SP Rides: The Lowdown on a Stunning Prius

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BY MICHAEL KITCHENS

Builder: Marshall Lum
Owner: Company Airrex USA / Evolution Auto Styling
Year/Make/Model: 2010 Toyota Prius
Color: Axalta Lexus Orange – Solar Flare with custom gold pearl
Engine: Mode Parfume Dual Exhaust and Injen Intake
Exterior: Mode Parfume Phantom Ga-mu Prius R Wide Body Kit with upper and lower spoiler
Interior: Imported Light Grey Italian Leather with Mode Perfume Signature fabric
Wheels and Tires:  SSR MK3 Neo 19×9.5 front and 19×11 rear wheels; Falken tires 19/215/40 front and 19/255/30 rear
I.C.E.: Full Alpine system with three 8-inch subs and four 5 and 1/4 mids
Suspension by Airrex Digital Air suspension with Dual Viair 444c Compressors and 2 Custom 16 inch Specialty Suspension Seamless Tank with custom color matching and hidden mounts. Custom Installed with Valve wire tuck so wires are not shown, stainless steel hardlines, J-LINE front lower arms and rear axles

The Toyota Prius is probably the most earth-friendly vehicle on roadways, thanks to its low-level, smog-forming emissions. But in the case of this 2010 Toyota Prius, the automobile was specifically built to hug the ground while maintaining its absolutely clean ways.

This project car will be showcased at this weekend’s 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association, aka SEMA Show, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is an absolutely enormous automotive candyland that brings in over 60,000 patrons and is, quite frankly, the automotive show to attend.

Marshall Lum collaborated with a Japan body kit company, Mode Parfume, in order to represent the Hawaii-based car community at SEMA. This turns out to be a huge honor as very few Hawaii rides get the opportunity to be featured as a product showcase at SEMA.

This past summer, Airrex petitioned Lum to take on the project — in large part because he already owned a 2014 Prius and was quite familiar with the car. But this project would be challenging for Lum because it required massive cuts to the Prius and a complete stripping of its interior. Hesitant to chop up a perfectly brand new automobile, he opted to purchase a used model and was given three months to finish the build.

Immediately, Lum enlisted the help of several prominent shops. He first turned to George Dumlao of Automotive Concepts for the body and paint. For the body, a prototype kit was one of two used and featured an entire selection of Mode Parfume parts, including the Phantom Ga-Mu Prius R wide body accented with an upper and lower spoiler. Hirano San, CEO of Mode Perfume, personally flew in to make sure that the fitment was perfect. For the paint job, AC bathed the components in a Lexus Orange called Solar Flare, which has a mixture of gold pearl in it. The result is an extraordinary look for what some would consider a rather pedestrian vehicle.

Fred’s Auto Top Shop in Kalihi reupholstered the interior, which showcases an imported light gray Italian leather mixed with Mode Perfume’s signature fabric. Along with the standout seats, Progressive Auto Sounds in Aiea installed a full Alpine stereo system, which includes an incredible custom trunk enclosure underscored by three 8-inch subs mixed with four 5 and 1/4 mids. The neon orange highlights both the amps, the subs and also includes the Airrex Digital Air Suspension setup featuring Dual Viair 444c compressors and two 16-inch and color-matched seamless tanks. Everything is tucked and hidden for a super clean look.

Without a doubt, this one-of-a-kind ride will surely be an eye-catcher for the SEMA crowds.

“SEMA is the biggest automotive show that’s held every yea,” Lum said. It’s a dream come true for me as a car builder to be able to show at SEMA in a booth.”

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