Limited-run Abt RS3-R upgrades Audi RS3 to 493bhp
German tuner Abt has revealed its ultimate take on the Audi RS3 hyper hatch
Abt Sportline has revealed its latest full-package R model, this time paying attention to the latest Audi RS3. This ultimate interpretation of an A3 will be called the Abt RS3-R, and features some fairly substantial upgrades to the powertrain, chassis and styling. The model will be limited to just 200 units, and while most of its individual upgrades are available separately, only the RS3-R models will feature a full 493bhp engine upgrade package.
Starting under the bonnet, Abt’s been working on upgrades for Audi’s venerable five-cylinder engine for years, but never has it reached such a high power figure with one of its official upgrade packages. Power is rated at 493bhp, a 99bhp rise and 39bhp more than Abt’s most powerful individual upgrade for the five-cylinder.
Torque’s also been given a hike, rising from 369lb ft to 442lb ft (+73lb ft), all helping the RS3 hit 62mph in just 3.3sec, 0.6sec faster than the admittedly underrated factory figure. The top-speed is now also released from the 174mph limit of the base car fitted with the RS Drivers package.
The extra power is largely derived from a new Abt ECU, but here it works with an upgraded Abt intercooler and injection system. The exhaust is standard, save for a new quad finisher that nestles within a bespoke rear shroud in the bumper. Abt hasn’t mentioned whether there are any transmission tweaks included in the upgrade package, but given the base car’s already pushing the seven-speed dual-clutch gearboxes torque cap, we’d hope there are some safeguards in place to stop it imploding.
Abt has also played with the suspension, dropping the car on new springs paired with a strut-brace adding stiffness between the front suspension towers. The existing adaptive dampers remain, but for those after an even more aggressive setup there is an optional fully-adjustable system that also replaces the standard dampers. As well as a 20-40mm adjustment in ride height, both compression and rebound are able to be manually adjusted separately on the optional kit.
The rest of the package is the usual Abt fare, with carbonfibre add-ons to the bumpers, sills and rear spoiler. There’s also a new 20-inch wheel design – an inch bigger than the standard car – plus a selection of interior upgrades.
Abt hasn’t released any specific prices, but all 200 units are already spoken for. Still, if you missed out you’ll still be able to get most of the way there from Abt’s individual upgrades.
