Tag Archives: vehicles

Tuning

ABT RS3 630

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The Audi RS3 has always been one of the most entertaining cars in the performance compact segment, combining everyday usability with the unmistakable character of Audi’s legendary 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. But ABT Sportsline believes this icon deserves something far more exclusive — and significantly more powerful.

As part of its 130th anniversary celebrations, the German tuning specialist has revealed the second model in its three-part limited-edition series: the ABT RS3 630. Limited to just 30 examples worldwide, this heavily modified Audi Sport machine transforms the already impressive RS3 into a 630-horsepower tribute to one of the automotive world’s most charismatic engines.

Following the launch of the spectacular ABT Sportsline RS6-LE 800 based on the Audi RS6 Avant, the RS3 630 represents the smaller — but no less exciting — member of ABT’s anniversary trilogy.

More Power From Audi’s Five-Cylinder Legend

Under the hood remains Audi’s celebrated 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine, but ABT engineers have extracted a significant amount of additional performance through a combination of software calibration and hardware upgrades.

The result is a massive jump from the factory RS3’s already healthy 400 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque to an astonishing:

  • 630 horsepower
  • 700 Nm of torque

That represents an increase of 230 hp and 200 Nm, turning Audi’s compact performance hatchback into a machine capable of challenging cars from much higher segments.

The engine’s unique five-cylinder soundtrack remains the centerpiece of the experience. With its uneven firing order and distinctive growl, the 2.5 TFSI has become one of the most recognizable performance engines in modern automotive history — and ABT’s creation serves as a celebration of what may soon become a disappearing breed.

More Than 300 km/h in a Compact Audi

ABT has not officially revealed the RS3 630’s 0–100 km/h acceleration time, although the standard Audi RS3 already completes the sprint in a rapid 3.8 seconds.

Instead, the company highlights the car’s extraordinary top speed capability: the ABT RS3 630 can exceed 300 km/h, placing it in territory normally reserved for much larger sports cars.

The additional performance can be activated or adjusted through the myABT smartphone application, allowing owners to control the upgraded engine calibration directly through the vehicle’s infotainment system.

A More Aggressive Look With Track-Inspired Hardware

The RS3 630 is not simply a software upgrade. ABT has redesigned the car’s appearance and chassis to match its increased performance.

The special edition rides on 20-inch ABT High Performance HR20 wheels finished in gold, wrapped in performance tires measuring 245/30 R20. The combination gives the compact Audi a much more aggressive stance while improving grip and handling capability.

Aerodynamic upgrades include several carbon-fiber exterior components, designed not only to enhance the visual appeal but also to improve stability at higher speeds.

To handle the additional power, ABT equips the RS3 with a specially tuned suspension system featuring adjustable settings and modified stabilizers on both axles. The result should be a sharper, more controlled driving experience while maintaining the RS3’s everyday usability.

A Collector’s Edition With a Farewell Message

Inside, every ABT RS3 630 receives the expected anniversary treatment, including a special “1 of 30” plaque that confirms its exclusivity.

The price for this limited-production performance compact starts at €67,500, excluding the cost of the donor Audi RS3 itself. That means the final price will place the ABT creation well above the standard model, but collectors are unlikely to view it as just another modified hatchback.

According to ABT CEO Hans-Jürgen Abt, the RS3 630 is more than a celebration of the company’s 130-year history. It is also a farewell tribute to Audi’s iconic five-cylinder engine, a powerplant whose future in Europe is becoming increasingly uncertain as manufacturers move toward electrification and stricter emissions regulations.

The End of an Era

The Audi five-cylinder has survived decades of automotive change, from rally legends to modern performance cars. The RS3 has arguably become its final and most refined expression.

With 630 horsepower, a production run of only 30 units, and a mission to preserve the character of an engine that may soon disappear, the ABT RS3 630 is not just a tuned Audi.

It is a rolling farewell letter to one of the most distinctive engines of the modern era — a compact performance car built for enthusiasts who still believe character matters as much as numbers.

Source: ABT Sportsline

NEW CARS

Bestune B70S

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China’s automotive offensive in Europe continues to gain momentum, and the latest arrival is targeting one of the continent’s hottest segments. Bestune, the passenger-car brand of Chinese automotive heavyweight FAW, has launched the new B70S in Germany—a sleek SUV coupe that wears a familiar silhouette and undercuts established rivals by a substantial margin.

If the profile looks familiar, you’re not imagining things. The Bestune B70S shares the same sporty proportions that have made the Cupra Formentor one of Europe’s most recognizable crossover coupes. A long hood, aggressive front fascia, slim LED headlights, and a fastback-style rear complete with a full-width light bar give the newcomer a premium appearance that punches well above its asking price.

Behind Bestune stands FAW, one of China’s oldest and largest automakers. The company has decades of manufacturing experience and is best known internationally as Volkswagen’s long-standing joint-venture partner in China. That industrial backing lends credibility to Bestune’s growing ambitions as it expands its European footprint.

The brand already offers three SUVs and a large sedan in Europe, the latter roughly matching the size of a Skoda Superb. The B70S now broadens the lineup by entering the increasingly competitive sport-oriented SUV segment.

Bigger Than It Looks

Dimensionally, the B70S edges past the Cupra Formentor in several key measurements. At 179.5 inches (4.56 meters) long, 72.4 inches (1.84 meters) wide, and 59.8 inches (1.52 meters) tall, it offers a slightly larger overall footprint than its Spanish rival. Cargo capacity, however, tells a different story. The Bestune provides 360 liters of luggage space, falling short of the Formentor’s more practical 450-liter trunk.

