STASIS STATE OF TUNE; Infineon race shop builds a better Audi.(News)

Byline: MARK VAUGHN

* The first thing the Stasis Audi S5 did when we got it at the California Speedway was blow away the slalom time of the stock Audi S5. That's something that gets your attention.

Right out of the crate, the Stasis S5 went through the cones at 45.8 mph, 1.6 mph faster than the stock S5. In slalom times, that's like a quantum leap, like the difference in dog years.

The car just happened to arrive on a day when we were at the track, so we sent it through the slalom.

We also liked the last Stasis product we drove, an A3 ("Stay in Balance with Stasis, AW, March 26, 2007). That car offered nice balance and composure, even some restraint when it came to settings.

You get the feeling with these cars that while they are unquestionably quicker, theyand your internal organs and teeth fillingswill last beyond the four-year/50,000-mile warranty.

But whereas the A3 was faultless during the time we had it, there were a few glitches with the Stasis S5.