By: Dave Abrahams
Essen, Germany - We're not sure whether to call this Car Wars or Audi Anarchy, as two of Germany's top tuners face off to see who can build the hottest RS3.
In the Kempten im Allgäu corner is Hans-Jürgen Abt of Abt Sportsline - his show special for the upcoming Essen motor show has a specially developed ECU, an oversized intercooler and four 102mm drainpipes masquerading as an exhaust system.
That's enough to boost the Abt RS3 450's 2.5-litre turbopetrol five from the standard 270kW and 465Nm to 325kW and 550Nm. Special springs drop the ride height by 30mm in front and 25mm at the rear, and the show car rolls on 19 inch forged rims shod with 235/35 Continental rubber.
The body is finished in semi-matt pearlescent red with a black tailgate insert and special carbon-fibre elements, while the interior is trimmed in throughout in black alcantara synthetic suede with monogrammed silver trim and real leather on the seats.
MOTOREN TECHNIK MAYER
Meanwhile, over in Wetstetten, former Audi quattro rally car development engineer Roland Meyer has tweaked his RS3 calling card to 320kW and 605Nm with nothing more than a software upgrade and a less limiting speed limiter.
That'll take the MTM-tuned RS3 from standstill to 100km/h in a claimed 3.9 seconds. Zero to 200km/h is disposed of in 14.1 seconds, says Mayer, and it'll do more than 300km/h flat out on the autobahn.
Being a former rally engineer, he's also upgraded the running gear with Brembo eight-piston brake callipers on 380mm discs and lightweight 19 inch rims.
He'll build you one just like it for about €75 000 (R1.12 million) ex works - or maybe you should hang on a while; Mayer already has a 370kW RS3 in shakedown testing, and says there's more to come.
The five-cylinder Audi mill is an excellent basis on which to add more power, he says; he's developing versions with even more power and torque gains.
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