SP Rides: Taking It To The Next Level
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Matthew Moribe
Age: 36
Occupation: Aircraft Technician
Hobbies: Cars, fishing, hunting
Year/Make/Model: 2012 Lexus ISF
Color: Mercury Gray Mica
Engine: Novel headers, GT Haus mid-pipe, HKS SSM exhaust, carbon fiber intake, modified throttle body, RR Racing tune.
Exterior: Aimgain full body kit, Aimgain roof spoiler, Aimgain rear trunk spoiler, 78 Works taillights.
Suspension: Airrunner struts, Airlift 3h management, T-Demand front upper arms, F-Sport sway bar, RR Racing LCA, Toms strut bars.
Interior: Custom carbon fiber steering wheel, custom fiberglass trunk setup, Alpine PDX amps, Alpine Type-S subwoofers, JL Audio Fix88, JL Audio Twik86
Wheels/Tires: Advan Gt-5 front 20×9.5 rear 20×10.5 wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Tires
The Lexus IS F is a special breed of sports sedan, one that spearheaded Lexus’ push into the high-performance market alongside industry stalwarts such as AMG and BWM’s M division. Up until its release, Lexus was known more for a slightly more reserved luxury brand.
One of its admirers is Matthew Moribe, who purchased this week’s featured ride in 2012. And as Moribe has since discovered, this car is anything but sedate.
With the help of the members of his club, PUREVIP, Moribe has turned this sexy yet stylish ride into something more. Although the stock ride is visually exciting, the professionally installed Aimgain full-body kit takes the good-looking meter to the next level. For example, the front bumper completely changes the initial view of the ride while expanded side ducting creates a performance-oriented look. Also, the rear bumper adds high tech LEDs combined with a very sexy diffuser-like rear clip.
Moribe has added his own special touches, including fiberglass accents and components such as the Aimgain roof and trunk spoilers. Aftermarket taillights from 78 Works close out the exterior look while internally, components such as the custom-ordered, carbon-fiber steering wheel provide a decent grip on the action.
To complement the assembly, a full Airrunner air suspension kit has been fitted that also includes Airlift 3h management. The drop is considerable while the stance is kept reasonable. All of this is contained in a custom trunk setup hand-built by Moribe. For the car’s owner, the goal was to keep it simple yet functional for those times when he needed the trunk space. On display are the expected air components, but the automobile also includes hand-laid fiberglass subwoofer enclosures on the sides, a sick open floor design, and a considerable amount of neon to highlight the amps and compressors.
Advan is a name synonymous with racing and these extremely expensive GT wheels are laid out in a one-piece 5-spoke design. The front features a set of 20×9.5 with the rear showcases a super thick 20×10.5 all wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires. All of that is perfectly tucked behind the Aimgain kit and locked in with ultra-exquisite Project Kics R40 ICONIX lug nuts.
The 2012 IS F comes standard with 416HP, which has been massaged gently with a choice selection of parts. Novel headers connected with a GT Haus mid-pipe all flow down and through a HKS SSM exhaust. The car breathes a little more thanks to a carbon fiber intake and a bored-out throttle body. An RR racing tune brings it all together for that high-tech sound that only an imported V8 can provide.
This car has been a dream come true for Moribe. For most of his life, he’s been a fan of modding vehicles, but this time he decided to bring everything to the next level. Although the challenge to take an idea and then make it a reality is what drives him, in the end, it’s the friendships he’s made that keep him in the game.
