Alpine Developments SC News

[Dr Bonz]

For awhile now, I have been in contact with Steve Belanger from Alpine Developments. They had announced their plan to release a relatively inexpensive supercharger for the 350Z that would be covered by a warrenty and have an extended warrenty available for an extra cost.

Way back in the fall he told me they were shooting for April 03. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it's gonna happen. Instead of offering it to us in the aftermarket form, they are going to make it for an "un-named" company as a "private label".

Below is my original e-mail, Alpine's original response, and Steve's response I received today.

[Dr Bonz]

Steve: Long time no hear! Can you give me (and the rest of the 350z online community) any updates on your Superchargers setup for the Nissan 350z? Thanks!


Here is what you sent me a long time ago:


3.5L (V6) Nissan `01-`03 Altima/Maxima/`03 350Z/Infiniti G35/I35 Aqua-cooled Supercharger Kit


We plan to start development of the 3.5L Aqua-cooled supercharger on a 350Z (has the lowest hood clearance) sometime near the end of December. This kit will probably be using the Eaton MP90 (new 5th gen.) roots type blower, with the self contained aqua-cooler system, with the heat exchanger built in to the intake plenum (like our 2.7L Hyundai application). Running about only 5-lbs/psi of boost, we should be able to produce close to 60-hp gain at the wheels, hopefully without any ECU management (but can if needed)! As with the above application, we will develop a stage one, and possible stage two "official" upgrades once the kit has been CARB certified as well. If all goes as planned on this application, look for it's availability around the tail end of April `03.




Warranty

All of our non-CARB approved applications carry a "1-Year / Unlimited Mileage" warranty against defects in materials and workmanship (unless otherwise specified). Any omission or addition of parts, deviation or modification to our kit from its original intent, design, and installation instructions, or any additional modifications that may affect the performance and reliability of our kit as intended, will void this warranty.

We are still hammering out the fine print at this point in time, but anticipate having a "3-Year / 36,000 Mile Power Train" backed by Dell Financial Services (same people who back GM's warranties) in place before the end of this year. A Dell Financial representative or an "Authorized Alpine Developments Installation Facility" (which you can apply for) will be the only ones who can sign off on this. This may include and cover "official" upgrades from Alpine Developments . Details on this will be forwarded to you when this has been finalized.

Even more good news...we will be offering an optional "extended warranty" on the basic kit (no modifications at all) that can be purchased at the time of purchase of our kits, or up to 90 days after purchase of our kit, that will match the remaining factory power train warranty as long as the vehicle has less than 50,000 miles on it. (The price for this will vary depending on the length of the factory warranty being matched, but don't anticipate it being more than an extra $200-to-$300.) The details of this are not all set yet, but as with the other warranty, will have to be "signed off" by a Dell Financial representative, or "Authorized Alpine Developments Installation Facility". We should have all this in place by the first of the year, and should be available to existing owners prior to it being available! Unfortunately, any upgrades (even our own "official" upgrades) will not be covered by this extended warranty package. Again, details on this will be forwarded to you when this has been finalized as well.

I am already on several "Hyundai", and now "Toyota" websites, but don't think I will have the time to post on each and everyone (besides, there are only two full-time employees here now, plus the owner from S. Africa and one engineer/technician) and would appreciate if you could post this letter on your sites for me, to pass this information on to those who've not e-mailed me yet!

Again, thank you for your tremendous response, and you should congratulate yourselves! (who says your voice can't be heard?). I will keep all of your inquiries in separate "Nissan" folders, and send you any new "updates" to all of you on each application mentioned above when we have any more information to pass along. In the meantime, don't hesitate to contact us if you should have any other questions or concerns. I look forward to hearing back from you all soon!

[Dr Bonz]

His response (long)



Ed:
Sorry for the delayed reply, but have been waiting for the owners to sort some things out and make some decisions before being able to bring everyone up to date.


