Gene Tjin shot Fausto Merida’s 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI for the July 2007 issue of HCI, and it’s a different kind of car from the Hondas and Acuras that make up most of his archive on this site. This was a SEMA build, a white MkV GTI with a widebody kit, 19-inch wheels, and a full sponsor livery. In 2007, that combination could easily result in something that looked better in a booth than it did on the street. HCI’s angle was that Merida’s car was the exception, and the magazine spent its opening paragraphs explaining why it thought most logo-covered white cars looked terrible while this one worked.
The person HCI credited with helping shape the build was Randy Shumpert, a close friend of Merida’s who introduced him to Euro styling and stayed involved in many of the decisions that followed. The widebody came from Extreme Dimensions under the Hot Wheels name, while Carbon Creations supplied the Boser hood, trunk lid, and deck wing. Sleeprz Custom Car in Santa Ana test-fit and installed the bodywork, painted the GTI, and tinted the headlights, side markers, and taillights.
The wheels are bronze 19-inch VIP Modular three-piece units, measuring 19×10.5 inches up front with 255/30R19 Yokohama ADVAN Sport tires and 19×12.5 inches in the rear with 315/25R19s. HCI made a point of saying they were properly sized for the widened arches, something the magazine clearly felt was easy to get wrong on a widebody build.
Ride height comes from Megan Racing fully adjustable coilovers, which Merida told HCI he raised and lowered at least 10 times a week depending on his mood. Megan Racing sway bars were also added, along with a Wilwood big brake kit sourced through RPI.
The GTI was already turbocharged from the factory, so the engine work focused on supporting modifications rather than a major overhaul. An Injen Performance intake, GHL Motorsports turbo-back exhaust, Evolution Raceworks front-mount intercooler, and HKS Super Sequential blow-off valve were installed and tuned by Evolution Raceworks. No power figure was printed with the original story, so there isn’t one here.
The interior says a lot about the direction Merida wanted to take with the car. The original plan called for a more extreme show car setup with a roll cage and air jacks, but after talking it over with Shumpert and the people handling the interior, he decided against both. Merida told HCI he would rather keep the cabin clean and functional than add a cage simply for appearance.
Instead, bright red suede and carbon fiber Status Racing seats went in with suede accents throughout the cabin and NRG four-point harnesses. Audio Innovations in Glendora handled the sound system, using a Dension USA DICE iPod integration system with Alphasonik component speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers.
HCI nicknamed the car the “Faustonator GTI” and reported that its SEMA debut led Hot Wheels to plan a die-cast version. What we get, though, is the original HCI story, Gene’s photos, and one very period-correct example of how far the MkV GTI show car scene could go in 2007.
GalleryPhotos by Gene Tjin
