New Hella Body Kit & Neuspeed components Equal one Fine vw The numerous m iles of twisty canyon and mountain roadways that traverse their way across southern California's terrain are the perfect test beds for sorting out a car's suspension. Virtually every driving condition from decreasing radius esses to uphill grades, and from fast one-eighties to downhill off-cambers can be encountered on any of our favorite outdoor test paths, giving anyone who knows where to look the ideal places to dial-in their car's road handling manners. Southern California is, then, an ideal place for an aftermarket performance parts designer and manufacturer to be headquartered. With such a test track available practically out his backdoor, the SoCal-based designer can continually evaluate and improve his product... ultimately passing along that technology to you. One such designer/manufacturer is Automotive Performance Systems. Their Neuspeed manufacturing divi sion is continually at work testing and developing new suspension components for use on the new generation VW Rabbits, GTis and Golfs. A full installation facility is a part of their Anaheim, California, complex, and features a full warehousing of parts as well as a chassis dynamometer for performance testing. Neuspeed/APS has also long been builders of state-of-the-art project vehicles, and we've profiled many of them over the years in our pages. The technicians from Neuspeed always put together finely-crafted automobiles, and this one's no exception. Looking as aggressive as any newgeneration Golf GTI we've seen, is Neuspeed's latest project vehicle. Finished in a bright red luster which carries over to the mirrors, door handles, bumper faces and more, the focal point of this GTI is its unique body kit. Manufactured by Hella of Germany the first-of-its-kind kit is being imported exclusively by APS. The polyurethane components include the front fascia with integral fog lights, wheel arches, side skirts, and rear valence. European style bumpers are required for this kit, but APS has worked to include the Euro bumper steel reinforcement with the k it so that nothing else is required. The Hella body kit comes primed, with all the necessary hardware, and fits with a preciseness that is, as APS puts it, "The best quality to date that we have seen." Complementing the kit is a Zender rear spoiler and Hella black-out taillight panel. 34/VW & PORSCHE
Photography by c. van Tune and Neuspeed 1 APS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1986/35
Completing the stylish looks of the body kit is a set of Momo 15x7-inch wheels which have been custom finished with a polished outer rim working with the body-colored center section. Wrapping these five-spoke beauties are a quartet of 195/50VR 15 Goodyear unidirectional radials, while underneath Neuspeed sway bars (7/8-inch front; l-inch adjustable rear) and an upper strut tie bar combine with a full Koni Sport Kit (externally adjustable gas shocks at front; Koni progressive rate springs) for improved grip. Repco Metal master brake pads and braided stainless steel brake lines along with a Neuspeed short-shift kit add to the performance feel In the powerplant department, APS added a Neuspeed hydraulic camshaft, engine oil cooler with thermostat adapter, and Gillet exhaust system. These parts work to increase power and torque, but not at the sacrifice of sensibility. As the color photo will show, the GTI's interior has been modified, but with an eye for retaining much of the original German feel Twin Flofit front seats were installed, specially upholstered in factory GTI red-andgrey fabric for a perfect match to the rest of the interior. Separating the seats is a Votex center console incorporating cassette tape storage compartments as well as a trio of VDO engine monitoring gauges (oil pressure, oil temp, voltage), all of which fit as if they had been designed at Wolfsburg. Topping off the cockpit with a dash of color are a Morna red leather shift knob and matching Momo Corsa red leather-rimmed steering wheel A full-tilt sound system is in the works, but was not completed as of presstime. From top to bottom, and from inside to out, this is one GTI that was born and bred on twisty backroads. Your VW can be made to feel the same. - HIGHWAY Gl"l Combination of Konl sport kit, Momo Pulsar wheels and Goodyear unidirectional "Gatorbacks" makes for Impressive skldpad and slalom performances. 36/VW & PORSCHE
Stock GTI powerplant has been upgraded with Installation of Neuspeed camshaft and lower-restriction exhaust system. Neuspeed upper stress bar aids both underhood looks and handling prowess. Complete Hella body kit utilizes European bumpers, side dams, wheel arches and rear fascia for great looks. Zender rear spoiler and blackout taillight panel combine with body-colored trim for added pizazz..!! ~ 6 c g li ~--------------------------------------- I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1986/37