NICK Lue’s latest project blends all the major tuning styles, Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), US Domestic Market (USDM), Stance and Tuner to an international standard that has garnered his 1995 Honda Civic over ten thousand likes on social media platform Instagram.

“I went extra hard on it so that I could spark interest from others and try to bring the import tuner culture to another level here in Jamaica,” Lue told Auto.

The international accolades continues for his vision, with the car gaining sponsorship by American aftermarket wheel supplier Traklite and being featured on their website. However, the road to modification goodness wasn’t an easy one as the Civic represents two and a half years of work. Many in the scene will remember Lue’s car disappearing from the spotlight after last year’s Import Tuner Night show, only to reappear in its new- found glory at the Skunk Nation charity event on December 5, 2015.

“Everyone loved it. They all said it looked better in real life than in the photos I’ve been posting,” he said.

There could be nothing more sacred to the import tuner crowd than the humble JDM Honda Civic Lue used as the base for his creativity. Littered around the exterior are small homages to its source, with carbonfibre door mirrors and rear spoiler from famed Japanese tuner Spoon. However, Lue dipped into the USDM world, switching out the rear lights to that of the American model.

The wheel package screams speed as the Volk Racing TE37 on Falken race tyres look is classic, but Lue’s continued subtle blending will cause the hardcore to take a second look. Those from the Stance school of style would notice the extra depth to the rims, the slightly rounded edges of the stretched sidewalls, and the lack of fender gap.

The mash-up continues on the inside with a single blue Recaro bucket seat and NRG quick release steering wheel. The bare shifter hints at the Civic’s performance edge, as sitting in the freshly coloured engine bay is the current holy grail of Honda tuners, the K-series swap. Long gone is the original B-series motor, replaced by a race prepped 2.4-litre K-series and accompanying gearbox.

“I’m happy with the mods to it now, but I will continue to change it as I see fit,” he said.