I’m pumped. I really am! The Autopian is always looking for brand partners to help bolster our site to ultimately create the greatest sustainable car community out there. But choosing a partner is difficult because we pride ourselves in being 100 percent transparent with you, dear Autopians. There’s a trust you have in us to not shill for things we don’t believe in, which is why I’m pumped about our partnership with XPEL — the product they offer is actually known across the car-scape as being LEGIT. Here, let me tell you what I mean.

I don’t think I’m capable of complimenting a product that I don’t actually think is good. You readers would see right through me, anyway. But that’s not a problem here because XPEL is a household name in car-circles. It is the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to Paint Protection Film, a clear wrap-like sheet that trained installation specialists carefully place over pretty much any painted surface of your car to make sure that paint stays in perfect shape for ten years (there’s a warranty).

I did some research before we started going down a path with XPEL, and all my car friends were like “XPEL? Dude, that’s legit. Their stuff rules.” And in case you don’t believe me, I walked over to The Autopian’s sister company Galpin Auto Sports, and asked the guy known for being their finest wrap-installation specialist what he thought of XPEL. Listen to what he has to say, completely unprompted by me:

Anyway, I just spent last week with XPEL reps at SEMA in Las Vegas, and let me just say: I had a ball. And sure, that’s part of the job when it comes to media exposure: You’re supposed to make the media like you. But I mean, these folks were just a good hang, and nerdy, which I, an enginerd, really appreciated. Check it out; here’s me at SEMA giving a little intro to their product, a stain-resistant, non-yellowing, self-healing (!) elastomeric polyurethane that clings onto your car’s paint, protecting it from scratches and scuffs:

The way it works is, you bring your car into an XPEL specialist, their team cleans it, details it, and pulls your car up in a database called “DAP.” Then in a matter of moments, a printer spits out a bunch of film that’s the exact right shape for each panel of your car. Then an installation guru takes that film and installs it onto your car using a “slip solution,” a squeegee, and an unbelievable amount of skill. The process is downright impressive.

I know this because I saw it done to my Jeep Wrangler YJ, which I will beat the everliving crap out of off road in an effort to see how well this product protects my paint against tree branches, mud, rock, and everything else out there on the trails.

Again, I’m pumped about this partnership. It’s something that I think makes sense for some of our readership. It’s a premium product that sure heck beats repainting your brand new Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco after a day off-road or — after years under the sun and behind rock-throwing semi trucks on the highway — having to respray your vintage, original-paint VW Polo Harlequin:

You know a clean, original-paint Harlequin in a decade is probably going to be worth a mint. Or at least I hope it is; the Harlequin deserves some respect. Lots of respect.

More on our XPEL partnership to come. I’m pumped about it.