A Cabin Loaded With Technology

Inside, Bestune has clearly prioritized digital real estate. The dashboard features a trio of displays that give the cabin a contemporary, tech-focused atmosphere. Drivers face a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while a 12.2-inch infotainment touchscreen handles connectivity and multimedia duties. Climate controls are managed through a dedicated 7.0-inch display, separating HVAC functions from the main infotainment interface.

Perhaps more impressive is the amount of standard equipment included from the entry-level model. Buyers receive:

  • Panoramic glass roof
  • Power-adjustable front seats
  • 360-degree surround-view camera
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Full LED lighting
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Lane-keeping assist and lane departure warning
  • Six airbags
  • ISOFIX child-seat anchors
  • Power tailgate

For a vehicle positioned below many mainstream European competitors on price, that’s an unusually generous equipment list.

Turbocharged Power

Under the hood sits a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine producing 265 horsepower. Power is sent through an automatic transmission, and Bestune quotes a top speed of approximately 124 mph (200 km/h). While detailed performance figures have yet to be released, the output suggests the B70S should have enough muscle to match its sporty appearance.

The Price That Could Turn Heads

The B70S’s biggest selling point isn’t its styling or equipment—it’s the price tag.

Starting at €31,995 in Germany, the Bestune undercuts a similarly powered Cupra Formentor VZ by roughly €10,000. That’s a significant gap in a market where buyers are increasingly looking for value without sacrificing technology or performance.

Whether European customers are ready to embrace another Chinese brand remains the bigger question. Consumer perceptions continue to evolve, but manufacturers from China have steadily improved build quality, technology, and safety while maintaining aggressive pricing strategies.

For Bestune, the B70S represents another step in that broader strategy. Germany is the launch market for now, but broader European availability is widely expected to follow. If pricing remains similarly competitive across the continent, established manufacturers may soon have another value-focused challenger to contend with.

Source: Bestune

Auctions

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG sold for $775,000

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The collector car market has a habit of rewriting its own rules, but every so often a sale comes along that makes even seasoned enthusiasts question what they’re looking at. That’s exactly what happened when a virtually untouched 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe sold for an astonishing $775,000 on Bring a Trailer, setting a new high-water mark for the iconic gullwing.

The numbers alone are enough to grab attention. This particular SLS had covered just 250 miles since leaving the factory, making it about as close to a brand-new example as collectors are ever likely to find. Still, few expected bidding to climb anywhere near three-quarters of a million dollars.

As the auction unfolded, the price steadily climbed before reaching an already eye-opening $575,000. Another bidder nudged the total to $576,000, suggesting the sale was nearing its conclusion. Then everything changed. A newly registered account submitted a massive $775,000 bid, instantly ending the contest and leaving observers wondering whether someone had accidentally added an extra digit.

Speculation spread quickly across enthusiast forums and social media. Many believed the bidder had intended to type $577,000, while others questioned whether the transaction would ever be completed.

Bring a Trailer wasted little time addressing the rumors. According to the auction platform, the winning bidder manually entered the amount and then confirmed it through an additional verification screen, making the commitment deliberate rather than accidental.

Even so, skepticism remained until the sale received multiple independent confirmations. The dealership representing the vehicle later announced that payment had been received in full, while Hagerty Price Guide publisher Dave Kinney confirmed he had personally reviewed documentation verifying that the wire transfer had successfully cleared. At that point, any lingering doubts disappeared—the $775,000 sale was real.

Whether this transaction establishes a new market benchmark is another question entirely.

Before this auction, the most expensive Mercedes-Benz SLS sold on Bring a Trailer was a Black Series, which achieved $755,000 in 2022. Standard SLS AMG models have typically traded for substantially less, with one notable example bringing around $401,000. That makes this latest result remarkable not only because of its record-setting figure, but because it was achieved by a standard coupe rather than the more exclusive Black Series variant.

Of course, this wasn’t just any SLS. Ultra-low mileage examples occupy a unique corner of the collector market, where originality often carries more weight than drivability. Cars with delivery mileage are increasingly viewed as investment-grade assets, and buyers willing to pay a premium for the best examples continue to push prices into uncharted territory.

That said, the SLS AMG has more going for it than an odometer reading.

Developed as the first AMG model engineered largely in-house, the SLS arrived as the spiritual successor to the legendary 300 SL Gullwing while forging an identity entirely its own. Beneath its impossibly long hood sits AMG’s naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V8, producing 571 horsepower and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque. It’s an engine celebrated for its thunderous soundtrack, razor-sharp throttle response, and old-school character—qualities becoming increasingly rare in today’s era of turbocharging and electrification.

Performance remains impressive even by modern standards, but perhaps more importantly, the SLS represents the end of an era. It combines dramatic styling, iconic gullwing doors, a naturally aspirated V8, and rear-wheel drive into a package that’s unlikely to be repeated by Mercedes-AMG.

The question now is whether this sale signals the beginning of a new pricing era or simply reflects what one determined collector was willing to pay for an almost untouched example. History suggests that singular auction results don’t always redefine the market overnight, but they often reveal where demand is heading.

Either way, one thing is clear: the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is no longer simply a modern performance car. It’s rapidly cementing its place among the most desirable modern classics—and after a $775,000 hammer price, collectors everywhere will be watching the next auction a little more closely.

Source: Bring a Trailer