Five Axis Scion Bodykit

Since the launch of the Scion brand back in 2005, Five Axis has been active on the Scion scene creating some over the top concept cars to help define P1060420_optthe upper limits of these highly customizable platforms. The partnership between Scion, Pioneer Electronics and Five Axis has been responsible for some of the most memorable tuner creations we鈥檝e ever laid eyes on. The revolutionary designs from Five Axis and leading edge products from Pioneer Electronics have worked together smoother than a glass of Vodka and Redbull, which made them a perfect match for Scion鈥檚 modern marketing campaign.

Naturally, when Scion came to market with the second generation models, the 2008 xB and xD, Five Axis was asked to take a look at these fresh new platforms from an aftermarket, consumer perspective. When we heard our boy Jaed Arzadon at Pioneer USA bought a new 2008 Scion xB, it didn鈥檛 take long for his once 鈥榮tock box鈥 to end up in the install bay at Five Axis for a lip kit fitting. We dropped by to kick it with our home boy Troy Sumitomo at Five Axis to get the inside scoop on this new project build and the new products from the Five Axis team.

The original concept for the Five Axis Design 4-piece lip kit was conceived for the private unveiling of the next generation Scions at an exclusive owner鈥檚 event held in South Beach, Miami Florida back in December 2007. Five Axis was asked to create two mildly modified vehicles for the event that would allow the audience to see the potential for the next gen Scion models with a little creative influence. Five Axis was given a blank canvas in which to create an enhanced look for the new Scions.

鈥淥ur goal was not to go over the top as with our previous endeavors, the DJxB, Widebody tC, and Speedster xA but to create a tasteful modification that would give the new cars a sportier and more aggressive look鈥. As with all our (Five Axis) projects we begin by studying the existing lines and surfaces on the subject at hand, the new xB,鈥 explains Troy Sumitomo of Five Axis.

P1060375_opt P1060378_opt P1060385_opt

Unlike the previous xB, the second generation is much softer, and not as edgy or boxy, and is proportionally very different. The greenhouse is much smaller and the beltline (the imaginary line that defines the bottom of the windows) is much higher than the previous model making it appear much like a chop top....kinda like the orange Five Axis xB鈥mmmm.

鈥淭o enhance the sides, our goal was to bring the body sides down and around, wrapping the bottom of the car back underneath the vehicle instead of just extending the sides downward and abruptly ending them with a sharp edge, typical of most aero kits. 聽Looking at the xB body side, this same treatment is evident in the original design in which the body side is rather flat breaking over, just below the beltline, into a gentle curved surface making up the secondary transitional surface between the body side and the greenhouse as well as the hood,鈥 said Sumitomo.

P1060366_opt P1060388_opt P1060408_opt

The current Five Axis production kit differs slightly from the prototype shown in Miami. Five Axis fine tuned the kit for production, so that installation would be as smooth and trouble free as possible. They rebuilt the front and rear lip spoiler into a one piece design allowing for better manufacturing and an overall more concise looking part. Five Axis maintained the rear dual openings in case a dual exhaust was ever desired.聽In fact, they鈥檙e in the process of creating an exhaust system to work specifically with their rear lip.

Construction is OE grade urethane in natural black. The kit comes unpainted and the surfaces are clean enough, right out of the mold, that a simple P1060402_optscuff, seal, and shoot is all it really requires. Five Axis advises a pre-fit, before painting, to insure that all the gaps are even and surfaces mate up.聽Although the molds are very precise, there is always that thing called tolerance that even on a production car, can vary ever so slightly.

Installation is relatively simple provided the installer reads and fully comprehends the enclosed instructions.聽The biggest learning curve is grasping the 3M foam tape application technique which requires a specific process that, when followed, will result in a flawless application. Five Axis says 99% of the installations that have problems are because of lack of understanding this technique.

The kits are currently available at Scion Dealerships nationwide through the Optomize program and also available at participating tuner shops as well as directly from Five Axis through their website, www.fiveaxis.net. Along with the Five Axis Design Scion lip kits for all 3 current Scion models, xB, xD, and tC, Five Axis plans to offer additional accessories such as grill inserts and interior goods. Recently, Sumitomo and his team have been hard at work launching their new Five:AD wheel line which includes applications for popular Import and European fitments.聽They P1060404_optare also in the process of creating some unique accessories for the Lexus line, concentrating on the IS and IS-F models.

When we asked about the next steps to global domination, Five Axis answered, 鈥淥ur goal is to eventually take what we have done with Scion and carry it through the Toyota family as well as other unique applications in the Import market. Wheels are a great start especially since they are not brand specific. We do take caution not to overdo it and to be very selective as to which products to offer. Regardless of whether we are building the latest concept car or aftermarket aero enhancements we always pride ourselves on making sure we remain focused on design, quality and detail. Likewise we look for the same characteristics when choosing our next subjects to modify or enhance.鈥

Much respect goes out to Five Axis for doing what they do and our boy Jaed Arzadon at Pioneer Electronics who can finally get his roll on thanks to his 鈥渙h-so-fly鈥 body kit which fit like a glove.

Related Articles

Clarion CZ509 Clarion CZ509
I was a Clarion retailer during the 1980鈥檚 and have always considered the brand to be very well engineered and constructed, but lacking a little more...
Formula Drift Round 1 2009: Long Beach, CA Formula Drift Round 1 2009: Long Beach, CA
Formula D: Round 1Streets of Long BeachLong Beach, CAApril 11-12, 2009 If the first event of the season is any indication of things to come, we鈥檙e...
Project R32: Rotora Brake Upgrade Project R32: Rotora Brake Upgrade
Ever since we upgraded the front brakes on the Project GT-R, the braking was very capable at 118 feet but we want it too be great. With the addition...
Hiro Sumida's 2006 Lexus IS350 Hiro Sumida's 2006 Lexus IS350
You can give them a good upbringing, you can give them counseling but there is no guarantee your spawn is going to turn out to be Rhodes Scholar....
Throwback: 5 Vehicles from 香蕉视频直播 in 2008 Throwback: 5 Vehicles from 香蕉视频直播 in 2008
We're back again with everyone's favorite throwback series. As part of an ongoing series for our 25th anniversary here at 香蕉视频直播, we've been taking a...
ISC Suspension Control Arm Brace for 2013+ FR-S/BRZ/86 ISC Suspension Control Arm Brace for 2013+ FR-S/BRZ/86
The BRZ/FR-S/GT86 ISC Suspension front control arm brace helps decrease flex on the flimsy OEM stamped steel front control arms that come on these...