The Audi moniker has formed its own loyal following in the aftermarket throughout the years. Often grouped with the VW enthusiasts, Audi owners truly have their own style. Nathan Leon in Southern California is one of these Audi owners. Having previously owned a naturally aspirated Eclipse that received its fair share of modifications, Leon felt it was time to get into a new and up-to-date car.that was turbocharged. His search ended with Audi’s newest entry into the playing field: the A3. Equipped from the factory with a 2.0L 6-speed turbocharged engine, the A3 was exactly what Leon needed. And in just three months time, with the help of his sponsors, Leon was able to complete his conversion of mundane commuter car to feature worthy show winner.
Things didn’t really start off simple with Leon, even though the completed project is the result of simple and tasteful modifications. The exterior received its fair share of modifications to accent the natural body lines and give the A3 a whole new look in the aesthetics department. Much of the goods comes from Rieger starting with the front lip spoiler, front splitter, side skirts and rear apron. The side skirts and rear apron received a custom two-tone paint that really sets this A3 off. Accenting the rear some more is a Caractere rear roof wing. The lighting has been changed throughout including smoked bumper lights and tint was added to the further clean up the car.
Completing the look on the outside is a staggered set of 19-inch Work VS-XX forged wheels. Leon opted to have his centers painted in a glossy black finish to accent the white exterior of the vehicle. Width-wise, Leon went with 8.5’s in the front and 9.5’s in the rear. Dunlop Sport Maxx tires can be seen on all four wheels, cushioning it from the pavement and providing Leon with plenty of grip and performance when its demanded. Speaking of grip and performance on demand, this A3 has a whole new stance thanks to a set of Cross coilovers. For those that have been living under a rock the last couple of years, the Cross brand name is a division of famed suspension manufacturer, JIC Magic. Cross are their European line of products and its quality is undeniable. The brakes have also received a fair upgrade with a 4-piston big brake kit from JBT and 2-piece slotted rotors.
Now that Leon had his hands on a turbocharged vehicle from the factory, it was almost a given that engine upgrades were to be done. The bolt ons began with an EvoMS intake system, APR 3-inch downpipe and Neuspeed 3-inch Quad exhaust system. For the situations when Leon does let off the gas pedal and excess pressure needs to be purged from the system, a ForgeMS Turbo blow off valve can be heard piercing the air. For décor, EvoMS provided a polished turbo heat shield and engine cover. Now for the real power addition, Leon had his ECU sent out to APR for their stage 3 upgrade. Plenty of boost and a different fuel mixture now brings this A3 to a whole new level of power.
Managing to get our way and inside the A3, we were relieved to find its received its fair share of upgrades as well. The stock seats are long gone and in the front are its replacements: a pair of Recaro Speed seats. Schroth Racing harnesses can be seen draped over these cushioned luxuries. To match the rest of the interior, Leon had the rear seats rewrapped with Recaro fabric as well as the door panel inserts. German manufacturer Oettinger provided the all new door seals. Gauges then found their way into the interior thakns to AWEtuning’s custom vent gauge and DEFi’s control unit. Currently boost and EGT can be seen from Leon’s cockpit. Last but not least, the stock shift knob has been tossed for a Personal piece.
No car is complete without its upgrades in the electronics department. A full custom enclosure in the rear has been fabricated with plexi-glass and painted black. It houses a pair of Alpine Type E 12-inch subwoofers. Powering the new subwoofers and the Alpine 2-way and 4-way speakers are Alpine’s 4-channel and 2-channel amplifier. The 4-channel provides 450 watts of power while the 2-channel provides 650 watts of power. Let us tell you that this Audi sounds sweet inside and out.
We were so pleased with how this Audi A3 came out that we just had to jump on it and feature it. From its subtle exterior modifications to the glistening lips on the Work VS-XX wheels, this A3 is as complete as we would want it. Nothing too crazy and everything being completely functional, we give Leon two thumbs up for a job well done.
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