From its humble beginnings in the 1960s, Audi burst into the performance and luxury car market with a bang. The brand pioneered turbocharging, all-wheel drive, impeccable interior finish and cabin luxury as mainstream concepts. Recent additions have solidified this high-end reputation, with the RS models focusing on pure power and drivability, and cars powered by the innovative E-Tron powertrains leading the way in range and efficiency.
Living up to its “Progress Through Technology” motto, the German brand has garnered attention on all sides. As luxurious driver’s cars, all models undercut major rivals when it comes to power, customisation and style. Aside from factory S-line packs that dress even entry-level cars to the standard of their costlier siblings, shopping for aftermarket Audi styling parts has never been easier. These provide unique looks to any car bearing the four interlocking rings logo, and a healthy dose of character, with improved handling and performance to round out packages that are also affordable.
Dressing Your Audi for Style
Aftermarket body parts are a dime a dozen, and only a few live up to the hype. Unless you shop parts and packaged kits from tuning and styling houses offering precision-engineered components built to exacting dimensions, in durable, high-quality materials. The seamless fit is a given, as is the standout styling.
Aftermarket body parts that offer a more cohesive, race-ready and aggressive appearance to any Audi include:
Front and Rear Valances
These attach seamlessly to the factory bumpers, provide a more finished look, and reduce the gap between the bumper and the ground. The parts also shield bumpers, splitters and exhaust piping on roads littered with debris. Shop for lightweight, yet durable valances in ABS or Polypropylene (PP) for reducing drag and getting more grip through increased downforce.
Spoilers
For a tangible aero boost, opt for spoilers. The parts manage air pooling at the rear by ‘spoiling’ disruptive airflow. This pushes the car downward, improving overall stability in turns and at high speeds. Choose rear spoilers for increased downforce and rear-axle stability and to boost the sporty styling in regular A cars, as well as those wearing S and RS badges.
Splitters
Added to the front bumpers, splitters “split” oncoming air over and under the car, helping to reduce drag while maximising front-axle stability with more downforce. A noticeable difference is the improved grip and enhanced steering feel, especially in front-drive cars.
Grilles
Grilles provide adequate cooling in cars with internal combustion engines. Designed to fit seamlessly with other car and bodywork parts, grilles also prove worthy in preventing airborne and road debris from damaging key engine components. Choose all-gloss black honeycomb grilles in engineered ABS in the A1, A3 and A4 or step up to the larger units with provisions for Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) systems in the A6 and above.
Side Skirts
Usually paired with front splitters and rear spoilers for a cohesive sporty look, side skirts also double in the aero department by controlling airflow along the sides and underneath the car. The parts prevent pooling and lift, keeping cars stable and reducing the likelihood of damage in side panels, doors and wheel flares from debris, gravel and spraying rock.
Complementing the list are rear diffusers to control air pooling near the rear axle and revised front and rear bumpers, some with provisions for additional lighting and air scoops for cars tuned with aftermarket cold air intakes. While not technically bodywork, running boards in high-grade aluminium and rubber/plastic inserts help during easier entry and exit into taller Q models while providing sure footing. The parts also play a protective role, especially against spraying gravel.
Why Materials Matter
Aftermarket parts lining your Audi balance strength, durability and low weight to fulfil their aero and styling duties. To meet all those expectations, they need to be made out of premium materials like high-impact ABS. High-impact resistant ABS offers mechanical strength, heat and chemical resistance, and the ability to be moulded in distinct shapes and profiles. The material’s smooth surface is also easily paintable.
Polypropylene is a good balance between overall strength, especially in front splitters and bumpers, high flexibility to counter stresses, and rigidity and impact resistance in minor or major scuffs with road obstacles. The material also shows good adhesion to paint, necessary for the high-gloss finishes to complement your Audi.
If price is not an issue, consider carbon fibre as a more upscale choice. The material comes with exceptional strength and rigidity, very low weight and with distinct woven patterns, an aggressive, high-tech look. Full kits fitted in carbon fibre also bring older and mundane A cars closer to the wow factor instilled in undeniably more interesting S and RS vehicles.
Individual Parts or Packaged Body Kits?
Bumpers, valances, grilles, splitters, side skirts, diffusers, and rear spoilers can be optioned as separate parts for subtle changes to your car’s exterior. However, to reap all the benefits of Audi styling parts, consider packaged aero, wide-body or conversion kits.
Aero kits, consisting of front splitters, side skirts, rear diffusers and roof or lip spoilers, provide a performance boost by taming oncoming air. The increased downforce maximises grip through the tyres and keeps cars glued to the road. And the obvious aesthetic changes pair well with the crisper handling, faster acceleration and controlled braking.
Wide-body kits go with more prominent bumpers and wider wheel flares to accentuate a more aggressive stance. The changes also allow for big-brake kits, souped-up suspension and large diameter wheels.
Conversion kits go along with the factory S-line logic and get ordinary and tired-looking A cars closer in appearance to the sportier S and RS Audis. Common inclusions here are bigger bumpers (often with valances), new, blacked-out grilles, low-sitting side skirts and rear diffusers.
Needless to say, packaged body kits are not only more cost-effective than separate additions but offer more fluid aesthetics, besides the practicality and performance boost.
Completing the Look with New Alloys and Lowering Springs
For a well-rounded exterior, consider pairing new body kit parts with alloys and lowering springs. Wheels provide endless personalisation with dozens of innovative designs and finishes to bring out the best in old and new cars alike, as well as a range of performance and handling benefits, from lower sprung mass for quicker acceleration and improved brake force (with better heat dissipation) ot get your Audi to a safe stop. Choose larger sets in forged or flow-formed designs to provide more traction with equally grippy rubber and much-needed durability on pothole-filled roads. Lastly, get a more aggressive look by upgrading the stock suspension with lowering springs. These provide the slammed look, with cars also benefiting from a lower centre of gravity for reduced body roll in corners, and more feedback through the steering wheel. Pushing the car lower to the ground (by 1″ to 2.5′) also lessens the burden of body kit additions when going for improved aerodynamics and performance.
