C4 in the News

Magazine Name: Daily Record

Date: January 2007
Interview with the President of TeamC4

BY FRANK DILEO
DAILY RECORD
Friday, January 26, 2007

SECAUCUS -- It wasn't long ago that if you wanted to customize your vehicle, you had very few options. Sure,you could easily have your ride painted, pick up a set of whitewall tires and throw an eight-track under the dashboard. But if you really wanted to have a unique car, it was going to cost you. The market for customization, much like the car market, has changed greatly during the past decade, becoming more affordable and more available.  

At the 2007 New Jersey Auto Show, consumers can get a birds-eye view of the latest customizations as well as the hottest new cars on the market and many exotic vehicles. Several special events are also on tap at the show, being held this weekend at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus.

For Frank Castaneda, president of Team C4 (www.teamc4.biz), the show was the perfect place to show off tricked-out vehicles. A customized Chrysler 300, put together by the young entrepreneurs from West New York, is one of many showstoppers at the expo. Complete with custom rims, 22-inch wheels, Lamborghini doors, a Bentley grill and many other options, Team C4 specializes in turning ordinary cars into extraordinary vehicles. "With a little money and a little time, anyone can have a show car and show it off anywhere," Castaneda said. The auto show is indicative of the mass customization market. Many businesses that specialize in taking your car to the next level are on hand, and several major manufacturers are showing some of the new vehicles that can be purchased, off the assembly line, fully customized. Toyota's spin-off Scion is one of the first cars to cater specifically to those who want their ride to look different from everyone else's. After several years of successful Scion sales, other carmakers are following suit, offering unique customization options. Hit television shows, such as MTV's "Pimp my Ride" and Speed's "Unique Whips," have helped fuel the craze. "It's helped a lot," Castaneda said, referring to the TV shows. "This is an industry that doesn't have a down side. It's always going to be progressing." Nissan is another car manufacturer catering to young drivers who want their cars customized before they even take the sticker off the window.