performance goodies for the '09 A3?

[thejimrose]

The 09 chain drive is different than the 08 belt drive. However we saw
similar gains with ecu tuning on the 09 that we made on the 08 version -
238hp / 262tq [crank]. The motor is still very new and as such most of the
development work has yet to be done. We do offer wheel / tire fitment [to
fit a 235/30/19], a few different suspension and brake options [carry overs
from the previous gen as the chassis is the same], front LSD for the fwd
cars [this totally transforms the car], and a cat-back exhaust [fwd only].
We are investigating the viability of adapting our k04 turbo to the 09 car
but this is a ways off as it takes time to develop, test, certify, etc.
[carb certification, reliability testing, etc].

A few other thoughts - that apr graph is clearly not a dyno output and has
been 'graphic ized'. That doesn't invalidate it, but it does make direct
comparisons dificult. Also someone said that the new engines look underrated
- i would disagree - that person mentioned 'hubs' which must mean a dynopack
dyno which tent to be optimistic and will make the motors look underrated.
They read high because there is no inertia / load of a roller to spin and
only an accelerometer. Not bad, just different and the source has to be
minded when making claims / comparisons. As for drivetrain losses, when we
get a car we run it stock and then work out a drivetrain loss that gets us
to Audi's posted #'s. It's not a great way to do things since it implies
that the transmission uses more power at higher outputs, but it is an
accepted 'standard' that makes comaprisons [sort of] possible.

Can you just feel Heisenberg rolling over in his grave?

If it were my money i'd get an 08, fwd and spend the rest on a big turbo,
LSD, suspension and brake upgrades. The awd in the mk5 is a waste of time as
the car is 99.9% of the time a fwd car. Save the weight and you'll never
miss the rear drive wheels. Another data point is that the b7 a4 is a
brilliant car which is about the same $ these days as an a3, and much more
car for the $, IMO. Ours is on the cover of this months Euro Car, with
pretty much every mod we make for it.

jim @ STaSIS