German Car Zone

When you understand the fact that A3 owner Andy Johnson works at the corporate headquarters of APR, it may not be hard to guess just how he might choose to outfit his daily driver. Having recently purchased this phantom-like black-on-black 2007 A3 2.0T, Johnson was looking for improvements and his employer was looking for a car to demonstrate just how much potential there was in Audi’s smallest offering. The match was synergous: Andy got free mods for his car, so long as he didn’t mind engineering commandeering it for weeks at a time to perform development. It all seemed agreeable to Johnson, so the A3 was transformed and became a regular in APR’s arsenal of display cars brought out to enthusiast events where the Alabama-based firm chooses to show its wares.

No surprise – pop the hood of the onyx 5-door and its like perusing an APR catalogue. With ten years going of Stage III high-horsepower kits for turbocharged Audi 4-bangers, APR’s latest 2.0T Stage III provides a considerable power bump for Johnson’s five-door.

As you can guess from the name, Stage III goes a few steps beyond the run-of-the-mill engine management programming upgrades. Of course APR has tuned the software, but they’ve dialed it in to work with mix of hardware upgrades as well.

For starters, the A3’s turbo has been upgraded to an APR/Garrett Honeywell Ballistic Series GT2871APR Ball Bearing Turbocharger. It also gets an investmentcast inconel nickel alloy exhaust manifold, upgraded FSI injectors, uprated fuel pump, an APR designed larger cast aluminum mass airflow sensor housing with honeycomb style flow straightener, APR custom Silicone hoses, and an upgraded intercooler with almost three times the capacity of the stock unit. Also part of the Stage III kit, the car breathes more easily via a Carbonio derived carbon fiber intake that pulls fresh and cooler air from the fenderwell of the car.

Another optional upgrade for the Stage III kit fitted to this car is APR’s ‘Stealth’ full exhaust upgrade. That setup has since been replaced by APR’s latest RSC technology exhaust system – more on that later..

To help put the power to the ground, the car also gets a new Stage 4 Clutch from South Bend Clutch (SBC). Also firming up power delivery is an APR Torque Amr Moutn engine mount – minimizing drivetrain shock and slack.

APR has also made a model of finding strong development partners that accentuate the company’s engine-focused product line. Names like Koni, BBS and Michelin have all paired with APR, so it’s natural this part-time APR show car benefits from products of each of these partners. Konie 1150 threaded coilovers help keep the car stable in the bends, while titanium-finished 18-inch BBS REs are shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 225/35/18 tires to help keep the car planted and pulling.

More: fourtitude

so how much power is it packing

385. And 332 lb-ft of torque. Impressive I say, too bad all that power is going to the wrong wheels.

Not bad. So its not a quattro then I take it

I don't think it is, but don't quote me on that.