Volkswagen Super Beetle Build by APR and VW of America

This Volkswagen Super Beetle is a featured build on vwvortex.com by APR in Alabama, linked at the bottom of the page. It was created in collaboration with VW of America, who chose the shop because of their well known reputation for OEM-quality modifications. The goal of this build was to create a monster all wheel drive turbo Beetle that would appear like something that might have come straight from the factory, only slightly altered for performance. They used an AWD system out of a donor Golf R 2.0, and it’s stock 4 cylinder 2.0 Turbo received modifications giving it in excess of 500 horsepower. Naturally, big brakes and suspension upgrades were installed to handle all of it’s new found power.


From the exterior it is hard to believe what is lurking underneath. It immediately reminded us of Paul Newman’s custom 1963 Beetle Convertible which had a mid mounted Indy car engine and suspension, and remained nearly stock looking from outside. Find our feature of it linked below at the bottom of this page.

Painstaking detail was given to this particular Super Beetle in order to make sure that every possible issue was addressed, including use of Audi TT-RS drop spindles, TT-RS sub frames, and APR’s lower aluminum control arms.

They wanted to keep the AWD system looking as factory as possible, so a lot of cutting was made to make the fuel tanks fit underneath with the Golf R’s multi-link fully-independent rear suspension, Haldex AWD coupling and associated drive shafts.

H&R Ultra Performance Coil Overs and Sport Sway Bars were installed to help reduce body roll and give quick turn-in. APR used the aluminum Audi TT-RS drop spindle since the Beetle’s stock knuckles are made from heavy cast metal. They also have a lower control arm connecting point that is lower than the stock Beetle piece.

APR Australia worked with Harding Performance to create a polished aluminum lower control arm. In addition to being much lighter and stronger than the Beetle’s stamped steel pieces, APR Australia notes that these are designed to gain 1.5 degreese of positive static caster, providing an “Anti Lift/Dive” advantage.

The larger 13.85″ slotted and ventilated rotors have more surface area and dissipate heat much faster than the stock rotors, and the Volkswagen Racing six-piston calipers also have a much larger braking surface area with more even distribution of clamping force.

The rear was upgraded to the blue Golf R32 calipers and Volkswagen Racing camber adjustment plates were put up front. Even the space saver spare wheel well from the Golf R was moved over to give this AWD conversion a very OEM stock look.

We are big Volkswagen fans so we were happy to so see VWoA backing up this build. The APR Super Beetle ended up with a much deserved win of the Gran Turismo Best European Import award at the 2012 SEMA show. Overall, it is an absolutely awesome car that we would love to get our hands on some day (soon) for a test drive.

Find it here at: http://www.vwvortex.com/features/project-cars/superbeetle/super-beetle/
Paul Newman 1963 VW Beetle Convertible/Mid Engine V8 Indy Car Build: http://www.carbuildindex.com/2332/paul-newmans-1…r-transformion/

Read More

Volkswagen Scirocco R Modification

012 Volkswagen Scirocco R Modification

This 2012 Volkswagen Scirocco R is the subject of a 79 page modification thread on http://www.vwgolf.net.au/forum.php by it’s owner, forum member ”Rev555″.  While we normally don’t feature slammed stance rides with flat wraps here, we have made the exception for this particular car because of it’s impressive list of modifications. Also because we have a soft spot for the “new” Scirocco that is unfortunately not being imported here into the United States, which makes it even more difficult after seeing these photos. In any case, when a car is as modified as this feature R, there are always decisions to personalize it to one’s own unique taste that not everybody will agree upon, but we can respect that when the overall end result is more about performance than appearance. With 513 ft lbs of torque, we have no problems at all here. Moving on…

For whatever internal VW factory reasons, the sportier Scirocco R version was left as front-wheel-drive while the Golf R versions are all-wheel-drive. While all of that added power and torque of this feature car could be assisted by 2 extra drive wheels, we are glad to see that a DREXLER clutch type differential was added to help get the power to the ground. That took care of a fair amount of the torque steer which was bound to happen with that much grunt going through the front drive wheels.

19X9.5 ADV8.1 Forged One Piece rims with 265/30/19 Michelin Pilot Super Sports also aid in hooking traction up, and H&R sway bars and coilovers were added, as well.

The full parts list can be found at the bottom of the page, which also includes a Stage 1 HPA tune.

