Photo: Stefan Baldauf / Robert Kah
When talking about automakers who intentionally underpower cars to keep then in check, most folks think of Porsche and its Cayman. However, there are a lot of Audi examples for those who know where to look.
The RS Q3 is one of them, a 310 PS hot crossover which uses the same 2.5-liter TFSI engine as the TT RS and yet can't match its power. Doing that to a the first crossover or SUV to ever wear the RS badge is a bit of a disappointment, especially when AMG didn't pull any punches with the 360 PS GLA 45.
The Germans at ABT Sportsline are not only big Audi tuners, but also big Audi fans, so they couldn't let the RS Q3 live with only 310 PS. Their solution: tune it to 410 PS. The famous 2.5-liter turbo also receives an increase in power by 110Nm, from 420Nm (310 lb-ft) to 530Nm (391 lb-ft). We have no acceleration numbers for the car, but expect 5 seconds dead in the 0 to 100 km/h sprint.
Tuning is in the details with ABT, who took all the cosmetic goodies available for the Q3 and tailored them to the RS model. These include a new grille, new front bumper, diffuser and a quad exhaust pipes. It's not as clean a look as a real quattro project and almost looks like the car has braces to straighten its grille.
The only clean piece of tuning on the car is the 21-inch alloy wheel set wrapped in 255/30 R21 tires. While the body kit is mildly entertaining, the power is seriously cool. 410 horsepower in a little Q3 is more than enough to make any RS fan happy which is why ABT's stand deserves a visit if you're at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Germans at ABT Sportsline are not only big Audi tuners, but also big Audi fans, so they couldn't let the RS Q3 live with only 310 PS. Their solution: tune it to 410 PS. The famous 2.5-liter turbo also receives an increase in power by 110Nm, from 420Nm (310 lb-ft) to 530Nm (391 lb-ft). We have no acceleration numbers for the car, but expect 5 seconds dead in the 0 to 100 km/h sprint.
Tuning is in the details with ABT, who took all the cosmetic goodies available for the Q3 and tailored them to the RS model. These include a new grille, new front bumper, diffuser and a quad exhaust pipes. It's not as clean a look as a real quattro project and almost looks like the car has braces to straighten its grille.
The only clean piece of tuning on the car is the 21-inch alloy wheel set wrapped in 255/30 R21 tires. While the body kit is mildly entertaining, the power is seriously cool. 410 horsepower in a little Q3 is more than enough to make any RS fan happy which is why ABT's stand deserves a visit if you're at the Geneva Motor Show.
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