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

[footie]

Who's to know what price Audi will put on this car or the TT-RS and RS5 when they reach the States. But if you do look at what they are currently doing with the likes of the S4 then one must expect the none of the above RS models will be as expensive as first thought.

In the UK Audi and BMW price within a few hundred pounds of each other, i.e. the M3 as very close on price when specced similar to an RS5 and I suspect the 1M and RS3 will be similarly priced as well. But even if the RS models are a little more expensive than their M equivalents, what price must can put on exclusivity and awd.

Different ideas on the same theme that will have the devoted fans but I am sure even among these there will be some cross shopping.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by shockin330i

It dosnt matter if the exchange rate is the same, what matters are the import taxes your country imposes...

Noop!

What determines the price is the MARKET!

IF people are willing to pay more... they will charge it. (like in Germany!)

IF there is a lot of competition and people aren't willing to pay a lot the price will be lower and have more extras and a longer garranty! (like in the USA).


FYI... a 135i has a base price of 40,100 euros before any extras. Most will be in the 44 to 49K range. An M3 coupe has a base price of 68,750. Most M3's will be in the 80K range. But I have seen a few near 100K too! And we are not talking about the GTS model. Just the normal M3 coupe. Cars and all things related to cars cost way more over here. its just the people over here can and will pay those crazy prices - so they charge it.

The logical thing is to think its the 19% sales tax and all. But its not realy that. That is why so many Germans are now travelling to the US to buy their dream BMW and bring it back over here. Even after they pay shipping and all the customs and taxes... they STILL come out ahead! lol

Willkommen zu Deutschland - land of taxes & the Autobahn.

Dackel

[theblackangus]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Noop!

What determines the price is the MARKET!

IF people are willing to pay more... they will charge it. (like in Germany!)

IF there is a lot of competition and people aren't willing to pay a lot the price will be lower and have more extras and a longer garranty! (like in the USA).


FYI... a 135i has a base price of 40,100 euros before any extras. Most will be in the 44 to 49K range. An M3 coupe has a base price of 68,750. Most M3's will be in the 80K range. But I have seen a few near 100K too! And we are not talking about the GTS model. Just the normal M3 coupe. Cars and all things related to cars cost way more over here. its just the people over here can and will pay those crazy prices - so they charge it.

The logical thing is to think its the 19% sales tax and all. But its not realy that. That is why so many Germans are now travelling to the US to buy their dream BMW and bring it back over here. Even after they pay shipping and all the customs and taxes... they STILL come out ahead! lol

Willkommen zu Deutschland - land of taxes & the Autobahn.

Dackel

Do they come over here and then take EU delivery?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by theblackangus

Do they come over here and then take EU delivery?

No. I was talking about Germans buying a car used in the states or new at a US dealer.

The coding guy I met in Nuernberg told me he has many clients who go to the states to buy a good used BMW. He then gets busy with coding them to EU specs and getting rid of some of the silly stuff we have like orange lights and the seat belt gong, ect. He can also code a new speedo to KMs instead of MPH - if the customer wants too. By installing a new cluster and coding it.

BMW doesn't have a American Tourist Delivery program. Not yet! I really think they should offer something like that for the cars built in Spartenburg, SC. Like for the X3's and X5's and X6's - for EU or German customers.

[Raine]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

What is a TT-R? The TT-S is 58k. Audi's are vastly overpriced.

60k for a VW 2liter four cyl...Ridiculous.

Whoops, I meant TT-S.

Also yea wtf, that's not even including options, you can bet the car will be around 75k total LOL

Rather just get a GTI and call it a day.

[aus135i]

any1 know anything abt this??

http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/r...118-17y0z.html

[PrimoM3]

Originally Posted by aus135i

any1 know anything abt this??

http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/r...118-17y0z.html

Yeah, it's going to be way expensive! Probably $75K+ in the U.S. If you follow Chris Harris on Twitter, you'll know that he thinks naming it an "R" is downright ridiculous. Apparently, it is the first time Porsche has used this designation since an uber 911 from the 60's that was stripped out and heavily modified. Suffice to say, looks like BMW is not the only one watering down their brand these days. (Still love you BMW).

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Primo135

Yeah, it's going to be way expensive! Probably $75K+ in the U.S. If you follow Chris Harris on Twitter, you'll know that he thinks naming it an "R" is downright ridiculous. Apparently, it is the first time Porsche has used this designation since an uber 911 from the 60's that was stripped out and heavily modified. Suffice to say, looks like BMW is not the only one watering down their brand these days. (Still love you BMW).

WHAT is Porsche thinking!!! It would be cool IF this Cayman has some race err RENN stuff/parts on it... but it will just be a paint and badge deal by the new VW owners. Caling it the Cayman R will only add to VW'd R -lineup. Whats next blue dash lights on all Porsches!?!?!? Sheeeesh!

Maybe we will soon see "Wolfsburg edition" Porsche's too?

