2014 Manila Auto Salon: A showcase of Filipino customization

Tricked-out vehicles once again grace the halls of the SMX Convention Center as the 2014 Manila Auto Salon officially kicked off last November 20, 2014, bringing together a mix of coupes, sports cars, sedans and 4x4 off roaders all under one roof.

Classic and performance Toyota cars felt right at home at the show. Among them are three Toyota Corolla AE86 notchbacks from Prautotype. Autoline came with a trio of Toyota 86 accompanied by a Nissan GT-R and a styled and airbagged Lexus IS 350 F Sport.

Off-road vehicles dominated the scene as 4x4 specialists 199 Off Road House and Doctor G's presented their off-road creations. From several examples of the Mazda BT-50, Ford Rangers, Toyota Hilux, and Suzuki Jimny, what were once workhorse pick up trucks and family SUVs that can be everyday cruisers on the road are now ready to traverse the rough terrain and trek through muddy waters. A standout entry this year was the Ford Ranger of Australian Chris Walsh which is modified to take on rough terrain at significant speeds.

A noteworthy entry this year is the first LB Performance-kitted Nissan GT-R from Emperor Motorsport. Popularized by Japanese customizer Wataru Kato who started building aggressive bodykits for exotics and performance coupes.

Also present at the show were three modified cars from newcomer Staunch Performance. Among them is an aqua-colored Subaru WRX STI (GRB) that has been turned into a track car. It has a Cosworth engine, a fully customized and adjustable suspension system, and bigger brakes from Alcon and Nitto rubber.

Over at Car Porn Racing what looks to be a black Nissan Skyline R34 converted into a pickup is actually a 1989 Nissan Cefiro (A31) with a truck bed and an R34 front end. Inspired by Australian UTE car trucks, Car Porn Racing turned the sedan into a 2 door pickup that drifts. Other mods installed on the car include the 1-UZ Lexus V8 engine, a Accuaur air suspension, and suicide doors for the car called the Skyfiro. They also came in with their trio of Rau-Welt Begriff (RWB) Porsche 911s with 2013 Best of Show 'General' leading the pack along with 'Victoria' which is now fitted with an LS3 V8 crate engine and the new 'Kirsten' which has a unique detail to it specially done by Nakai-san.

Car Porn also displayed a Prior Design Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG. From the name itself, its exterior has a wide bodykit from Prior Design called the Black Edition Version 1 and is covered in a custom Firemist Red Body paint. The interior appears to remain stock while the powertrain receives minor upgrades consisting of Quaife 2-way LSD and a Car Porn Racing branded custom exhaust with twin pipes. Underneath the SL55 is an adjustable air suspension that is paired with Airrex custom air struts and a Viair air compressor and is held up by a set of 20-inch DPE CS7 wheels wrapped in Nitto tires that measure 265/30 at the front and 305/25 at the rear.

SpeedLab displayed an array of vehicles that were equipped with the shop’s proprietary Supercharged system that added more power to everyday cars like the Mitsubishi Mirage G4, Hyundai Elantra, Honda City, and Jazz, Toyota Corolla Altis, and the Mitsubishi Lancer EX. The supercharger system’s components mostly consist of a Sprintex supercharger, an integrated intake manifold, a bypass valve, aluminum piping and bracket, an idle pulley, drive belt, 650cc injectors, silicon hoses and clamps, and a Unichip Fuel Computer that manages the entire system.

AutoIndustriya.com meanwhile displayed two cars at the show to represent each aspect of the event. A resto-mod 1993 Mitsubishi Lancer owned by EIC Vince Pornelos and the AutoIndustriya.com Ford Ranger project truck.

With more than one hundred sixty vehicles at the show, the Manila Auto Salon proves itself once again as the venue for big names of the Philippine aftermarket scene to build and customize vehicles.