ABT celebrates its 125th anniversary with new features for the Audi RS Q3

A couple of years ago, Audi launched the new generation of the RS Q3, the high-performance version of one of the best-selling SUVs in its range, the Q3. As expected, this sporty version was bound to pass, one way or another, through the hands of ABT, the German tuner specializing in models from the VAG Group, especially now that ABT is in the middle of celebrating its 125th anniversary.

This is not the first time the Audi RS Q3 has entered ABT’s workshops: the current generation already did so in May last year, with changes focused mainly on increasing performance, and they certainly achieved that. Now, taking advantage of ABT’s birthday, the company is presenting new features based on the tuning carried out last year, which will give the Audi RS Q3 a more expressive look.

As with the previous ABT tuning of the Audi RS Q3, the look of this sporty SUV will remain practically unchanged, since the design changes focus solely on wheels, whose range has now been expanded. Available in 20- and 21-inch sizes, ABT now offers five new wheel designs for both RS Q3 body styles, among which the Sport HR model stands out, offered in the Glossy Black finish. Moreover, if you look closely, you will see that a new adjustable suspension has also been fitted, allowing ride height variations of 20 to 35 mm at the front and 25 to 40 mm at the rear.

The interior of the Audi RS Q3 also sees changes, although, as on the exterior, these will barely affect the design harmony created by Audi for its SUVs. ABT has fitted new seat covers for the sport seats made of carbon fibre, which will undoubtedly give a greater sense of sportiness, complemented by integrated welcome lights designed by the German tuner.

Mechanically, the Audi RS Q3 uses a five-cylinder TFSI engine of 2,500 cc, capable of delivering 400 CV and 480 Nm of torque. For ABT, these figures are insufficient: through various recalibrations of the ECU, they extract up to 440 CV and a torque that rises to 520 Nm, which translates into an acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds compared with the 4.5 seconds of the standard configuration. Power continues to be sent to all four wheels thanks to the S Tronic gearbox and the Quattro all-wheel-drive system.