Akira Nakai and his RWB widebody Porsche creations often evoke strong opinions, so it’s likely that Wataru Kato’s Liberty Walk designs experience similar reactions. Kato-san’s widebody Liberty Walk R35 Nissan GT-R, Lamborghini Murcielago, and Ferrari 458 Italia have gained significant attention both in Japan and the United States. However, it was only last year that he finally showcased his Liberty Walk brand at the Essen Motor Show in Europe.
The 2016 Essen Motor Show featured Liberty Walk’s inaugural booth in Europe, marking a major milestone for Kato, who had struggled in previous attempts to bring his cars to the continent. At the show, Liberty Walk presented a variety of eye-catching models, including a fighter jet-themed Liberty Walk Ferrari 458 Italia, a Monster Energy-branded Lamborghini Aventador, a battleship-inspired Lamborghini Huracan, and a race livery Nissan GT-R.
Aftermarket shops generally shy away from customizing supercars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis, largely because these vehicles already epitomize extreme automotive design. Additionally, the limited market for such modifications makes it a less appealing business venture. Nonetheless, Kato’s creations attracted considerable interest from attendees at the event.
A crowd gathers around the Liberty Walk booth at the 2016 Essen Motor Show.
, Liberty Walk Media / YouTube screencap
A lucky kid gets his dirty mitts on the Liberty Walk Lamborghini Aventador
, Liberty Walk Media / YouTube screencap
Sven Schulz, the director of the Essen Motor Show, remarked, “Liberty Walk is one of the few companies that has made sports cars look even more impressive, which is why they’re currently gaining popularity.”
Kato’s vision for Liberty Walk is to continue producing stunning aftermarket widebody kits that elicit strong emotions from viewers, whether positive or negative.
“I believe that true enjoyment comes from taking on extraordinary and risky challenges,” Kato shared.
Looking to the future, Kato hopes Liberty Walk will reach an ever-growing audience worldwide. He stated, “The goal of passing down tuning culture to the next generation has remained unchanged since I started this business at the age of 25.”
Watch Liberty Walk’s showcase at the 2016 Essen Motor Show in the video below:
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