Nother CarGuy

Automotive supplier Schaeffler has created the ultimate Audi RS3 and no, it doesn’t feature a high-revving five-cylinder engine with forced induction. For those that don’t know, Schaeffler is a major sponsor of the Audi Sport ABT Formula E team. Consequently, it has fitted the electric powertrain from the FE01 open-wheel racer into the body of an Audi RS3. The finished result is 1180 hp and a 0-124 mph (km/h) time of less than seven seconds. The car, dubbed the Schaeffler 4ePerformance concept, has an electric motor at each wheel. Each motor is connected through a spur gear unit and each two motors share one gearbox housing to create an electric twin axle. The setup allows for advanced torque vectoring. The battery driving these motors has an overall capacity of 64 kWh. “For Schaeffler, this vehicle is a test laboratory on wheels thanks to its free scaling options for the drive power,” Director Special Projects Motorsports at Schaeffler, Simon Opel said. “We are currently...

With this year's Essen Motor Show about to have its preview day on Friday, December 1st, ABT Sportsline has prepared a few treats for all car enthusiasts to enjoy. Not only will they be presenting a 500 PS RS3, but a '1 of 10' SQ7 SUV will also be on deck, as will the tuner's Golf VII R, boasting 400 PS of its own. Furthermore, the ABT Power Monitor, which provides a live overview of the power boost, among many other features, is also making its world premiere at Germany's largest annual vehicle exhibition, now having its 50th anniversary. Now let's talking about the cars. With the RS3, the tuning package costs €16,900 ($20k), and the price for the complete vehicle is €74,390 ($88,500). All that money gets you a 500 PS (493 HP) engine, custom springs, anti-roll bars, brake upgrade kit and a special damper setup. Not only does ABT's RS3 supposedly ride and handle great, it also sounds more aggressive thanks to the tuner's exhaust sy...

Almost a year after the introduction of the  facelifted A3 and S3 range last April , and several months after the debut of the RS3 sedan at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, Audi thought it would be a good time to present the updated RS3 Sportback. The shorty story is that the go-fast hatch adopts the subtle styling, equipment and tech improvements from the regular A3, and the more powerful 400PS (395hp) turbo five  from the new RS3 Sedan . In more detail and starting from the most important upgrade for 2017, the RS3 Sportback gains the same lightweight, five-cylinder, 2.5-liter turbocharged engine found in both the RS3 sedan  and the TT RS . It’s not only 26kg (57.3 lb) lighter thanks to its aluminum crankcase, among other features, but also gains 33hp and 11 lb-ft (15Nm) over its predecessor, delivering 400PS (395hp) and 480Nm (354.0 lb-ft) available from 1,700 rpm up to 5,850 rpm. As before, the five-cylinder lump is paired exclusively to an S-tronic seven-speed dual-clutc...

The most powerful model of the A3 series has been launched at this year’s  Mondial de L'automobile , and it’s now ready to take a swing at the updated CLA 45 AMG. As if  the Sportback’s  367 PS (362 hp) and 343 lb-ft (465Nm) of torque weren't enough to satisfy the average buyer, the sedan version comes with an even more powerful (and improved) variant of the 2.5-litre TFSI engine under the hood.  The mill in question is now 26 kilograms (57.3 lb) lighter than its predecessor, and it employs a dual injection system, as well as Audi’s valvelift (variable valve control system) for a bit of extra oomph.  Like previous reports suggested , it now develops no less than 400 PS (394 hp) and 480 Nm (354.0 lb-ft) between 1,700 rpm and 5850 rpm, making it the most powerful five-cylinder on the market. Powerful enough  to launch the RS3  Sedan from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in just 4.1 seconds, and let it accelerate all the way to 250 km/h (155.3 mph). But if tha...

As if  the launch of the new RS3 sedan  weren't enticing enough as it is, Audi also came to Paris this year with an even more aggressive-looking racing version. Not unlike the  BMW's M235i Racing , the RS3 LMS is the new point of entry into Audi Sport's racing lineup. It slots in below the  R8 LMS  the company  offers to GT3 racing teams , not to mention the  RS5 DTM  and  R18 E-tron Quattro  prototype it fields through its own factory racing programs. It's based on the new road-going sedan, but is clearly tuned for the track with more aggressive bodywork, dropped down to the tarmac and festooned with wings. Where the street model packs plenty of luxury accoutrements, the racing model's cockpit is stripped out and fitted with a single PS3 racing bucket, roll cage, safety nets, and rescue hatch. In place of the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five, the racing model is powered by a competition-spec 2.0-liter turbo four rated at 330 horsep...