Abt RS3 630: a very hot hatch created for the anniversary of the legendary tuning firm

German tuning firm Abt Sportsline has prepared a series of interesting special projects to mark its 130th anniversary, one of which is the Abt RS3 630, based on the third-generation Audi RS 3 hatchback. The 2.5-litre 'turbo-five' EA855 engine has been boosted to 630 hp here, the suspension has been upgraded to cope with the increased power, and the body has been given a striking aerodynamic body kit.

130 years of a tuning firm? Yes, believe it or not, such things do happen. The reason is that Abt is a family business, and the first company bearing this name was founded in 1896 by Johann Baptist Abt, a blacksmith by trade. Initially, the Abt company 'tuned' horses and carts, and it was only in 1991 that the modern tuning firm emerged, giving the world no shortage of very fast machines based on various Audi models.

Abt Sportsline has extensive experience in tuning the Audi RS 3, and the Abt RS3 630 represents something of a culmination of its work with this car, because Audi has decided not to adapt the EA855 engine, which was fitted to the Audi RS 3 across all three generations, to meet Euro 7 emissions regulations. Whether there will be a new Audi RS 3 remains unknown, and if there is, it will come with a different engine — possibly an electric one. In short, Abt is bidding farewell to the current canonical Audi RS 3 on a high note.

In the current standard Audi RS 3, the EA855 engine produces a maximum of 400 hp and 500 Nm, but Abt's specialists have increased the output to 630 hp and 700 Nm by fitting a more powerful turbocharger and an IWI (Indirect Water/Ethanol Injection) system that sprays a mixture of water and ethanol into the intake manifold to cool the combustion chambers. The gearbox is standard — a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The quattro all-wheel drive system with two individual clutches driving the rear wheels is also standard. The performance figures for the Abt RS3 630 have not been disclosed. The standard Audi RS 3 reaches 62 mph in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 186 mph.

The new carbon-fibre aerodynamic body kit, developed specifically for the Abt RS3 630, is complemented perfectly by four 95-millimetre exhaust tailpipes in the rear bumper and 20-inch forged Abt High Performance HR20 wheels, shod with sports tyres in size 245/30 R20. For the suspension, new dampers adjustable for rebound and compression, along with stiffer anti-roll bars, have been fitted to ensure reliable handling.

The interior of the Abt RS3 630 is standard, but enhanced with a number of signature touches from Abt Sportsline: RS3 630 lettering on the sill plates and floor mats, an anniversary medallion embroidered on the central armrest, bespoke LED ambient lighting, an engine start button engraved with the Abt logo, and a numbered plaque on the dashboard.

Abt will build just 30 examples of the RS3 630 hatchback, with the cost of the modifications set at €58,000, to which must be added the price of the original factory car, which starts at €66,800 in Germany.