Lexus IS 300

Grey paint hides dust well, but it does not hide stone chips: each one shows as a small pale mark, and on the front of a sedan they add up quickly. This Lexus IS 300 F Sport in gloss grey was covered from front to back in Defcon Glanz clear gloss PPF.

Glanz keeps the factory colour and gloss exactly as they are. The film is clear, about 190 microns thick, with a self-healing top coat, so light scratches from washing close up with heat and stones mark the film instead of the paint.

The IS 300 has sharp creases along its doors and a busy front bumper with deep intakes. Each panel was cut and fitted on its own, with the film wrapped around the panel edges where they allowed, so the lines stay out of sight. The F Sport badges on the front guards came off and went back on over the film.

Covering the whole car, not just the front, means the doors, sills and rear quarters are protected from grit thrown back by the tyres too. The car spent five to seven working days in the studio.