RS3 rumoured to come in at 345bhp and limited to 2,700 units. Sound familiar?

[TunedM2C]

I guess this is Audi's answer to the 1M but will it come to the U.S.? If so, this makes things a bit more interesting.








The Audi RS3 is coming and reports are that it will get a slightly boosted version of the same 2.5 liter inline 5-cylinder TFSI power plant that was first introduced in the TT RS model.

According to Auto Express, the upcoming RS3 will come with 350 PS (257 kW / 345 bhp), 10 PS more than that engine's configuration in the TT RS model.

The new RS3 will also come fitted with Audi's 7-speed S tronic double-clutch gearbox.

The British magazine has published photos of some of the RS3's interior components, non-installed, which include a speedometer that reaches 310 km/h (192 mph) and a steering wheel with aluminum paddle shifters. But the RS3 will likely come with an electronically set speed limiter that will put the car on hold at the 250 km/h (155 mph) mark.

The new RS3 will be limited to just 2,700 units.


http://www.worldcarfans.com/11011052...ne-with-350-ps

[BMW86]

Shame this doesn't come in a coupe or sedan. I'm not a fan of hatches but the power plant they are using in the RS3 is a great platform. I think the 2,700 is their response to BMW's 1M for sure.

[Garduna]

more competition, i'm all for it

[Orlin]

looks promising, cant wait.

[Dackelone]

Will it come in burnt Orange with Orange stiching on the seats too?

[ORIGIN M.]

I agree 100%..

Originally Posted by BMW86

Shame this doesn't come in a coupe...

[Madozu]

Could be an interresting car if Audi finally manages to create a car that handles well. I'm rather pessimistic as A3/TT based cars usually have 60%+ of their weight on the front wheels.

[amdmaxx]

love hatches! practicality cant be beat..

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by maxnix

And I bet the engine is mounted in front of the front axle also.

Not interested, thank you. Try the Audi forums.

I agree.

Naff fwd biased Haldex system combined with transverse engine and usual dead Audi steering doesn't do it for me either.

Great 5 cyl engine though I must say, and if they turned that engine through 90deg and bolted it a proper Qauttro system and effectively created a modern UR Quattro, then I may have been interested.....

[discoboy1]

I don t like it, the front bumper looks aftermarket...

[southlight]

Yep, it's coming with the TT-RS engine (340 PS):


[source: **************.com]


Best regards,
south

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by southlight

Yep, it's coming with the TT-RS engine (340 PS):

Attachment 453182
[source: **************.com]


Best regards,
south

Nice but to keep it in perspective mustangs have over 400hp these days.

[fly135]

I think its a beast of a car with an absolute cracker of an engine. And the 4wd system isn't as bad as some people make it out. Although i do prefer rear wheel drive cars, I would be more than happy to own one. My only concern is that its going to be one bloody expensive hatch. I dont know if i could justify spending that much coin on a hatch back as it is expected to cost well over $100,000 here in Oz.

[PyratOne]

I think the folks at BMW best be careful now. If they get us all hot and bothered with this marketing, THEN fail to deliver enough "youthful, agile boy racers" some are likely to jump ship and find a comparable car elsewhere!!

I want this 1M, but if production is limited and I cant get one, Im possibly moving on to another manufacturer. What am I supposed to do? Sit around and wait another year so BMW can tease us with a car we cant get? NOPE!!
Cayman S, or Audi, or (insert comparable boy racer here).

Careful BMW

[ORIGIN M.]

^ Yep, not cool to over-promise, and under-deliver!

[Brandon26pdx]

Cool car, but I'd be concerned about the long term prospect of owning an Audi right now with the carbon buildup issues they've been having with those FSI engines. There's been horror stories.

[ORIGIN M.]

This 2.5t motor is a modern wonder.

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

Cool car, but I'd be concerned about the long term prospect of owning an Audi right now with the carbon buildup issues they've been having with those FSI engines. There's been horror stories.

[footie]

Within a fortnight or there abouts you will start to see what the press think of the RS3 as the press cars are already built.

[CrazyIvan]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

Cool car, but I'd be concerned about the long term prospect of owning an Audi right now with the carbon buildup issues they've been having with those FSI engines. There's been horror stories.

Not much different from all the HPFP stories...

[BenTrovato]

2700 1m's, 2700 rs3's, 2700 something else's. And all this time I was worried there wouldn't be enough 340hp+ compact performance machines for all of us!

[jkp1187]

Originally Posted by CrazyIvan

Not much different from all the HPFP stories...

Yeah, you want high performance, you usually pay for it with lower reliability.

And I have no illusions about the RS3 making it over to the USA. We're lucky they gave us the 5-door A3.

[jdmorris]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

Cool car, but I'd be concerned about the long term prospect of owning an Audi right now with the carbon buildup issues they've been having with those FSI engines. There's been horror stories.

I thought carbon buildup was a universal problem on all the new direct injection turbos including the 135 / 335? The Audis may be worse - maybe the separator in the N54 / N55 is better - but I would be putting a catch can or external separator on any of these cars immediately after purchase!

JD