Though gargantuan in size and considered by nearly everyone as a major industry auto show, the SEMA Show is just a bit different. Most car shows offer up all the latest new models from all manufacturers in a market and are open to the public after a day or two at most dedicated to industry professionals. Not so SEMA. It never really opens to the public and with convention-style booths more like a trade show than an auto show.
Yes, many car manufacturers actively show here but it’s hardly a place to show off their full line of cars and more the venue in which to show off their full line of parts and accessories. Audi has displayed here just once, and didn’t really find it all that useful. Instead Ingolstadt focuses on other events like the Consumer Electronics Show and leaves SEMA to the companies for which it is most geared for… the aftermarket industry.
This means firms like Akrapovic Exhausts, H&R Suspensions, HRE Wheels and the like are more apt to be unofficially representing Audi with a four-ringed display car that is unsanctioned by the factory.
While companies like Chrysler and Ford do display here with cars they may even own, the more likely scenario when it comes to display cars is that these highly modified rolling fantasies are built painstakingly either by private owners or by the aforementioned aftermarket tuners. As a result, you get all types, from the tailored knockout to the facia only its builder could love.
Of course the mix is eclectic. Everything is here, from hot rods and monster trucks to V.I.P. style luxury sedans resto custom muscle. And, while Audi’s are well embraced by the aftermarket, finding them at SEMA can be a bit of a chore.
In our SEMA coverage, we’ve decided to take the stance that each of these cars is much-loved by their owners no matter how universally loved or controversial they may be in the eyes of our wide enthusiast audience. As such, we’ve decided to treat each equally, listing each Audi we found at SEMA alphabetically and sharing whatever information about these cars that we have been able to ascertain. If you happen to know more about a car that what we have here, do please email us at info@fourtitude.com and we’ll update this story accordingly.
Abt Sportsline Audi A6 AS6 TDI
You could say this Abt Sportsline Audi AS6 TDI is doubly new to America. Not only are A6 TDIs are new additions to the North American Audi lineup, Abt Sportsline is officially new to the American Audi aftermarket.
One thing’s for sure, Abt isn’t new to the Audi tuning scene. To be clear, this is one of the longest running Audi tuners to date and they also happen to field two Audi DTM racers as well as various R8 LMS teams all in their spare time. More significant to Audi owners and the SEMA Show, Abt’s vast tuning line includes everything from wheels, suspension and engine tuning to TUV-approved body kits.
One challenge for Abt and most European tuning houses has always been distribution in North America. The team from Kempten thinks they’ve found the answer this time though with a new Abt Sportsline North America facility run by FMS, the California firm that also works with Audi directly to provide painted components like Audi Original Accessories body kits.
This A6 in particular is all Abt. It features the full AS6 body treatment and Abt-designed wheels and suspension as well. Read more about it HERE.
More Information: ABT-Sportsline-USA.com
ACE Alloy Wheels Audi A4 Avant B6
While a keystone offering of show cars at SEMA is vintage metal, old isn’t a typical quality amongst Audi offerings here. And, while we wouldn’t mind seeing a few iconic ur quattro builds or the like, the eldest Audi status for this year’s SEMA Show goes to this B6-generation A4 Avant displaying wheels from gold-finish 20”x10” SL-M wheels ACE Alloy. Its low ride height comes from air ride thanks to dual 444 Viair compressors.
Perhaps even more attention-getting for this build is the aggressive body kit. This is the first time we’ve seen the Regula Tuning B6 treatment in anything more than the PR shot from the European-based body kit manufacturer. Though it uses many more modern cues from Audi including hexagonal singleframe grille and frowning RS 3 style lower intakes, it does so in a way that couldn’t look further than factory.
Given the penchant for the could-be-factory look and feel often preferred in the Audi aftermarket, we have no doubt that this car is an acquired taste and will leave many Audi enthusiasts polarized as to their over all impression of the car.
More Information: ACEAlloyWheel.com
AccuAir Audi S7
Air suspension manufacturer AccuAir may have likely nabbed the unofficial title of everybody’s favorite Audi at SEMA last year with its custom widebody facelift-converted B8 A4 Avant, and this year again proved up its Audi-focus with an equally low-slung Audi S7 Sportback purchased about six months ago by the firm.
