After what feels like hundreds of prototypes and over a year of adjustments for wrinkle management, fitment, and finish, it is with great excitement we announce that the design for GT Center Console Cover has been confirmed.
In late 2021, a goal was proposed to produce the most comprehensive cover ever designed for the S2000’s transmission tunnel section made out of 100% genuine Alcantara fabric. Previous covers for the S2000 have been designed however, few come close to the fitment and design embedded into GT’s Center Console Cover.
An installation guide is available, a link can be found here.
S2000 Center Console Cover Design
GT’s Console Cover is designed to install over top of the complete factory transmission tunnel cover, even reaching past the rear section behind the S2000’s seats for a total change in aesthetic. The result delivers a modern, premium, and fitted finish to the focal point of the S2000’s famously F1-inspired interior.
The nature of this product is intended as an overlay to the Honda S2000’s existing OEM vinyl center console cover. This direction eliminates need for complete replacement of the factory center console cover which requires intrusively shifting or total removal of the S2000 dashboard and rear interior panels. As such, installation of GT’s Center Console Cover requires only loosening of the S2000’s rear trim panels and glove box. This installation does not require adjusting the dashboard unit.
A key design element to GT’s Center Console product features a twin-hole, folded design that allows it to not only fully cover the center console’s vinyl surface, but envelope it securely. This feature allows reliability in its installation where drivers need not worry about the Alcantara fabric coming loose during use or cleaning.z
Center Console Cover in Genuine Alcantara Fabric
Given that the nature of this product is intended to be installed overtop of the S2000’s existing OEM center console cover, fabric density and thickness played an important role in choosing the most appropriate Alcantara fabric during the material selection process. The ideal fabric selection would be rigid enough to sit firmly and wrap tightly around the transmission tunnel section while maintaining a low-profile nature so as to not appear bulky beneath factory plastic trims. The end result would deliver an effect that could be easily mistaken as an OEM interior option that might compliment other suede-themed parts offered in Club Racer (CR) and overseas Type S models.
Opting against an additional foam-supported material presented a challenging iteration process since foam-supported fabrics often assist in hiding wrinkle-causing imperfections embedded in the design. Since the material used in this process was finer, every shape and curve found in this design had to be redrawn dozens of times over, often shifting 1-2mm at a time, in order to ensure the highest accuracy.
Appropriately, offering this cover in genuine Alcantara would also allow for a perfect match to adjacent products offered by GT as well as manufacturers offering similarly-positioned products such as MOMO.
Premium Fit and Finish
The better part of 2022 has been invested in maximizing the potential of the Alcantara fabric selected for GT’s Center Console Cover product. An immense amount of testing has been dedicated to validating every corner and curve allowing for delicate and strategic placement of every seam and stitch in the S2000’s interior.
An important focus was placed on ensuring the cover should fit accurately with as few wrinkles as possible throughout the cover. Here is where the design of this product shines bright. The front section seen by the driver is tight and true. When installed correctly, even the driver should be pleasantly surprised by the precise fit and finish.
The placement of the primary seam running across the length of the console runs directly over the factory locations as designed by the OEM. One minor change places the primary seam on GT Console Cover just below the radio door assembly to promote a flush finish.
Products mentioned in this post:
GT Center Console Cover Alcantara S2000
GT Shift Boot Alcantara S2000