Kempten im Allgäu, Germany - According to meistertuner Hans-Jurgen Abt, spacecraft are not the only things that blast off in stages.
First Audi added an extra power stage to its 2480cc five-cylinder TFSI S3 Sportback, with the 270kW RS3. Now Abt Sportline has added another stage with its 'New Generation' piggyback ECU and authoritative stainless-steel auspuff, complete with four 102mm (can you spell drainpipe?) black-chromed tailpipes.
He quotes a 16.7 percent power increase, up to 316kW (goodbye, A45 AMG) and a 16.5 percent torque boost to 530Nm. The Abt-modified RS3 gets from 0-100 in just 4.1 seconds, he says, and top speed is up to 285km/h.
STAGE IV
And there's yet another stage on the launch pad, the Power S piggyback ECU, which he promises will surprise even hardcore performance junkies - but he won't quote numbers until he's got all the kinks out and the boosted engines are 100 percent reliable.
Of course, tuned cars run much better on bigger rims. Abt offers two styles of 19 inch hoops, the cast-alloy ER-C and the lightweight forged ER-F, and for a few euros more (well, quite a lot, actually) he'll supply them fitted with 235/35 Continental sports radials.
Then there are also door-sill LEDs to guide the crew aboard the Abt rocketship, as well as custom silver-embroidered floor-mats to soak up the G forces.