ABT Sportsline reveals Audi RS3 tuning program

ABT Sportsline has really been a tear lately. Just last month, the German tuning firm released two new models; the ABT Q3 and ABT AS6 Avant. ABT's latest tuner is this, the ABT RS3. Utilizing their signature "POWER S" software, ABT is able to release and added 130 horses from the RS3's 2.5 TFSI 5-cylinder for a total of 470 horsepower. More after the jump.

Under the hood, ABT offers the choice of two levels of tune for the RS3. The 420-hp "POWER" and 470-hp "POWER S" programs. As you'd imagine, we're going to focus on the more potent of the two. In addition to its 470 horsepower, ABT's POWER S program is able to expel an extra 133 lb/ft of torque from the RS3's five-pot to a very impressive 464 lb/ft. Coupled with ABT's own performance exhaust system, the ABT RS3 is able to launch from 0-62 mph in just four seconds and on to a de-limited top speed of 177 mph.

As you can see from the photos, ABT chose to leave much of Audi's original bodywork intact. The only aesthetic modifications currently offered is a choice of the firm's "DR," "CR" or "BR" design wheels in 19-inch size only. "19 inches are perfect for this car," explained ABT's CEO Hans-Jürgen Abt, who personally prefers the gun-metal "DR" design as pictured.

For more information, check out the official press release below or feel free to visit ABT Sportsline's official website.

Press Release:

High-speed magic – the new ABT RS3

Well, it can hardly be called “cute”, can it?! The RS3 is chunky and chic and damned fast, too. “A car to which there is even more than meets the eye, and that is quite a feat,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt, CEO of the globally largest tuner of cars produced by the Volkswagen Group. Highlighting what is special about this new car, he continues “If you are into understatement you get a car that is simply elegant. It is easy to handle in narrow streets and you can also burn rubber.“ Even more so when the ABT Sportsline engineers have also tuned up its performance: 100km/h in four seconds? No problem whatsoever. And certainlyenough to keep one’s pole position, don’t you think? And it only stops at 285 km/h. In contrast to its series-production counterpart, the ABT RS3 has no cut-off. Or, as Hans-Jürgen Abt explains: “It was our engineers’ top priority that this car shows a top performance at high speeds, too. If you look at the performance chart, you can see that it is very powerful even near the limit.“ After all, for ABT the RS3 stands for high-speed magic.

The ABT RS3 has power – lots of power. But it uses its power discretely if you are driving through town or leisurely elsewhere. If, however, you want to go at full throttle, in its most powerful version it will turn into a racing car. With its POWER S technology, that is, the ABT turbocharger and a modified motor management, the five-cylinder engine, 2.5l cc, produces no less than 470 hp (346 kW), that’s more kW than the series-production’s horsepower (340 hp/250 kW). 630 Nm (torque; series-production: 450) mean a massive thrust and superiority all over. The RS3 has the same fuel consumption and CO2 emission rate as the basic version. Again, the ABT engineers’ work was perfect. But you don’t need the most powerful version to get fun. ABT POWER does also give you a lot. The 2.5 TFSI strong 420 hp (309 kW) engine’s performance is certainly enough to outrace all others and let them catch a glimpse of the 2-pipe stainless steel ABT exhaust system.

The RS3 simply needs the ABT light alloy wheels. “19 inches are perfect for this car,“ says Hans-Jürgen Abt. He likes the DR with its expressive Gun-Metal look best, but, of course, BR and CR also fit this car perfectly. And all light alloy wheels are also available in complete sets. Finally: high-performance tyres are extremely important for such a fast car. 255/30 R19 on the front axle, 225/35 R19 on the rear one. The ABT RS3 on DR wheels has a real presence then – on the road, too! It’s simply high-speed magic.

The new ABT RS3 – data and facts:

ABT ENGINE TECHNOLOGY
Engine: 2.5 TFSI, 2.480 ccm capacity
Performance tuning: ABT POWER - Performance: 420 HP/309 kW (standard: 340 PS/250 kW)
Performance tuning: ABT POWER S - Performance: 470 HP/346 kW (standard: 340 PS/250 kW)

ABT EXHAUST TECHNOLOGY
ABT stainless steel exhaust system

ABT WHEEL TECHNOLOGY
ABT BR, CR or DR in 8,5x19 inch
(Available also as complete set of wheels with sports tyres)

Source: ABT Sportsline