Brian Fox Remains Positive Despite 2016 Honda HR-V Fire En Route To 2015 SEMA Show

Brian Fox’s first official build for American Honda Motor Co. was a 2012 Honda Civic Si turbo tuned to produce over 450 horsepower for the 2011 SEMA Show

Brian Fox, creator of Fox Marketing, has about 18 years of experience building custom project vehicles. Brian started Fox Marketing a few years ago and has successfully built over 60 themed vehicles for clients, including auto manufacturers and private parties. There is a section on the Fox Marketing website listing his past builds and a theme exists. Not only are the majority of his builds of the sport compact or tuner variety, but many of them are also Honda and Acura vehicles. Having built a reputation in the Honda tuning niche it almost seems fitting that Fox began working with American Honda Motor Co. in 2011.

For the 2015 SEMA Show Brian Fox was once again asked by American Honda to build a custom vehicle, and this time Honda’s goal was to showcase the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V

One of Brian’s first builds for Honda came in 2011 for the American Honda Motor Co. Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show booth held each year at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main focus for this 2012 Honda Civic Si build was to showcase the reliability, and performance capability of Honda's then new K24Z7 2.4L DOHC i-VTEC power plant. The result was a beautifully executed build, finished in BASF R-M Ultrasonic Blue Pearl paint, and tuned to consistently provide 450+ horsepower with a K24Z7 Full Race Si Turbo Kit.

For the 2015 SEMA Show Brian Fox was once again asked by American Honda to build a custom vehicle for the official Honda SEMA Show booth. This time however, Honda’s goal for the 2015 SEMA Show was to showcase the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V. Tasked with customizing an all new platform, and one not normally sought after by tuners, the goal of the 2016 Honda HR-V build was simply to create a good looking and functional daily driver. Given only two weeks to complete this build in time to make it the 2015 SEMA Show, Brian chose to perform modifications that just about anyone can achieve quickly and affordably.

For the 2015 SEMA Show Brian Fox was once again asked by American Honda to build a custom vehicle, and this time Honda’s goal was to showcase the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V

Brian started the project with a 2016 Honda HR-V LX model. Brian chose to begin with the base LX model for one simple reason: head room. At 6’8” tall, Brian Fox towers over the average Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) soccer mom-type HR-V buyer. Probably due the lack of a power moon roof, the 2016 Honda HR-V LX has almost 2” more headroom than EX and EX-L models. Brian says that he is able to fit comfortably inside his LX with plenty of knee and head room. With the platform for his 2015 SEMA Show build set, the next step was to get to work. As a tuner, Brian’s first item on the to-do-list was to improve the performance of the 2016 HR-V.

The Honda website proudly boasts the 2016 HR-V’s EPA estimated up to 35 highway MPG rating, yet the little CUV’s performance is a bit harder to find. That’s probably because the 2016 HR-V LX model’s 1.8-liter single overhead cam, i-VTEC inline four pumps out a whopping 141 horsepower at the crank. Brian took the HR-V over to the Platinum Certified Honda Technicians at Mugsy’s Repair in York, Pennsylvania who proceeded to upgrade the engine with a custom K&N Intake system, and Magnaflow cat-back exhaust system. Brian claims that improving the HR-V’s ability to both inhale and exhale added an additional +15 horsepower at the wheels, while improving fuel economy by 2 MPG.

The 2016 HR-V model’s 1.8-liter SOHC, i-VTEC inline four pumps out 141 horsepower stock, but made an additional 15 HP and gained 2 MPG with a K&N air intake and Magnaflow exhaust

To complement the HR-V’s increased horsepower and improved acceleration, Brian also made improvements to the crossover’s handling and braking. Brian says the BC Suspension Coilovers with a 4.5” drop on 18x8 Konig Oversteer wheels wrapped with Toyo T1 Sport Tires provide a surprisingly comfortable ride. Behind the Konig wheel and Toyo tire package up front are massive, yet innovative, 13.3” WP Pro Brake Sawblade full floating rotors with 6-piston calipers capable of stopping the 2016 Honda HR-V in its tracks.

It was somewhere in Illinois while the 2016 Honda HR-V was on its way to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada that Brian Fox’s hard work went up in smoke, quite literally

Performance enhancements weren’t the only modifications that Brian Fox made to his 2016 Honda HR-V LX. On the outside of the vehicle the ABS plastic body kit was painted with BASF R-M Browns Anthracite Paint and roof by Browns Auto Body Werkz in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Brian also added a direct fit replacement LED Fog Light Casing set to the front fascia for added safety on the road. The 2016 Honda HR-V interior was completely upgraded from the factory cloth to Katzkin Leather. Interior safety improvements include Schroth Racing Rallye Cross ASM 4-point street legal belts added for the occasional autocross event. The Schroth Racing Rallye Cross ASM 4-point street legal belts snap out in seconds to store in the trunk.

Based on the list of modifications Brian Fox made to his 2016 Honda HR-V project, it would be safe to assume that it made quite an impression inside the American Honda Motor Company’s 2015 SEMA Show booth. That is, of course, assuming that the car made it to the show. Everything went as planned with the 2016 Honda HR-V build, and Brian even managed to get it loaded onto the transport truck on schedule. It was somewhere in Illinois while the HR-V was on its way to Las Vegas, Nevada that Brian’s hard work went up in smoke, quite literally.

Unfortunately a fire started in the transport trailer and while it wasn’t burnt to ash, Brian Fox’s 2016 Honda HR-V sustained considerable fire damage in the blaze

Unfortunately a fire started in the transport trailer and while it wasn’t burnt to ash, Brian Fox’s 2016 Honda HR-V wasn’t fireproof. Brian Fox’s 2016 Honda HR-V sustained considerable fire damage in that blaze and it must have been quite the shock to receive that phone call. Despite it all, Brian Fox remains positive about the HR-V’s fate. Not dwelling on what could have been, Brian is looking forward to working with Honda again in 2016 with plans to build a 2017 Honda Civic Si, or with any luck a factory 300+ horsepower 2018 Honda Civic Type-R turbo as a build platform.

A full list of modifications made by Brian Fox of Fox Marketing to this 2016 Honda HR-V LX Sport is below:

Engine:

Unfortunately a fire started in the transport trailer and while it wasn’t burnt to ash, Brian Fox’s 2016 Honda HR-V sustained considerable fire damage in the blaze

Suspension/Braking:

Wheels/Tires:

Exterior:

A custom K&N air intake system and high-flow performance air filter helps the Fox Marketing 2016 Honda HR-V SEMA show car breathe

Interior:

Partners:

Brian Fox says his 2016 Honda HR-V made an additional 15 HP and gained 2 MPG with a K&N air intake and custom Magnaflow cat-back exhaust

Massive, yet innovative, 13.3” WP Pro Brake Sawblade full floating rotors with 6-piston calipers helps this 2016 Honda HR-V stop on a dime

The 2016 Honda HR-V LX interior was completely upgraded from the factory cloth to Katzkin Leather with DegreeZ by Katzkin heated and cooled seats

Schroth Racing Rallye Cross ASM 4-point street legal belts were added for the occasional autocross event and snap out in seconds to store in the 2016 Honda HR-V LX