What is VIP style?
Japanese luxury sedan modification style with extreme low stance, oversized wheels, body kits, and premium interior work. Originated with Toyota Crown and Celsior.
VIP (Very Important People, often pronounced "vee-eye-pee" or "bippu" in Japanese) describes a luxury sedan modification style that emerged in Japan in the 1990s. The style applies aggressive lowering, oversized wheels (often deep-dish), body kits, and extensive interior modifications to large luxury sedans. The cultural origin is associated with Japanese organized crime (yakuza) preferences for understated but heavily modified luxury cars.
Common VIP base cars include the Toyota Celsior (Lexus LS in export markets), Toyota Crown, Toyota Aristo (Lexus GS), Nissan Cima, and Nissan President. The aesthetic emphasizes the contrast between the formal luxury sedan body shape and the aggressive modifications. Wheels typically extend deep into the wheel wells with significant negative camber. Body kits add aggressive front and rear bumpers while maintaining the original body lines.
The interior treatment is as important as the exterior. VIP-style interiors typically feature elaborate audio systems, custom upholstery (often with diamond-stitched leather), ambient lighting, premium curtains, and Buddhist or other cultural decorative elements. The combined exterior and interior approach creates a complete VIP experience that distinguishes the style from other Japanese tuner movements.
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Frequently asked questions
VIP style on the blog
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