The idea of owning a high-end 500hp machine would almost certainly be intoxicating enough to cause most car enthusiasts to fall into a state of drunken delirium. I'd imagine the majority of people would be so happy to have such a vehicle that the idea of modifying it would be practically sacrilegious. That isn't the case for Nick Tonc of Sandy, Utah. He loves his '06 M6 dearly but is one of the few, and I mean very few, who emphatically sees the need for upgrading a luxury car from a prestigious German automaker.
Adding an aggressive stance to the M6, Tonc ditched the 19-inch factory wheels for a custom set of 22-inch HREs specifically made to fit this car. The only exhaust on the market designed for the M6, an Eiseman straight pipe exhaust system was also installed from Tonc's performance upgrade list. After determining that there's only so much that can be improved on the performance of this 500hp vehicle, he turned his focus to the car interior.
Tonc called on the guys down at Car Concepts to leverage their expertise in designing audiophile systems for exotic cars. As a repeat customer, he knows the customer care and design capabilities of V.P. Ryan Goeller and sales manager Sean Knudson. A creative design with a unique look was a necessity. Tonc insisted on incorporating some of his own personal taste into the design to ensure its individuality from other high-end systems riding around the streets of Salt Lake. With that in mind, Goeller suggested that Tonc do some homework and browse through car audio magazines (like CA&E) and watch shows like MTV's Pimp My Ride to generate ideas. Shortly thereafter the system development was underway.
Tonc placed a heavy burden on Goeller and installer Scott Doran with his requirement for the trunk design. He wanted the trunk to be functional but also draw immediate attention when on display. Goeller had just the trick for this requirement. He laid out the trunk with Doran, creating panels made of fiberglass and MDF. All the panels were wrapped in smoke gray leather for a classy presentation. To add the "wow" factor that Tonc was looking for, the team integrated motorization into each of the equipment drawers. The drawers added a stealth look to the trunk by concealing the audio equipment when closed. When Tonc waves his car keys across the driver's side panel, all of the drawers open for a dramatic presentation. To accomplish this, Goeller integrated a small magnet in the BMW logoed key chain. A magnetic sensor imbedded in the interior driver's side panel detects the small magnet and enables the linear actuators.
Four motorized drawers hold critical, high-dollar audio equipment. In their open state, two drawers located in the middle of the trunk each showcase an Audison Thesis amplifier. The Thesis amplifiers were chosen as the cornerstone of the audio system for their exquisite design and audiophile sound quality. They send power to a pair of the Hertz MLK-3 component set's massive crossovers, located in each of the side drawers, and a trio of subwoofers. Tonc initially desired the use of an additional Thesis amplifier for the rear fill, but Goeller advised against it since the amplifier would be hidden at the base of the amprack and not displayed. Goeller instead prescribed the VRX 2.400, a more than adequate amplifier for the rear fill drivers. The VRX sends power directly to the smaller, but still quite large, crossovers of the Hertz MLK-2 component set installed in the rear quarter panels. Even though the amplifier would be hidden, Tonc refused to settle for "ordinary," opting for the Chrome Shadow edition that sports a smoke polished look.