We have discussed about the
Audi R8 as a visual treat in our earlier post, didn't we? But, the actual
meaning of “visual treat” was given by “D.A.D”, by their recent project of
wrapping the Audi R8 into stunning chrome.
When you talk about Audi R8
V8, the first thing that comes to your mind is the aggressive looks the machine
possess, either it be from the front or the rear, German engineers have put together
a lot of man effort and time on the machine to bring it as a marquee.
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About Audi R8 V8
You can either think that, man
made the machines or machines made man/men crazy, however, in both the ways the
Audi’s supercar THE R8 is a fascinating driving machine.
The Audi R8 is equipped with a
4.2 litre V8 engine using Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI), which displays
4,163CC. It develops a power output of 420 hp and generates 317 ft-lb of
torque. This is a highly reworked, high-revving variant of the existing 4.2 litre
V8 engine, but includes cylinder-direct fuel injection (Fuel Stratified
Injection), and four valves per cylinder, instead of five (as used on the
previous non-FSI variants). The R8 is capable of sprinting to 100 km/h from
standstill in a just 4.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 300 km/h.
Now let me tell you, the
chrome job was not done by anybody outside the country, D.A.D is an Indian
origin and they have made us proud by displaying their potential.
Read on to know more about the masterminds behind the chrome job for an
Audi R8!
Mr. Daljit, what brought life to the project for the chrome of the
Audi R8?
The client, having seen pictures of our work on D.A.D’s Facebook
profile, contacted us (also they knew that D.A.D had done chrome projects
earlier). To be precise, the client called us regarding a wrap job for their
Audi R8 V8 in the month of October and briefed us on the project and wanted to start
work by November. However, the car was not in Bangalore so work only began in
December.
Who chose the idea for chrome on the Audi R8 V8?
It was totally the client’s choice.
What was the team size involved in the project?
In total, there were 4 people. There was one tinker guy, three for the
wrap job and my supervision. The client provided the team with a workshop in
Bangalore to make sure it stayed a secret until it was ready to reveal.
What was the duration of the project?
It took around 4 days to complete the project. Chrome is a very fragile
element and needs pure concentration unlike other color/materials.
How many meters/sq ft of the material was used?
We usually have the car in front of us, so that we measure and take appropriate
length of the material. In this scenario, the car was based in Bangalore and we
had to guess. The Audi R8 consumed 260 square feet to be precise.
What were the challenges faced during completion of the project?
The two challenges were wrapping the fender and the bonnet, (psst the
bonnet of the Audi R8 is really big!). Both are not separated from each other
and required more precision. The bonnet itself is a fender, wrapping it had to
be done in pieces. Now, if you look at the car you cannot tell that it was done
with different pieces (3 pieces to be accurate).
What caught your attention in the project?
Chrome is very unique concept and although the job is a success, the
material is better on supercars that are hardly driven. Being a fragile element,
it will have a tough time withstanding the effects of hitting the road and the attention
it will get from people (the touching, the feeling etc.). The slightest knick
or scratch can make a big difference. Chrome-wrapped cars are meant for
showcase cars, which are kept for a month or two. This point caught my
attention as a major drawback.
Could you tell us about the segment-by-segment process that took place
with the white Audi R8 which transformed into the stunning chrome Audi R8?
We first dismantled the whole car, stripping down everything that
includes headlights, tail lamps, door mirrors, door pads and even the doors.
After which we started the wrap job. The third part involved assembling the car
and the grand finale was to the clean off the edges and the final touches of
bling!
What do you think about the future of wrapping and the automotive scene
in India?
Today, people are spending and the setup of modification is changing.
If you can recollect how it was about 5 years ago, you will remember mods being
done to Lancers and Honda City. Now people are doing the same to higher-end
models such as Mercs and Beemers because everyone wants something unique. There
are close to 12 Lamborghinis in Mumbai – so the question is how you can make
yours stand out!
So how does wrapping play its
role? Wrapping adds uniqueness
without playing with the car’s originality. It is just a sticker which covers
the car. For example, a white car today might be wrapped in a matte yellow
tomorrow and gloss blue day after. There is no limit! It’s also perfect
protection for the car as the wrap protects the original color from fading and
being scratched.
In your professional opinion, is chrome wrapping cost effective in a
vehicle maintenance plan?
It’s more about having a passion for your machine and a particular
taste, where you want to show it because you have it. In the case of a chrome
wrap, maintenance is not simple or cost effective (it’s expensive!). You cannot
even use the same cloth to wipe the wrap – it needs to be changed every week.
However, if you consider wrapping a car worth crores, this is certainly a good
way of maintaining it.
What would be your verdict on the chrome job done for the Audi R8 -
from a performance, design and wrap perspective?
I would say ‘outstanding’, it’s unique, it is the first proper chrome
Audi R8 in India – which means it has something like a “WOW” factor.
When we completed the project, the Audi looked like a gem. Moreover,
the client was happy and those who saw it were going crazy – that’s an ultimate
achievement!
Our discussion was endless on
wrapping, as we all know a wrap job is something which is not going to fade
out. There is a whole future out there with no limit!
Then why not go get it done,
folks!?
About Daljit Auto Design (D.A.D)
D.A.D is an industrial design
studio, based in Mumbai specializing in transportation design. D.A.D offers a
wide range of services such as body kits, custom body work and paint job,
prototypes and car wraps.
Being founded in 2010, D.A.D
is the latest design studio in Mumbai. It is conceptualized and developed by Daljit
Mehta, a graduate in Product Design from Raffles Design International
Institute.
Since its launch, D.A.D has
done various body kits, custom exterior jobs, prototypes, providing custom paint
jobs to clients. D.A.D does not only cater services to clients from Mumbai but
also provides services to clients from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bangalore and other
metro cities.
D.A.D is associated with the
Mumbai Racing Club, a club into circuit racing, the maintenance and the
bodywork of its cars is done by D.A.D
D.A.D is a bunch of
professionals devoted to designing and developing styling concepts for cars by
visualizing through ways of sketching, 3D modeling and prototypes. Their latest venture into Car Wrap has
received a lot of appreciation from people. Car wraps is a complete vinyl make
over which is better and a quicker process than a paint job. Without messing
with the original paint work of your car, you can wrap your car in different
color shades within a day’s time.
You can change the
color/finish of your car as many times as you want without messing with the
original paint. It’s a simple process. When you are bored of a certain car wrap
finish, you can just peel it off and retain it to its original paint job,
making it a very cost effective product. With car wrap you never lose your car
resale values as well as you protect your original paint from fading, scratches
with the car wrap. The finish of a wrap job is far more attractive than that of
a paint job. D.A.D provides various colors that cater to the target audience in
such a way that the car seems brand new and definitely turns a few heads
around.
Recently D.A.D wrapped an Audi
R8 in chrome, making it India’s first chrome wrapped super car. Its highly
reflective finish makes it a visual treat.
D.A.D rapidly understands the
Indian Automotive Market, catering the needs of various clients
accordingly. Car wrap being the new
trend, D.A.D offers more than 50 color shades in matte, gloss, brushed metal,
carbon fiber and chrome finish.
Until now D.A.D has wrapped
around 15- 20 cars in matte black, matte red, matte sky blue and matte orange
finish. The Range Rover Evoque was wrapped in a unique brushed metal blue
finish.
Car Wrap is the future of Indian
Automotive market and D.A.D is working hand in hand to become a pioneer in it.
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