Excelerate Performance is proud to announce a thread specifically designed to showcase the evolution of our XLR8 TT RS. We acquired our Monza Silver Pearl TT RS in March of 2012. We had traded in our 07 Cayman S in favor the 2.5L 5 cylinder turbo Audi platform as we recognized the amazing build quality of the TT RS, as well as the potential to modify with this platform. We knew our friends at APR were already in process of designing some pretty radical upgrades and we knew that true to form, APR would make a turbo upgrade that would be powerful, reliable, and durable. It was obvious to us that this new shop vehicle, dubbed the XLR8 TT RS, would incorporate everything we love about Audi and APR, and what we wanted to represent here at Excelerate Performance. So we present to you the evolution of the XLR8 TT RS:

Humble beginnings and glistening in the sun:



And then APR released the CCD (Computer Clamping Device) and the TT RS APR software!!! We quickly had software loaded onto our TT RS with the Bosch ME9 ECU.



After waiting a few more months, APR released their turbo back exhaust and we were one of the first in the US to receive it. The fitment was perfect, the performance increase was palpable and the sound was intoxicating.









While we waited for APR Stage 3 to be released, we made some minor improvements in the suspension with an 034 Rear Sway Bar and an interior upgrade of an AWE Tuning Boost Gauge to keep an eye on the health of the turbo.







While the TT RS slept for a bit during the winter, we started putting together the final upgrades for the XLR8 TT RS, in anticipation of its debut at Waterfest 2013. So it was obvious that she needed a new set of shoes. With our exclusive partnership with ADV.1 coming to fruition, we put their engineers to work to design and manufacture a set of wheels that would compliment the TT RS. So we decided on ADV.1 5.0 MV2SL in a Liquid Smoke finish in a 19X9 F, 19X10 R staggered setup.









Of course, we couldn't have premier wheels without a unique suspension. It was hard to best the factory suspension on the TT RS, but after much research we decided on the newly released KW DDC coilovers. What are those? With the new Dynamic Damping Control, DDC, KW has designed a new coilover suspension, which uses the original 3-way button to adjust the damping. KW combines the individual height adjustability of the coilover suspension with the adaptive OEM damping control. But even better we have a KW Wifi Module that links up to our iPhone 5 that allows us to dial in the damping via a KW iPhone app.

 

But with the increased power from the APR Stage 2+ software and TBE, we noticed we were losing power from heat soak. The APR front mount intercooler solved that issue. With 104% more frontal area and a 92% larger core compared to stock, the APR intercooler chilled intake temps and allowed the ECU to re-introduce more timing.









To compliment the performance and suspension upgrades, we decided to fit the XLR8 TT RS with some carbon fiber goodies, including an OE style spoiler, a front splitter, and mirrors.







The XLR8 TT RS and our customer's B7 RS4 with APR Stage 3 supercharger kit were extremely popular at Waterfest 2013, but the TT RS was still lacking the power we wanted....



Just a few weeks ago, APR delivered our Stage 3 Turbo Kit. We were the first to get the kit in the US, but with our busy schedule we had to wait a couple weeks to install the kit. So without further ado, the XLR8 TT RS with the APR Stage 3 Turbo kit boasting a GTX3576R making almost 500 whp and wtq on pump gas. Supporting the turbo kit was also the modified APR High Pressure Fuel Pump. And the VWR intake will be added shortly.



















Of course with added power comes the necessity for added clamping force. So we employed the Sachs Racing Clutch kit.







So Excelerate Performance proudly presents to you the XLR8 TT RS. There are still more pictures to come, including some videos of this beast.

 

Very nice!!

I just added RE-11 tires to mine and getting the MSS spring kit added next week.

I am also thinking of the APR stage 2 w/ TBE and this is the first I have heard of heat soaking issues.

How hard are you running the car to get the heat soak? And how bad is it?

Mine is a daily driver and will not see the track, just canyon carving mostly.

 

Those will be welcome additions.

The heat soak is an issue for the TT RS, on the street or track. Note the graphs below from APR.

The Test below demonstrates the intercoolers ability to cool intake air temperature even under brutal conditions. Six back-to-back pulls were performed with absolutely no cool down between runs. The APR Intercooler’s first run was conducted in slightly worse conditions than the stock intercooler, but it was able to keep the intake air temperature at redline lower than stock even after the sixth back to back pull! The dramatic rise in temperature from the stock intercooler cost the TT RS valuable horsepower on the dyno and averaged over 25 HP less than the APR unit across the six runs.



APR’s Engineers set out to further prove each Intercooler’s effectiveness by testing in real world conditions on the street. Four back-to-back 20-130 mph pulls were conducted with both the factory and APR intercooler unit while various data points were collected with APR’s ECU Explorer data logging suite. While APR’s Engineers made every effort to keep starting temps identical between the two intercoolers, unfortunately conditions worsened while testing the APR unit as ambient temperature increased.

The rise in temperature was still no match for the APR intercooler unit. Pull after pull, the intercooler was able to cool charge air temperature below the actual starting temperature! The stock intercooler unfortunately experienced a rapid temperature increase and on average ran 14C higher than the starting temperature. The intake air temperature results collected on the street mimicked that of the data collected on the dyno further backing the power associated with each unit.

 

Very nice! Thanks for sharing... How is the clutch for driving? Is it prety much on/off or can you slip it? Have you launched it at 4-5K RPM's yet? Now take the car to the strip and run some 10's!