German super tuner Abt has a history of making remarkable tuning products for some of Ingolstadt’s finest. The AS3, based on the current generation Audi A3 is no exception. The most obvious mods are aesthetic. A full aerodynamics kit consists of a front lip, side skirts, rear valence and fender vents. The look is subtle, yet adds a level of aggressiveness that enthusiasts want. Well the spoilers, skirts and valence lend a look of aggressiveness, the fender vents are a little much for our tastes.
The rear valence is designed to work with Abt’s now signature four tip exhaust. The exhaust works in conjunction with other engine modifications to yield 240hp. Abt doe snot specify what exactly the modifications entail. If we had to guess, we would say software and a cat-back. The cat-back is a good guess since the emissions ratings are exactly the same as stock.
With the extra power on tap Abt felt is was necessary to upgrade the braking. A 345mm big brake kit is used on the front of the car along with stainless steel lines. Again the improvements are subtle, yet effective. For increased handling, Abt stuck with just springs. Since many of Audi’s offerings are now including active suspension systems, it doesn’t make much sense to change out the dampers.
Lastly, Abt can fit your Audi with either 18 or 19-inch wheels. Most tuners are still recommending an 18 for maximum performance and the 19 for maximum bling. The design you see in the accompanied photos are Abt’s BR wheel. We prefer the more traditional look of the Abt Z wheel, but some feel they look a bit dated. Either way, we would recommend going with an 18 and leave the 19s for the show crowd.
While Abt may not be the most extreme Audi tuner out there, their cars deliver factory levels of refinement and reliability while offering more performance in a unique package. With turbo upgrades available for the TT 2.0T we have to think that maybe the same treatment is coming for the A3. Who wouldn’t want a 300hp hot hatch.
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