As many of you know, word is getting out of our existence, and we have been swamped with e-mail inquiries for over a dozen different forced induction applications since November/December of last year. Based on the number of inquiries received (which we encouraged), informed you that we would be developing forced induction applications for a number of your requested vehicle models near the beginning of the year. We've also been approached by several companies since our announcements, to manufacture forced induction applications O.E., or "private label", and many of our "planned" applications have been changed.

Before you vent any disappointment with our development decisions, please understand that for the past 24 years, 70-80% of Alpine Developments business has been the supplying of O.E. and private label forced inductions kits, and it is the owners intention to do the same here in the U.S.. One more bit of disappointing news, because of the recent global conflicts, and the fluctuation of the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar, and the S. African rand (about 20%), there will be another price increase effective May 1, 2003 (orders placed prior to May 9th, will be honored at the older price). Here's the latest on all of the applications you have been asking about:

HYUNDAI

`96-`00 Elantra/`96-`01 Tiburon (1.8L/2.0L-I4) Turbo w/Intercooler Kit (Beta I engine)

(Off Road & Race Only)

This kit remains unchanged, and still includes the fifth fuel injector and Unichip (except the Unichip tuning has been more refined), and there is no immediate plans to try and get CARB certification on, so will remain as an "Off-road and Race only" kit.

Available: Four (4) kits arriving the end of this April (three already sold!). Otherwise, "special order" allowing two-to-three-weeks shipping time from S.A..

New MSRP: $2900.

`01-`03 Elantra / `03 Tiburon (2.0L-I4) Turbo w/Aqua-cooler Kit (Beta II engine)

(Off Road & Race Only)

The decision was made to bring this kit to market as soon as possible, using the above kit's exhaust manifold and therefore is not going to be CARB certified. We have designed a new more efficient self-contained liquid-to-air "Aqua-cooler" for this kit. This kit will also get the benefit of our own new "black-box" ECU management, doing away with the Unichip. To build this kit to meet CARB certification, would require designing a new exhaust/turbo manifold that utilizes the factory exhaust manifold/catalytic converter (also increasing the cost), and the decision to do so has not been made yet!

Available: July`03.

Est. MSRP: $3000.

`96-`00 Elantra / `96-`01 Tiburon (1.8L/2.0L-I4) Supercharger Kit (Beta I engine)

(Off Road & Race Only)

This kit is still under "re-engineering", and will benefit from our new "black-box" ECU technology, replacing the Unichip. Otherwise, will remain much the same as is.

Available: July / August`03.

New MSRP: $2900.

`01-`03 Elantra / `03 2.0L Tiburon (2.0L-I4) Supercharger Kit (Beta II engine)

(anticipate CARB certification)

We are waiting to test fit the new intake manifold, and will also benefit from our new "black-box" ECU technology, and anticipate no problems on getting CARB certification before releasing for sale (which means our limited "3-Year / 36,000 Mile Power Train Warranty" would apply.

Available: August / September`03.

New MSRP: $3000.

`02-`03 Tiburon / Santa Fe / Sonata / Kia Optima (2.7L-V6) Aqua-cooled Supercharger Kit

(CARB E.O.# D-551-1)

The final version of this kit is in full production now, with only a few minor changes for safety issues (the replacement of the steel braided "cooler" hoses to rubber hose). We may offer some "upgrade" parts for this kit later on, which may include clear plastic covered steel braided hoses and urethane engine mounts. This kit may also be offered without the "Aqua-cooler" and our exclusive limited "3-Year / 36,000 Mile Power Train Warranty" for a reduced price if there is enough of a demand for it. We are just now finishing up the fitment and instructions on the Santa Fe, and will also do the same for the Sonata and Kia Optima in the next couple of months.

Available: Tiburon application; twenty-eight (28) kits arriving April 28th, thirty-two (32) arriving May 9th (with more coming!). Santa Fe application; June`03. Sonata application; July / August`03. Kia Optima application; September`03.

