For many drivers, polishing...

For many drivers, polishing a car is an enjoyable task. But if you

donтЂ™t have the inclination, there is a way to protect your bodywork

with minimal effort.

Paint specialist Gtechniq, based in Kings

Langley, Herts, says it can treat your vehicle with its Smart Surface

system. Then, all youтЂ™ll have to do is wash and dry the panels to get

that freshly waxed look. We took a 1992 Saab 900 along to find out if

it was the real deal.

First, a car is thoroughly washed, clayed

and dried, before the trim is masked and the paint thickness measured.

The companyтЂ™s P1 pSystem polish can be applied by hand, but a machine

polisher will remove small blemishes and produce a deeper and more even

colour than before. This product is also designed to remove less paint

than traditional cutting compounds.

When Gtechniq is happy with the finish, C1 Crystal Lacquer is applied.

This offers three times the durability and twice the scratch resistance

of rival paint sealants, and needs to be buffed off immediately with a

microfibre cloth for an even finish.

Where most conventional

treatments sit on the surface, C1 chemically bonds to paint, plastic

and rubber trim, forming a layer of nanoparticles 1,000 times denser

than paint тЂ“ itтЂ™s an extension of the top coat.

Any faded

plastic trim can be returned to a factory finish with the companyтЂ™s C4

cSystem restorer prior to the application of C1, while the glass is

coated in G1 rain repellent. As with the C1 formula, these coatings

have been developed with longevity in mind, and the glass treatment is

said to bead water for about 30,000 miles.

Prices for treating

a new car start at ТЈ140, while correcting and protecting an older

vehicle costs between ТЈ450 and ТЈ800. The application is claimed to last

12 months.