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[Video] Sadistic Iron Werks Bags an Audi R8 and Drops it to the Deck at SEMA 2017

There aren’t too many custom car builders at the 2017 SEMA Show who came with the expectation of “flattening everyone’s expectations” but that was exactly the intention of Bobby Martins of Sadistic Iron Werks.

If passed on the highway by this R8 doubtful you'd see this view for very long

If passed on the highway by this R8 doubtful you'd see this view for very long

According to Bobby, much has been made online about the inability to slam an Audi R8 on the ground, and Bobby decided to show his latest creation at the industry show to prove them wrong.

The car is a 2017 Audi R8 with a twin turbo V10 that Sadistic modified for FLO Airride Manufacturing. A stunning custom body from Prior Design North America was fitted, then covered with an APA Wrap in an anodized silver color, what Bobby refers to as “the inside of a Coke can,” though that understates just how striking the car is in person.

Looking more like it landed there than drove the completed R8 heads en route to the SEMA Show

Looking more like it landed there than drove the completed R8 heads en route to the SEMA Show

The engine was fitted with a Dallas Performance Stage 1 twin turbo system fed through K&N RU-5121 K&N air filters. Fitted to a stock 5.2L V10 engine, the Stage 1 modifications raise output to 750 wheel horsepower on 93 octane fuel. "We chose K&N as they're the best filters on the market. With an engine with this much power you can't let the smallest micron through," Bobby stated.

Filling out the wheel wells are B-Forged 315TS wheels wrapped in Toyo tires. Bobby created the suspension using utilizing AirLift struts, but as there aren’t many aftermarket components for a 'bagged Audi R8, Bobby had to fabricate many of the pieces that complete the system.

On Sunday the R8 still looked like this. Check out the assignments on the white board in the back

On Sunday the R8 still looked like this. Check out the assignments on the white board in the back

The result is a range of seven inches. And according to Bobby, it rides about the same, if not a bit softer than the original equipment steel springs and shock absorbers he replaced. And, for at least a minute or two, he silenced the internet.

Bobby’s expertise comes from both formal and informal education. He was a certified Toyota Master Tech for 20 years, but his hobby has been to 'bag vehicles, his first a Bug ('69 that is). He opened Sadistic Iron Werks in 2001 and has become a full-service one-stop shop for air suspension conversions and other performance upgrades.

Hard to believe that the project started just two months before the SEMA Show, and given that information, it’s not hard to believe that the R8 was completed on the Monday before the show. Maybe that’s how Bobby decided to name his shop “Sadistic.”

There's a photo posted here that shows the condition of the car on the Sunday before the show, with a whiteboard in the background that lists all the tasks that need to be completed. Most likely every one is a major undertaking and it's a small wonder that the team completed the car in time for the show. Thankfully Bobby’s shop is located in Hesperia, California, which is less than a 200 miles drive from Las Vegas and the SEMA Show.

[Video] Jesse James' 1964 Dodge Polara by Roadster Shop Unveiled at SEMA 2017

Upon first viewing Jesse James’ 1964 Dodge Polara the exterior patina make the car looks more like the starting point for a restoration project, not the completion. But that’s all part of the design. The world-renowned Roadster Shop of Mundelin, IL cut the Mopar unibody apart and built an entirely new car underneath.

Utilizing their Faro Technologies 3D scanner to accurate measure the Dodge, the RS crew then turned that data into a set of drawings that would serve as the blueprints for the build. As the floor was cut away braces were installed inside the body to keep it from flexing or being distorted.

The basis is a custom Roadster Shop’s Fast Track chassis with its own bespoke independent front suspension and a multi-link Strange Engineering rear end. Once the Polara was sitting on the chassis, the sheet metal fabrication began, with new floors (including trunk) firewall, transmission tunnel, and inner fenders were created and installed by the metal artists at RS.

Under the hood resides a 426 CID Wegner Motorsport Generation II Hemi “Elephant Motor”, with a custom intake manifold and stainless exhaust manifolds that are connected to twin Honeywell Garrett turbochargers. Intake air is drawn through a pair of K&N Air Filters and through a Honeywell Garrett air-to-water intercooler and a radiator and heat exchanger built by Ron Davis. Backing up the Hemi is a modified Tremec T-56 six-speed manual transmission from Blower Transmission.

Check out the video for all the details on this amazing build including the retro AF/X style interior.

