7 Tips for Getting the VIP Look for Your Lexus
The VIP style is large, yet understated.
In American cities we often have customized lowriders with small wheels, airbrushed murals, and sometimes hydraulics to make them dance. In a similar vein are the truly pimped out urban cruisers with custom fuzzy interiors, padded roofs and chrome, or gold-plated trim everywhere.
The Japanese VIP style of understated, fast, luxury sedans is more similar to the old southern moonshiner runner's car, designed to not draw attention from the police and outrun them if need be. These days, the stylish, understated look of gangsters and yakuza bosses' VIP sedans has been adopted by many who just like these modern Japanese classics, like the Lexus LS400 (Toyota Celsior in Japan).
These tricks can be applied to any Lexus sedan, but I'll concentrate on the 1st generation LS400, because it is the most common VIP style you see. Read on and we'll go over the top things you are going to need to get that VIP look.
1. Custom Body Kit
One of the first things you are going to need is a proper body kit. The VIP style demands an understated look, so avoid huge wings or splitters. The kit should provide function, keeping air from getting under the car and give you more grip. The kit also improves the looks, making the car look lower while retaining a comfortable ride and proper wheel travel. VIP cars are typically painted white, black, or grey/silver to blend into traffic, but most of the stock Lexus colors lend themselves to this style.
2. Plus-Size Wheels
Another needed element of the VIP style are larger diameter wheels with lower profile tires. Unlike most styles, VIP cars tend to have less open design, more solid disc wheels. The picture above is a ClubLexus forum member's LS400 with later model factory SC430 18" wheels installed. There are more pictures on the thread here. Ideally, you want larger wheels pushed out to the edges of the fenders, with lower profile tires that give you more grip for high speed driving without ruining the ride.
3. Lower Ride Height
You are going to need a lower ride height than stock to pull off the VIP look. A set of H&R or Tanabe springs will get you a drop of more than 1.5" up front (a little less out back), and, paired with good KYB or Bilstein struts, your ride will still be comfortable. Of course, air ride is an option if you want to spend that kind of money, or a quality set of adjustable coilovers. Avoid the cheap generic coilovers, as they typically have an overly stiff ride from a one-size-fits-all spring. Part of the VIP style is that the car is still supposed to be comfortable for the driver/passenger.
4. Extended Exhaust Tips
One of the few places you can really cut loose with the flash on a VIP style car is the exhaust. These cars typically have tips that stick out past the body work in polished stainless to add a little bling. This particular car has custom dual-triple, candy red painted exhaust tips. In keeping with the stealth nature of a VIP style car though, you should avoid excessively loud or droning exhaust systems. This is a luxury car after all.
5. Custom Stereo System
Inside your VIP ride is where you can really go crazy. At the very least you are going to want a modern double DIN stereo with touchscreen and video playback capabilities. You may want to add headrest screens in the back seats, too. Of course, you will need amplifiers, subwoofers and the like. Don't skimp here. VIP is not about the booming bass; it is about having a sound system that accurately reproduces every part of the music as if you were in a concert hall.
6. VIP Tables
Sure, smoking is frowned upon and drinking in your car is illegal, but if you were a real gangster, why would you care? The VIP style table, often placed in front and back, typically features a place for several bottles as well as packs of cigarettes or cigars. Think about the interior of a limousine or custom conversion van and you get the picture. If you are doing it more for show than go, you'll get extra points for using JDM brands of cigarettes, candy or sake in the slots on your table.
7. Curtains
You can skip over a lot of the custom interior elements of the VIP style, since the stock Lexus LS400 has a very luxurious leather-clad interior from the factory, but you absolutely have to have cloth curtains on the front and rear windows. Online companies sell ready-made kits for the Lexus LS400 and other popular VIP cars, or you can make them yourself. If you want to spend more money, you can even install quilted leather floor mats and dash covers, or custom carved shift knobs.
Join the conversation on getting the VIP look here in Club Lexus.