Car Feature: Street SXE10 - Juiceboxforyou

This is just one of those cars. A car you either love or hate at first glance. The Altezza itself was marketed in Europe as a Luxury car that we all know as the Lexus is200 or 300. This car was targeted at business men and people who wanted a luxury style car but with the reliability of a Toyota. The same went for the Altezza which was Italian for “highness” in Japan. This car was a sport luxury car which was supposed to attract a more upper class type of customer. A car to go up against Mercedes and BMW.

The best part is that after about 4-5 years of everyone driving around in the is200’s a ship load of evil Altezza’s made there way to our shores. In Japan we all know that they like to go all out with their cars and the Altezza was no exception. Business men who were enjoying their is200s were suddenly wondering why a large amount of these cars had come from nowhere.

On top of that why these cars had body kits and wheels. It must have been a real fright indeed. As the Irish car market longed more and more for some Japanese wheels our country was flooded with SXE10 chassis Altezza’s.  They came in shiploads. Most of these cars to this day look clean and simple. Nothing too crazy on most of these cars which made it here and not too many people here have touched them. There a luxury style car after all and most people that drive them here enjoy following that route. This is why I love Will’s Altezza so much. He has put quite alot of work into his car and he uses it like its a beater trueno. That’s something you have to admire.

The first thing you are greeted with on this car is the c west front bumper combined with that unmistakable TRD grill. It must be hilarious especially where Will is from to see anything like this done to a car. Other people must think its a sin that he has gone and randomly allowed people with a marker to go wild on his front bumper. It definitely makes the car stand out, and that is a good thing. Even though this car stood out already, it keeps sticking out more and more like a sore thumb in the world of SXE10’s. Its like the is200’s black sheep brother, the one who goes and gets drunk all the time and gets in fights and is always in trouble.

Its a hard thing to pull of but Will has managed to make this car look nothing short of aggresive. Buddyclub P1 wheels are the choice for Will which sit under some Ukyo Katayama wings. You can see two carbon spats at either side of the c-west bumper and a Supernow tow hook just incase. A Varis carbon bonnet keeps the beams 3SGE nicely covered.

This car is like a reverse mullet because this car is party up front and business at the rear! The sides are complimented by some Ukyo Katayama side skirts off a chaser.

The car still retains an element of luxury with some dark black tints and some Ganador carbon mirrors which fit nicely onto the simple exterior. The rear arches have been flared 15mm to accommodate for the aggressive stance which Will can afford to still have, if you see where he lives you would want to shake his hand instantly for having a car this low.

His roads are almost un-driveable in a normal car! The rear lights have been changed out for some Sonar back lights and the license surround has also been replaced with a carbon holding to keep with the clean black and white theme of the car. A TRD back lip keeps the car looking good at the rear.

The interior is clean and simple. The car still retains most of its standard interior as this car is a daily driver, comfort was still a factor. A Recaro fixed bucket is in place for the driving seat and a 30 year John Recaro limited edition anniversary seat is what the passenger gets to enjoy under their bum.

For steering a Nardi 3 spoke is in place and some defi gauges let you know whats going on. A TRD quick shift and gear knob for shifting and some Takata harnesses keeps the driver in place.

Under the engine is the infamous beams 3SGE which has been given a Blitz super Charger and ECU a spac rad cap and 550 injectors. There is also a blitz supra fuel pump, a Blitz front mount and a Full Greddy stainless steel exhaust system. Will decided to spray his engine bay to break things up a bit and the box of cornflakes is the most important part of the car. It keeps everything in check.

For handling some HSD coilovers were purchased from driftworks. An Os Giken two way diff, TRD under mounted strut braces with a Juran strut brace up front and an

Exedy clutch and fly wheel. Some Toyota Kotto 25000K hids to keep things illuminated up in the mountains where this car and its supercharger scream. Its truly such a nice car to see in real life.

The car has plenty of personality which is rare for an Altezza. Its a very personal take on such a widely recognised luxury car and that’s why I like it so much. The car is driven like its the next AE86 which is what many feel Nobuaki Katayama had in mind when he designed this car after the AE-86.