(Some Of) The Cool Cars and Trucks We Saw at the 2017 SEMA Show

The 2017 SEMA show was one of the largest ever and raised the bar for custom vehicles

The 2017 SEMA show was one of the largest ever and raised the bar for custom vehicles

Since its inception, exhibitors at the SEMA Show have brought customized cars and trucks into their booths to showcase their new products and demonstrate how their products appear when installed. Often it was race cars, in the early days typically drag cars, but today the range is as wide as the imagination, or at least the builder’s imagination. How about a bagged Audi R8 V10 that lays on the belly pan and features a pair of turbos capped by K&N filters? Here’s a quick looks at some of our favorites.

Keep an eye on K&N's news site for future stories on these vehicles and more stories from the 2017 SEMA show.

There were hundreds of vehicles that sported K&N filters at the 2017 SEMA show

There were hundreds of vehicles that sported K&N filters at the 2017 SEMA show

The "Axis" Corvette by Roadster Shop was a finalist in SEMA's Battle of the Builders c

The "Axis" Corvette by Roadster Shop was a finalist in SEMA's Battle of the Builders competition

Finish Line Speed Shop brought out this C-30 dually, dubbed the BC-30, or Burnout Cancer-30

Finish Line Speed Shop brought out this C-30 dually, dubbed the BC-30, or Burnout Cancer-30

When we say that the bar was raised for custom vehicles at the 2017 SEMA show, we mean it

When we say that the bar was raised for custom vehicles at the 2017 SEMA show, we mean it

Richard Petty trusts K&N to protect the engines in the cars built by Petty's Garage

Richard Petty trusts K&N to protect the engines in the cars built by Petty's Garage

Jesse James commissioned the guys at the Roadster Shop to build him a piece of Mopar art

Jesse James commissioned the guys at the Roadster Shop to build him a piece of Mopar art

Jesse James' Polara featured a Gen III Hemi and a pair of Garrett turbos capped by K&N filte

Jesse James' Polara featured a Gen III Hemi and a pair of Garrett turbos capped by K&N filters

Straight from the mean streets of Atlanta comes this '40 Ford built by the talented Bryan Fuller

Straight from the mean streets of Atlanta comes this '40 Ford built by the talented Bryan Fuller

Bryan Fuller's '40 Ford is dubbed "Georgia Gold" and features a K&N round filt

Bryan Fuller's '40 Ford is dubbed "Georgia Gold" and features a K&N round filter

Laying hard in the BForged Wheels booth is this twin turbo V10 Audi R8 built by Sadistic Iron Werks

Laying hard in the BForged Wheels booth is this twin turbo V10 Audi R8 built by Sadistic Iron Werks

You will never guess what this 6.2L SRT8 motor is in (it is a Prius, dubbed "PriuSRT8")

You will never guess what this 6.2L SRT8 motor is in (it is a Prius, dubbed "PriuSRT8")

[Video] Roadster Shop 1970 Camaro, Dubbed Split Second, Debuts at SEMA 2017

The world-renowned Roadster Shop debuts its latest creation at the K&N Booth 22755 this week during the 2017 SEMA Show. The 1970 Camaro named “Split Second” was constructed to the usual high Roadster Shop standards of ingenuity and quality. The name “Split Second” is derived from the fact that it is a split bumper Camaro and it has a unique dual or split fuel injection system. In ordinary driving circumstances, the engine is feed from a fuel cell containing 91 octane pump fuel. As boost from the twin turbochargers increases the computer starts to feed 108 octane race gas from a second fuel cell into the 427 small block from Nelson Racing Engines. The result is a daily driver with around 900 horsepower that automatically segues into a 1600 horsepower beast with only the application of the throttle.

The front clip and unibody floor of the Camaro and were discarded by and replaced by a Roadster Shop Fastrack chassis. Brembo provided the brakes, HRE the wheels, and Avant Garde the interior. When asked about K&N the Roadster Shop’s Phil Gerber had this to say: “We trust K&N, we know their filters are going to protect our motors. Plus they have a wide range of products that’ll fit anything we’re building.”

Watch the video to check out the amazing Roadster Shop “Split Second” 1970 Camaro and its dual fuel injection system.

Ford Adds Drift Stick to Focus RS at SEMA 2017; K&N Adds Power And Reliability

The Ford Focus RS was a popular car at the 2017 SEMA show and Ford added a cool option to the car

The Ford Focus RS was a popular car at the 2017 SEMA show and Ford added a cool option to the car

Ford announced at the 2017 SEMA Show that it is adding its new Ford Performance Drift Stick, the first-ever rally-inspired electronic handbrake, to the bag of goodies that is the Focus RS.

