The perfect blend of innovative design and pure power.
I remember back in high school, I wanted blue headlights on my Dodge Aries like the vehicles in the 1986 Chuck Norris flick “The Delta Force.” I suppose that trying to glue stage lighting gels over my lights seems stupid now, but it was worth a try. At least I thought so.
Automotive lighting has certainly come a long way since 1986. We've gone from Halogen to High-Intensity Discharge (HID) and, now, it's performance LEDs turn to take the front stage. Justin Hartenstein, president of AAC Enterprises, is well aware of this fact. Given his company specializes in Oracle vehicle lighting products, he set about creating a showpiece for his products using a 2010 Chevy Camaro as the blank canvas upon. Six months later, he had a car ready to go to SEMA.
In order to meet his aggressive timeline, Hartenstein chose a V6-powered Camaro and boosted it with a prototype kit from Squires Turbo Systems that raises power up to a claimed 450 horsepower. The STS kit features a Turbonetics T3/T4 turbo and a front-mount intercooler improves efficiency. An STS/Turbosmart wastegate and blow-off valve keep pressurized air flowing where it should while the STS methanol injection system keeps engine internals happy when the pedal is on the floor. The combination has been tuned by Trifecta Performance for maximum power and drivability with a Pro-Torque stall converter to help get the Camaro off the line fast.
The vehicle is outfitted with GM Performance GFX side skirts and rear valance while the factory front fenders gave way to custom vented ones from Revolution Styling along with a ram air hood and aggressive front chin spoiler. Inferno Orange racing stripes tie in the orange theme from the interior.
Hartenstein raided his own warehouse to hook the Camaro up with all the Oracle lighting he could find. These include a Bi-Xenon headlight conversion kit featuring amber headlight halos, Concept LED side markers and Afterburner taillight halos. The day time running lights (DRT), high-power reverse lights, license plate and turn signals all now feature Oracle LED replacement bulbs and there's even a LED scanner that fits in the smaller opening in the hood.
Under the aggressive body work is a KW Variant 3 coil-over suspension system, including Pfadt Racing sway bars and urethane bushings. A front strut tower bar from BMR Suspension helps keep the body rigid so the suspension can work its magic. Wrapped in massive Falken FK452 tires, two-piece custom made USW Forged Crossover wheels (sized 22-inches in the front and 24-inches in the rear) are in place with 15-inch Stoptech brakes at each corner. The two-piece discs are clamped with six- and four-piston calipers in the front and back, respectively.
The interior of the car has come together as methodically as the exterior thanks to Advanced Audio and Video (AAV) in New Orleans applying a generous helping of suede and carbon fiber to the interior. AAV is also responsible for removing, bleaching and dying the factory carpet Inferno Orange before refitting it along with a host of custom-made pieces, including custom door panels, kick panels, A-pillars, a new rear deck and re-skinned headliner. The seats are custom-reupholstered in two-tone orange and black Katzkin leather. To keep tabs on engine vitals, a new pod in the center console houses Auto Meter gauges and mimics the optional SS gauges
There's a JVC head unit in the dash and two Arc Audio XDi sub amps in the trunk that feed two Arc Audio XXD 10-inch subwoofers mounted in an illuminated Plexi/wood enclosure. The trunk lid is now home to a 20-inch LCD TV that, as with the rest of the trunk, is trimmed in suede to match the interior. Another four-channel amp feeds a set of Arc Audio midbass drivers and components that are mounted in the doors and kick panels. The amps, speakers and most of the interior really has been illuminated thanks to Oracle red LED strips. Everything comes to life when the lights go out! Tsunami interconnects, speaker and power wire connects the system components while Odyssey batteries help keep it pounding.
ESSENTIALS
Vehicle: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
Owner: Justin M. Hartenstein
Location: Metairie, Louisiana
Engine Displacement: 3.6L V6
Horsepower: 550 hp
Max Torque: 400 lb-ft
Website: www.aacstyle.com
ENGINE MODIFICATIONS
Squires Turbo Systems (STS/Turbonetics T3/4 turbo system, front mount intercooler, 60-1 turbo power adder, methanol injection system, Turbosmart 52 mm blow-off valve, Turbosmart WG38 wastegate)
EXTERIOR
Revolution Styling (front chin spoiler, fenders, ram air hood, reverse hood kit, side skirts, rear deck spoiler)
GM Performance (rear bumper valance, GFX side skirts)
GM Heritage grill
Custom (functional rear fender brake ducts, front fenders)
ACS “T2” bumper ports
Oracle Lighting Technology (Bi-Xenon headlight conversion, Amber headlight halos, Afterburner taillight halos, Concept SMD side markers; LED DRL/turn signal/reverse lights/license plate bulbs, LED scanner bar)
Cyber Grey and Inferno Orange metallic paint
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES
USW Forged Crossover 2-pc. wheels – 22x9 (F), 24x10 (R)
Falken FK452 tires – 265/30R22 (F), 275/30R24 (R)
Stoptech Brakes – 15-in. rotors, 2-pc. drilled rotors, six-piston calipers, braided lines (F), 15-in. rotors, 2-pc. drilled rotors, four-piston calipers, braided lines (R)
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
KW Variant 3 coil-overs
Pfadt Racing (sway bars, urethane bushings)
BMR Suspension four-point front strut tower brace
INTERIOR
Defender Works shift knob
Auto Meter (boost, wideband, oil temp, methanol gauges)
Custom gauge pod
Katzkin leather custom seats
All plastic parts have been suede covered and/or hydro-dipped
AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS
JVC head unit
ARC Audio - XDi 600.1 sub amplifiers (x2), XXD 10 10-in. subwoofers (x2), XDi 804 4-ch. amplifier, XDi 602 component sets (3 sets)
Odyssey Batteries (x2)
Tsunami / Metra Electronics (main power wire, speaker wire, distribution blocks)
SPONSORS
Squires Turbo Systems
Revolution Styling
Advanced Automotive Concepts
Pfadt Racing
USW Forged
Arc Audio
Related Articles
Nissan's R32 GT-R EV Will Ruffle Feathers at TAS 2025
Formula DRIFT and GRIDLIFE Combine Forces in 2025
PAS365 Editorial Desk - Episode 8
Throwback: 5 Vehicles from PASMAG in 2011
Magic Tricks: Raymond Tsang's FD3S RX-7 is a Dream Come True
GrimmSpeed Swap-Top Shift Knobs
