Review Car

For a compact car, 370 hp or 272 kW is really quite something. It promises fun and a racing feeling, especially if – as in the ABT S3 – it is achieved through the innovative ABT POWER “New Generation“ with its ABT engine control unit. This car is based upon ABT’s motor sports experience, says Hans-Jürgen Abt. “We applied all our technical know-how and our concept of a sporty, dynamic roadworthy racer,” the Bavarian tuning company’s CEO adds.

The serial Audi S3 is convincing to begin with: 300 hp (221 kW), but the ABT S3 is still better. After all, it is especially “Speedy, Sporty, Sensual”, which is what S3 could very well stand for: the ABT S3 reaches 100 kph in only 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 265 kph. This makes for exciting trips on motorways and A-roads, while in the city – the rush hour, perhaps – it is dependable and gentle. “Utilisable fun, we call it,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt.

This assertive and athletic car is also to be had featuring ABT sport-type alloy wheels. The ABT DR, for example, with its ten curved spokes signals motion even when standing still and makes for unique effects on the road. And then there is the latest highlight, the ABT ER-C, with its compelling double spokes. It’s all a matter of taste, of course, but either becomes the ABT S3 perfectly. They are available in 18, 19 and 20 inches and, of course, also with high-speed tires. The discreetly extravagant look of this compact sports car is rounded off by fender inserts that additionally underscore this car’s dynamic character.