The Audi RS3 has had a pretty interesting life, despite how short it’s been. First introduced in 2010, the initial iteration of the RS3->ke3198 lasted only until 2012. In the two years that followed, the RS3 Sportback was nowhere to be found in Audi’->ke14s lineup. It wasn’t until 2014 when the second generation RS3 arrived, bringing with it Audi’s new design DNA. Needless to say, the arrival of the new RS3 caused a lot of stir in the hot hatch and aftermarket communities. The latter, in particular, became busy developing programs for the RS3, including German tuner MTM.->ke1730

Known for its programs on Audi vehicles in the past, MTM has just released its first program for the new and improved RS3 Sportback. In typical MTM fashion, the German tuner focused the attention of its tuning kit for the RS on the hatchback’->ke304s 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. Since the standard output of the said engine only reaches 367 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque, MTM went to work and gave the hot hatch as much as 435 ponies and 477 pound-feet of twist to play with. The result is a hatchback that can bust out the chops to the tune of a 0-to-60-mph sprint time of just 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 186 mph.

Considering the restraints Audi put on the RS3 to adhere to safety regulations, MTM’s new program for the hatch effectively unlocks its full potential, allowing it to become the tire-squealing hot hatch it was developed to be.

Continue reading after the jump for the full review.

Exterior

There’s not a lot to go by as far as styling modifications are concerned. MTM is offering a carbon front spoiler wing and a carbon diffusor to help improve the RS3’s driving capabilities. But, other than these two components, most of the exterior modifications are of the cosmetic variety. These include design stickers and carbon mirror caps that can be availed with or without side assist. MTM's also offering a choice of two wheel options: 19-inch Bimoto or Nardo Edition wheels. That’s pretty much the extent of MTM’s exterior upgrades for the RS3.

Interior

As subtle as the exterior upgrades are, it’s more so in the interior of the RS3. About the only things that are worth noting are the LED car door logos, the boot mat with the Audi A3 8V Sportback logo and a carpet with the MTM logo embroidered on it. Other than these minor appointments, the interior of the RS3 remains standard so don’t expect anything that you’re unlikely to see.

Drivetrain

The really meaty part of MTM’s upgrade on the Audi RS3 can be found under the hood of the vehicle. The German tuner is actually offering a series of engine modifications, beginning with the V-Cantronic engine upgrade that simply takes out the speed limiter on the RS3. The power output remains at 367 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque just like the standard unit, but with the limiter no longer a factor, the hot hatch would now be able to hit a top speed of 177 mph.

The second option is the M-Cantronic engine upgrade. This option helps improve the output of the RS3’s 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine to 415 horsepower and and 406 pound-feet of torque, allowing the hot hatch to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in four seconds dead to go with a top speed of 181 mph.

The last and most impressive engine option is the modified MTM-motronic modification that boosts the output up to a tidy 435 horsepower and 447 pound-feet of torque. The improved output resulting from this program helps the RS3 sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds to go with a top speed of 186 mph.

It’s worth noting that the top speed numbers are all contingent on the kind of tires that are fitted into the hot hatch. More importantly, MTM’s already working on a new program that could put as much as 500 horses on the RS3. That kit is still in the “shake-down” stage, but the German tuner has promised to make it available “in the near future.”

Safety

For this particular program, MTM is offering a set of lowing springs that can drop the height of the hatchback by 1.18 inches on the front and 0.8 inches at the back. A set of coilovers are also available by request.

Price

The price tag for the whole MTM experience will vary depending on the grocery list of options that are available to a customer. Supposing somebody chooses the most expensive route, that’s going to cost around €17,200. Convert that to USD and the total reaches a little over $18,300.

That amount represents getting the most expensive options in MTM's list. So if somebody decides to go about the modification of his RS3 a little differently, he can expect the cost to be a little lower than the price indicated above.

Competition

Audi RS3 by Schwabenfolia

Schwabenfolia’s program for the Audi RS3 was launched back in 2013 so it’s understandably dated. I’m including this program in here because of how it stacks up against MTM’s new kit. Since Schwabenfolia is particularly known for its car wraps, the RS3 was given a pretty interesting matte Gorange Metallic foil that actually looks pretty good on the hot hatch. Outside of the fancy body paint, the tuner also received tints on the RS3’s taillights and shine on the black roof, the front lip, and the Audi logo on the grille.

The kit also has a performance upgrade, which is a big reason why the kit is still noteworthy. The engine modification includes an ECU remap and a RAGE 2.5 exhaust system developed by F-Town Street. The result of the mods on the RS3’s 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine is an output of 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, a significant increase from the standard 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque of the previous generation RS3.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

It's not the most impressive tuning kit in the business, but owners of the Audi RS3 are going to have a hard time looking for anything better than what MTM has to offer. The tuning firm's prices leave a lot to be desired, but if you're not the type who worries about aftermarket prices and you're just in it to enjoy the benefits of these upgrades, then it shouldn't be a problem.