Based on a 2013 Audi S7, the car utilizes AccAir’s latest Sport Air Suspension system that retains the factory CDC dampers for a more factory-like ride even at considerably lower ride height.
Also included in the build is a trick mounting system for the tanks and hardware. The setup allows all of the kit to hide away below the package deck and utilizes AccuAir’s EXO mount clamp system combined with some custom aluminum hard lines.
In addition to AccAir hardware, the S7 also sports a 3-inch exhaust from BBi AutoSport including removal of the lower catalytic converters, an APR ECU tune, and 21”x10.5” Vossen Precision Series wheels shod with 295 25 21 Toyo T1R Tires. More news form AccuAir shared as part of our SEMA coverage can be found HERE.
More Information: AccuAirSuspension.com
AMF Forged Audi A7 S line
Last year AMF Forged showed their Audi love by displaying a great-looking red R8 Spyder. For 2013 it was this grey Audi A7 S line that was on display at the firm’s stand located inside SEMA’s wheel and tire hall. In addition to a lowered suspension of unknown variety and tinted windows, the car featured AMF Forged model 203 wheels.
More Information: AMFWheels.com
Audi Original Accessories / FMS Audi Q5
In addition to recently taking on the role as Abt Sportsline USA, California-based FMS is a partner and supplier that works with Audi Original Accessories in the USA, supplying them with components and services like the pre-painted body kits and pieces sold through Audi of America. Not surprising then, a car showing off this collaboration was also on display at the FMS stand in the form of this Audi Q5.
Modifications to this Q5 were kept expressly within the realm of Audi factory accessories. It featured alloy wheels, roof rack accessories and Ingolstadt’s off-road optics widebody ground effects package. The latter is handsome and gives the Q5 more than a passing resemblance to the A4 allroad.
More Information: Parts.AudiUSA.com
Audi R18 ultra with Akrapovic
A purveyor of fine exhausts crafted of titanium and accented with carbon fiber, Akrapovic also just happens to be the exhaust supplier of record for Audi Sport to both the R18 e-tron quattro and also the RS 5 DTM. No surprise then that the firm might want to play that up, which they did very effectively by displaying an R18 ultra.
To further emphasize their motorsport chops, Akrapovic also invited Audi Sport factory driver Oliver Jarvis to SEMA, where he visited their stand for a period during the week.
More specific though to SEMA were several new product announcements. We’re hearing Akrapovic has had better access to the latest Audi road cars in order to add new and exciting fitments to their model line. Case in point is the new titanium slip-on exhaust for the facelifted Audi R8 V10 and, we’re assuming, the R8 GT since it shares the exhaust tip configuration with the newer cars. More information on this can be found HERE.
More Information: Akrapovic.com
AWOL.tv Audi S4 Avant
Longtime readers of this site have likely seen the AWOL.tv B5 S4 Avant in various stages. Owned by AWOL.tv creator J.J. Larson, the car features a highly built 2.7T engine and full RS 4 bodywork that’s been white, military-spec radar-absorbing matte green and now an Aston Martin burgundy most recently.
More recently added for SEMA is a handsome new set of forged 3-piece flat LHR wheels from Rotiform. The design offers a vintage-looking BBS-style mesh design that handsomely works with the AWOL Avant.
More Information: AWOL.tv
Fall-Line Motorsports Audi R8 GRAND-AM
A great way to get attention amidst a field of the most intensely modified cars on the planet is to pull out a car with real racing chops. Such was the case with suspension manufacturer Eibach and their display that included the Fall-Line Motorsports Audi R8 GRAND-AM.
You may recall that the Fall-Line team purchased their car mid-season this past year, fielding it for the first time at Watkins Glenn, NY this past July.
More importantly for their benefactor in Las Vegas, Eibach is an official supplier to the Audi R8 LMS program and as such the R8 GRAND-AM. Their race-spec parts are stock issue on capable series racers like the Fall-Line R8 GRAND-AM. More on Fall-Line Motorsports can be found HERE.
Forgestar Audi A7
Alas, we don’t know much about this Audi A7 spotted in the wheel and tire hall. Photos were shot, though we neglected to get particular details on this particular car. Near as we can tell, it’s in the Forgestar wheel stand, though careful examination of the Forgestar website reveals no wheel model matching the ones seen on the Audi.
