Archive for May 2012 | Monthly archive page
Founded in 2000, and headquartered in London (United Kingdom), Prindivillle is today one of the world’s leading luxury bespoke coachbuilders, boasting a global client portfolio spanning across the USA, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
At the centre of the organisation is Alex Prindiville, the man who personally creates and oversees a;; of the company’s design projects, bringing ideas and dreams to life. As long as it can be made, the boundaries are limitless, which allows the imagination of their customers to run wild, and own a vehicle designed and built specifically around their ultimate desires.
As well as the visual and performance tuning of some of the world’s most sought after supercars including the Lamborghini Aventador, Prindiville visual and performance tuning parts for a growing number of prestige models.
The coachbuilder equally prides itself on their extensive experience of carbon fibre manufacture and constructions techniques, which they have in turn, extended to the automotive, aeronautic, and boatbuilding sectors.
Behind the scenes at Prindiville
We are delighted to have been invited back for an exclusive interview with Alex to go behind the scenes, and discover what drives his business to take concepts from the drawing board to the road.
Luxury Magazine (LM) : Prindiville Offers a range of cars spanning from the Lamborghini Aventador to the Range Rover Evoque. How do you choose what comes next?
Alex Prindiville(AP): The models to which our bespoke coachbuilding service is applied is very much governed by customer demand, global market trends, and of course, new car release. We need to ensure that our clients both have access, and are able to come to us to tailor the very latest production vehicles, whether it be a supercar or luxury SUV. As a result, it is important for Prindiville to constantly be looking forward.
LM: When you are designing the look of a production car, what inspires you, and what is your thought process?
AP: the design process is led by the desire to create a vehicle which is different to what has seen before, and which will similarly make an individual stand out from the crowd.
Every model and marque has its own design profile and distinct lines, and therefore it is imperative that Prindiville blends function with an enhanced level of performance and driving experience without compromising the original feel, beauty, and purpose for which the car was made.
We also aim to incorporate enhancements to a vehicle which challenge convention.
For example, we were the first to develop a ‘handle-less’ door system, and wing mirror cameras for the Lamborghini Murcielago.
LM: Are there any specific materials which you prefer to work with and within your designs?
AP: we employ lightweight aircraft-grade carbon fibre across many of our facelifts due to the nature of the high performance models that we art focused on.
It does not only complement the work which we do on many of today’s supercars, but also has the benefit of a high strength-to-weight ratio.
We frequently use it for aerodynamic components parts such as spoilers, diffusers, and roof skins, for the interior attention to detail are equally important. And we are committed to employing the finest hand-crafted Italian leather hides and highest alcantara to ensure the perfect finish.
We also supply jeweller packs manufactured from aluminium.
However, because our service is tailored to the individual, we will incorporate other materials into the design if a customer has a particular preference.
LM: Each car is hover subject to an individual’s specific taste. How does the bespoke coachbuilding design process work?
AP: Bespoke coach building combines the skills of art with craftsmanship, and is all about re-designing the look of a car according to the specific tastes of the client. Every Prindiville commission starts with a one-to-one consultation to determine exactly what the buyer is looking for. This can originate from their personal ideas, a simple sketch, or alternatively, we will draft a detailed and explanatory proposal based on a given brief.
The drawing will then be refined until the desired look and feels have been achieved, based on the feedback which we receive from the customer.
LM: Prindiville also designs tuning parts in-house. What makes these unique?
We feel that it maximise the performance of the vehicle and achieve a truly individual look, this cannot always be attained with an existing or off-the-shelf solution. Consequently, in addition to sourcing high quality components from across the globe, we also create, engineer and build Prindiville bespoke parts such as stainless steel and titanium sports exhaust systems which not only provide a reduction in weight, but equally deliver significant power gains.
LM: Coachbuilding stretches as far back as the early 1900s. How has it evolved over the years, and what does the future hold?
AP: the art of coachbuilding has made great strides over the decades, and is very much a worldwide phenomenon. Britain began with the likes of milliner & co and Vanden Plas,
Whilst Italy say the foundation of the now infamous design houses such as Bertone, Pininfarina, and Zagato. Going back to the very beginning of the adoption of customisation, an individual would source a rolling chassis from vehicle manufacturer, and then approach a coachbuilder to build a body on to it which was designed according to their wishes.
LM: How long it take to bring a new component from the drawing board to production?
AP: The design and manufacture of parts is a complex process and often takes a few weeks before we create the first prototype and tools. Every new component is subject to a vigorous testing process and is initially installed on a mule vehicle to gauge performance and for optimisation purpose. Once, the specification of the part has been refined, and, in turn, finalised, we will look to source superior grade material for full scale production to ensure best possible quality and longevity for the dedicated customer application.
- Prindiville concept showcases elegantly-styled Lamborghini Aventador J.
- Limited Edition Prindiville Lamborghini Aventador currently on sale, restricted to only eight examples worldwide.
- Aventador J exterior styling upgrades include complete front bumper, bonnet, side skirts, rear diffuser, and rear wing.
- 15% greater power – 6.5-litre V12 engine remapped to 805 hp from 700 hp.
- Interior boasts Prindiville Entertainment System, high-grade precision aluminium finish, and leather interior.
London-based bespoke coachbuilder, Prindiville, has revealed a concept showcasing their bespoke offering to customers if the one-off road-legal Lamborghini Aventador J, launched at the recent Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, was ever to enter into production. Prindiville’s latest design builds on the company’s successful bespoke tuning portfolio for the Lamborghini marque which counts the Murciélago as well as the Aventador LP700-4 coupé which is currently on sale as a Limited Edition series of only eight examples worldwide.
To improve performance and handling, the Prindiville J Concept would be significantly lighter and agile due to many original panels being replaced in carbon fibre.
The ECU of the 6.5-litre twelve-cylinder powerplant would be remapped to increase the output from 700 to 805 hp, allowing the Prindiville Aventador J to sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in around 2.5 seconds, and to a top speed of over 220 mph (350 km/h). The 15% power upgrade equally comes courtesy of a bespoke twin Prindiville titanium or stainless steel exhaust system tailored to the stringent demands of a car at home on the road or track. The uprated braking and adjustable suspension systems include high performance ceramic discs.
The interior panels and air vents of the Aventador J are presented in a highgrade precision milled aluminium, whilst the renowned Prindiville insignia has been etched into the jet black driver and passenger seats which are dressed with the finest Italian leather and alcantara. These can be matched individually to the chosen exterior colour – either matt or metallic.
Contrary to the current J model, a five-inch LCD TV screen bestows drivers with immediate access to the powerful Prindiville Entertainment system boasting a DVD player, satellite navigation, and bespoke software featuring maps, setups, and telemetry of some of the most well-known race circuits across the globe, spanning from Silverstone to Laguna Seca. Surround sound may be enjoyed by the occupants of the Aventador J thanks to elegantly moulded 1000-watt hand- built Italian subwoofer amplifiers.
Commenting on the Prindiville Lamborghini Aventador J concept, Alex Prindiville, Founder and Chief Designer, explains: “Although this model was created as a one off-example, the design which we have created showcases the beauty and technology which we are able to offer clients across our custom-built supercar model range including the Aventador. The new supersports car is undisputedly one of the most exciting and extreme high performance cars ever built by Lamborghini, and we will be keeping our eyes firmly peeled on the forthcoming product line-up from Sant’Agata Bolognese.”
For more information on the Limited Edition Prindiville Lamborghini Aventador, visit www.prindiville.co.uk.
Alex Prindiville
Prindiville
E-mail: alex@prindiville.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)7951 726555
