Brian wanted top quality products on every part of the vehicle, so when it came to his baby's shoes, he opted for the best. Originally he fitted a set of HRE 448R wheels with a charcoal finish but a year later, with help from his friend Peter Lee of Wheel Experts, Brian freshened the look with black-painted HRE 540R wheels in time for the SEMA show. And because the CVT is a front-wheel drive car, he could stagger the wheels, running 19x8.5" in the front and 19x9" rear with a 3" lip. A set of 235/35 Yokohama tires wrap the three-piece forged wheels, while a StopTech Big Brake Kit was assembled behind them.
Brian then lowered the car with H&R coilovers, closing the gap between the body and the Yokos. Trust us, it's low. But it looks damn good!
Now what modified Audi is worthy of an et feature without some engine goodies under that carbon fiber hood? "The B6 is a heavy car and not all that quick, which was all the more reason for me to modify the motor, especially the turbo!" said Brian. "Before I began anything major, my friend Fausto Merida and I would take it to the track, remove the right-side headlamp and run low 15s with just Neuspeed software and our own custom intake. My goal was to break into the 14s but most shops wouldn't touch a CVT transmission because of its torque limitations. So Fausto introduced me to Fred Su at Evolution Racewerks in City of Industry, CA. He has a reputation for building you literally anything you want. I explained the CVT technology to Fred, who was eager to throw in a huge turbo. But I was like `whoa Fred, this thing is delicate!' We knew the A4 3.0 CVT was safely handling 220hp/221 lb/ft, so he threw a K04 in there and custom-built a front-mount intercooler with a Griffin core."
The result? A very smooth and strong ride, hitting the quarter mile in just 14.7sec, and that's with the ICE.
Oh, did we mention the ICE in the trunk yet? The car was Diamond Audio's official show car in 2005. The company introduced and showcased its new D6 line of amps and subwoofers in it at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. Traffic Jamz of Encino, CA did a beautiful install that included three Diamond amps and a custom enclosure to house the free-air D6 subwoofers. The enclosure was built to shoot the bass directly into the cabin, as opposed to having it stuck in the trunk. "People love this setup because it flows well with the rest of the car," Brian told us. "There's no crazy fiberglass, just a clean and attractive install that sounds excellent and still gives me room for my spare tire! Traffic Jamz is one of those shops that never takes shortcuts and ensures the sound quality is top notch."
When Brian isn't directing commercials, he can be found directing TWCompetition - the exclusive car team currently ranked #1 in the nation. They captured over 200 trophies last year on every major show circuit, as well as earning NCCA's title for Best Team Overall in 2005! "TWC is an exclusive group of enthusiasts who strive to set the standard. We all share the ambition and passion to be the best. But above all, we're family having good times," Brian said.
From being born into luxury to accomplished maturity, there's no doubt Brian Joe is driving one of the cleanest Audis we've seen. However, he's confirmed this is "el fin" on the A4, so our question is "when can we expect a sequel?"
TECH SPEC
Brian Joe
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Commercial director/producer
2003 Audi A4 1.8T CVT
Engine: 1.8 liter 20v turbo with KKK K04 turbo, Audi TT injectors, Neuspeed ECU, GIAC socket, Evolution Racewerks front-mount intercooler with 2.5/3" piping, polished intake manifold, Remus exhaust, SM1K downpipe, intake, gasket and turbo hardware, Neuspeed snub mount, GReddy Type-S BOV with ATP flange
Drivetrain: Continuous Variable Transmission
Brakes: 332mm StopTech drilled rotors and four-piston ST-40 calipers, AXXIS Ultimate pads, StopTech stainless steel lines
Suspension: H&R coilovers, Neuspeed 21mm rear sway bar, bushings
Wheels/Tires: 19x8.5" front, 19x9" rear HRE 540R wheels, 235/35-19 Yokohama AVS Sport tires
Exterior: Caractere front bumper, grille, skirts, rear valance, European two-piece rear bumper, painted door moldings, carbon pillars, Vorsteiner carbon vented bser hood and S4 trunk spoiler, Euro-spec clear lights, Xenons
Interior: Sparco Milano seats in black/gray alcantara, 3" TopSpin Design four-point harnesses, Blitz 60mm Racing Meter DC II and DC Live Unit, suede door panels, rear seat inserts, headliner, pillars and sunroof
Audio/Visual: Clarion VRX925VD DVD with 7" LCD, two Diamond Audio TDX 12D4 subwoofers, S600s 6.5" HEX components, silk tweeters, S5.0m 5" HEX mid-range, S5.0m 5.25" mid-range, D6 1500.1, D6 600.4 and D6 600.2 amplifiers, Lightning Audio 1farad capacitor, PlayStation 2, Dynamat, Scoche wiring, inverter
Thanks: Fred Su at evolutionracewerks.com, TWCompetition, landspeedusa.com, Diamond Audio, Theresa at Yokohama Tire, Peter at wheelexperts.com, Traffic Jamz of Encino, Jim at P-Factor, Eric & Andy at carrozzeriadesign.com, Will at F1 Motorsports, Stoptech, Dusty, socaleuro, Bernard Roque, Olivier, Josh Finn, Fausto Merida, Julio, my family