Audi TTS: Elmo's Slammed Show Car
- EMP Performance
- Aug 9, 2013
- 3 min read
Back in 2013, EMP Performance was already making a name for itself in the UK modified car scene, working on enthusiast builds where performance, fabrication and visual impact all came together.
One particularly memorable project was Liam “Elmo” Elmore's Audi TTS, a striking show car that combined an aggressive stance, custom wheels and a full custom exhaust built by EMP Performance.
The TTS had already become a regular sight at some of Europe's biggest modified-car events, including Wörthersee and M.I.V.W., and its combination of styling and performance made it a real head-turner.
A TTS built for the show scene
Underneath the styling, the Audi TTS started life with Audi's 2.0-litre TFSI engine producing 270bhp.
But this wasn't intended to be a standard TTS.
The car was transformed with a much more dramatic stance thanks to an Air Lift Performance suspension setup, allowing it to sit extremely low when parked while retaining the practicality of adjustable air suspension.
The wheels were another major part of the build. Custom-finished Rotiform TMB split rims gave the TTS a distinctive appearance and helped create the aggressive proportions that made the car stand out at shows.
The overall result was a TTS that looked every bit the part of a European show car.
A custom exhaust by EMP Performance
The exhaust was an important part of the build, and this was where EMP Performance came in.
EMP built a full custom exhaust system specifically for the TTS, giving the car a much more purposeful soundtrack to complement its appearance.
A custom exhaust isn't simply about making a car louder. The system needs to work with the vehicle, its engine and the owner's expectations for how the finished car should look and sound.
On a build as heavily styled as Elmo's TTS, the exhaust needed to be part of the overall package rather than an afterthought.
The finished system gave the TTS a considerably more aggressive sound, while also contributing to the car's performance.
For an enthusiast car that was regularly being driven to shows and events, having the soundtrack to match the visual impact was an important part of the finished build.
European show-car credentials
The TTS wasn't built simply to sit in a garage.
The car travelled across Europe and appeared at some of the major events in the modified-car calendar, including Wörthersee, M.I.V.W. and DMPD 2013.
It was also associated with the Rollhard Crew, placing the car firmly within the European stance and modified-car scene of the time.
That period was a particularly interesting one for modified European cars, with air suspension, specialist wheels and carefully fabricated exhaust systems becoming increasingly popular among enthusiasts looking to create something genuinely individual.
Elmo's TTS was a great example of that approach.
A look back at EMP Performance
Projects like this are an important part of EMP Performance's history.
Today, the company works with a wide range of vehicles, from everyday cars requiring servicing and repairs to performance and enthusiast builds. But the enthusiasm for modified cars and custom fabrication has been there for many years.
The Audi TTS is a good example of what EMP was already doing back in 2013: working with enthusiasts to create bespoke modifications that complemented the individual vehicle rather than simply fitting a collection of off-the-shelf parts.
The full custom exhaust was an important part of that process, giving the TTS a sound and character to match its striking appearance.
Elmo's TTS: A memorable 2013 build
With its low stance, Rotiform wheels, European show-car styling and custom EMP Performance exhaust, Elmo's Audi TTS was certainly not an ordinary example of Audi's compact performance coupe.
More than a decade later, it's a great project to look back on and a reminder of the breadth of enthusiast cars that EMP Performance has worked on over the years.
Interested in changing the sound or character of your own car? EMP Performance continues to offer custom exhaust fabrication and modification from its workshop in St Albans, Hertfordshire, alongside servicing, repairs and a range of performance and automotive services.
Original feature
This project was featured by Air Lift Performance in its article “Air Lift in the UK: Elmo's slammed Audi TTS”. You can read the original feature and see the car as it appeared in the European modified-car scene in 2013 here:
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