400+ ponies should be enough to make a super-ute.
Audi’s Q3 five-door compact executive/entry-level luxury crossover may not have the capabilities of a true SUV or the performance of a hatchback but that’s what’s hot in the market right now, and their RS Q3 is the hottest of them all in terms of performance. The German automaker shoved one of its turbocharged inline-five cylinder engines into the Q3, added in some beefier performance goodies and put a smile on the faces of enthusiasts looking for a compact luxury ute. The team at MTM – Motoren Technik Mayer wanted to turn up the heat even more and gave the RS Q3 even more power and performance because why not?
What makes the Audi RS Q3 so special is the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five cylinder engine stuffed into its engine bay. The same engine that powers the likes of the TT-RS, RS 3, and Quattro Concept and now it sits in the compact crossover. The team at MTM was more than happy to work their magic on the high-performance engine and installed their M-Cantronic engine management system designed specifically for this application. That was paired up with a new exhaust system for the 2.5-liter that includes a carbon fiber rear diffuser to accommodate the protruding dual oval tailpipes.
Those two upgrades equate to a total of 410 horsepower at 6,600 RPM and 420 lb-ft. of torque from 2,800 to 4,600 RPM. That’s up considerably from the 310 horsepower, 310 lb-ft. of torque output in stock form. Acceleration drops and top speed rises as well, with the 0-62 mph sprint taking just 4.3 seconds to complete and the top speed jumping to just under 167 mph.
While the high-performance Q3 five-door compact executive/entry-level luxury crossover or whatever it likes to be called comes with some goodies to handle the added power from the factory, MTM took it up a notch. A new set of their 380 x 34 mm brake discs sit up front and improve the overall stopping power while the rear uses the factory setup. New nine-spoke, 9.0 x 20 MTM Bitmoto wheels wrapped with 275/35 R20 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires help hide these brakes from sight and grab at the pavement for better traction. The final touch for the chassis is a new DDC adjustable suspension system by KW that can be optimized for sport or comfort at the touch of a button.
The new MTM Audi RS Q3 high-performance crossover may be a bit unnecessary but is the perfect answer for the question nobody asks, and that’s fine with us.
The entire upgrade package including the vehicle can be purchased for a total of 76,650 Euros, total over the 54,600-Euro factory price tag.
MTM Audi RS Q3 Specifications
Engine:
Displacement: 2.5 liters
Number of Cylinders: Inline-five
Aspiration: Turbocharged
Maximum Horsepower: 410 / 302 kW at 6,600 RPM
Maximum Torque: 420 lb-ft. / 570 Nm from 2,800 to 6,600 RPM
-M-Cantronic ECU tune (3,357 Euros)
-MTM Exhaust system with carbon fiber rear diffuser (4,699 Euros)
Performance:
Acceleration 0-62 mph: 4.3 seconds
Top Speed: Just under 167 mph / 268 km/h
Wheels, Tires, Brakes, and Suspension:
Wheels: MTM Bitmoto 9.0 x 20 (4,750 Euros incl. tires)
Tires: Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Tire Size: 275/35 R20
Brakes: MTM 380 x 34 mm front discs (5,357 Euros)
Suspension: Electronically-adjustable coilovers – DDC by KW (3,887 Euros)
MTM Audi RS Q3 Gallery
Source: MTM – Motoren Technik Mayer
Is the 410-hp MTM Audi RS Q3 your high-performance compact crossover of choice?
