The tuning potential of Audi’s turbo 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, seen in the RS 3, is already well documented. In standard form, it throws out 270kW and 465Nm.
Popular tuners of the four-ringed brand include MTM and ABT, who have tuned this engine to 369kW and 316kW, respectively. Another player, MR Racing, has emerged with its Stage 1 kit, creating 330kW and 653 pavement-devastating Newton metres.
Upping the ante to Stage 2 sees 393kW and 700Nm on the back of a high-pressure fuel system, better breathing intercooler and larger turbocharger. Performance? 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds and a 300km/h top speed. Three hundred in a hot hatch – just ponder that for a minute.
This is an improvement from the stock RS 3’s already jaw-dropping 4.3-second sprint to 100 and 280km/h top whack.
A Martini-look paint scheme with red rims and some bodykit additions complete the setup, as well as coilover suspension and sticky 235/35 R19 Pirelli tyres. A similarly fitted out interior completes the ensemble .
The Audi RS 3 Sportback starts from $78,900 in Australia, with an RS 3 sedan due some time this year. It competes with the Mercedes-AMG A 45, BMW M135i, as well as some in-house competition from VW Golf R and the imminent Ford Focus RS.
A stock standard RS3 has been proven to run 3.9 seconds to 100k’s. Motor’s latest test proved this in Australia. 3.95 0-100. So if the standard car is much faster than Audi claim i wonder what the real power of the standard RS3 is? 300Kw?
So if for arguments sake a 270Kw RS3 can run 3.9 to 100, shouldn’t a 393Kw run closer to 3.1 to 3.2 seconds?
Will performancedrive.com.au be testing an RS3 any time soon?