You are reading this magazine because of one reason, the desire to modify cars. There is no shame in the game if you don’t have one right now, we’re sure you’ll find a way to get yourself one. Maybe the bucket you are driving is well, just that – a bucket and you are working towards buying something more acceptable. The desire to personalize your car and improve the performance is still a strong urge, even a sickness to others that can push you to bankruptcy and drive away girlfriends. Most enthusiasts out there are concerned with anything but working on that project and achieving the more sense of pride when it is finally tuned to perfection. In this issue we have rounded up many stunning examples of makes and models that are the object of our desires, dreams and aspiration – the car.

Being in the car biz means we get behind the wheel of a lot of rides. So people are always asking us about the driving experience and to give insights for their next purchase. We have slipped into some serious cars like Lambos and Ferraris and some not so exhilarating rides like family sedans and SUVs so we have a good cross-section of what is on the market. Many of the cars out there are overrated but some definitely live up to the hype and many noteworthy cars coming down the pipe soon. In 2008, the performance car world was turned upside down with several high-profile debuts like the: IS-F, new STi, new Evo, new Challenger and the supercar-fighter Nissan GT-R. Now in 2009, only a few players have arrived and to less fanfare such as the: Nissan 370Z, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, New GTi and the New Camaro. Upon closer inspection you’ll realize that each of these new models is representing a different country, so it’s interesting to see how they approach performance from different parts of the world. During the course of the year you will find all of these platforms getting highly modified and perhaps even stealing a bit of the limelight from all of the heavy-hitters in 2008 but that totally depends on aftermarket support and the professionals who build them.

As the benchmark publisher for several event guides in 2009 (now sitting at 12 guides) PAS Mag has a hand pulse of the scene where these new cars will be used. The Time Attack circuit is littered with STis and Evos, some are existing platforms but some of the fast ones cropping up are built on the new chassis. It takes a while for the aftermarket to engineer parts and crack ECUs but it is happening quickly. By next year we will see more and more of them pop up in competition. For drifting you will find the new 370Z and Camaro used as weapons of choice for the sideways action. The modified Z33 chassis is proven on the drift circuit and the Camaro has all of the right dimensions, power and design to make it competitive. The Hyundai Genesis already got off to a running start before its release with Rhys Millen stripping it down and building an insane drift car out of the new Coupe. Millen will be coming out swinging in a Hyundai something that many tuners never thought they would see. When it comes to the new GTi that will pop up in many forms of competition, obviously no drifting but we’ll see a strong showing at drag events, show events and obviously as a popular pre-tuned ride for everyday performance. As it sits, the offerings from 2009 aren’t all toned down commuters that sip gas, there is still some excitement brewing at the ailing automakers.

So in honor of the car itself, we rounded up more features than you can handle. It wasn’t a theme so to speak but just a celebration of a load of hotness from around North America we have been collecting for a long time. We were assembling a magazine that was a departure from what you are used to seeing, and we’re sure you got the hint by peeping the cover car. Vince Wong’s outrageous green Porsche has all the right gear on it, including a set of iForged wheels to promote his company. A project build for Mobil 1, this cover car has it all, a 996 twin turbo transformed into an exotic with 997 and GT3-RS elements, added loads of aftermarket performance, loads of audio and gave the German-made car a decidedly tuner –style makeover. Bravo to that!