If you have any further information on this car, drop us a note.
More Information: ForgeStar.com
Fourtitude Project Audi S7
By now we hope you’re well aware of this particular Audi S7. Belonging to Nick Salvatore, the car is a regular feature build here in the pages of Fourtitude. It sports wheels from HRE, tires from Michelin, suspension by H&R, a new matte wrap from Avery Dennison, new exhaust by Brink Motorsports and engine tuning by APR Tuned.
Readers wishing to learn more about the car or follow along with its progress can do so in our Project S7 section HERE.
More Information: Fourtitude.com
Ghost Motorsports / Evoklass Audi A7 S line
Another Sportback on display was this intriguing S line spec 3.0 TFSI built by Ghost Motorsports.
Most notable on the car is what you might call a body kit, but seems really to be more of an accent. These pieces, crafted of carbon fiber, are part of the new Evoklass B40 package. They include replacement rear wing, rear diffusor, sideskirt wings and chin spoiler that appear to be compatible with S7 bodywork as well.
Additional modifications to the car include a performance pulley with ECU flash and 20×10.5 forged alloy wheels in striking gold finish and wrapped in 275 30 20 Toyo Tires. Further coverage on this car was run as part of our SEMA 2013 series and can be found HERE.
More Information: GhostMotorsports.com
Giovanna Wheels Audi R8 GT
A Suzuka Grey Metallic R8 GT coupe marked the only of these limited edition R8s to make a showing at SEMA this year. Wheel manufacturer Giovanna is usually known for having the most exotic and expensive cars in its lavish digs so an R8 GT suits the space.
More Information: WTWCorp.com
GMG Racing James Safronas Pirelli World Challenge Audi R8 LMS
The second Audi R8 LMS and third Audi racer we spotted at SEMA was the James Safronas Pirelli World Challenge R8 LMS fielded by GMG Motorsports. That car and driver team was winning the Pirelli World Challenge championship title up until the very last race when it was knocked out by a factory Cadillac effort, and as such it’s garnered its fair share of fans.
Driver James Safronas joined the car on the Hoffman Wheel Weights stand in order to sign autographs and pose for pictures.
More Information: GMGRacing.com
GMG Racing Audi R8
The second R8 built by GMG Racing was of the roadgoing variety and appeared in the Pirelli Tires exhibit outside the Las Vegas Convention Center. The car featured new 19-inch fully-forged GMG LMS wheels in blue finish, GMG sport lowering springs, GMG exhaust and new-from-GMG pre-preg carbon fiber GT wing.
More Information: GMGRacing.com
H&R Audi RS 7
One thing at SEMA is for sure. You can always count on H&R suspensions to feature some of the latest European cars and all tastefully modified in their stand just inside what seems to be the main entrance of the show.
In addition to a new BMW 4-series coupe and Volkswagen Golf 7, our favorite in the H&R lineup of hard-to-get or not-even-out-yet offerings was this white RS 7. Given the RS 7 hasn’t been on the market for more than a few weeks, there’re precious few parts and components available for the car though that didn’t seem to phase Roland and the crew from H&R.
This Glacier White RS 7 with rare carbon fiber optics package was further enhanced through fitment of H&R’s own plug-and-pplay electronic suspension lowering module (ETS) that allows the car to drop an 1-1.5 inches. It rolls on 21×10.5-inch ADV.1 ADV08 wheels shod with 285 30 21 Pirelli P-Zero tires. Inside, the car featured a new floor liner design from Weathertech, also the main sponsor of the 2013 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona-winning Alex Job Racing R8 GRAND-AM.
The H&R press release on this vehicle was published as part of Fourtitude’s SEMA coverage and can be found HERE.
More Information: HRSprings.com
LAB Audi R8
We’ve not been able to find much on what appears to be the LAB wheel company. What we do know is that they featured this R8 with their own wheel design fitted. Should you have any more information on this car or this company, please drop us an email.
Magnaflow Project Blue Copper Audi A5
When we first ran the press release on Magnaflow’s Project Blue Copper Audi A5 with its blue and gold (er.. copper) color-scheme, readers really reacted. Some lambasted it for adopting a look that’s more synonymous with Subaru rally efforts, but many, many more chose to like the story via our social media bar. The story rocketed up as one of our most widely read amongst our SEMA coverage.