New MSRP: $3300

ISUZU

`98-`03 Amigo / Axiom / Rodeo / Trooper / Vehicross / Honda Passport (3.2L/3.5L-V6) Supercharger Kit

(CARB E.O.# D-551)

Now with CARB certification, and the limited "3-Year / 36,000 Mile Power Train Warranty" and optional "extended power train warranty", this kit remains basically the same, but with some minor improvements. It now comes with a new nose-piece/gear cover, which helps eliminate some chatter at idle. Please be aware that this kit was designed for the 3.5L, and any 3.2L applications will have to be special ordered (requires different sized pulley). Also, please note that the cruise and throttle cable brackets for the Vehicross model (all others are throttle-by-wire) has to be special ordered as well, and has been finalized, and available within the next three weeks.

Available: Fourteen (14) kits in stock (minus the blowers), and can ship within 2-to-3 working days of ordering.

New MSRP: $3100.

NISSAN

`00-`03 Frontier / X-Terra (3.3L-V6) Supercharger Kit

(anticipate CARB certification)

This kit is in the final stages of development, and anticipate if passing CARB, will include the limited "3-Year / 36,000 Power Train Warranty" and optional "extended power train warranty. As we get nearer to the availability date, will know what other year/model applications this should fit. This will still be offered by Alpine Developments.

Available: Late August.

New MSRP: $3000.

`02-`03 Altima / Sentra (SER & V-Spec) (2.5L-I4) Turbo w/Aqua-cooler Kit

(anticipate CARB certification)

While we are still going to develop an aqua-cooled turbo kit for this engine platform, we are in the final stages of negotiations with a company to manufacture this kit "private label" for them, and will not be able to offer this kit to the aftermarket ourselves. Unfortunately, we can not divulge any more information on this application until it is near completion, and have permission from our client to reveal who they are and details of this kit.

`02-`03 Altima / Maxima / `03 350Z / Infiniti G35 /I35 (3.5L-V6) Aqua-cooled Supercharger Kit

(anticipate CARB certification)

Like the above application, this kit will be developed for the same company to sell "private label", and we will not be offering this application to the aftermarket ourselves. As with the above kit, we can not divulge any more information on this application until near completion, and have permission from our client to reveal who they are and the details of this kit.

`95-`01 Maxima (3.0L-V6) Aqua-cooled Supercharger Kit

(anticipate CARB certification)

We've had enough requests for this application to give it serious consideration, but because of the "private label" applications listed (and several not listed), would not be able to start on this until sometime late this fall, or early winter.

`98-`01 Sentra (1.8L-I4) Turbo Kit

(Off Road & Race Only)

Although this kit is one of many from our S. African stable of existing kits, it may be some time before we are able to bring this over to test fit on a LHD vehicle, re-tune for 91 octane, possibly add an intercooler, and look into the feasibility of getting this CARB tested and certified.



TOYOTA

`98-`03 Corolla / 00-`03 Celica / Matrix / Pontiac Vibe (1ZZ-FE engine) Aqua-cooled Turbo Kit

(anticipate CARB certification)

We were re-approached by one of our existing clients a few months back, and are now in the midst of negotiations with them regarding a forced induction kit for this application, which would be a "private label" kit, and unfortunately, have put plans for our own aftermarket turbo kit on hold, until this is sorted out. Again, we can not divulge any more information on this application until it is near completion, and have permission from our client to reveal who they are and details of this kit.

`00-`03 Celica GT / Matrix XRS / Pontiac Vibe GT (2ZZ-GE engine) Aqua-cooled Supercharger Kit

(anticipate CARB certification)

The status of this application is also on hold until a decision has been made with our "private label" client on the 1ZZ engine kit (and whether it will include this application as well), and may adapt the 1ZZ kit for use on the 2ZZ engine.

`85-`87 RWD/`88-`91 FWD Corolla (4A-GE engine) Turbo Kit

(Off Road & Race Only)

Although this kit is one of many from our S. African stable of existing kits, it may be some time before we are able to bring this over to test fit on a LHD vehicle, re-tune for 91 octane, possibly add an intercooler, and look into the feasibility of getting this CARB tested and certified.

