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Finishing Touches
Finishing Touches
Sunday, January 22, 2012 10:19 AM

Devil in the details

Supercars have typically more exotic and unique materials for their upholstery.

From the softest Nappa leather to race-inspired Alcantara suede, it demands an extremely careful approach to cleaning and maintenance.

Select chemical cleaners and machines are matched to the upholstery material for stellar results.
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Specialised interior cleaning machines equipped with dry-steam technology are able to effectively extract, sanitise and restore upholstery to its original state.

The leather is first cleaned using a high-tech upholstery steam cleaning machine that is automated and has the capability to break down and extract contaminants safely from the upholstery at 160° celsius using dry steam technology at a highly-effective 5% moisture content - perfectly matched for the finest semi-aniline leather and the Alcantara upholstery used in supercars.

Once the leather is spotless and sanitised, the UV-resistant five-stage leather refinishing system is used to moisturise and hydrate deep into the primary substrate, preserving the leather from premature degradation and surface de-lamination.

Fine upholstery should have a rich, matte lustre and the silicone-free finish ensures that the leather is not glossy and oily to touch.

Carpets and floor mats are then cleaned using a hybrid steam extractor for a fresh and disinfected surface.
 
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Finer details


Next up are the little details. And there’s tons of them everywhere. From every bolt that locks each wheel, inside the door panels, exhaust system, grills, air-vents and the typical carbon-fiber yardage, each component has to be carefully dismantled and detailed thoroughly for a spotless finish.
 
Pre-coating preparation

Once the paintwork correction is flawless and all the finer details are completed, the supercar is then moved back for a high-pressure, high-temperature wash which will remove all polishing residue.

Pressurised steam is then used to eradicate leftover polishing oils to reveal a perfect paintwork surface that is primed for the last-step-product or LSP.

The reason this pre-coating process is crucial is that polishing oils are usually left over from the buffing process and they can temporarily mask finer swirls and scratches.

The aim is to achieve an immaculate finish on a supercar’s paintwork and it simply means that there are no shortcuts to perfection.
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This process also allows the paintwork surface to be primed for adhesion with the coating application next.
 
Hydrophobic coating

The vehicle is then moved to a cleanroom for its all-weather protective coating application. Our hydrophobic coating system is designed for enhanced gloss and acclimatised for the humid tropical weather - providing an extremely easy-to maintain, high-gloss finish which can last the entire year.

Essentially, maximum protection with minimum fuss using the latest in nano-molecular technology.
 
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Pre-delivery inspection


For the final touches prior to the supercar being loaded up onto the trailer for transportation to the venue, each vehicle is moved into a lighting simulation room that will mimic the halogen and spotlights used in exhibition halls.

This ensures that it is approved for delivery minus any fingerprint smears or finishing streaks.

An inspection team finally reviews each panel of the vehicle for completeness.

> For more information, check out www.autodetailer.co.

 
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The information contained in the 'Finishing Touches' column is for general educational purposes only. Neither Star Motoring nor the columnist gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. Star Motoring and the columnist disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
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About TOC

The modern car is one of the most sophisticated machines ever created. Dozens of control systems and computer processors work together to ensure it works seamlessly and effectively day in and day out.

But machines do break down occasionally. The technical team of The Otomotif College (TOC) is here to offer advice and help troubleshoot car problems

The team of seven trainers, led by Allan Cabiles (pic), has collectively 30 years of experience in a wide range of car makes. The TOC Team prides itself on keeping pace with the ever-evolving automotive industry. Its trainers undergo training sessions with a network of 800 industry partners across the country.

With such an extensive body of knowledge, think of the TOC Team as your go-to automotive experts.

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