Trends: Customizing Hybrid Cars

Ever since returning WWII vets pulled the fenders off souped-up flathead Fords over 60 years ago - thus launching the hot rod movement that continues to this day - Southern California has been known as an automotive trendsetter. Today, the automotive world still looks to California for new ideas that might become the Next Big Thing. With hybrids so hot, the next big enthusiast trend may well be 'green' performance.

The L.A. Auto Show's take on this is simple: Start with a fuel-thrifty yet performance-oriented hybrid sedan - Nissan's Altima Hybrid - and work with key partners to share what the future of customization might well look like. Of all the great international auto shows, the L.A. Auto Show has earned the reputation of leading environmental trends with a string of significant product launches ranging from the General Motors Impact electric car concept that became the EV1 production car, to Honda's FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car just last year.

The Nissan Altima Hybrid is a great starting point from a car enthusiast's point of view. It offers a generous mix of performance and clean efficiency rolled into a very good looking package. In stock form, the Altima Hybrid combines a 158 horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 40 horsepower electric motor for acceleration on par with a performance V-6. Accelerating from 0-60 mph happens in the low seven second range with a sub-16 second quarter mile time at over 90 mph. That's serious performance from a roomy and well mannered 3,500 pound, five-passenger sedan.

Yet the Altima Hybrid is very easy on the environment. It carries an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) emissions rating and 2008 EPA fuel economy numbers of 35 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, coaxing 600 miles from a tank of gas. Green Car testers have been able to eke well over 40 mpg out of the Altima Hybrid with conservative driving habits.

To take the Altima Hybrid to the next level, the L.A. Auto Show issued a challenge to its aftermarket exhibitors to 'enhance performance, styling, and fun, without compromising the green car ethos.' To give the Altima a streetwise stance and tighten up the handling a bit, Eibach springs and suspension tuning components were swapped for the stock hardware. The lowered ride height is complemented with more aggressive 18-inch Ray's ECO-drive ultra lightweight, one-piece forged alloy wheels from Wheel Warehouse. Low profile, high-tech Yokohama S.drive performance radials complete the look and improve the Altima Hybrid's cornering grip. The new ground-hugging profile also helps the Altima Hybrid cheat the wind with improved aerodynamics.

Auto Indulgence enhanced the dark slate metallic paint with a subtle and classy graphic treatment. The beltline features a contrasting silver band with the contributing aftermarket product company logos reversed out to read in the dark slate base color. At the lower rear quarter panels, the L.A. Auto Show logo adds another custom touch. Since this project car is meant to be driven, the frontal surfaces were covered with Star Shield's paint protection film. Finally, LLumar window film was installed to protect the interior from the intense L.A. sun and visually draw all the exterior elements together in a single form.

What would an L.A. Auto Show custom be without over-the-top electronics? Al & Ed's Autosound coordinated with Alpine to put together a state-of-the-art entertainment system, incorporating the latest Bluetooth and iPod integration while delivering maximum punch with minimum weight to maintain the Altima Hybrid's fuel efficiency. Alpine's ultra-efficient Digital PDX amplifiers used here are 60 percent smaller and generate considerably less heat than traditional designs. They are connected with low-resistance Monster Cable. The system has plenty of bottom-end without resorting to a heavy speaker enclosure thanks to Alpine's free-air subwoofer configuration that's mounted in the trunk along with the amps.

In the cabin, a center dash-mounted head unit is complemented by the custom installation of an Alpine LCD display in the lower center dash stack. Rear seat passengers aren't left out of the fun with a pair of large Alpine LCD video displays mounted in the back of the front seat headrests. Keeping with the green theme, XM Satellite Radio's NavTraffic system allows the driver to find the quickest and most direct route while avoiding traffic delays with live traffic updates on the main navigation screen.

Is 'green performance' the next big aftermarket trend? One look at the L.A. Auto Show's custom Altima Hybrid provides a clear indication that green cars needn't be boring. This could be the start of something big.