By: Brian Lin

All automotive mods must begin somewhere, may it be the body kit, interior styling, engine tuning, etc. And the first step to modifying your vehicle should definitely be the body kit, which can drastically improve your cars appearance.

A body kit is a collection of exterior modifications to a car, basically comprised of front and rear bumpers (fenders), side skirts, and spoilers. Other exterior add-ons also include carbon-fiber engine hood, splitters, vent scoops and side-view mirrors.

There are many companies that specialize in the design and development of modified body kits and tuning accessories on the market today. For those looking for alternatives to the appearance of the vehicle from the factory, upgrading your body kit is certainly the first step to achieving your objective.
Today, most body kits are fabricated either of fiberglass or polyurethane.

* Polyurethane, or PU is popular with car enthusiasts because it is more resistant to damage and does not crack or splinter easily.
* Fiberglass, or FRP is both lightweight and a cheaper alternative to PU. But it is also less durable.

There are also body kits made entirely from carbon fiber - a fast-growing trend among aftermarket tuners. The carbon fiber is both lightweight and durable, but comes at a steeper price.

Choosing the right body kit for your car is a matter of personal preference. Beginning from the front bumper for the Lexus IS, there is a wide selection of aftermarket brands for you to choose from, including HKS, C-West, Veilside, TRD and Top Secret. For European car makes, a wider selection is possible, with big brand names such as AC Schnitzer, Rieger, ABT, Oettinger, Dietrich Concept, Lexmaul, Steinmetz, and many others.
For this part of the mod I opted for the C-West front bumper, which is ideal for future turbo upgrade with intercooler installation because it is designed with a wide central opening (mesh is not included, therefore it hasnt been added yet). To make the front end of your car look more fierce, you can add eye-lids to your headlights. This kind of mod can be done to all kinds of cars, and is not reserved solely for the IS. In my case I also changed my side-view mirrors to a more sportier one.

Aftermarket bumpers can be bolted on instantly with simple tools such as air screwdrivers and some silicone adhesive.

Factory fitted body kits are now becoming more common, perhaps in response to the growth of the aftermarket tuning industry in the late nineties and onwards. Many manufacturers now work in-house with their motorsport divisions to develop styling upgrades.