Road to SEMA | Joni Paaso
Road to SEMA
Joni Paaso
Words by Emil Garcia
Photography by Joke Simonen
The Road to SEMA Winners have been Chosen and we are happy to present to you our first winner Joni Paaso. Joni hails from finland, the land of amazing rally drivers and when his corolla came into our submission box we already knew he was a front runner to win a spot in our contest.
This 2005 Toyota Corolla is not the every day econobox we are used to seeing state-side. Joni has taken his Euro exclusive corolla and bathed in Alfa Romero 8C Red, a color that is eye catching on its own. The Corolla sits atop KSport Air Suspension and DZ1 Wheels are bolted to all four corners. Aside from the paint this car wears Toyota T-Sport front and rear bumpers, JDM tail lights and a plethora of other look good bits.
Inside this little Corolla keeps the driver planted with Toyota T-Sport seats and will blow your ears out with a custom stereo controlled by an alpine head unit.
Go Fast Fun is provided via a Tuned 3ZZ-FE, and the power is transferred to the road via Nankang NS-1s. Joni has done and amazing job of taking a normal grocery getter and transforming it in to a GO-Getter. Have a gander at this beautiful piece of machinery and congratulate Joni on winning the first spot in our Road to SEMA contest!
Wheels/Tires/Suspension
K-Sport Airtech suspension with electronic remote
Air Zenith compressor
Custom white DZ1 wheels with polished lips and gold extras // Front 18×8,5″+15, Rear 18×10″+20
FK spacers // Front 15mm, Rear 3mm
Nankang NS20 tires // Front 205/35, Rear 225/35
Adjustable front sway bar end links
Eibach front camber bolts
Custom front shock mounting brackets
Pro Alignment Team rear shim plates (three per side)
Fixed rear axle position
Megan racing front tower bar
Megan racing stabilizer brace
Megan racing rear tower bar
Megan racing lower tie bar
Toyota Corolla T-Sport brakes with drilled and grooved discs
HEL Performance braided brake lines
Mintex Racing brake pads
Exterior
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Red paint
Front and rear fenders rolled and pulled heavily
Front and rear bumpers aligned with fenders
Toyota Corolla T-Sport front bumper
Toyota Corolla T-Sport 2pc front lip (fiberglass)
Toyota Corolla T-Sport sideskirts (fiberglass)
Toyota Corolla T-Sport rear bumber add-ons (fiberglass)
TTE rear spoiler
Headlight washers removed
Side moldings removed
Rear wiper removed
Badges from trunk, grille and front fenders removed
Smoked side repeaters and tail light centers
JDM tail light conversion
Custom black housing headlights with 35w 5000k xenons
US light modules
Short antenna
Engine
3ZZ-FE motor
Unichip
Toyosports exhaust manifold
Magnaflow catalytic converter
Custom catback with TTE backbox
Toyota Corolla T-Sport 440cc injectors
Toyota Avensis electrical throttle body
K&N typhoon intake kit
TRD oil cap
Oil filter relocation kit with K&N oil filter and MOCAL oil cooler
Mishimoto magnetic oil drain plug
Mishimoto radiator cap
Mugen reservoir covers
Exide Deep Cycle batteries (2x)
Engine cover painted to match body color
Coming soon: Toyota Corolla T-Sport intake manifold
Interior
Toyota Corolla T-Sport seats
Toyota Corolla T-Sport aluminium pedals
Polished air tank
Tailored floor mats
Hertz audio system with Alpine IVA-W505R head unit
Custom leather door and trunk panels