`93-`97 Corolla (7A-FE engine) Turbo Kit

(Off Road & Race Only)

There have been fewer than 30 requests for a forced induction kit for this application, and unless there was a flood of inquiries, would have no plans to develop a kit for this application.

OTHER APPLICATIONS

We have a lot of applications we are working on (including three different GM turbo kits for a "private label" client we're just finishing up with), and because of this, a lot of the existing applications from S. Africa, and the numerous others we have received many requests for, will also have to put on the "back-burner" for a while, but will give a brief synopsis below:

BMW: It may be sometime before we can bring both the 1.8L supercharger kit, and the 2.5L turbo kit over from our stable of kits in S. Africa, but don't anticipate being be able to test fit on LHD vehicles before the end of this year. Possibly early `04.

Jeep: Even though this would be a fairly straight forward supercharger kit to adapt to the U.S. 4.0L engine, there has been very little demand for this application, so will not attempt to do so, until other higher priority projects are complete, or the demand increases, so don't expect to see this available until sometime next year.

Kia: Our 3.5L aqua-cooled supercharger kit for the new Sorento SUV (also same engine in the Hyundai XG-350) has been put on hold, waiting for Kia to make some decisions. And even though we have received numerous inquiries for the 1.8L Sephia / Spectra, and fewer for the 1.6L Rio, will not develop anything for Kia until several of the other "private label" applications are finished, which means sometime next year.

Mitsubishi: We not received enough inquiries for the 3.0L, and even fewer on the 2.4L, that unless we received a flood of inquiries in the next six months, would have no plans to develop any kits for these applications.

Volkswagen: The inquiries are growing for all of our existing S. African turbo kits for the 1.8L / 2.0L-I4, 2.8L-V6, 2.0L-I4 Beetle, along with our Aqua-cooler conversion for the 1.8T, but again, because of the priorities with existing "private label" clients, realistically won't be able to bring these kits over for test-fitments until sometime late this year, possibly even early `04.

As you can see from the shear number of applications we are currently working on, that it is difficult satisfy everyone's requests at the same time, and ask that you keep in mind the costs involved in trying to bring these applications to market, with the CARB certification and power trains warranties when venting your frustration at us not building the particular kit for your application. Again, we would like to thank all of you who have made inquiries and patiently waited to hear back from us. If you should have any other questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us again. Thanks.


Stephen M. Belanger
Sales & Marketing
S.A. Alpine Developments, Inc.
7581 Acacia Avenue
Garden Grove, Ca. 92841
Ph. (714) 379-8066
Fx. (714) 379-8166
sbelanger@alpine-developments.us
www.alpine-developments.co.za

[Dr Bonz]

I had written this to Steve after hearing this news:


Steve: While we here in the 350Z world are very disappointed, I was still glad to finally hear from you. I realize you can't give out much information about who you are making the SC for, but can I ask two things? First, what is the time frame for releasing the "private label" SC? Second, will it still be offered with the warranty and extended warranty you mentioned before?

Thanks,

Ed
www.350Zfrenzy.com

HE WROTE BACK WITH THIS:

Ed:

Good news! I am now being told that Alpine will be able to offer this kit when it does become available (negotiations are changing daily). The kit should be available in 6 months, and will offer the power train warranty!

Stephen M. Belanger
Sales & Marketing
S.A. Alpine Developments, Inc.
7581 Acacia Avenue
Garden Grove, Ca. 92841
Ph. (714) 379-8066
Fx. (714) 379-8166
sbelanger@alpine-developments.us
www.alpine-developments.co.za

[Goober]

That is good news, as long as it doesn't keep changing over the next six months. I wonder what kind of output they are expecting with a powertrain warranty being offered with the setup. It does seem that they are interested in keeping the consumers in the know which is definitely a good start.

[NSANY]

Interesting note for any rally fans out there: I believe Alpine is the company providing the aftermarket turbo kits for the Libra Racing Tiburons being driven by Paul Choiniere & Co. in this year's SCCA ProRally circuit.

I'll ask around next month when I'm at STPR.