2003 Civic Si Project Vehicle the Face of New 'Fuzion' Brand Tuner Tires from Bridgestone/Firestone

		BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE UNVEILS 'FUZION' CIVIC SI AT SEMA SHOW Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) unveiled a new project image vehicle, the 2003 "Fuzion" Civic Si, in its exhibit (booth #41917) at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show today in Las Vegas. The project car, built under the direction of Robert Wilson of Modern Image Signworks, Huntington Beach, Calif., is designed as a showcase for the company's new Fuzion(TM) brand of performance tires, aimed at the growing tuner market. (PRNewsFoto)[HD] LAS VEGAS, NV USA

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) unveiled a new project image vehicle, the 2003 "Fuzion" Civic Si, in its exhibit (booth #41917) at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show today. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031104/DCTU053 ) The project car, built under the direction of Robert Wilson of Modern Image Signworks, Huntington Beach, Calif., is designed as a showcase for the company's new Fuzion(TM) brand of performance tires, aimed at the growing tuner market. "Our 'Fuzion' Civic project is an exciting way for us to promote our new Fuzion line of performance tires," said Phil Pacsi, executive director, North American Consumer Tire Brand Marketing, BFNT. "We conceived this project as something to which our target audience of tuners can easily aspire." Conceived as a "super-trick street ride," the Civic features an array of body, engine, performance and custom interior enhancements, as well as a state-of-the-art stereo/video installation and custom paint scheme, expertly applied by the renowned Bernt Karlsson of Customz by Bernt. Following the SEMA Show, the car will be made available to automotive enthusiast and performance editors for photography and feature story opportunities, and will be exhibited at a host of Bridgestone/Firestone events, product launches and media days across the country, and other automotive lifestyle shows. The car also will be featured on the company's new Fuzion website, http://www.thefuzionzone.com. The following companies have supplied product for the vehicle: AEM, Auto Meter Gauges, Cobra Seats/Sube Sports, Customz by Bernt, Fidanza Engineering, FLUIDYNE High Performance, Global Accessories, Inc., Kaminari USA, Konig Wheels, Luxaura Light Guide, MBRPinc Performance Exhaust, Modern Image Signworks, MOMO Automotive Accessories, Nitrous Express, Optima Batteries, Pioneer Electronics, Stainless Steel Brakes, SmarTire pressure monitoring system, SPAL Advanced Technologies, Specialized Powder Coating, Stitchcraft Custom Interiors, Tein USA, Thermal Flex, Inc., Valspar/House of Kolor, and Wilwood Engineering. Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures, and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, Fuzion and other associate and private brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.