The owner of this stunning 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista tapped the skills and exotic car experience of the team at Mobile Solutions of Calgary for an improved audio system and a radar detector system with laser defense capabilities upgrade. The client had worked with Mobile Solutions of Calgary in the past and knew that their skills and process were a perfect match for this project. After completing their consultation process, the team proposed a solution package that would work with the client’s requirements to maintain the appearance and integrity of the vehicle while adding the features and performance he wanted.
Ferrari Audio System Upgrade
The first step was to upgrade the speakers in the doors of the Ferrari with a set of Brax Graphic-Series GL6 woofers and BLAM TS 20 HR tweeters. Mounting adapter brackets with integrated spacers were fabricated out of expanded PVC plastic to allow the large 6.5-inch woofers to mount securely in each door. The shop uses plastics and composites in all locations that could be exposed to water or moisture to ensure that the mount won’t swell or become moldy.
The choice of tweeters for the project was based on the need to maintain the invisibility of the upgrade. The compact TS 20 HR tweeters fit into the factory pod at the top of the door with only the addition of a custom plastic adapter ring. The tweeters feature a 0.75-inch silk dome design to deliver great sound.
Ferrari has integrated the infotainment system into the gauge cluster to provide both navigation information as well as the details of the music that’s playing. The Mobile Solutions team took the audio signal that exits the radio control module and fed it into a Match UP 7DSP amplifier. The amp is configured to provide up to 65 watts to each of the tweeters and as much as 130 watts to each of the woofers.
With the speakers upgraded, the team placed their RTA microphone in the vehicle and began the calibration process. Once the crossovers and levels were set in the signal processor integrated into the Match amp, they completed the equalization and signal delay setting process to ensure that the resulting system would sound detailed with a smooth and natural frequency response curve. The level and delay settings ensure a well-focused soundstage that spans the width of the vehicle.
Premium Radar Detector and Laser Defense Upgrade
With more than 700 horsepower in a car that weighs just over 3,000 pounds, the ability to dramatically exceed the speed limit on any highway in Canada can happen in about 3 seconds. The owner wanted a radar warning system that would provide as much warning as possible. The Mobile Solutions team turned to the Escort MAX Ci platform for its excellent false alarm rejection and ease of use.
The team created a custom ABS plastic mount for the Escort control panel at the rear of the center console. The ability to cut plastics with extreme precision comes from the shop’s use of a CNC-controlled laser. The color OLED display for the Escort System was integrated into the factory rearview mirror by Radar Mirror. The display is easy to see from the driving position without it looking like a bolted-on afterthought.
To protect against police lidar, the team turned to Stinger for its Core Laser system. Stinger laser defense systems are completely unique in the industry, with the smallest receiving and transmitting solution available. The Core system was upgraded with a second set of fiber lasers to provide even coverage over the entire front of the vehicle.
Bespoke Ferrari Upgrade Project
With the audio and speeding defense system integration complete, the Mobile Solutions of Calgary team detailed and decontaminated the vehicle before returning it to the client. They started the presentation process with a selection of audiophile and mainstream music tracks to highlight the capabilities of the new sound system. Next, they took the driver on their test route and shot the car with their DragonEye lidar gun and Stalker Ka-band radar gun to show the client that the systems were working and help him become familiar with their operation. As expected, the client was thoroughly impressed with the creativity and craftsmanship of the team and was justifiably excited to spend some time behind the wheel of his 488 Pista.
For more information about Mobile Solutions of Calgary, please visit their website and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