[footie]

It's official! Audi RS 3 Sportback

Big performance in a small package: the Audi RS 3 Sportback

• Five-cylinder turbo delivering 250 kW (340 hp) and 450 Nm (331.90 lb ft) of torque
• Zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.6 seconds, superior pulling power
• Seven-speed S tronic, quattro drive and 19-inch wheels

Blazing performance, compact size. Audi has added a new model to its dynamic RS series: the RS 3 Sportback. In the great tradition of the brand, its engine boasts five cylinders and turbocharging technology. From a displacement of 2.5 liters come 250 kW (340 hp) of power and 450 Nm (331.90 lb-ft) of torque, with an average fuel consumption of just 9.1 liters of fuel per 100 km (25.85 US mpg).

Power is transmitted to the road via a seven-speed S tronic and quattro permanent all-wheel drive. 19-inch wheels and fenders made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) underscore the Audi RS 3 Sportback’s position of distinction.

Power and sound: the engine

Each Audi RS model represents the pinnacle of its model line – the RS 3 Sportback, developed by quattro GmbH, now brings this dynamic philosophy to the compact category. It rockets from a dead stop to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.6 seconds – a performance figure unrivaled by the competition. Top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Even so the compact car, weighing in at only 1,575 kilograms (3,472.28 pounds), uses on average just 9.1 liters of fuel per 100 km (25.85 US mpg) and emits 212 g CO2 per km (341.18 g/mile). This efficiency is due in large part to a delivery-on-demand oil pump and a regenerative system that recovers energy as the car decelerates.

The 2.5-liter engine in the RS 3 Sportback will thrill passengers thanks to its tremendous pulling power and its voracious revving up to 6,800 rpm. The guttural roaring and growling, backed by the signature rhythm of the five-cylinder firing order make up the classic Audi soundtrack. A sound flap in the exhaust branch intensifies the sound even further. The flap is controlled via the standard Sport button, which also varies the engine response.

Powerful five-cylinder engines have a long legacy at Audi. In the 1980s, racing cars and production cars used them to edge out the competition. Even the first Audi RS model, the 1994 RS 2, had a five-cylinder engine. The 2.5-liter unit, already part of the TT RS specifications, now redefines the state of the art, having recently been named “International Engine of the Year” by a high-ranking jury of automotive journalists.

The 2.5 TFSI delivers 250 kW (340 hp) from a displacement of 2,480 cc: a specific power output of 100.8 kW (137.1 hp) per liter. The maximum torque of 450 Nm (331.90 lb-ft) is readily available at the low end of the rev range, around 1,600 rpm, and remains constant up to 5,300 revolutions. These general parameters yield excellent acceleration and elasticity values.

Just 49 centimeters (19.29 inches) in length, the five-cylinder unit is ultra-compact, tipping the scales at a mere 183 kilograms (403.45 pounds). The crankcase is made of vermicular-graphite cast iron, a high-strength yet lightweight material. Audi is the first car maker to use this material in a gasoline engine. Perfectly placed reinforcements further enhance the block’s loadability. The lightweight-design concept keeps the Audi RS 3 Sportback’s weight in check and pays off big in terms of axle load distribution and, ultimately, handling.

The large turbocharger generates up to 1.2 bar of boost pressure. The intercooler downstream achieves an efficiency rate of over 80 percent. Like all Audi gasoline turbos, the 2.5 TFSI combines turbocharging technology with FSI direct injection. The marriage of these two technologies facilitates a high compression ratio (10.0:1) along with a correspondingly high efficiency ratio. Flaps in the intake tract mix the air as it flows in. The two camshafts, each adjustable by 42 degrees of crankshaft rotation, also enhance the efficiency of the mixture formation.

Speed and grip: the drivetrain

The compact seven-speed S tronic transmits power from the five-cylinder engine via three shafts: one drive shaft and two output shafts. Like all dual-clutch transmissions, it comprises two transmission structures. The shifting process is extremely smooth, taking place in hundredths of a second as the clutches switch, with no perceptible interruption of pulling power. Seventh gear is very tall – a measure that reduces fuel consumption.
The driver can operate the seven-gear S tronic in two automatic modes and one manual mode. Gears are shifted using the paddles on the steering wheel or the selector lever. The launch control system manages the sprint from a dead stop, furnishing explosive turbo power with minimal tire slip.

Delivering power to the road with effortless ease, the quattro permanent all-wheel drive grants the RS 3 Sportback traction, dynamics, and stability. Its central component is an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch, mounted at the end of the propeller shaft to achieve a favorable axle load distribution. Located in its interior is a plate package bathed in oil.

Thanks to quattro, the propulsive power can be distributed to each axle as needed. Whenever slip occurs at one of the axles, an electric pump intervenes at lightning speed to increase the oil pressure. The pump presses the clutch plates together in a continuous fashion, thereby permitting the torque to be redirected accordingly. Thanks to a powerful accumulator, this process takes just a few milliseconds.

