2009 Lexus LS460 with VIP Modular VR08 Wheels
ISG gets the 411 on what just might be America’s best looking and most heavily modified Lexus LS460.
The Lexus LS has served as the brands marquee for well over 15 years and along the way created a car that has not only worried European automakers but also given them a benchmark – as well as a blueprint – to build off of. Now on their fourth generation body style, the new LS created a frenzy when they unleashed a flurry of options which included massage seats and self-parking but none of that could ever impress auto enthusiasts more than the modified version we present to you here today.
When Kennedy Nguyen – the CEO of Platinum VIP – first purchased his 2009 Lexus LS460 he already had plans to make his vehicle a rolling showcase to represent his tuning facilities capabilities. Already an advocate of the VIP style, Kennedy was no stranger to the scene and his 1993 Lexus GS was proof of that as he amassed a cult-like following. But no one in his or her right mind was ready to see him break out the Lexus LS460. Built in just a matter of days, the vehicle was showcased at its first show and from there he literally dropped jaws, had the crowds talking and put the industry in stand still as he created what has remained the finest example of a new body style LS we’ve seen to date.
For starters, he equipped his Lexus LS with additional body cladding from one of the scene’s premiere VIP stylists – Job Design. Known best for building body kits and tuning parts for Lexus and Toyota, this new Job Design body kit offers confidence – if not cockiness – to an already smooth demeanor. Unlike other kits which are gaudy and boastful of cartoonish proportions, the front fascia of the Job Design kit features an aggressive front valance which wraps around to a pair of side skirts which elegantly blends vent ports on both the front and rear of each unit. Out back, the rear valance gracefully separates the factory exhaust tips with a mesh-backed accent grid and for this particular build Kennedy opted to not install the vertical gills which typically come with the kit. In all, the complete Job Design body kit offers flare, elegance and sophistication to what some have called “an already perfect vehicle.”
Suiting up the LS with the appropriate gear was the first step in getting it dressed up and when it came time for shoes to match, there was only one possible option – VIP Forged Modular. His decision to go with an open five-spoke wheel was simple. “I wanted a wheel that would allow me to showcase the JBT Brakes”, says Kennedy. He further adds, “Most people will run full face wheels to hide the puny factory brakes, but for me that was not an option. I wanted to show the brakes off to promote form, function and utility.” Up front, the addition of the massive 16-inch rotors and JBT 8-piston brakes was necessary to counter the additional rotating mass from the huge 22-inch wheels and once installed it offered a picture perfect setting framed by the VIP Forged Modular VR08 wheels.
By now many of you might be looking at your own Lexus LS wondering why the lip of your wheels are so small when compared to his and the answer is simple: It’s all in the suspension tuning and tire size. Don’t believe us? Then try running a fitment like his: 22x10-inch up front and 22x12 out rear! It’s not an easy task to do and one that will have even the best customizing shops telling you that “It’s impossible.”
Close inspection of the wheel and tire setup on Kennedy’s LS will baffle those not familiar with the VIP scene as the fitment is as tight as they come. With less than a 2mm clearance from the outer lip to the inner fender, the fitment is tight and made possible through custom camber adjustments, modified AEM suspension arms, stretched tires as well as a set of STD coilovers. To further stretch the point a set of 265/30/22 Toyo tires are stretched onto each rim. The stretching of the sidewalls helps create space to further stretch the lips out and if the wheel and tire establishment you frequent hasn’t done this type of tire mount then you can bet that it’ll never get mounted. “This type of mod is definitely not for the faint of heart”, says Kennedy, and we definitely agree as driving a car this low becomes more of an art rather than a daily routine. At a negative four-degrees of camber tire wear will diminish to a very costly 1,300 to 1,500 miles per set but as we always say, “There’s a cost to floss.”
Now for the question that everyone wants to know: Does the car really drive like that? Absolutely. As mentioned earlier, the car sits on a set of STD coilvers and drives exactly the way it is pictured. No Photoshop, no bags and absolutely no rubbing which is exactly why driving shots were essential to prove his point.
As mentioned in other articles on ISG, VIP tuning is the precise art of tolerance and whereas other tire fitments may be inches off, VIP style cars see millimeters as their friend – and sometimes foe.
Inside, the stock amenities remain untouched with the exception of the “must have” Belleza curtains on both front and rear windows. This particular interior enhancement has been blessed with fair acceptance and is a typical a ritual left for the more classy examples of VIP style vehicles.
So as the continued growth of the VIP style takes on a slow but steady expansion, it’s inevitable that the scene will flourish when cars like this are presented. It’s a class of vehicle customization for those in the know as well as an art form created by suspension artisans that are looking to push new boundaries. So for now, his vehicle will remain a legend in it’s own class and while others have tried to mimic the look they’ve done it to no avail. As a matter of fact, the car was put together so well that even Job Design in Japan requested pictures of his ride for their catalog. Talk about a job well done.
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