New RS3 630 is 'very peak' of EA855 performance
Abt has pulled out all the stops to coax 630hp from 'legendary' 2.5-litre motor ahead of production winding up
You can hardly blame Abt for getting super-excited about its latest anniversary - it’s not every day that a business turns 130 years old. Sure, it was not founded in 1896 as a car tuner and race outfit, but it did enter its first partnership with Horch and Audi in 1920, so we’re still talking about over a century of family-based automotive experience. That kind of legacy needs celebrating, and Abt promised three special edition models in 2026 aimed at doing exactly that.
The first, revealed back in March, was the RS6-LE 800, which, as its name suggests, aimed to build on the work already done by a previous Legacy Edition. Now, having warmed to its theme, we get the new RS3 630, a car that apparently seeks to answer the question: what would my Audi hatchback be like if it had more power than McLaren thought was appropriate to install in a 600LT.
In fairness to it, Abt notes that this is as much a tribute to the long-running (and soon to be dead) 2.5-litre inline five as it is the RS3, so the temptation to leave nothing on the table is a fundamentally admirable one. As you might expect, this has required more than just a livelier ECU, the 630 boasting a new turbocharger and high-performance intercooler alongside the introduction of Abt’s IWI system.
That stands for indirect water-ethanol injection, which, as the name suggests, is responsible for injecting a water and ethanol mix into the engine ahead of the throttle valves. The benefit of that approach is the resulting cooling effect inside the combustion chamber - and, of course, the cooler the intake air, the more oxygen you get to furiously combust.
Accordingly, Abt says, this allows the five pot to deliver ‘consistently high power even under full load for extended periods without the electronics throttling back for safety reasons’, which is always a sentence you love to read. In short, it is via this technology that the tuner has not only reached a headline figure 230hp beyond standard, but also delivered it in such a way that it doesn’t result in immediate borkage. You can also choose where and when you apply it via the myABT app.
“The five-cylinder engine is an absolutely exceptional powerplant with a unique sound and unmistakable character,” said Hans-Jürgen Abt. “Since this engine will no longer be produced in the future, we wanted to pay it a fitting tribute with the RS3 630 and unlock its full potential. This edition showcases the legendary five-cylinder engine once again at the very peak of its performance.“
Part two of the transformation is about how you deal with that level of power when it reaches the road, an issue that the firm has solved with the tried-and-true application of manually adjustable coilovers. It suggests it has beefed up the anti-roll bars front and rear, too, alongside fitting 20-inch forged alloys in satin gold with 245-section tyres, in an effort to ‘reduce body roll, improve handling precision, and deliver a dynamic driving experience of the highest calibre without compromising the everyday comfort typical of Abt’.
Also typical of Abt is a gloss black carbon fibre aerodynamics package, including front spoiler, blades and rear skirt, not to mention two 95mm-diameter exhaust tips in matte black. Inside, you inevitably get more RS3 630 insignia dotted about the place, as well as the front seats and centre armrest in a custom finish. A ‘1 of 30’ crest on the dashboard reminds all and sundry that you’ve paid a hefty premium for a limited edition package.
The exact scale of that heftiness is 58,000 euros, including 19 per cent VAT. Oh and on top of that, there is an installation cost of 9,500 euros, also including 19 per cent VAT. Which would obviously mean more than doubling the as-new £62k starting price of a standard RS3. A spectacular investment then - but Abt would likely argue that a) it’s its birthday, and b) this almost certainly signals the end of the model’s journey with one of the modern era’s foremost performance engines. On that score, it is unlikely to have trouble finding 30 buyers willing to take the plunge…
Guess I'm a bit weird...
This horsepower race is really boring me now.
It all just seems a bit pointless. Especially as the car looks worse than the standard versions, which can be quite elegant and understated.
Even the beards at Autocar have a hands-on review of the Alfa 33 Stradale, the aforementioned Fezza, some EV and ICE Jeeps and the rather useful and handsome Toyota bZ4X Touring.
Meanwhile at PH, we’ve had a JLR prototype pre-on-sale PR teaser by Land Rover fanboy-in-chief, Captain Wordsoup. And, umm, that’s it.
Unless, of course, one counts this press release re-write / advertorial for a glorified remap special from Abt, again.
If PH’s current owners don’t give a f*uck, and clearly they don’t, then kindly pass the baton to someone who could / would invest more than 50p a week in the editorial dept, thus enabling PH to return to form and fulfil its potential.
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