The Artisan’s Touch

Vehicle Features
The Artisan’s Touch

The Artisan’s Touch

Giuseppe Balthasar - 2023 Lexus IS 500

Story by Adam Gordon
Photography by Minh Truong (@itsminhty)

Giuseppe Balthasar didn’t set out to build a Lexus IS 500, but when opportunity knocks—and the right partners are on board—you answer. Sometimes, that answer turns into a debut build at the Toyo Treadpass inside the SEMA Show.

Side profile of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 under a lit concrete overpass.

The 2023 IS 500 started as a blank slate, but with help from Toyo Tires, Artisan Spirits, and Advan, Giuseppe turned it into something much louder. Dertywerks Garage handled the hands-on work, including installation of the widebody kit and those not-so-small finishing touches that bring a project together.

Close-up of Giuseppe Balthasar’s Lexus IS 500 with Advan RS-DF wheels and yellow Brembo brakes.

What sets this Lexus apart is that it’s the first Artisan Spirits widebody IS 500 in North America. Wrapped in Inozetek’s Ruby Star—a bold shift from typical monochrome automotive trends—the car strikes a balance between contemporary aggression and refined Lexus styling. Advan’s then-new RS-DF wheels in titanium black add depth under the arches, surrounded by Toyo Proxes Sport 2 rubber for a street-ready statement.

Close-up of the Artisan Spirits dual exhaust tips on Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500.

Giuseppe didn’t just slap a kit on and call it done. Under the hood sits an APEXi air intake, letting the 5.0-liter V8 breathe with a bit more response, while the Artisan dual exhaust opens up the flow out back. The carbon hood and trunk from Seibon cut some weight and bring a textured contrast to the slick wrap. Inside, the factory luxury is traded in for something more driver-centric: Recaro Sportster GT seats and a Zestek steering wheel.

Giuseppe is no stranger to modified Lexus platforms—it runs in the family. As the son of two familiar names—Cassandra and Dana Balthasar, both of whom drive custom Lexus builds of their own—he’s carrying forward a tradition that values clean presentation, smart choices, and brand loyalty without sacrificing personal taste. The result isn’t loud for the sake of it. It’s purposeful, measured, and surprisingly restrained despite its bold color and widebody posture. For a build that wasn’t expected, it looks at home on the industry’s biggest stage.

Originally featured in PASMAG Issue #180

PASMAG Issue 180 Toyota Lexus special issue front cover featuring J.D. Ashe’s 1981 Toyota Starlet.

Click here to order the Toyota/Lexus special issue.

ESSENTIALS

VEHICLE:
2023 Lexus IS 500

LOCATION:
Lake Forest, CA

HORSEPOWER:
465 hp est.

CLUB:
Team GarageLife

SOCIAL:
IG: @iknowseppe

ENGINE:
APEXi air intake

EXHAUST:
Artisan dual stainless exhaust

WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES:
Advan RS-DF wheels + Toyo Tires Proxes Sport 2 tires

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION:
Universal air suspension

EXTERIOR:
Artisan Spirits widebody kit + Inozetek Ruby Star vinyl wrap + Seibon Carbon trunk and hood

INTERIOR:
Recaro Sportster GT seats + Zestek steering wheel

SPONSORS:
Toyo Tires, Artisan Spirits, Zestek, Yokohama Wheels

GALLERY

Front view of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 with carbon hood and Toyo Tires windshield banner.

Close-up of the Advan Racing wheel center cap on Giuseppe Balthasar’s Lexus IS 500.

Front three-quarter view of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 parked beside Cassandra Balthasar’s orange Lexus LC500.

Close-up of the Advan Racing wheel and yellow Brembo brake caliper on Giuseppe Balthasar’s Lexus IS 500.

Low-angle wheel detail of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500.

Rear quarter detail of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 showing the rear wheel, wing, and Artisan Spirits bodywork.

Rear window sponsor decals on Giuseppe Balthasar’s Lexus IS 500 with Cassandra Balthasar’s orange Lexus LC500 in the background.

Front headlight detail of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink Lexus IS 500 with Seibon carbon hood and Aerowerkz decal.

Front view of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 parked under a concrete overpass.

Rear view of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 under a concrete overpass showing the large rear wing and quad exhaust.

Rear three-quarter view of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 under a lit concrete overpass.

Front wheel and sponsor detail on Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 under an overpass.

Front three-quarter view of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 under a lit concrete overpass.

Side view of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 under a concrete overpass.

Front three-quarter view of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 partially framed by a concrete pillar.

Full side profile of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 under a lit concrete overpass.

Side profile of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink widebody Lexus IS 500 showing the Artisan Spirits kit and Advan wheels.

Front detail of Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink Lexus IS 500 showing the carbon hood, front grille, and Advan wheel.

Close-up of the Blackline Performance fuel cap detail on Giuseppe Balthasar’s Lexus IS 500.

Close-up of the headlight, Seibon carbon hood, and Aerowerkz decal on Giuseppe Balthasar’s pink Lexus IS 500.

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