L’oe Show 2023: An Incredible Gathering of Audi Vehicles in Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Hundreds of Audi vehicles attended L’oe Show 2023 and we take a closer look at just a few of our favorites.
When people think of car shows with an impressive variety of Audi vehicles they probably don’t think of the small town of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. But thanks to the L’oe Show that might be about to change. For those not familiar with the L’oe Show it is open to Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen vehicles. And it is not just some tiny local gathering. There are over 40 vendors, and more than 500 cars on display. Volkswagen flew some cars in from Germany to attend the show. Participants drove or trailered cars from all over the eastern seaboard and even from up in Canada to be here. There were well over a hundred Audis in the show. And they ran the gamut from SUVs to race cars.
The only problem is trying to pick a couple favorites from all the Audi machinery in attendance. Every Audi was a favorite. But sometimes I need to make tough choices, so I narrowed the list down to just three. But rest assured there were many, many more that could have made the list. Think of this as just a little morsel to whet your appetite for the L’oe Show in 2024. If you are an Audi fan and you want to attend a really special event you need to make plans to be here next year.
RS 3 LMS TCR Second Generation Race Car
This is not a replica or a tribute car. This is the actual car that just the week before Chip Miller and Mikey Taylor drove to a first-place finish in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at VIR. The empty champagne bottle and trophy were displayed proudly on the roof. With just two rounds remaining in the championship this #17 car sits in second place in the overall standings.
This RS 3 is built to Touring Car TCR regulations. Power is capped at 350 horsepower but the car weighs less than 2,800 pounds so there is plenty of thrust. Unlike the street RS 3, the race car uses a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine and front wheel drive. Instead of the 7-speed S tronic transmission that you would find in the standard RS 3, you get a sequential 6-speed unit here. The race car uses Alcon brakes, Audi Sport TCR spec wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport racing slicks. This car is owned by Unitronic / JDC-Miller Motorsports.
It is not very often that you get to see a race car that is actively competing and in the middle of the season at a car show. So, the appearance here was an extra special and unexpected surprise. In a show field packed with incredible Audi vehicles this RS 3 LMS racer was a standout.
2014 SQ 5
You might be wondering why this SQ 5 made the top three list. It is relatively mild compared to a lot of the other vehicles at the L’oe Show. Well, because we can’t all drive race cars. This SQ 5 is much more attainable, and this mild build still looks and performs great. It shows how just a few tasteful mods can bring a vehicle to another level.
Mechanical upgrades include a CTS Turbo intake, PLM heat exchanger, and a custom catback exhaust with an x-pipe. The SUV rides on 21-inch Avante Garde M510 wheels wrapped in 295mm wide Pirelli P Zero rubber. This Audi also benefits from a set of BC coilovers. Sporty looks are further enhanced by the RS honeycomb quattro grille and RS style exhaust tips. And this SUV expands the utility thanks to a Thule Motion XT XL roof box.
Upgrades continue on the inside of this SQ 5. You will find black Nappa leather seats, Beaufort Oak aluminum trim, and a custom carbon-fiber steering wheel. It might not sound like much, and it isn’t. Just like the tweaks on the outside and under the hood. But it is enough to really make this Audi SUV stand out. It is one the favorites because it shows how you can make subtle changes that add up to make a substantial difference.
2018 RS 3
We started the list with an RS 3 race car, then went to a mild Audi SUV, and now we a back to wild with this sweet RS 3 build. This RS 3 may have even more modifications than the TCR racer. There is too much list every mod here, but we will touch on some of the highlights. The most obvious is the widebody kit, huge wing and extensive carbon fiber. Inside you will find a mostly gutted interior with Sparco EVO L QRT seats, and 6-point harnesses to hold you in place.
This car has nearly the entire 034 Motorsport and APR catalog installed. From 034 Motorsport there is the DSG catch can, spherical dogbone mount, TrackSport engine mounts, rear sway bar end links, rear upper control arms, and a whole lot more. APR chipped in with a carbon fiber intake, front mount intercooler, stage 2 E85 ECU tune, and a TCU tune.
The build list on this car is extensive and we are just scratching the surface. But the end result is a car that looks spectacular, and we are willing to bet is an absolute joy to thrash around a racetrack.
Honorable Mention
There are too many cars to cover here. There was an RS 2, a whole row of RS 6 Avants, the Audi eye candy just didn’t stop. You may have never heard of the L’oe Show or Pottstown, Pennsylvania but it is quickly making a name for itself and if you are an Audi fan, you have to put this on your must-do list.
Images: Joe Kucinski
