
As the cultural influences of the 1990s continue to find new audiences among Gen Z, the “tuner” street car culture that dotted shopping malls and school parking lots in the mid-1990s will soon be celebrated with MotorTrend’s all-new original series SUPER STREET GARAGE. The show is descended from the original Super Street Magazine, which was founded in 1996 by documenting the extensive, yet accessible import car movement in North America. The 13-episode series takes neo-classic sport compact vehicles such as the Honda Civic, Subaru BRZ, and Nissan 350Z, and rebuilds them with a focus on both performance and modern design aesthetics. Super Street was there at the dawn of this customization that later found its way into public consciousness through blockbuster video games, films, and drag race and drift events, all of which are currently experiencing a renaissance with modern audiences.
SUPER STREET GARAGE begins airing in one-hour blocks starting this summer on MotorTrend TV and on MotorTrend+.
The builds stay true to the ethos of Super Street to create intentional, prestigious and high-quality cars that capture attention wherever they go. The show is hosted by John ‘Nads’ Naderi, former Super Street Magazine editor-in-chief, and Amir Bentatou, a highly skilled car builder and Time Attack circuit racing record-holder, who brings a mix of youthful enthusiasm and mechanical expertise that make him both mentor and cohort to ‘Nads.’ Audiences will learn the technical intricacies of Super Street’s take on car culture alongside its history, with lots of laughs along the way.
“With its debut in 1996, the Super Street staff helped spearhead a cultural movement,” said Naderi. “The scene was about enthusiasts modifying affordable import cars, like an Acura Integra or Honda Civic, and making them all their own as a viable alternative to the traditional muscle cars and hot rods of the day. This is something that resonates with every generation, from the earliest car adopters over a century ago to those just now coming of age. As this space enjoys a renaissance, the timing of the SUPER STREET GARAGE launch on TV and MotorTrend+ couldn’t be better, and we’re proud to film the show in Los Angeles, right where the Super Street culture began.”
In the first episode, The Rebirth of a Generation, ride along with ‘Nads’ and Amir as they hatch a plan to afford their dream Honda Civic Type R, go way over budget, and celebrate the dawn of a new era of Super Street with an unforgettable canyon run with some of the best cars in the scene. The Honda hatchback defined an entire generation of Super Street Magazine readers in the late nineties. This makes the iconic Civic Type-R a perfect build to kick off the show.
“SUPER STREET GARAGE is an exciting new addition to our lineup, especially for younger viewers who are discovering the thrills of tuner car culture for the first time,” said Mike Suggett, Head of MotorTrend Studio. “With the help of two talented hosts, Super Street veteran John ‘Nads’ Naderi and Amir Bentatou, an incredibly skilled builder and racer, we’re able to tap into the incredibly rich history of tuner culture and bring it to life on screen. Our goal is to engage the import and tuner audiences in new and exciting ways, and we’re confident that SUPER STREET GARAGE will deliver on that promise. We can’t wait for viewers to experience all that this exciting new series has to offer.”
SUPER STREET GARAGE is produced for MotorTrend TV by MotorTrend Studio. Levi Rugg, Brett Adkins, and Mike Pantaleo are Executive Producers, Mike Suggett is head of MotorTrend Studio, and Alex Wellen is CEO and President of MotorTrend Group.
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