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The VAG 1.8T has quickly proven itself as one of the most technological
power plants available. While the engineers who developed the kit
made fantastic gains in both efficiency and reliability, they left
much to be desired with regard to power. The B6 A4 Stage III+ Turbo
kit bridges this gap with uncompromising quality and extreme power.
Stage III+ is the newest addition to APR's quality line of products
for the A4.
While other companies use the terms "tuner" and "R&D"
loosely, we at APR feel that quality products start with quality
planning. We begin with an idea and study the feasibility of the
product. As designers we put a strong emphasis on safety and reliability.
APR engineers developed the Stage III+ kit using Pro Engineer Wildfire
3-D CAD software and a Faro Platinum CMM machine. Prototypes are
then processed using the 3-D Systems SLA machine. This rapid prototyping
procedure allows for quick cast prototypes to ensure a perfect fitting
final component. After the component has been verified correct,
the final material cast can be run.
The Stage III+ utilizes one of the newest and most efficient turbos
available. The Honeywell/Garrett turbos utilize the latest ball
bearing design coupled with an integral wastegate and Inconel wheel.
Make no mistake, these are not standard turbos retrofitted to ball
bearing specs; they are the same type used in countless forms of
motor racing such as the Audi R8 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Series.
APR is one of a few Garrett Engineering Houses in the US. We work
closely with their engineers to design turbos that produce our desired
performance level for each kit.
The APR Exhaust manifold is investment cast Inconel 625. Such material
was chosen for its excellent thermal properties. Inconel can withstand
temperatures of up to 2500 degrees Fahrenheit without structural
degradation. The manifold runners are paired so that the exhaust
pulses do not interfere with each other. This design maximizes low-end
spool-up and boost-response. The manifold runners were also sized
according to the power levels desired and with the size of the exhaust
ports in mind. In order to prove the design, the drawing, as it
existed in Pro-E, was run through a computational fluid dynamics
program. This APR exhaust manifold is arguably the best 1.8T manifold
available anywhere in the world due to its superior design and construction.
No other company in North America has come close to reproducing
a manifold at this level.
Other components quickly reached their operational limits and were
also fabricated. The increased flow necessitated a larger MAF Housing.
The diameter of the intake tubing was also increased to accommodate
the increased airflow. A new larger air horn was placed on the MAF
to further increase velocity. A flow straightener was then added
to keep turbulence to a minimum. A flow straightener seems like
a small detail and is easily over looked by most companies. However,
this "small detail" is an integral component of this system allowing
the larger MAF housing to be properly utilized. Larger injectors
are added to the kit to keep the fuel system within acceptable parameters.
APR engineers write their own proprietary data logging software
and analysis programs. This tuning software, combined with APR's
Dynapack chassis dynamometer, allows a degree of precision never
before seen in the aftermarket industry. Our dyno tuning allows
us to tune to any RPM at any load level. This equates into the smoothest,
most powerful tuning available. Our software, as with our hardware,
is equally ahead of the competition. It's a rare combination to
find a tuning company that engineers both the software AND the hardware
for their systems. The advantage of designing hardware that is built
to utilize our specific software, is obvious. OUR hardware working
with OUR software is what comprises a truly engineered "system"
and not just a conglomeration of parts.
No other company has the switching capabilities or the programming
capabilities that we have. From home programming to industry leading
EMCS, our products set the bar in which all others are measured.
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