IRVINE, Calif. (March 2007) – Every year the leader in automotive audio, Alpine Electronics of America, shows off a new eye-popping custom concept car to showcase its quality sound systems. But when it comes time to put the finishing touches on the symphony, Meguiar's gets the call to make Alpine’s concepts look their absolute best.
"It's such an honor to work with million-dollar concepts like this," says Jason Rose, Field Marketing Manager for Meguiar's Inc., and one of the creators of Meguiar's new So1o™ System, a one-liquid compound and polishing product. "The excitement level is high because of the massive responsibility we have to the Alpine team. Creating a finish that is truly show car quality is a thrill beyond belief."
This year's sleek and stylish two-seater is a one-off concept called the Imprint RLS, which debuted in January at the Consumer Electronics Show. Based on the Mercedes-Benz R500, the Imprint was designed and hand-built by Alpine’s Advance Application R&D team and features curvilinear front, rear and side fiberglass panels that give the car its sophisticated, sleek and flowing shape.
Unlike previous Alpine show cars, which typically featured airbrushed graphics and accents, the Imprint RLS is painted in a custom metallic BASF R-M Carizzma Candy Cherry Cola Brown hue. The car's details and curves create intricate shadows that become more prominent depending upon how light reflects off the metalflake in the custom paint, creating a dazzling display that's always changing. The custom color and the car’s extensive and undulating surface area made the Meguiar's team's prep and polish a delicate and demanding job.
Kevin Brown - a Meguiar's detailer that works exclusively on million dollar rides – and Rose spent two days and nights at Alpine’s facility in Torrance, California, working with Alpine's build team - including Steve Brown, Gary Bell, and Brent Davison - as well as two additional detailers Bob DePrat and Paul Cartagena, prepped and polished the Imprint RLS using Meguiar’s buffing compounds, detailing products and accessories.
"This was no ordinary polishing effort," said Rose. "We used a hand-held Xenon light that exposed every tiny defect in the paint surface, even microscopic scratches that are not normally apparent. That's not typical, but it's the best way to proceed when the finish has to look perfect. Remember, during the next few years, this car will be scrutinized under all manner of indoor lighting, so it had to be spectacular!"
"Overall, the So1o one liquid system was a thrill to use," said Brown. "I doubt there is a liquid available that can match the working time of Meguiar's Cut & Polish Cream. It's ability to cut consistently throughout the buffing cycle was a huge asset, allowing for the ultra-delicate polishing of the complicated body panels on the Imprint RLS. And the Meguiar’s Easy Buff Rotary Backing Plate seemed to be made for this car, allowing the buffing pads to conform to the complex curves of its body and limiting 'edge-digging,' a major cause of pad-induced swirls."
Brown and Rose have participated in the final prep of the three previous Alpine custom show cars, including the 2006 Sinister 6, a BMW 6-Series, the 2005 BMW X5, and the 2004 show-stopping Mini Cooper. Each of these cars tours the U.S. for a year, showcased at electronics shows, car shows and special events like dealer grand openings, before heading for the international trade show and event circuit.
"I just want to thank the Meguiar's team for all of their hard work on our new concept car," said Steve Brown, of the Alpine Advanced Application R&D Team. "It looks awesome, and was finished just in time for a studio photo shoot followed by a national tour, and thanks to Meguiar's I know it will look great wherever it goes."
You can see the Alpine Imprint RLS for yourself as it tours the United States on the 2007 DUB Custom Auto Show & Concert National Tour. For more information on when the tour will stop in a city near you, log on to www.dubmagazine.com/dubshow.
For over 100 years, Meguiar's has been providing car crazy people with specialized state-of-the-art formulations for making the appearance of cars "show car perfect". Its next generation of technology redefines quality and performance. Chosen by 22 out of 25 "Best of Class" winners at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Meguiar's provides highly specialized products for every automotive surface, including paint, wheels, tires, and interiors. As part of its passionate support for the car hobby, Meguiar's created "Car Crazy Television," seen weekly on SPEED and "Car Crazy Radio," which airs weekly in over 120 markets nationally. For more information, please call Meguiar's at 800-347-5700, see Meguiar's at meguiars.com or www.carcrazycentral.com, or join their online discussion forum at www.meguiarsonline.com.
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