Learn: Home » The 2004 Alpine Mini Cooper
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The question on everyone's lips was, "How can they top themselves after that?"
"Everybody" was anyone who's into custom mobile A/V installations. "They" were Steve Brown and Mike Vu, Alpine's project car design team. And "that" was Alpine's award-winning 2003 Honda Civic Si, the car universally proclaimed the best custom installation of the 2003 CES, and maybe ever.
CrutchfieldAdvisor has been following the adventures of Alpine's project car team since CES 2003. We last spoke with Steve and Mike in August 2003, just as they were getting into the thick of the custom work on their top-secret 2004 car. Though we couldn't share it with our readers, Brown and Vu showed us how they'd successfully sawed off the top of a 2004 Mini Cooper and installed industrial-strength steel rails that allowed the center drive seat and subwoofer assembly to slide out beyond the vehicle over four feet. They were preparing to install the motor that would control the seat assembly, to figure out how to attach a body kit, do all of the fiberglass work, mount all the A/V equipment, and slap on a fine paint job.
When we asked Steve if he was at all concerned with topping the Civic Si, he laughed. "This car we're building now has a central concept — there's one thing in the car that makes it different that any other car you'll see." I remember thinking how relaxed he seemed under the mounting pressure of having to get the car completed by CES in January, not to mention the tremendous expectations of everyone within the industry to see if he could match or better last year's car.
True to form, though, Brown was all smiles and plans. "I've even got an idea for next year that's gonna be wild," Brown told us with a mischievous glint in his eye.
So, one of the first things I did when I had an hour of free time between press events at the 2004 CES was make my way into the Alpine booth to see how the car came out and to catch up with Steve and Mike. I found them encircled by a group of showgoers who swiveled their heads back and forth from the car, to Steve and Mike, and back to the car again in awe. Finally, I got a chance to chat with the guys about how the installation went.
 Alpine's Mini Cooper S. |
 Steve Brown (left) and Mike VU (right), Alpine's project car design team. |
The question on everyone's lips was, "How can they top themselves after that?"
"Everybody" was anyone who's into custom mobile A/V installations. "They" were Steve Brown and Mike Vu, Alpine's project car design team. And "that" was Alpine's award-winning 2003 Honda Civic Si, the car universally proclaimed the best custom installation of the 2003 CES, and maybe ever.
CrutchfieldAdvisor has been following the adventures of Alpine's project car team since CES 2003. We last spoke with Steve and Mike in August 2003, just as they were getting into the thick of the custom work on their top-secret 2004 car. Though we couldn't share it with our readers, Brown and Vu showed us how they'd successfully sawed off the top of a 2004 Mini Cooper and installed industrial-strength steel rails that allowed the center drive seat and subwoofer assembly to slide out beyond the vehicle over four feet. They were preparing to install the motor that would control the seat assembly, to figure out how to attach a body kit, do all of the fiberglass work, mount all the A/V equipment, and slap on a fine paint job.
When we asked Steve if he was at all concerned with topping the Civic Si, he laughed. "This car we're building now has a central concept — there's one thing in the car that makes it different that any other car you'll see." I remember thinking how relaxed he seemed under the mounting pressure of having to get the car completed by CES in January, not to mention the tremendous expectations of everyone within the industry to see if he could match or better last year's car.
 Alpine's 2003 Honda Civic Si featured a motorized amp rack/gauge cage, 5 monitors, and center drive.  |
True to form, though, Brown was all smiles and plans. "I've even got an idea for next year that's gonna be wild," Brown told us with a mischievous glint in his eye.
So, one of the first things I did when I had an hour of free time between press events at the 2004 CES was make my way into the Alpine booth to see how the car came out and to catch up with Steve and Mike. I found them encircled by a group of showgoers who swiveled their heads back and forth from the car, to Steve and Mike, and back to the car again in awe. Finally, I got a chance to chat with the guys about how the installation went.
