[s-cars] Hoppen Allroad in this weeks Autoweek

[Jeff LaBombard att acount]

In this weeks Autoweek (Aug 5),  there is an article about Hoppens's modified Allroad,
320HP,  and 352 ft lbs tq.  One of the nead mods was the ride height, they repgrammed it
to be lower, less body roll.  Here is the article:

----------------------------------------

If you have difficulty comprehending the Audi allroad, find solace in the fact you’re
not alone. Josef Hoppen doesn’t get it, either. “What is it?” asks the former director
of motorsport for Volkswagen/Audi of America. “A station wagon? SUV? Even Audi hasn’t
defined this car.”

Hoppen is a man who finds answers. You don’t oversee six straight Pikes Peak wins and
numerous Trans-Am, IMSA and Can-Am championships any other way. His company, Joe Hoppen
Motorsport, has built a reputation as the Audi tuner for enthusiasts in North America.
When he called to tell us he had a 320-hp allroad performance package available, our
curiosity was piqued. Allroad as driver’s car?


HOPPEN AUDI ALLROAD
ON SALE: Now
BASE PRICE: $45,725 (est.)
POWERTRAIN: 2.7-liter, 320-hp twin-turbo V6; awd, five-speed automatic
0 TO 60 MPH: 6.3 seconds (est.)
EPA MPG, CITY/HWY: 16/22 (est.)



Using custom-engineered pieces supplied by German-based Motoren-Technik-Mayer (MTM),
Hoppen and son Mike have given this poster child for automotive schizophrenia a whole
new personality. Hoppen starts the treatment by replacing the stock exhaust with a 90-mm
stainless-steel cat-back unit consisting of specially designed center and rear mufflers.
Reprogramming the engine and transmission control units yields higher revs and quicker
shifts than those provided by the stock 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 and five-speed Tiptronic
transmission. Replacing the turbo-bypass valves allows for quicker boost recovery
between shifts and during on-and-off-throttle driving situations. Toss in spark plugs
that avoid fouling and then suddenly this Audi allroad has a new purpose: to be driven.
Hard.

 Hoppen claims the modifications are good for 320 hp at 5280 rpm and 352 lb-ft of torque
at 4200 rpm. But make no mistake: This is no “when is it going to blow up?” import-drag
special. Hoppen replaces the throttle body boot simply because the original is known to
tear on occasion; such attention solidifies Hoppen’s position atop the performance tuner
heap.

“No one comes close to MTM in quality,” says Hoppen. “We want to make sure the car is
more fun to drive and more powerful, but also more reliable. If we see things that can
improve reliability, we change them.”

Not content with just adding power, Mike Hoppen modified the control unit for the
allroad’s ride height-adjustable, four-position pneumatic suspension. Each height
setting is now lower than the corresponding position on the factory-spec allroad,
resulting in less body roll and sportier handling. Customers who plan on taking their
cars off-road can specify a control unit that raises the ride height over the stock
version. Rounding out the package are 15-mm wheel spacers and tinted windows, giving
this allroad a more aggressive appearance.

Behind the wheel, the sheer civility of Hoppen’s creation impressed us. Lower the
suspension, stand on the gas and the allroad rockets toward the horizon without
hesitation. Turbo lag? Barely noticeable. Transmission? One of the smoothest, quickest
automatics we’ve driven. Exhaust note? Aggressive, yet in no way intrusive or annoying.
Schizophrenia? Not anymore. Josef Hoppen now calls it the AAA—allroad, allsport,
allwheel. Mike Hoppen calls it an SAV—sport activity vehicle. We’ll call it levelheaded,