23 Apr 2016

WÖRTHERSEE 2016 – THAT PETROL STATION…

by Giuseppe Basile | posted in: AIRLIFT | 0

It’s not easy trying to explain an event like Wörthersee to those who have never been. You drive 1000+ miles to a small Austrian lake weeks before the actual show, only to then spend each day driving around parts of the town hoping to meet up with other VAG enthusiasts. Sounds like a lot of effort, right? The rewards make it all worthwhile though…

Austria is centrally-located in Europe, and as such attracts VAG fans from countries including the UK, Germany, Italy and even Russia. Everyone has their own little road trip to get down there, so while 1000-miles is a long drive for an event, everyone’s in the same boat.

One of the must visit places in Wörthersee is the ENI Mischkulnig petrol station (formerly Shell). It doesn’t sound like a typical meeting location given all the highly-explosive petrol around, but this ENI is unlike just about any other fuel station on the planet – they 100% embrace the modified VAG takeover and welcome as many enthusiasts as possible along!

Need fuel? Not a problem – use one of the 12-pumps on site. Car looking dirty? Pull up to the right and use one of the 5 cleaning bays specifically opened for car fans over the Wörthersee period. There’s even pizza and beers available from a small refreshments hut next to the main shop. It’s become such an attraction the ENI staff have even installed a series of webcams so you can see just how busy it is at any time.

As day turns to night the action really begins to kick off. Thousands of VAG fans line the streets, some taking deck chairs to get the best possible view as Wörthersee descends into darkness. A parade of awesome cars constantly swarm the petrol station, showing off the latest mods and styles from across the whole of Europe. Got yourself a lairy, tuned motor under the bonnet? It’s pretty much a given that you’ll have to rev it when driving past.

This sort of gathering probably wouldn’t work in other countries or car scenes. Despite the thousands of cars constantly driving around, everyone remains respectful and plays by the rules to keep things fun. Police keep an eye to make sure everyone’s staying safe, and when a car’s full with fuel it’s moved into the car parking to keep the station busy. It really is the most bizarre, awesome, and exciting petrol station on the planet. What’s not to love!

12 Apr 2016

AIR LIFT PERFORMANCE GOLF MK5/6, PASSAT CC AND TT MK2 2WD SLAM SERIES KIT

by Giuseppe Basile | posted in: AIRLIFT | 0

Imagine a suspension system that allows a super-low stance, track-tuned handling and raised ground clearance – at the push of a button – for everyday driving. It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Welcome to the reality that is Air Lift Performance…

This high-performance, Slam Series kit was specifically designed for the Volkswagen MK5/6 Golf platform, which gives you the ability to adjust the ride height even while on the move. At the touch of a button, you can lower your VW up to 5.8 inches on the front and rear axles. The result is a car that not only looks incredible, but also boasts a significantly improved suspension performance with the ability to maintain total practicality on the street.

Put simply, coilover suspensions cannot compete with the versatility of our setup. This kit will get your vehicle lower than any coil suspension, while still providing crisp handling and a smooth ride. Both the front and rear kits use double-bellow air springs. In order to achieve the lowest drop possible, our bags compress to an amazingly slim 2.3 inches, allowing even the biggest wheels to tuck hard (as long as they clear the fenders).

We torture tests all the components of this kit to 1 million cycles (approximately 100,000 miles) on a hydraulic test rig, at temperatures from -30° F to 150° F. This test lab work, combined with thousands of miles of on-road testing, not to mention a one-year manufacturer’s warranty on the suspension, and limited lifetime warranty on the latest 3P and 3H management, makes this is a kit you can count on to handle whatever the road throws down.

The Volkswagen MK5/6 2WD Slam Series kit is available with a range of Air Lift Performance management options, including our innovative 3H™ height + pressure sensing system. Air Lift Performance used a state-of-the-art 32-bit processor, advanced height + pressure algorithms and a full color controller, complete with built in Bluetooth connectivity to make 3H the most advanced air management system on the market..

24 Dec 2015

AIR LIFT PERFORMANCE IOS APP FOR 3H / 3P

by Giuseppe Basile | posted in: AIRLIFT | 0

Air Lift Performance has taken air management technology to the next level with the introduction the new Air Lift Performance 3H/3P air management systems. These powerful, reliable height and pressure systems are the most advanced products ever created by Air Lift Performance.

As a result of three years of development and testing, the new 3H system combines pressure-based control with ride height sensing technology to factor both height and pressure together. This design ensures desired ride height can be achieved without radical differences in pressure. With up to five customizable presets, the system quickly adjusts to and maintains height and/or pressure with the push of a button.

Air Lift Performance 3P uses pressure based sensing technology only, so it doesn’t include the height components that come with 3H, but can be easily upgraded at a later date.

These incredibly accurate air management systems come with full color display and an integrated control pad, but can also be controlled through the Air Lift Performance iOS mobile app.

There is no need for additional parts to utilize the Air Lift Performance iOS app. Both 3H and 3P control systems include built in Bluetooth wireless connectivity, just simply download from the App Store and connect, it’s that easy! Users can also benefit from the latest Air Lift Performance 3H and 3P firmware updates available through the app by downloading updates and new features to the system.

To download the Air Lift Performance iOS app simply head to the App Store on your mobile device.

Then search for Air Lift Performance 3, or Air Lift Company.

You will then be able to download the app directly to your device.

Once installed, you will be able to wirelessly connect to your vehicle via Bluetooth and within minutes, able to adjust and view the air ride status remotely.

Air Lift Performance 3H and 3P are designed to improve the way consumers interact with their vehicles. The user-friendly controller layout is mimicked by the Air Lift Performance iOS app and features the same full-color display with at-a-glance status of height and pressure conditions, tank pressure displays, and four corner height or pressure readings for individual air springs.

The Air Lift Performance app can be used in portrait or landscape orientations at the turn of the wrist and with wireless Bluetooth connectivity, also allows you to change the ride height from outside the car.

The app is currently only available for Apple devices running iOS 7.0 or later such as iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. An Android version is in development and will be available soon.

20 Jan 2015

VW Beetle AIRLIFT Performance Kenwood Electronics

by Giuseppe Basile | posted in: AIRLIFT | 3

In December 2012 Kenwood took delivery of a brand new VW Beetle. A strange choice, perhaps, but with a little imagination and some Air Lift know-how, it became one of the most recognizable cars on the show circuit.

The project was aimed at providing a showcase for Kenwood’s fantastic line of OEM-quality multimedia head units, but also had to have the right look. For the guys at Kenwood, it was no contest in the suspension department, and a newly developed Air Lift threaded body air ride kit was incorporated into the build.

The first choice of wheels was Rota’s huge 19″ grid wheel. Measuring 10.5″ out back, a MK5 Golf GTi IRS rear end was fitted to allow the wheels to camber in as the car was dropped. This resulted in a perfect stance.

Not content with squeezing the 19’s under the Beetles arches, Kenwood then swapped to the 20″ Rotiform SNA wheels pictured above. This is probably the look most people will associate with the car, and the red-on-red scheme is pretty hard to beat!

Author Archives: Giuseppe Basile