A factory piece which artificially amplifies the exhaust note into the cabin called the “Soundaktor” was removed, which we also thought was a good idea to toss. We had only heard of that before in the latest BMW M5, but let’s just hope that this isn’t becoming a trend with the manufacturers.

In any case, the full 79 page modification thread can be found in the link below, or better yet just scroll through all of the pictures from it that we have included here in the right hand column.

When the phrase “a picture can speak a thousand words” was originally coined, it certainly might have had this thread in mind if any foresight was at all possible since there are enough photos to do the talking in this long thread here. We would have not gone so far as the wrap and appearance modifications but we would have done all of the performance items and interior pieces, since we are sticklers for subtlety. To each their own, which we can respect. Oh yeah, and raise it a little bit, ok? Did that just age us?…

In any case, find the full thread here at:
http://www.vwgolf.net.au/showthread.php?8181-Rev-555-s-Scirocco-R

MODIFICATIONS:

ENGINE:

Hybrid K04 Turbocharger

Mcchip DKR Software Performance Stage 4 Engine Tune

VWR Racing Intake

Custom Vband downpipe and high flow 200 cell cat

Milltek Cat Back Exhaust (Unresonated)

HPFP Stage 1 fuel pump with 145 bar rail valve

HPFP Cam Follower

Audi TTRS/RS3 In Tank Fuel Pump

Forge Twin Cooler

Forge Oil Catch Can system

Forge Boost Tap

Forge Vacuum operated valve upgrade

Neuspeed Vacuum operated valve upgrade

BSH throttle pipe

R8 Coil Packs

Stage 3 Snow Performance Water Meth Kit

SUSPENSION:

KW Clubsports 2 Way Adjustable Coilovers

H&R Front and Rear Swap Bars (26mm and 22mm)

Unibrace Under Body Brace

Super Pro Alloy Control Arms

Super Pro anti lift kit

Super Pro Roll Centre Adjusting Ball Joint

DRIVETRAIN:

CPC Stage 4 DSG Tune

HPA Dogbone insert (Red 75 Duro)

BSH Pendulum Mount

VW Motorsport (Drexler) Custom LSD

SSP 500 HP Clutch Package

BRAKES:

AP Racing 6 Piston Monoblock with custom bracket

355mm Two piece Floating with Strap Drive System

Ferodo DS2500 pads

Goodridge Braided Lines

AP Racing Dot 5.1 Brake Fluid

Rear: Grooved and vented OEM

WHEELS (ROAD):

ADV.1 8.1 (19 X 9.5 et 35) Forged

3mm H&R Spacer in front

Michelin Pilot Super Sports 265x30x19

WHEELS (TRACK):

TSW Motorsport T66-F (Forged)

18×9 ET35

Toyo Proxes R888 265/35ZR18 97Y

EXTERIOR:

Scirocco Cup rear spoiler

Carbon Demon Gloss Black Vinyl Roof

Carbon Demon Matt Grey Metallic Full Body Wrap

VW Motorsport Carbon Kevlar GT24 Bonnet

Aerocatch Bonnet Fasteners

Garage Vary Reife Rear Diffuser

Kerscher Tuning CF Front Lip

Rear View Camera

INTERIOR:

Recaro Motorsport seats

ST2 DSG Paddle Shifter Upgrade

P3 Cars Vent Integrated Digital Interface

Interior LED lighting upgrade

Suede Steering wheel

LATEST POWER FIGURES:

Claimed manufacturer’s Power:

188kw at flywheel @6,000 RPM

163kw at front wheel

330Nm @ 2,500 RPM

Mainline Dyno 29.04.2012 – Stage 1 HPA Tune

206.5 kw front wheel KW @ 142kph/349Nm Torque @ 78kph

City Performance Centre Hub Dyno 9.5.12 HPFP Tune

227.7 kw @ 6500rpm and 400 nm torque @ 3,000 RPM

City Performance Centre Hub Dyno 31.1.2013-Hybrid Turbo Stage 4 Tune

248k2 @ 6,600rpm and 460Nm @ 3,200

City Performance Centre Rolling Maha Dyno 01.06.2013-Hybrid Turbo Stage 4 Tune

252kw at the wheels @ 5402rpm and 513Nm @5348

289kw at the engine @5402ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
City Performance Centre
Carbon Demon
Concourse Finishes

Read More