Reader's Ride Special

Young Alex Cotraviwat works in the import industry, so of course his 2001 Honda Accord has all the trappings of an import show car. Its carbon-fiber hood hides a score of engine modifications. Meanwhile a slick of House of Colors Oriental Kandy Blue paint coats the highly modified exterior. "I built this vehicle to compete at the highest level of the import show industry," Cotraviwat says. To get to that level, he couldn't stop at just the performance and exterior mods - the interior boasts an ICE system by Creative Audio and Form N Function.

Cotraviwat relies upon Boston Acoustics gear for the front stage and rear fill (Rally 6" components in front with coaxials in back), which pull signal from the Alpine source. Complementing the screen in the trunk lid, a set of 5-inch visor monitors from Alpine provides cabin entertainment. Something we haven't seen in a while is the Sega Dreamcast system. Unfortunately, Cotraviwat doesn't get to play Sega games or the audio system very often. "This is built for show," he explains, "and pretty much I never have to drive it."

Driver ProfileAs marketing director of M1 Autobody and DTM Autohaus, and president of Kallusive clothing, 24-year-old Alex Cotraviwat gets a daily dose of the import tuning world. In his off hours (though it seems work and play intermix for him), he competes with Team Kallusive in the 4-door mild and Honda class. So far, this show-only ride has won numerous first place trophies at events up and down the California coast. Alex would like to thank his team; his girlfriend, Alisa; his family; M1 Autobody; Meguiar's; BF Goodrich; Gen X; Bride; Creative Audio; Form N Function; Six Autoworks; Sun Auto; Rotora; Rainbow Polishing; and Xenon Vision.

Tech" Volk GT-7 special gold wheels with hyper-blue lug nuts" BF Goodrich 225/40/18 tires" Rotora brakes" Tein coilovers" AC Autotechnic strut bar" Jet-Hot coated T3 turbocharger" Turbonetics wastegate" HKS Super Sequential Blow-Off valve and Super Megaflow 2.5" filter" Sun Auto Hyper Ground and Voltage systems" Vortech fuel management unit" B&M fuel pressure gauge" AEM fuel rail and regulator" Cusco chrome oil catch can" NGK copper spark plug wires" Invidia exhaust

The doors, fully wrapped up in graphite-colored suede and black tweed, hold the Boston Acoustics Rally 6" speakers. The Autopower rollcage, Bride Ergo II racing seats and Takata harnesses are not pictured.

The trunk floor holds the enclosure for three inverted Alpine SWR-1221D Type R subwoofers. Behind them, an Alpine MRV-F340 4-channel amp and an Alpine MRV-T420 2-channel amp provide some visual (and power) backup.

An Alpine IVA-C800 lords over the dash with its 6.5-inch screen. Beneath it, a DVA-5205 DVD/CD receiver provides some back up. In one of the dash compartments you'll probably find the Alpine Universal Remote for the two sun visor monitors. A titanium silver dash kit upgrades the overall look. Lastly, a sports shift knob and pedals from Razo, Nardi steering wheel, and electronics from A'PEXi round out the package.

Designed for show, the trunk install was done by two separate shops. On top, Form N Function built the 10.4-inch monitor into the trunk lid. A pair of Alpine coaxials flanks it.