Starting in the front is a CDA-9835 AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA head unit and a DVA-5210 single-load DVD player. A PXA-H701 digital processor decodes Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS technologies. The control module for the processor, the RUX-C701, allows visual confirmation of the processor's settings. This was mounted on top of the steering column. Six amplifiers were used to power the system: two MRV-F540 four-channel amplifiers, two MRD-M501 AccuClass-D mono amplifiers, and two MRD-M1001 AccuClass-D mono amps. The first four amps were installed in the floor while the final pair was installed on either side of the vehicle. The amplifiers drive a total of 20 speakers. Packed in the tiny interior are five sets of SPX-137R 5.25" components. One complete set (a pair of tweeters and midrange drivers) was used for the front left, front right and center channel. Two more complete sets reside in the left and right rear panels for surround purposes. A total of eight Alpine SPX-17MB drivers surround the pilot seat (four on each side). These 6.5" mid-bass speaks provide an "in your face" kick. As we mentioned earlier, two Alpine SWX-1242D 12" subs fill the interior (and the exterior in the immediate vicinity and then some) with uncompromised low-end bass.
On the video side are six TME-M850 monitors located in the front half of the vehicle. A TME-M770 touch-screen monitor is in the rear of the vehicle (at the end of the sled). All seven monitors display either DVD-Video, navigation, or video from the X-Box gaming console.
Something New
For a unique twist, Brown and Vu took it upon themselves to do the work on the exterior themselves. Normally, this would be taken care of by outside vendors. The two wanted to ensure that the interior look and feel went hand in hand with the exterior so they decided on a wide-body kit, and found one in Austria made by Konig Seder. The kit was not just added onto the vehicle, but molded as well for a seamless effect. Paint was the last task at hand and the guys tackled that project as well. The vehicle was primed, sanded, wet-sanded, base-coated, clear-coated, scuffed, airbrushed, clear-coated again, sanded, and buffed. Whew! The only part of the entire project that was outsourced was the airbrush work, performed by Noah, which flows from the interior to the exterior.
To ensure that the vehicle stays close to the ground, a set of coil-overs from KW Suspensions was added. Filling in the wheel wells are custom, one-off four-lug 20-inch OZ Superleggera III's, 20x8 in front and 20x10 in rear. The custom wheels are shod with Toyo T1-S tires (245/40-20 up front, 275/35-20 in the rear). With the massive wheels, Brown and Vu weren't about to stay with the OEM brake setup. That also needed to be bigger. For this, their friends at Race Technologies in Marina Del Rey, CA graciously provided a big brake kit from Brembo. The front was fitted with 320mm four-piston calipers complete with steel braided lines, and floating hat and rotor. The rear discs were swapped for cross-drilled rotors. A 100-shot direct port kit from Nitrous Express gives the vehicle a little more pep when needed. The two chromed out bottles were molded into the sideskirts of the vehicle. Non-audio components that made their way into the dash include a total of seven Defi gauges: one was installed in the steering wheel and six landed on top of the dash, facing the driver (three on each side). The gauges on top of the dash were mounted in a cylindrical tube, hand-fabricated out of fiberglass. The gauges are black when off and light up in red, white and blue when on. They were wired in demo mode so they turn on and off every few seconds.
This wild ride was completed on time, thanks to proper planning and dedication. With the signing of free agent Michael Vu, no one knew how the new team would fare. However, it's clear after this project that Alpine has stayed ahead of the game. Each year, it seems impossible to the rest of us that they could top the previous demo car, but Brown and Vu already have ideas for the next project. So stay tuned!