Tuning Styles - an overview
As the tuning industry has grown, numerous different styles have grown up, as well. While most of these styles revolve around the type of vehicle being customized, some types can be implemented together. Each style appeals to a different subset of consumers and tuners, leading to an explosion in almost all areas.
The world loves automobiles. This love affair is dramatically showcased in the number of different customization (tuning) styles found around the globe today. Understanding the different styles available, as well as which cars can benefit from the various styles is important to maximizing your ability to customize your ride. Here are a few of the styles that you'll find today.
Dub Style – Dub tuning is one of the few styles that can be applied to any type of car. This type of tuning originally focused solely on large wheels, the bigger the better. There are a number of other aspects incorporated into the style such as chrome elements, tinted taillights, black window tint and more. Most vehicles with Dub tuning applications have been considerably lowered from their OEM ride height, with quite a few of them featuring hydraulics to make the vehicle hop, tip, tilt and more. Most of the cars are droped until they skim the ground and are predominantly painted black. Cadillac Escalade, Hummer H2, Chrysler 300 C are just some of the most popular cars used on this style.
JDM Style – JDM tuning is focused on Asian imports. JDM actually means Japanese Domestic Market. It was a term originally used to describe Japanese home market factory parts that people would specially order to make their cars more authentically Japanese spec. After a while, the term evolved and came to mean anything that comes out of Japan that is not altered, modified, or assimilated to fit any other culture. It means “Pure Japanese”. While the aftermarket automotive tuning culture has only recently gained momentum worldwide, there has been a thriving automotive tuning culture in Japan for over 30 years. In that time, the tuning culture has grown and evolved into multiple niche markets and multiple categories. JDMtuner’s goal is to bring you tastes of these niches and subcultures and become part of the true meaning of the abbreviation JDM. This style of tuning differs greatly from Dub tuning. While the tuning does emphasize large wheels, they are not usually of the same enormous size found in Dub. In addition, this style focuses on sleek, race-inspired style, rather than the subtle brawn of Dub and other styles. Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Suzuki, Mazda and Subaru are the dominant automakers in the market. In addition, JDM style focuses more on performance and aerodynamics than many other styles of tuning.
German Style – This style focuses on vehicles like VW, Audi, Porsche and BMW, among others. Generally, German style tuning is more refined and elegant than other types of tuning, putting all the performance enhancements under a sleek housing that speaks of European influences. You will find large wheels (though not massive wheels), as well as numerous engine and exhaust upgrades here. Cars have cleanest lines and the most respectful of the original design of the vehicle, with droped chassis, large wheels touching the fenders.
Import – This style refers to the subculture that revolves around modifying imported brand cars (commonly referred to as imports), especially those of Japanese brands, for street racing in foreign countries. Thanks to movies like The Fast and the Furious (2001), it has become a mainstream phenomenon. It’s a custom car culture mash-up of Japanese cool, cars and motor sports, homegrown hip-hop and throbbing speed metal, drift cars and drag racing, tricked-out spokesmodels and homeboy car clubs, crotch rockets and rice burners, wide-body show cars, rampant commercialism, cosmetic body kits, etc. Many enthusiasts in southern California also began to modify their compact Japanese cars, following similar trends that originated in Japan. Arising from the street culture, import racing venues eventually arose and huge drag racing events.
Clean Style – This is yet another type of style that can be applied to any type of vehicle. Clean tuning focuses on providing maximum performance enhancement in the smoothest, cleanest package. Clean lines and hidden upgrades market this type of tuning. Body modifications can be made, though they are never over the top in terms of showiness and flash.
Hot Rod – Hot rodding began in the early days of the automobile. Tuned roadsters with open engines and no fenders were one of the iconic symbols of this style. The authentic hot rod has returned today in a big way. Numerous shows around the US offer the chance to see hot rods, as well as to show off your custom creation. GreaseOrama and Viva Las Vegas are two of the most popular. Hot rod style is defined as a classic car modified for extreme performance, usually with a stylish body makeover. Model T's, Model B's and other classic cars are all usual examples of hot rodding.
Low Rider – The low rider style began several decades ago, with small trucks. However, today, the style can apply to trucks, cars and vans alike. The low rider style is perhaps best known for "slamming" a vehicle to the ground. That is, lowering the vehicle's suspension to the point that the vehicle has only a few inches of ground clearance. Hydraulics have appeared on the scene and lent it a more advanced aspect. The hydraulycs allow the rapid rise and fall of the chassis, even with the car moving. Low riders often incorporate elements of Dub style tuning, such as overly large wheels and de-badged grilles. Wheels are usually with many spokes.
Rat Rods – Like the hot rods of yesteryear, rat rods have returned to the streets of the world. Rat rods take the traditional image of a hot rod and exaggerate it, sometimes to the extreme. Classic cars are usually the subject of this form of modification, though muscle cars can sometimes be seen at rat rod events. The hallmark of a true rat rod is the unfinished appearance, though most of these cars are complete. Matt colours and a rusty effect is the trend.
Extreme Tuning – This style is related to rat rodding in that it gives the vehicle an "over-the-top" appearance. Gull wing doors, scissor doors, large screen TVs in the rear hatch, body panels that flip to reveal enormous speakers; these are all elements of this somewhat disparate style of tuning. Extreme tuning focuses on cosmetic options that make a car stand out from the crowd, rather than performance customization (for all your tuning needs, visit AndysAutoSport.com).
Racing – This style is related to rat rodding in that it gives the vehicle an "over-the-top" appearance. Gull wing doors, scissor doors, large screen TVs in the rear hatch, body panels that flip to reveal
Baroque – This style is very loved in Spain. Cars have an excess of trims, great wide bodywoks and wheels, and lots of graphics and vynil.
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