

Skateboarding, 1970s style and passion for music blend seamlessly together in "Scion x Riley Hawk Skate Tour xB" built by Scott Kanemura of KMA Productions. Inspired by the interests of professional skateboarder Riley Hawk, the vehicle features both the old and new: wood-grain décor, a mini fridge, shag carpet, an 8-track player, a Big Pioneer Sound System and the ability to play guitar through the audio system using an iPad mini as mixer. To further combine work and play, a cargo box has been integrated with an INNO rack system to store skateboards.

Other fun elements include:
1970s style custom paint pattern with a "fish bowl" side window
Dual side exhaust pipes (non-functional)
Plush captain-style chairs in the front and back
Motorized rear-facing monitor for media play back
A dual-motion table that both slides out and pivots up with storage below

"The Scion xB really does look like something straight from 1975," Riley Hawk said. "From shag carpet to the retro paint job, it's the perfect mix between modern and vintage."

A Trio of Tuner Challenge FR-S Contenders

Three Scion media partners went head-to-head customizing the Scion FR-S as part of the 10th annual Scion Tuner Challenge. Each partner received $15,000 to modify the vehicles drawing inspiration from the details of the FR-S Release Series 1.0.

Super Street, a magazine dedicated to covering high-performance customized cars and lifestyle, reimagined its past Rocket Bunny build into a wider version with wilder colors and more power.
GT Channel, a car video network focused on drifting videos, car racing and new vehicle tests, reworked the FR-S with help from Mine's Tuning, known for tuning Nissans. The focus was on functionality.
Speedhunters, an international collective of photographers, writers and drivers, put together an entry that fused global inspiration from vintage Toyota Racing Development, TRA Kyoto, vintage Trans-Am, pro touring and muscle cars.

To see more of the challenge vehicles and process, visit www.ScionRacing.com for blog entries, photos and videos. A panel of judges will evaluate the entries and announce the $10,000 grand prize winner at the SEMA Show.

To follow other Scion SEMA content, visit www.scionracing.com as well as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

###

By Chris Bruce