Tubby O'Connor is accustomed to having a good time. In fact, it is part of his everyday lifestyle. You see, O'Connor owns a nightclub named "Showtime" on the small island of Bermuda. Living on a fairly small island, word travels quickly, so keeping the club in tip-top shape is crucial. Keeping his patrons entertained is always a top priority. When it comes to his vehicle, he practiced the same idea when building his 2000 Renault Magane. Apart from the result of the install the process is a story in itself.
Because word travels fast in Bermuda, O'Connor heard of a gentleman on the island with an outrageous vehicle that includes a top-notch installation. When he saw it, it was pretty much over. He wanted something himself, of course with his own twist on the installation. When he found out the installation would be performed in the United States, he did not hesitate to ship his Renault across the Atlantic.
Receiving the vehicle was Audio Excellence in Orlando, Florida. This shop is responsible for many installations on the Bermuda. After they performed their first one, the residents on the small island started shipping their cars to the mainland. In fact, it was one of their vehicles that first got O'Connor hooked.
Fade Upon first inspection, it is hard to bypass the three-color fade paint job on the Renault. The colors in the paint include Pearl Orange, Raspberry Red, and Sunset Yellow. The finish is so striking that the color makes its way into the interior, highlighting all of the audio/video components. The team of Shane, Jeff, and Dewayne from Audio Excellence was responsible for installing the audio system in the Renault. To ensure that unwanted rattles are not present, the vehicle's interior was stripped of all its parts and completely lined with sound deadening material from Dynamat.
Providing sound in the vehicle is made possible using mostly JL Audio speakers. The door panels were removed and completely remanufactured from scratch. The doors received a dose of JL Audio XR653-CS three-way components. The 6-1/2", 4", and tweeter were carefully massaged into the door and highlighted with the exterior color scheme using fiberglass. Aside from the fiberglass, the rest of the door is covered mostly in Lapis vinyl while the armrest was covered in orange leather. The only remaining stock component is the door handle itself.
The original window switches were relocated into the center console because Audio Excellence wanted to remove as much electrical components out of the door. Protecting the JL Audio components are brushed aluminum grilles that have been integrated into the new door panel. The brushed aluminum grill with 3/16" hollow tubing is used to fabricate a new and more useful pocket at the bottom of the door. The original pockets were small and almost inadequate to fit a pack of gum.
On each corner of the dash JL Audio TR350-CX 3-1/2" coaxials were installed to further enhance the height of the front stage. Using the same idea as in the doors, the rear panels, adjacent to the rear seats also carry JL Audio XR653-CS components. The shape is similar, but placement of the speakers varies slightly. Pull down the rear seats and you are greeted to an arrangement of LA interconnects, distribution blocks, fuses, and power wires. It all rests in a fiberglass tub and protected with Plexiglas. Backwards Driver The midbass drivers in the vehicle may seem a bit extreme, but who cares? So is the whole car. Installed is a pair of Orion 8MB 8" drivers crossed over from 80Hz to 120Hz. Needless to say that this vehicle will never lack any kick drum action! The plan was to have the speakers down low, such as in the kick panel. However, installing the speakers in the kick became an immediate problem. The Renault is a right hand drive vehicle, so traditional kick panels would not work where the driver sits due to the gas pedal being in the way. So the drivers were installed opposite the kick panels coming out of the transmission hump. The dead pedal had to go away in order to fit the enclosure. The sealed enclosure, made of fiberglass, has a volume of .36 cubic feet. Mesh grill used on the doors also protects the midbass drivers.
A pair of JL Audio 12W7's handles obnoxious low-end frequencies. Again, fiberglass was used to construct the enclosure with an internal volume of 3.2 cubic feet. From the rear of the vehicle, when the hatch door is open, you can view the back half of the subwoofers through 3/4" thick, curved Plexiglas. Actually the Plexiglas is in a bubble shape because it is curved on all sides.
It is hard to tell with the cover panel on, but if you were to remove it, it would look like a canopy to a fighter jet. Making this piece even more impressive is that for a thick piece of Plexiglas, curved on all edges, there are no distortions! How did they do it? Well, Audio Excellence wants to keep this information under wraps for now. Sorry. The magnets on the subwoofers were enhanced cosmetically by using the mesh grill and 3/16" hollow tubing. Several jigs were built until a tight fit was realized on the magnet cover. The inside of the enclosure is painted and when looking down at the floor of the enclosure, you are treated with the JL Audio W7 logo. The top of the enclosure was treated to some fiberglass, duraglass, fleece, and bendi-ply to create a curved shape. Mesh grill and 3/16" aluminum tubing protects the cones of the woofers. The grill is shaped like a small bridge.
Underneath the subwoofer enclosure is the amplifier rack. The amplifier rack is based on MDF, Bendi-ply, and fleece to create the shape. Nestled into the small space is four JL Audio Amplifiers. Two JL Audio 500/1's power the subwoofers, while a 300/4 and 300/2 provide power to the rest of the vehicle.
Forget about flimsy sun visors, Audio Excellence has installed permanent ones by manufacturing a whole fiberglass pod fitted to the roof. This pod is now the home to a duo of Pioneer AVD-W61000 monitors (passenger and driver's side) and two Select Digital gauges aimed at the driver to monitor amp temperature and amp voltage. Installed underneath the gauges is another JL Audio 3-1/2" coaxial. It is firing toward the windshield to create center image.
The main source for the Renault is a Pioneer DEX-P9 Single CD Player. Built to perform with the highest level of sound quality, the DEX-P9 also boasts a motorized, detachable faceplate and rotary knob. Underneath the passenger's seat is a Pioneer DEQ-P9 that handles all the crossover and equalization for the system. The unit is kept out of sight with a black shroud covered in vinyl. In the glove box is a Pioneer XDV-P90 6-disc DVD changer. The changer is trimmed in the 3-color fade fiberglass. Switching sources on the three monitors is made possible by a custom made video switcher concocted by the Audio Excellence installers. The switcher is installed underneath the driver's seat.
What a Body! Under the hood, an Optima red top replaced the factory battery and another red top was added in the front of the vehicle. A custom 1/8" steel plate holds the second battery in place. A re-worked alternator now pumps out 140 amps and guarantees that the batteries are being properly charged. Custom fiberglass panels were manufactured under the hood for a more cosmetically appealing look. Even the intake received a little love from the spray gun.
Here in the States, there are many companies that provide body kits for various vehicles. Fortunately, the Renault Magane is not one of them. We say fortunately because the current kit on the car is truly "one of a kind". Kevin Bugsby of Auto Specialty paint shop was enlisted to paint the vehicle and all the interior panels. He was also given the daunting task of creating a body kit from scratch. The finished product includes a new front spoiler, side skirts, rear valence, and roof spoiler. The roof spoiler and rear wing started off as parts for a Honda Civic that Bugsby cut and channeled in order to fit the vehicle. Everything else is unique. Finishing off the vehicle are 18" Polo 778's adorned with Toyo Proxes (215/35-18). The suspension come from the factory with an adjustable torsion suspension, so no changes were necessary.
O'Connor is extremely pleased with the job on the Renault. It is currently "wowing" the crowd here in the States (and won "Best Paint" at the Spring Break Tuner Bash March) before heading across the Atlantic back home to Bermuda where it is sure to drop some jaws.