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We love the Volkswagen Rabbit and the Audi TT as much as anyone. But the VW global brand portfolio has a few other gems that we don't get to see in North America: potential pocket rockets that provide great grist for European tuning houses such as JE Design . The Seat Altea XL is merely the latest example of a hot sport compact that is sadly not available on this side of the Atlantic. Sourced from VW's Spanish subsidiary, the Altea undergoes a substantial transformation by JE Design, which revamps the engine and suspension and adds an aero body kit. The firm starts with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI engine, tweaking it to produce 176 horsepower and 299 pound-feet of torque. JE Design shaves a full second off the 0-to-60-mph acceleration time, which drops to just under 8.9 seconds. Velocity tops out at 130 miles per hour. JE Design installs performance brakes and an adjustable coil-over suspension that lowers the ride height by 1.4 inches. A stainless-steel exhaust system ...

• 180 kW/244 PS and 355 Nm torque for 2,0 TFSI • complete optical package, wheels in 20", 4-pipe stainless steel sports exhaust • Sport springs, coilover suspension • 20"-forged wheels • In preparation: compressor-Kit for the 3,2 Liter V6 with 350 PS Audi barely released the TT on the market and JE DESIGN already came up with modifications. Now out of Leingarten, Germany, one can receive "huge" helpings while going back for seconds. In addition to suspension and motor is a complete optical package including improved brakes, a 4-pipe stainless steel sports exhaust and 20" wheels. JE DESIGN sets the the 2,0 Litre-TFSI motor under heavy pressure. Following alterations to the motor control system, the turbo gasoline-engine car has 180kW / 244HP at 5100 RPM (series produced: 147kW / 200HP). The series produced 280 Nm increases to 355 Nm providing measurably improved elasticity values. Aside from this the TT races a clean 247 km/h (...

Already fully tuned and styled: The new Seat Leon 1 P "FR" from JE DESIGN * Power boost FR-TDI up to around 142 kW / 193 bhp and 410 Nm * Power boost FR-TFSI up to around 180 kW / 244 bhp and 355 Nm * 19 inch set of wheels "Multispoke" and suspension lowering by 35 mm * 4-piston sports braking system * Complete aerodynamic body-styling kit After JE DESIGN , a well-known SEAT customising specialist, tuned the new Leon two months prior to its market launch, the same tuning specialist from Leingarten, Germany, has now turned its attention to the "FR" version. The core of the modifications is the power boost to the 2.0 TDI engine. Instead of 125 kW (170 bhp), it now generates a solid 142 kW (193 bhp) with a torque increase from 85 to 410 Nm. The modifications to the engine management system permit better driving performance: A top speed of 224 km/h (series: 218 km/h) and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds (series: 8.2) send out a clear message!...