The A5 features a 2.5” cat-back exhaust from Magnaflow and also Magnaflow Direct Fit Catalytic Converters to further improve the car exhale. On the intake side, a K&N intake system was added.
Other components on the car include KW Suspension V1 coilovers, SPC performance upper front control arms from BBi, an APR Performance carbon fiber splitter, side rockers and rear decklid spoiler, copper trim from SD Wrap, an RS 5 singleframe grille and S5 lower rear valance. The car rides on 20”x 10” Rotiform SNA wheels on 285 25 29 Nitto Invo tires.
More Information: MagnaFlow.com
PPI Audi R8 Razor GTR Spyder
If you were at SEMA and are now questioning whether the hell this car was, don’t beat yourself up too badly that you missed it. Of course it would have been quite impressive to see in person, but the radical PPI Razor GTR Spyder never made it to the Las Vegas Convention Center. We hear there were other appointments for the car at various hotels along the Vegas strip throughout SEMA Show week. We never actually caught it either, but PPI was kind enough to send over some shots they grabbed from their own Vegas SEMA week photo shoot.
In case you’re unfamiliar, PPI is now PPI Speed Design and has relocated their headquarters from Europe to the USA. They celebrated the move with their first radical build of an updated R8 Spyder. The car uses the same wide bodywork as their Razor GTR coupe, but dials it up a couple notches with elements like the radical open door design. We’ve posted more about the car in our SEMA coverage HERE.
More Information: SpeedDesign.me
Prior Design USA Audi R8
One of the more eye-popping Audis at SEMA was this widebody GT850 R8 by Prior Design. The European firm now has a U.S. office and as such this won’t be the last R8 GT850 you’ll see Stateside.
The kit includes a new front bumper, front lip spoiler, side skirts, rear bumper, rear diffusor, front fenders, rear widenings, front trunklid, rear trunk spoiler and all mounting material.
More Information: PriorDesignNA.com
Pure Motorsport Audi S5
The only S5 we spotted on display at SEMA hails from Pure Motorsports and was on display at the Vogtland stand. This Estoril Blue coupe features a host of upgrades from multiple manufacturers. APR is well represented under the car’s hood with their ECU upgrade, intake, performance supercharger pulley and RSC exhaust. Obviously the suspension was by Vogtland. Wheels for the S5 are 20”x10” Rotiform SNAs with a 25 mm offset.
More Information: PureMS.com
Rennen Forged Audi R8
The red Audi R8 on display at the Rennen Forged display has to be one of the more outrageous body kits we’ve seen on Audi’s R8. We’ve yet to ascertain the source for this new kit but it appears to include new trunklid, fenders, bumpers, sideskirts, carbon fiber splitter, valance and wing. Interestingly, it also uses what appears to be the over-sized singleframe grille of the Audi A8.
The car in question wore a new wheel design by Rennen Forged and also appeared to include trick leather inserts cut to resemble the Audi four ring logo. Like other heavily kitted cars, we expect this R8 receive a polarized response from fans. Some will love it and some may not.
More Information: RennenForged.com
Rohana Wheels Audi R8
Inside the convention center at the Rohan Wheels stand, we found a second Audi display car. In this case the car was a white R8 and it featured the brand’s RC26 wheel design in a staggered setup with 20”x9” +25 fitment at the front and 20”x11” +33 fitment at the rear.
More Information: RohanaWheels.com
Rohana Wheels Audi RS 5
Located outside the Las Vegas Convention Hall at the Toyo Tire display area, this grey Audi RS 5 coupe was an entry from Rohana Wheels. It featured the firm’s RC10 wheel in Machined Black finish with machined face and gloss-black paint on the inner segments of the wheel’s 10-spoke design.
More Information: RohanaWheels.com
Rotiform Audi S4
Another very low Audi we ran across outside the show hall was this very black S4 sedan. The personal car of Rotiform co-owner Brian Henderson, this S4 facelift features a slew of modifications that begin with Rotiform’s own 20”x10” IND-t centerlock forged 3-piece wheels shod with Falken FK453 235 30 20 tires.
