Ricer 101: What is a ricer?

The question of what is a ricer is often asked by automotive enthusiasts around the world. Most people already know what a ricer is, however some do not. For those of us who are less informed about this new lingo, a ricer can be many things. Some common terms related to ricer are ricer burner, rice rocket, and the infamous fart can. Ricers were originally termed to Asian market vehicles that have modifications only targeted towards appearance and yield no actual performance gains. Recently the ricer term has been extended into all makes and models that install these obnoxious what appear to be performance mods but in fact slow the vehicle down by adding weight and reducing aerodynamics.

'Ricer' as defined by Urban Dictionary:

"Any person who adds tasteless modifications to a perfectly normal automobile. "

(source http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ricer )

Video content: What is a ricer? Watch and you will see

How to identify a ricer

As seen in the video above, ricers have several common traits that are a universal sign of ricerdom. As stated above, the most notorious ricer mods are those that only have obnoxious appearance and no functional or performance gains. Some of the worst ricers on the road today will install ridiculously tall wings, card board body kits, hideous tail lights, and more tacky modifications. The typical fart can is always included, as this does nothing more than create an hiddeous whine as the ricer flows through traffic.

More ricer madness!

• Pictures of ricers (slide show)
• Ricer fail: India has ricers too!
• The redneck ricer
• Ricer 101: what is a ricer?
• The world's biggest ricer fail ever
• Ricer fail: Acura Integra burns clutch not tires
• Ricer fail: two ricers crash into each other
• Drive thru prank burnout

Typical vehicles found to be ricers are cheap and economical vehicles such as Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Chevrolet Cavalier, Pontiac Grand AM, and of course the Toyota Corolla. Rare examples of rice-ified vehicles can even be found in real sports cars such as Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette. These are abominations of motorsports to most people, but yet what most people don't know is that this crazy style of ricing actually started on the Wangan Expressway in Japan and is highly respected. I personally love "ricer" style, as taboo as the term is. The more exotic the better, and that's where real ricing started.  Read more about Wangan's ricy tradition of exotic styling used to stand out in the crowd.

Vehicles commonly mistaken as ricers

Not all vehicles that appear to fit the ricey look are actually ricers. In order to be a true ricer, your vehicle must be slower than it looks. Vehicles that are commonly mistaken as ricers are Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Toyota Supra, Nissan Skyline & GT-R, and Subaru Impreza WRX STi. These vehicles are actually fast, and if properly modified produce more power per liter than most exotic sports cars.

Examples of JDM vehicles killing exotics:

• Honda CRX smokes Lamborghini at 160 mph
• Toyota Supra kills Ferrari F360

The upgraded wings, fireball exhaust, and additional lighting is actually used because these vehicles need extra down force, can really shoot flames, and are used off road where auxiliary lighting is required. The use of what seems at first appearance only modifications for practical purposes defies the definition of ricing again, beyond the requirement of slow speeds.

Video content: Daytona Beach, Florida ricer spotted and questioned (PG-13)

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