|
From YourSITE.com Events Coverage
HPA Motorsports’ own twin-turbocharged VR6-converted ALMS Edition Audi TT looked even more menacing than last time we’d seen it. The car was parked in the Dunlop booth with semi-factory looking forged alloy wheels and large rear spoiler that had changed the car’s appearance dramatically. Also adding to the cool factor amongst TT-philes are the functional TTS concept style fender vents. (www.HPAmotorsports.com)
One of the original players in the VW and Audi tuning scene here in the USA, Neuspeed could be found in the show’s massive main hall. The company’s striking red A3 with Caractere body kit showed off two designs in the company’s successful Race Series Forged Wheel line, a lineup with three different designs each offered in two finishes. Other news at Neuspeed revolved around the company’s new OptiCan ECU programming technology. Like other flash programmed ECUs, the Neuspeed offering now means no soldered chip and program upload via the car’s On Board Diagnostic II port. Neuspeed sites the main difference between its OptiCan technology and other competitors. The Camarillo, CA-based company suggests that other competitors flash additional directories to the car’s ECU, while they pull down the programming in its entirety and upload a Neuspeed program also in entirety. A key benefit as explained by Neuspeed is the ability to put the car completely back to a full stock configuration with no evidentiary directories as it claims competitor return-to-stock configurations do. (www.Neuspeed.com)
A B7 A4 Avant owned by GreedSpeed and displayed by Landspeed USA matched the Neuspeed A3 Avant closely. The car featured Caractere’s new B7 body kit that looked great in person, and accented nicely with Neuspeed’s Race Series Forged wheels as did brand N’s A3. (www.LandSpeedUSA.com, www.greedspeed.com)
Just off the main hall, California-based EuroGear USA featured three VAG offerings. A new fifth-generation Jetta sat beside a B7 Audi A4 and a B6 Audi A4, each displaying new body kits by Deval. EuroGear is now the exclusive distributor of these clean-looking kits with looks subtly more aggressive than factory. In particular, the B7 A4 kit drew more than a few styling cues from the much-anticipated Audi RS 4. (www.EuroGearUSA.com)
Well covered on the company’s website, RPI’s white Project A3 was located within the lobby of SEMA’s North Hall. The car was fresh with body kit, red alcantara interior, Neuspeed wheels and Wilwood brakes. RPI had painted the hood gloss black to match the car’s Open Sky sunroof system for an integrated look that was both attractive and reminiscent of police car livery at the very same time. (www.RPIequipped.com)
Another B7 that grabbed plenty of attention was the gray 2.0T Avant in the GReddy booth. The car showed off a 2.0T upgrade kit that the company is working on, though a representative mentioned that it’s not yet ready for series production. (www.GReddy.com)
Not known for Audi tuning, Jesse James of Monster Garage fame had an A6 3.2 Avant on display also within SEMA’s wheel hall. The Audi wagon was slammed on Jesse James own wheels, with a custom wood and steel roof rack that held a custom chopper-style bike.
Several rows down, a B6 and B7 A4 by 3T Motorsports showed off some aftermarket wheel offerings for Audis.
Michelin rounded off the Audi presence with the boss Audi, an R8 in #3 Le Mans livery. It’s doubtful this was the car that won Le Mans, as a bug splattered identical twin was shown just one week before at Audi’s season-ending party in Ingolstadt, though that didn’t stop many show attendees from stopping to take a photo and ogle the all-conquering Audi. Wheels Wheels are big business at SEMA. There’s a whole hall dedicated to this facet of the aftermarket, though they pervade the other halls as well as a key component to product offerings. From 30” hummer wheels to multi-million dollar jewel-encrusted chromies and vintage spoked wheels, there’s literally something for everyone. Replica wheels in particular seem to be a healthily growing niche. Numerous companies selling aftermarket replicas of factory wheels could be found in the wheel hall, all with interesting niche offerings. However, we picked up a catalogue with the most complete offering from a company called 1-800-Used Rim. Inside their “European Collection” Catalogue was a treasure trove for those looking for the factory plus upgraded look for their European car.