Despite the low ride height, this S4 is not bagged. It rides on H&R’s “deep” RSS Motorsport coilovers with adjustable ARB kit and also boasts Forge Motorsport 356 mm 6-piston brakes.
Under the hood, the Rotiform S4 gets an AWE Tuning Stage 2+ Pulley, downpipe, exhaust, ColdFront system, and S-FLO Intake, all paired with GIAC/AWE tuning software. Finishing touches include an AWE vent-mounted boost gauge and OEM Audi S4 black optic grille.
More Information: Rotiform.com
TSW Audi allroad #1
Next up is the first in a pair of Audi A4 allroads displayed by TSW wheels. This first Glacier White example is a TSW feature vehicle built by Shoreline Motoring in Huntingdon Beach, CA. The car features KW Variant 2 coilovers. It rolls on 20”x10” TSW Jerez Silver wheels with mirror face and chrome stainless lip fitted with 255 35 20 Continental Extreme Contact tires.
Of course it’s also an allroad, which suggests an active lifestyle. TSW and Shoreline emphasized this by fitting the car with Thule roof rack gear including a Thule Sidearm 594XT bike carrier (complete with Felt Edict Nine 1 mountain bike) and Thule Pull Top snowboard rack (complete with Signal snowboards).
More Information: TSW.com
TSW Audi allroad #2
The second Monsoon Grey Audi A4 allroad from TSW is also a Feature Vehicle for the company and also built by Shoreline Motoring. Like the white car it uses KW Variant 2 Coilovers, though its wheels offer a different feel with 20”x10” 2-piece Mirabeau alloys in full matte black finish and fitted with 255 25 20 Falken 452 tires.
Like the first car, this second allroad also makes use of Thule roof rack products. A Thule 594XT bike carrier is used here with a second Felt Edict Nine 1 Mountain Bike, however this car skipped a snowboard fitment in favor of a Thule Atlantis 1600XT Box color-matched in Monsoon Grey.
More Information: TSW.com
Unknown Audi S4 Tree Décor
The car you see here is another that we have few details on. We did learn from the owner is that the car calls LA home. It features a full APR Stage 2 engine setup and was built for track purposes. In other words, pieces like that splitter and that rear wing that have proven questionable amongst style critics on our Facebook page are actually functional. As for the Real Tree vinyl accents, they’re a bit of a goof on others who’ve been trying to make camo a thing.
More Information: Instagram.com/cowboycasanova69 (we’re not making that up).
Wald Audi A7
Jonari Corp., the U.S. distributor of Japanese tuning house Wald International, offered up a very different A7 at SEMA this year. The car included Wald’s full A7 bodywork upgrade that includes moulded grille inserts, side skirts, rear bumper, rear valance with integrated rear brake light, decklid lip spoiler and custom exhaust. The car also featured a Wald-designed 21-inch wheel dubbed P52 and shod with the latest rubber from Toyo. The car sat slightly lower thanks to suspension from H&R and was on display at Toyo’s outside display.
More Information: Jonari.com
West Coast Customs Audi R8 Leopard Print
Years ago the car customizing shop of West Coast Customs called it splits with MTV’s Pimp My Ride television show. Rumor is that all those kitschy builds meant for MTV ratings weren’t exactly helping the firm’s rep. It seems they’ve moved on to other things, but whether or not cars like this leopard print wrapped R8 coupe help improve their image remain to be seen.
We’ve seen another very similar R8 and we suspect it is one and the same. If so, this is either Justin Bieber’s R8 or an R8 Justin Bieber has been using for the last few months as some sort of publicity move for WCC. Either way, we’ll leave final judgement to our readers.
More Information: WestCoastCustoms.com
Wossner Audi S4
One handsome early B8 S4 we found at SEMA was this matte sedan on display at the Wossner Pistons stand. The aforementioned finish is thanks to a 3M silver-metallic wrap, re-skinning the entire car including the tastefully OE+-looking Rieger RS-look body kit. The car’s low stance comes from an AccuAir suspension, while under-hood modifications include intercooler, carbon intake and exhaust from APR and of course Wossner pistons. Finally, the car is fitted with Rotiform SJC wheels in gold finish.
More Information: WossnerPistons.com
The post 2013 SEMA Show Report: Audi Perspective appeared first on Fourtitude.com.