The hot hatchback segment is particularly strong in Europe, with VAG pocket rockets being among the most popular choices. Similar to the Volkswagen Golf, the Audi A3 stands a step above with its unique combination of Audi’s sporty styling and practical compact hatchback body style, perfectly suited for both European narrow streets and twisty mountain roads.
The Audi A3 has always enjoyed a special place in the segment of hot hatchbacks, primarily due to its refine and sporty styling
The owner of this 2010 Audi A3 wasn’t content with the stock configuration and embarked on a comprehensive hot hatchback build. Step by step, they enhanced both the performance and exterior of the car to compete with the most impressive performance-oriented hatchbacks on the market.
The Build
Just as expected this hot A3 has something more than just a catchy body wrap, low stance and exterior add-ons. It’s equipped with a turbocharged 1.8 TFSI engine with a Stage 2 tune, which increased the total output from the stock 160hp to 230 horsepower—a substantial gain for such a compact engine—making it only about 20 horsepower shy of the top-tier S3.
The enhanced performance necessitated improved braking capability. To address this, the owner installed a big brake kit with drilled and slotted rotors, another calculated upgrade to bring this A3 closer to factory S3 specifications.
After the performance part had been taken care of, it was time to upgrade the appearance. Since nothing improves the visual appeal of a car more than a good set of wheels and tires, the owner decided to start by tailoring the fitment.
Wheels & Tires
Due to the size of the Performance brake kit, he needed some truly big rims. The choice fell on 19-inch Rotiform replica rims with the original Audi design, which allowed him to stay true to the brand’s design DNA. The rims are wrapped in 215/35/19 performance tires with a skinny profile, which also improved the cornering and stability at higher speeds.
Suspension
Being a fan of bagged cars with ground-hugging silhouettes, he knew that air was the only option for this build and opted for MaxLoad air suspension. Even though such setup is much more expensive and complicated to install compared to regular lowering springs or coilovers, it gave the ability to achieve a truly radical drop height without compromising daily drivability, allowing him to adjust the ride height on the go depending on the situation.
Exterior
After the performance and stance work were completed, it was finally time to take care of the exterior. And this is where the owner decided to not go over the top. Instead of choosing crazy bodywork, he stayed true to the OEM-plus performance look with the RS3 replica front bumper with xenon headlights, UK splitter, Maxton side skirts and rear lip spoiler. The original black paint job was covered by a Deep Space Gloss wrap by 3M.
2010 Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Specs & Mods
Wheels
- 19” Rotor Replica Rims
- 215/35/19 Tires
Suspension
- Maxload air suspension
Performance
- REVO stage 2 running about 230bhp (Stock was only 160HP)
Exterior
- Deep Space Gloss wrap by 3M
- Maxton side skirts
- Maxton rear spoiler lip
- RS3 replica front bumper
- Xenonz UK front bumper splitter
Conclusion
This Audi A3 is definitely a great example of a properly built European hot hatch that proves you don’t need crazy power figures and over-the-top modifications to create something special. With a decent power bump to 230 horses thanks to the Revo Stage 2 tune, the owner managed to get pretty close to S3 territory while staying relatively simple with bolt-ons.
Build Complexity Score
| Parts Category | Difficulty Rating* |
|---|---|
| Suspension Mods: | 8/10 |
| Performance Mods: | 3/10 |
| Exterior Mods: | 7/10 |
* Based on our build difficulty evaluation system ⓘ
The real star of the show here is definitely the stance game – running air suspension (worth 8 points base don our rating system) with those 19-inch Rotor replicas and skinny profile rubber creates that perfect Euro look that turns heads both at shows and on the streets. The exterior upgrades with the RS3-style front end and Maxton aero parts keep things clean and sporty without going overboard, resulting in 7 points out of 10 possible for the exterior upgrades.
Watch the progress and find out more about this Audi A3 project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @that_flipping_a3!
Photography by 📸 @zignature.co.uk
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