Have you ever wondered how car audio demo vehicles come together? Sony Car Audio just started their latest demo vehicle project—a 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. The car will be displayed at the 2024 SEMA show in Las Vegas and at retailer and distributor events in the Northeast. Sony has partnered with Broken Silence Custom Car Audio in Greenwich, CT, to build the audio system. Without further delay, we proudly introduce Project Broken Silence.
The Shop – Broken Silence Custom Car Audio
You can’t have a great car audio demo vehicle without someone who can integrate equipment properly into it. Sony reached out to B.J. Curcio, the owner of Broken Silence Custom Car Audio, to see if he was interested in designing, integrating, and configuring the Mustang’s Sony Mobile ES audio system. B.J. accepted the request.
Broken Silence has been in operation since 2017. They are currently in their second location, which has an impressive 1,800 square feet of space. Unlike many shops, this space is open-concept, so no dedicated showroom exists. They have a display board with radios and speakers to let clients listen to some of their basic upgrade options. However, their primary sales tool is a Hyundai Elantra owned by installer Adan Martinez. The Elantra features a DSP-based active sound system that wows everyone who hears it.
B.J. mentioned that he has offered Sony Car Audio products since he opened the store. When the Mobile ES line launched in 2021, he was among the first retailers to sign on. Since then, he has installed hundreds of their premium source units, speakers, subwoofers, and amplifiers.
B.J.’s system design and integration philosophy match ours almost perfectly: provide clients with great-sounding audio system upgrades that blend seamlessly with the vehicle. This means they are less likely to fabricate fancy LED-illuminated A-pillars and will focus on enhancing the quality of the speakers the client uses. The result is amazing sound quality and a vehicle that looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor.
The Vehicle – Ford Mustang Dark Horse
This build features a 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse owned by David Prinz. David is the CEO of GoFast Solutions Inc. in Middletown, CT, a distributor for Sony Car Audio in the Northeast.
The Mustang ties into Sony’s marketing efforts at a much deeper level. Sony sponsors the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Ford Mustang driven by Ryan Preece. The racing Mustang competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. It only makes sense to tie the race car and the retail marketing efforts together.
The Mustang has a B&O-branded sound system with a 12.4-inch LCD screen in the dash. The stock sound system has 12 speakers, including a 900-watt amplifier, a three-way speaker system in the front, and an 8.5-inch subwoofer in the trunk. Aside from the radio, all that will be removed to make way for the Sony Mobile ES gear.
The Sponsor – Sony Car Audio
We spoke with Rick Kojan, the head of North American Sales for Aftermarket Car Audio. Rick explained the background of the project in great detail. He noted, “The purpose of the build and Sony’s goals were to illustrate how much the aftermarket business is changing and adapting to OEM integration and thus keeping the factory radio retained in many modern vehicles, such as this Mustang Dark Horse.” He went on to add, “The Sony Elevated Standard (ES) line of products is dedicated to this effort with the entire focus of its offerings (beyond two head unit models) on premium, high-performance amplifiers, speakers, and subwoofers, again like the car. It’s a very crowded space with many top-line manufacturers.”
Rick explained that the project is all about “Breaking the Silence” on many levels. David Prinz will upgrade the Mustang with Kooks Headers, a Borla exhaust system, and a Whipple supercharger kit. The Gen 6 supercharger kits feature a twin-screw 3.0-liter design for massive low-end torque. This should boost the 5-liter V8’s power output from 500 to over 850 horsepower.
After B.J. and Adan from Broken Silence complete the audio system upgrade, the car will be shipped to Charlotte, NC, for a mid-October event. Sony Mobile ES-sponsored drivers Ryan Preece and Formula Drift driver Dylan Hughes will hot-lap the car around the Charlotte Roval NASCAR course.
Following the event in Charlotte, the car will head to Las Vegas, where it will be featured in Sony’s 2024 SEMA booth from November 5th through 8th. An autograph session with both drivers is scheduled for November 7th.
Choosing Broken Silence
When asked why Sony partnered with Broken Silence Custom Car Audio, Rick explained that the Sony team was familiar with the quality of their work. The shop is also located close to GoFast Solutions. Finally, based on feedback from Anthony Tozzi, the Distribution Account Manager for Sony Car Audio, they knew they could trust them with a project of this magnitude. Rick added that the “Broken Silence” name is one of the coolest and most fitting names possible for a car audio shop.
Follow along over the next several weeks as we share details of the Sony Mobile ES audio system upgrade in this unique Blue Ember Metallic Ford Mustang Dark Horse. We’ll be publishing articles each week, so check back often!
