Saying life's too short to drive slow or boring cars might come off as offensive. We are living in times where emotions and feelings rule over sense. Still, taste in cars is highly subjective. It can't be force-fed. No two car buffs will agree on five vehicles. But on certain rare occasions, the approval rate on a car is so high that it wins over the masses. ABT's 1-of-200 2023 Audi RS3-R Sportback is one of these rare specimens– its powerhouse internals, stunning exterior design, and Goodwood Green make it a delectable pick.
ABT has done it again – and thanks to Auditography's cinematic magic wand, we have the rare opportunity to see Audi's latest super hatch shaking its tail feather in the dreamy country roads of Allgaeu, Germany.
Suppose you thought the 1-of-300 2023 Audi RS3 Performance Nogaro Edition was a little uppity for your liking. In that case, the Goodwood Green on this is the perfect show of supremacy without sticking it in people's faces.
There's a clear distinction between the stock 2023 Audi RS3 and ABT's limited RS3-R Sportback. Green is undoubtedly a bold choice, but ABT's RS3-R in Goodwood Green with a cocktail of carbon bits and pieces makes this release one you'll have to check out more than twice and still not get satisfied.
The well-contrasting carbon pieces include a front lip and flics, a roof spoiler, fender add-ons, mirror caps, and a rear diffuser. On its modern interior, 200 lucky owners will be treated to ABT RS3-R seats with red accents and stitching, carbon fiber trims, and an Alcantara steering wheel.
Straight from the factory, the 2023 Audi RS3 runs a turbocharged 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine sound for 401 hp (407 ps) and 369 lb-ft of torque. According to the German automaker, this super hatch will do 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in 3.6 seconds.
It's easy to think this is just a spec'd out RS3. It is – but with a lot more than your local dealer can offer. The Kempten Allgäu – based Audi tuners added a little spice and tang to a world-class recipe that is the RS3.
Thanks to their automotive wizardry, this limited-to-200 version of the RS3, namely the RS3-R Sportback, makes 500 hp (507 ps) and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque.
To achieve that conspicuous bump in power, the folks at ABT fitted a larger ABT intercooler and did an ECU remap. For suspension, it runs on ABT Suspension springs and anti-roll bars. The result is 3.25 seconds from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) and a top speed of 300 kph (186 mph).
The ABT 2023 Audi RS3-R Sportback runs dual ABT 99 mm (3.89 inches) stainless steel double-end exhaust (in matte black) for petrol-head-approved tail-end acoustics. Down below, it sits on 20-inch HR high-performance forged 245/30 wheels.
Only 200 ABT 2023 Audi RS3-R Sportback versions are up for grabs worldwide for €35,900 ($39,170). Would you pick this spec? In the comments section below, let us know what you think about this sensational release.
Humphrey is a car enthusiast whose love and passion for automobiles extended into collecting, writing, driving, and working on cars. He got his passion for cars from his Dad, who spent thousands of hours working on his old junky 1970 E20 Toyota Corolla. Years later, he would end up doing the same with a series of lemons he’s owned throughout his adult life. Full profile
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