Lots more 2014 Audi diesels in North America

The Diesels are Coming - The Diesels are Coming

LLTeK offers plug 'n play chip tuning that increases this engine's output by 38HP (27%)  clik-clik

If you've travelled in Europe, you'll know that diesel rules. Now, Audi will be providing Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI)  diesel options  for the 2014 A6, A7, A8, and Q5 in North America in large numbers. The Q7 SUV, Cayenne from Porsche, and Touareg from VW (all kissing cousins) have had the option on this side of the Atlantic for a number of years because the higher torque (also good for towing) on these heavier machines is an innate diesel feature.

Audi believes these machines will do well because consumers will recognise the economy (30% more efficient), because the the technology behind them is cleaner (emissions are lower) and because these new diesels are not the smelly, loud slugs they used to be. The TDI's have won at Le Mans!

However... these new diesels are probably not going to be bought by "tuning" enthusiasts, and we don't think these changes are going to affect us in any significant way. Despite the improvements, i.e. the acceptable (0-60) acceleration times that get commuters through the merge lane on the way to work, LLTeK's customers tend to lean towards track & speed sensibilities - and this rather rare group of individuals want machine that perform as good as they look.

If anything, LLTeK will  expand the information on our Audi chip tuning page to include the TDI diesels! Click on the picture above and see how you can make your car go faster.

Sabre Bumper for the Facelift Audi A8 D3

Take Your 2006 - 2010 Audi A8 S8 D3 Downtown

This 2007 A8 D3 (SWB) looking good after installation - black RS grilles available also

Busy as bees last week with the completion of the Sabre ii facelift prototype and fitment trial - it went well. We have posted a 16-photo slideshow featuring both the black and silver 2012 "square shoulder"  grilles. The car lost 5 years as soon as the bumper / grille upgrade went on and it is exclusive to LLTeK.

The lower lip was painted in a flat racing silver and LED's were included in some of the photos - the LED's come with each and every bumper - installation is your option. To see the slideshow and get more info on this outstanding replacement bumper - click here now!

Chuck You, Farley - Take it to the Track!

No Place for Racing on Public Roads - verboten - nyet - you will be sanctioned. And try not to do this at the track.

Just got  back from 7 days in b-b-q land, reading, and the lake. Life is good. Hardly moved for a week except for when "she who must be obeyed" (h/t maggie's farm) wanted something. On the way back home, which starts out on dirt/gravel and ends up 4 lanes in both directions - driving conditions were ideal - dry, sunny and hardly enough traffic to get your shorts in a knot. But I saw him coming!

A '96 Golf sitting low on white hand-painted rims with way-too-big spacers (so that the rear wheels were splayed) came screaming up the merge and cut across every lane I could see in the rearview, cut across again in front of the car in front of me ( it wasn't so bad - I already had the foot off the gas and hovering on the binders) and then mr. i'm-so-impressive stitched over to the passing lane scaring the bejessus out of everyone in sight.

This happens all the time and some things never change - particularly with young men who have more testosterone than brains. So what? Real drivers take it to the track.
Take it easy now, enjoy your roadtrips, and the rest of summer - I'm going back to work .

Next Level Track and Speed Styling

Speed Cat Driving Shoes - Design Your Own

The Puma factory has an online design tool for your perfect pair of car-go-fast shoes

Here's the fun way to go shopping before you get to Lime Rock, Arroyo Seco, Eagles Canyon, or Spokane Raceway. I know women are ga-ga for shoes, but I can't count any one track guy I know who likes to go shopping, unless it's got something to do with THE car.

Shoe shopping? Who in their right mind would want to give up on the shoes that have taken until now to break in and get so comfy anyway? But these shoes are CAR shoes and you don't need to wander around the mall looking for the ones you want. You choose exactly how these will look. And you don't need to worry that someone is going to show up at the  track with the same pair - n'yuk n'yuk n'yuk. Click the picture and have a look!

Goofy Pictures of Man's Best Friend

Click Click on Space Ranger Above and See 8 More Different Car Dogs in Space

Dogs Love Riding in Cars

If you own a dog -  you know how much they love to hang out the window - and feel the open road. This series of altered images come from Benjamin Grelle in a series called "Warp Dogs."  The last image on the page is animated but every last one has its own charm. Enjoy.  

E15 Did you know about this?

Eyes on the Road and Hands on the Wheel

  1 year later: e-15 ethanol fuel & warranties

Last month in Maine, legislators approved a bill by more than a 3-to-1 margin that would ban ethanol blends in Maine – as long as two other nearby states do the same. A year ago in June (2012) the EPA officially approved the sale of E15. Robert L. Darbelnet - president and CEO of AAA says the Environmental Protection Agency and gasoline retailers should halt the sale of E15, a new ethanol blend that could damage millions of vehicles and void car warranties.

The warning was issued in November of 2012 and says just 12 million of more than 240 million cars, trucks and SUVs now in use have manufacturers’ approval for E15. Flex-fuel vehicles, 2012 and newer General Motors vehicles, 2013 Fords and 2001 and later model Porsches are the exceptions, according to AAA, the nation’s largest motorist group, with 53.5 million members.
 

“It is clear that millions of Americans are unfamiliar with E15, which means there is a strong possibility that many may improperly fill up using this gasoline and damage their vehicle... bringing E15 to the market without adequate safeguards does not responsibly meet the needs of consumers.”

BMW, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota and VW said their warranties will not cover fuel-related claims caused by E15. Ford, Honda, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo said E15 use will void warranties, says, citing potential corrosive damage to fuel lines, gaskets and other engine components.

Audi A8 D3 "saloon" Project Completed in NY

Cruising Time in Upper State NY

The project (and the man behind it) that started more that a year ago - in top shape.

Stanley sent a ton of pictures taken recently of his long wheelbase A8 D3 (it's a pre-facelift) in Albany. We have posted them in an album at the LLTeK facebook page. If you have an FB account, click the link and leave a thumbs-up or encouraging comment.

The change from OEM to big-time street styling took long-term dedication & persistence. At a time when most of our clients were going for the large grille conversion, Stanley stayed with the OEM grill style - it's probably the only thing he didn't change. The package is German from JE DESIGN - but it should be mentioned that the vented quarter panels up front (also German) come from Hofele. Altogether outstanding and well done. LLTeK likes.

You can see the project in its early stages here.

Quantum RS Grille for 2013 A4 S4 B8

 

 

 

Aftermarket styling grille upgrades just in from Quantum.

After some minor paperwork hurdles in the port, the new Quantum grilles for the facelifted A4 B8 are finally in and set to go. This much-anticipated tuning option for A4 S4 enthusiasts is an eye-popper - the quality of manufacture is 10 for 10 and will fit well in the LLTeK lineup.

Available in 2 finishes - glossy piano black and matte silver - Audi owners can contrast it up: i.e. matte silver on a black car or alternatively, glossy black grille on a white machine. Less dramatic, but equally appealing - owners can opt for the complimentary color scheme.

Either way is OK for us - LLTeK is not in the business of dictating how or when clients should do something - LLTeK provides choice so that clients' feel good about their cars. Go stealthy or go big, but don't miss out on the limited numbers here now. Find links to pricing and details at this press release.