AUDI RS 3 UNLEASHED
It's a pity that this has only happened so extremely late in the Audi A3's life cycle. Yet if better late than never is your motto then feast your eyes on the Audi RS 3, which is due here around June next year.
It's also peculiar, given the car's performance flagship status, that it only comes in the wagon-like Sportback guise rather than the racier three-door shape, albeit that will be a selling point for family buyers seeking something very brisk.
Let's get straight to the nuts and bolts then: The RS 3 is powered by the same 2480cc, turbocharged, five-cylinder engine that motivates the TT RS, and that means a power output of 250kW at 6800rpm and twisting force of 450Nm from 1600rpm. According to Audi, it'll leap from 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds at and once again, no prizes for guessing the nanny-imposed top speed.
The official fuel consumption figure, attained by driving it the way it's unlikely to ever be driven, stands at a not-too-bad 9.1 litres per 100km, equating to an emissions figure of 212g/km. Efficiency is enhanced by energy recovery under deceleration and an on-demand oil pump.
The engine's soundtrack could put paid to any economy ambitions though, with that off-beat five-cylinder rhythm and a sound flap in the exhaust branch, which is operated along with the engine response via a 'Sport' button and designed to intensify the sound. “Guttural roaring and growling” is what you can expect, says Audi.
The engine channels its power through a version of Audi's seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission, which offers two automatic modes and one manual mode - the latter allowing gear selection via steering wheel paddles or the selector lever. For those super brisk pull-offs, launch control is also in place.
It goes without saying too, that Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system distributes the power between the front and rear axles exactly as required by the situation.
The RS 3 rides on lowered sport suspension based on the McPherson strut front and four-link rear end design found on other A3 models. The car sits on massive 19-inch alloys with 235/35 rubber on the front and 225/35 on the back. The brakes have been beefed up too, with 370mm internally ventilated discs up front and 310mm anchors at the rear.
Despite the practical body shape, Audi stylist have done a decent enough job of adding aggression to the styling - naturally they added many of the styling features found on the RS 5. The styling package comprises xenon plus headlights, an RS-style front apron and anthracite grille, flared front fenders, alloy-look wing mirrors, prominent side sills and a high-gloss black diffuser among its visual highlights.
You also get the usual RS treatment inside with sports seats clad in Fine Nappa and a choice between piano black and Aluminium Race Look inlays, in addition to the usual glut of RS 3 logos. What's more, the instrument display allows you to record your lap times and gauge the turbo's boost pressures and oil temperature.
