Vossen CVT’s + Michelin Pilot Sports on my Kizashi GLS (manual GTS upgrade project)

Post videos and photos of your Kizashi.
User avatar
johnhenrydale
Posts: 100
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:08 am
Location: Miami Beach, FL

I’ve been pondering this wheel and tire combo ever since I got my 2011 Azure gray manual GTS in 2014.

Today I finally made it a reality:
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

Vossen’s Anthracite color is nearly a perfect paint match for the Azure gray paint and I LOVE how the rear wheel is finally flush with the Kizashi’s beautiful rear quarter panels. That’s maybe my favorite angle of all these pics.


I’ll post some proper DSLR photos and nice video footage once I get my new replacement headlights + LEDs put in.
Stay tuned!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited by johnhenrydale on Thu May 21, 2020 4:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
2011 Kizashi Sport "GLS" 2WD
(GTS Upgrade project)
6sp MT
Azure Gray Metallic
Anthracite Gray Vossen CVT 19" / 5 x 114.3 +32
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Quimicax
Posts: 36
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2020 3:57 pm
Location: Dominican Republic

Damn Look Really Nice.!!!
Kizashi GTS 2013 AWD
DRL Off / Foglights Without Headlights

Ford Explorer Sport 2013
350Rwhp

Nissan Xtrail 2017
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Ronzuki
Posts: 2382
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 5:33 pm
Location: Lancaster County, PA

yeah man...damn sexy looking car! Love the glassy, wet looking finish. Mine sure doesn't look like that.
Ron

2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded :D :D )
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top ( :| sold)
User avatar
johnhenrydale
Posts: 100
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:08 am
Location: Miami Beach, FL

As promised, some more proper pics and video. These were not taken with my GH4 after all. Instead I decided to try a photo and video shoot with my new Mavic Air 2 drone in the world famous 1111 Lincoln Road Parking garage designed by Herzog & DeMeuron in Miami Beach, where I used to live. I decided to use the drone to see how good this new 48MP sensor is for stills and video. It did not disappoint in either case. These are all untouched and unedited, shot around 2-3pm on a bright but cloudy and rainy day. It was kind of a nice backdrop for the new Anthracite & Azure Gray stealth look I'm going for with the Sport GLS.

New upgrades:
1) I installed new OEM headlights. It was time. The old ones had been beaten beyond repair by 5 years in the Florida sun. No amount of buffing and sealing was going to bring those things back to new.
2) Added LED bulbs. The difference in color temperature and light beam throw distance is amazing. The LED tun signals give the whole thing a much more modern updated appearance that I quite enjoy.

I added smoked tint on the rear tail lights as well as the side parking lights.
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I'm thinking one of two very different directions for the rest of this project:

1) Re paint all chrome to black chrome, for a fully gray and black chrome stealth look, but with brake calipers in java green (see below) for a pop of color

2) Paint brake calipers and all chrome parts (side stripes, exhaust tips, door chrome, front valance chrome) in Java Green (BMW color) like this:
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OR

3) Paint all chrome parts in green chrome and paint calipers in Java Green.


What think ye?

Finally Here are some Mavic Air 2 videos, one of which is in slow motion. They did not come out quite a fluid as I would have liked, but I'm also still just learning how to use this thing:





slow mo:

2011 Kizashi Sport "GLS" 2WD
(GTS Upgrade project)
6sp MT
Azure Gray Metallic
Anthracite Gray Vossen CVT 19" / 5 x 114.3 +32
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Ronzuki
Posts: 2382
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 5:33 pm
Location: Lancaster County, PA

Personally, your car looks awesome as it sits. Some color on the calipers would be ok IMHO, however, all the new neon colors on vehicles simply not my cup of tea. If you must change the chrome, giving it a bit of a smokey tint (black chrome?) to closer match those great looking wheels would tie it all together nicely.
Ron

2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded :D :D )
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top ( :| sold)
User avatar
johnhenrydale
Posts: 100
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:08 am
Location: Miami Beach, FL

Yeah I think that’s the direction I’m headed as well. I’ve seen a couple similar examples and I really like the gray with black chrome all over look. I think I’ll just keep the green calipers as the color element. thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
2011 Kizashi Sport "GLS" 2WD
(GTS Upgrade project)
6sp MT
Azure Gray Metallic
Anthracite Gray Vossen CVT 19" / 5 x 114.3 +32
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Obama_is_hot6
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2023 1:24 am

i know im 3 years late but any updates, still got the car?
YUUUURT
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johnhenrydale
Posts: 100
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:08 am
Location: Miami Beach, FL

@Obama_is_hot6:

Yes indeed, I do still have the car and it's going strong at just under 98K miles. Had a 90k service and still on the same Michelins and Vossen CVTs. I recently had the front two wheels re-powdercoated due to curb rash and finally had the brake calipers removed and painted properly in Java Green. I've been driving my Kizashi a bit less in the past 1.5 years since I purchased a Cayenne Diesel. They make a great two car garage. Here's some of my latest pics:









2011 Kizashi Sport "GLS" 2WD
(GTS Upgrade project)
6sp MT
Azure Gray Metallic
Anthracite Gray Vossen CVT 19" / 5 x 114.3 +32
User avatar
Obama_is_hot6
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2023 1:24 am

johnhenrydale wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 4:49 am @Obama_is_hot6:

Yes indeed, I do still have the car and it's going strong at just under 98K miles. Had a 90k service and still on the same Michelins and Vossen CVTs. I recently had the front two wheels re-powdercoated due to curb rash and finally had the brake calipers removed and painted properly in Java Green. I've been driving my Kizashi a bit less in the past 1.5 years since I purchased a Cayenne Diesel. They make a great two car garage. Here's some of my latest pics:









wow thats a damn fine kizashi, how much did it cost you to get new headlights? i recently looked online at it was like 800+ for both of em fml haha
YUUUURT
User avatar
johnhenrydale
Posts: 100
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 6:08 am
Location: Miami Beach, FL

i wanna say I paid 600 for both, but they fog up in the rain really easy and will probably need to replace again. LED bulbs are the way to go tho.
2011 Kizashi Sport "GLS" 2WD
(GTS Upgrade project)
6sp MT
Azure Gray Metallic
Anthracite Gray Vossen CVT 19" / 5 x 114.3 +32
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