The Drift Stick is an aluminum lever between the driver’s seat and manual transmission to induce drift with the simple pull of a lever. The system operates by utilizing the all-wheel-drive system combined with the ABS. A pull of the lever triggers the rear drive unit clutches to open and applies hydraulic pressure to lock the rear wheels. The result is the ability to execute a clutch-free drift turn similar to that of a rally or drift car.

Everything needed to install the air intake system, including instructions, comes in the box

K&N Typhoon Air Intake System adeds an estimated 33.01 HP to the 2017 Ford Focus RS

If it’s more performance you’re looking for in your 2017 Ford Focus RS, K&N has plenty of options. Available from K&N is a free-flowing replacement air filter to two different air intake systems, and three different oil filters.

Unlike many original equipment and replacement air filters, K&N replacement air filters are manufactured from multiple layers of oiled extra-fine weave grade cotton filter media. Developed originally to maintain power while protecting the engine in desert racing after much experimentation K&N selected oiled cotton as the best filter media as it offers less resistance than traditional filters.

Thye filter is manufactured from multiple layers of oiled extra-fine weave grade cotton filter media

The K&N Replacement Air Filter add performance and response to the 2017 Ford Focus RS

The K&N 57S-4000 performance air box replaces the restrictive factory air filter and air box lid on the 2017 Ford Focus RS. K&N performance air boxes are designed to dramatically reduce air flow restriction as well as smooth and straighten air flow. This allows your turbocharged 2.3L engine to inhale larger amounts of air than the factory air filter assembly allows. More air means more usable power and acceleration throughout the engine’s RPM range. The 57S-4000 performance air box comes with an oversized conical K&N high-flow air filter and an injection molded air box lid with the K&N logo embossed on top.

The K&N 69-3539TB Typhoon air intake system is a free-flowing, mandrel-bent aluminum tube air induction system designed to fit some Ford Focus models. The restrictive factory air filter and air intake housing are replaced by the K&N Typhoon air intake which is designed to dramatically reduce air flow restriction and adds an estimated 33.01 horsepower.

The 69-3539TB air intake comes with a black rubber topped K&N high-flow air filter and a heat shield that installs using the factory mounting locations with a molded scoop that funnels outside air towards the filter. Air is directed through the intake tube into the engine’s throttle body for a guaranteed power gain. The intake tube has a blue powdercoat finish to match the car’s badging and it accommodates the factory air pressure sensor.

A one-inch nut is welded to the top of the filter making removal a snap

K&N Wrench-Off Oil Filters are tough enough to withstand the punishment of a 10,000 HP Top Fueler

The K&N PS-1002 Performance Silver oil filter for the Ford Focus RS provides outstanding filtration and engine protection throughout their service life. Performance Silver oil filters are engineered to handle all grades of synthetic, conventional, and blended motor oils. The pleated media provides high capacity making the filters suitable for extended oil change intervals when used in accordance with the vehicle and motor oil manufacturers recommendation.

Originally developed for demanding race applications like 10,000 horsepower Top Fuel Dragsters, the K&N Premium Wrench-Off Oil Filter has become a favorite among consumers as well for its durability and easy removal, as they come with a one-inch nut welded to the top of the canister. To satisfy the demands of racers, our oil filter has many features over and above the requirements of most vehicles.

The filters are manufactured with thicker canister walls for extra strength and durability which reduces the risk of damage from loose rocks and debris, while a drilled hole on the nut provides for safety wire attachment so the filter doesn’t loosen during competition. The K&N Premium Wrench-Off oil filters also use a resin impregnated cellulose filter media which provides higher flow rates while maintaining outstanding filtration. Check out 2017 Focus RS part number HP-1002.

The filter housing, bypass valve and call plate are CNC machined from Billet 6061 T6 Aluminum

The resuable filter is an invaluable tool for engine builders to check the condition of the motor

For the ultimate in oil filtration is the patented K&N reusable oil filter that will last the lifetime of your vehicle under normal vehicle operating conditions. The filter housing, bypass valve, and call plate are CNC machined from Billet 6061 T6 Aluminum on the SS-1002 for the 2017 Focus RS.

The mechanical filtration is accomplished with a dual woven T 304 stainless steel micro-screen that provides excellent engine protection while providing a substantial increase in oil flow when compared to standard disposable oil filters. The ability to disassemble, inspect the filter screens, then reassemble the filter is an invaluable tool for engine builders in determining the condition of the motor.

So whether your Ford Focus RS is equipped with a Drift Stick or not, K&N has the filters that will help to extend the life and improve the performance of your hot hatch.