In the catalogue, no less than seventeen different Audi designs could be found. The usual offering found widely of RS6 five-spoke wheels, B5 RS 4 9-spoke wheels and Nuvolari concept wheels were to be expected. However, the range continued. The seven spoke wheel offered as optional equipment on the current Audi A6 as an 18-inch, though can be ordered in 17-inch and 19-inch versions with offsets of ET35 and ET45. Likewise, the 16-spoke wheel offered on both A3 and A4 in a 17-inch configuration can be had in a plus-1 18-inch setup in both ET35 and ET45 offsets. Those owners of older S-cars will also be happy to hear that formerly S8-only sizes of the first and second-generation Avus wheels are offered as well. The original Avus offered as optional equipment on the Ur-S6 was a 16-inch wheel, but the larger 17-inch design that was OEM equipment on early European S8s is offered in both ET35 and ET42. Likewise, the second-generation Avus from the B5 S4 can be ordered in 15, 16, 17 and 18-inch sizes, the latter offered in ET35 and ET45 – a clean upgrade for a B5 S4 or S6 and an affordable replacement for an American-spec S8. (No Web Address Provided)
Speaking of wheels, everyone’s favorite German rim manufacturer BBS is continuing to push the technology envelope with its Air-Inside technology. Hollow spokes on production wheels have been around for years, notably offered on the Porsche 911 Turbo. BBS takes this further utilizing several patented processes that allow them to create hollow spokes as well as hollow inner and outer flanges. Tire pressure is maintained by a valve positioned on the spoke of the wheel for easier access. This also means greater air volume within the wheel/tire setup adding the volume of air in the spokes to the volume of air in the tire for improved ride quality and lower weight. The technology certainly looks promising, and BBS promises further details as they develop between today and full production launch sometime early next year. The first wheel to be offered with Air-Inside technology is said to fit the Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne. Expect to see more use of the technology for BBS aftermarket SUV wheel offerings and possibly even some OEM setups from Audi, Volkswagen and/or Porsche.(www.BBS.com) Other Finds Recaro
Amongst European makes, there’s probably no name more synonymous for sport seating than Recaro. The German seat manufacturer has been embracing the backsides of drivers of high-end European cars for years. A pleasant surprise in the booth were two examples of a new seat we’ve seen in varying configurations in European market cars like the Audi RS 4 and Volkswagen R32. For Europe, the seats are made in specific spec with expensive options such as power adjustable bolstering in the RS 4. The presence of an OEM RS 4 seat and Recaro branded leather and alcantara seat closer to R32 spec in the Recaro stand caused many who knew what they were to stop and gawk. When pressed on the reason for their presence, there were varying responses from Recaro representatives. The seats are brand new, and not yet available in the USA. It would appear the German company’s American arm is weighing the value of offering the seats on the aftermarket here in the States. Certainly they’d be well received, especially amongst RS 4 and next-generation R Golf drivers to name just a few model owners who’d jump at the chance for a retrofit. But, whether or not they’ll come remains to be seen. Certainly there are some technical issues that will need to be determined prior to construction, like the shoulder-belt pass-through mounted seat release for two-door configurations – a trick feature that doesn’t meet US standards. (www.Recaro.com) AJ Motorsport Angel Eyes If blacked out projecter headlight units with angel-eye effect made famous by BMW are of interest to you, then you might look twice at AJ Motorsport. Some traditionalists might see it as heresy to put angel eyes on an Audi, though the AJ units certainly appear attractive from what we could see in their catalogue and limited offering in the SEMA booth. Offerings center around the A4, with dual round projector unit fitments in 95-98 (B5), 99-01 (B5) and 02-05 (B6). (www.AJMotorsport.com)
Jubily Porsche Cayenne Tuning – Relevant to the Audi Q7 Ever hear of the Porsche tuner Jubily? Neither had we, but the Japanese tuner focusing on Cayenne tuning is now available Stateside from Performance and offers some cool looking products. Namely the company’s Zero-R 22-inch 12-spoke stainless steel wheel is available in silver, polished silver and Chrome and notably also fits the Volkswagen Touareg and upcoming Audi Q7. The wheel bears a striking resemblance to the Ronals fitted on the original UrQuattro as well as the OZ wheels on the R8 and A4 DTM and should look impressive on the Q7. (www.PerformancePorscheParts.com) Blutooth Streaming for iPods
There may not be two hotter buzzwords in the electronic industry than “iPod” and “Bluetooth”. Most owners and enthusiasts own iPods and are constantly seeking out the best way to network Apple’s musical wonderbox with their car. Earlier this year Audi announced streaming music via Bluetooth technology from cell phones, though we found an iPod integration kit utilizing Bluetooth from Oxnard, CA-based Scosche Industries at SEMA that appears to be available now. Specifically, the company had a Volkswagen fitment kit packaged and on the shelf in the booth, though also promised Audi fitment and many more. As explained to our staff on hand, the kit’s receiver is installed much as a CD changer might be to a factory head unit. Once done, and switched to CD changer, an iPod connected to Scosche’s Bluetooth transmission attachment can stream audio to the car from up to 30 feet away. The company also offers good-looking aftermarket stereo fitment kits for several VAG products. (www.Scosche.com) Summary
SEMA may not be a Euro-centric show, and it’s certainly not specifically geared for the Audi aftermarket. That said, if you were willing to dig, there was plenty to find of Audi interest… even if you aren’t into the amazing array of muscle cars, sport compacts, pickups and more that dominated the show. If you didn’t see it in the booths like those we’ve mentioned above or Audi industry regulars like KW who were also at the show, you might have bumped into many other players in Audi aftermarket circles. We’re sure we missed more than we saw, but bumped in to representatives from APR, AWE, FK, GIAC, New German Performance, Stratmosphere and Tunershop as we walked the aisles at the show or stood in the lunch line. With a little luck, Audi might find Volkswagen’s own presence at SEMA this year valuable enough to stage their own SEMA debut. If not, it’s clear SEMA is on the radar of the brand’s enthusiast following and they are prepared to wave the four-ringed flag in 2006. For now, look for general SEMA coverage and additional show press releases on Fourtitude throughout the remainder of the week.
© Copyright 2004 by YourSITE.com |