Dynamics and safety: the chassis
The stiff body lays the cornerstone for the RS 3 Sportback’s precise handling; the chassis is what makes it happen. The four-link rear suspension – with a track measuring 1,528 millimeters (60.16 inches) – is anchored to a subframe and features high-strength-steel control arms that allow it to handle longitudinal and lateral forces separately.

Widened to a 1,564-millimeter (61.57-inch) track, the front suspension is a McPherson strut construction, also with a separate subframe. Key components of the construction are made of aluminum. Thanks to its electromechanical drive, the rack-and-pinion steering is highly efficient, with a sporty-direct gear ratio of 16.2:1.

Coil springs and redesigned shock absorbers provide the vertical support. The sports suspension lowers the body of the RS 3 Sportback by 25 millimeters (0.98 inch) compared with the A3. The new range-topping model in the A3 series boasts 19-inch cast aluminum wheels fitted with 235/35 series tires at the front and 225/35 at the rear. The wheels come standard with machine-polished titanium-look styling, but are optionally available in black with a red rim flange.

The internally ventilated disks measure 370 millimeters (14.57 inches) in diameter at the front and 310 millimeters (12.20 inches) at the rear. The front friction rings are perforated for maximum heat dissipation. They are connected by hollow pins to the aluminum brake disk covers, which are encircled by four-piston fixed calipers painted a high-gloss black and bearing RS logos. The electronic stabilization program (ESP) features a Sport mode and can be switched off entirely.

Precisely guided by its responsive steering, the RS 3 Sportback eagerly takes to curves and exits them with agility, stability, and serenity. The stability limit is extremely high, an effortless mastery that rounds off the character of this powerful compact car.

Interior and exterior: dynamic styling

The new top-of-the-line model in the A3 series hints at its explosive potential from the very first glimpse. Together with the xenon plus headlights, the front apron, the anthracite single-frame grill with diamond-patterned styling and the air intakes cut a distinctive figure.

The side view is dominated by the flared front fenders made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), prominent sill panels, exterior-mirror casings in matt aluminum look and a large roof spoiler. A high-gloss black diffusor insert and two elliptical exhaust tailpipes on the left accentuate the styling at the rear. RS 3 badges adorn the single-frame grill and the rear hatch.

The dynamic style is matched in the interior, entirely black and sporting a number of RS 3 logos. The sports seats are upholstered in Fine Nappa leather with silver contrasting stitching; the inlays gleam in Piano finish black or the new Aluminum Race look; the leather multifunction sports steering wheel is flat-bottomed. The selector lever and instruments are specially designed. The driver information system can display the boost pressure and oil temperature as well as a lap timer.
The RS 3 Sportback comes with an array of standard equipment including the Sport button, rear parking system, climate control, chorus radio system, and xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. Audi offers customers a range of optional features: front bucket seats, roof rails in matt aluminum look, and styling packages in black or matt aluminum. Five exterior colors are available, plus an unlimited selection of custom paint finishes.

The new top-of-the-line model in the A3 series is already the fourth Audi model to be built at
Audi Hungaria in Győr, where it is rolling off the assembly line alongside the TT Coupé, the
TT Roadster and the A3 Cabriolet.

Deliveries of the RS 3 Sportback will begin in early 2011. The base price in Germany will be
49,900 euros.

[as7920]

Thanks Footie. Sounds good.

[footie]

Originally Posted by as7920

Thanks Footie. Sounds good.

Some additional imagines are here.

[as7920]

And thanks again!

[BMW269]

!!!4.6 sec!!! Whats wrong with Audi?
R8 GT: 3.7 sec
R8 V10: 3.9 sec
RS6: 4.4 sec
R8 V8: 4.5 sec
TT-RS: 4.6 sec
RS3: 4.6 sec
RS5: 4.6 sec
S4: 5.0 sec
M3 is the fastest M, and its rival RS5 is the slowest RS!!!

Footie, will it be available as 3 Door or only as Sportback?

[as7920]

Originally Posted by Levi

!!!4.6 sec!!! Whats wrong with Audi?
R8 GT: 3.7 sec
R8 V10: 3.9 sec
RS6: 4.4 sec
R8 V8: 4.5 sec
TT-RS: 4.6 sec
RS3: 4.6 sec
RS5: 4.6 sec
S4: 5.0 sec
M3 is the fastest M, and its rival RS5 is the slowest RS!!!

Footie, will it be available as 3 Door or only as Sportback?

5dr Sportsback only.

As not to impede on TT-RS and Golf/Scirocco R 3dr sales.

For more details check out UK mag websites, they're all over it.

Mark.

[as7920]

From the specs on the Audi UK website it seems they are throwing in a lot of kit as standard such as Audi Music Interface, MMI NAV and bluetooth phone.

Is this a way of attracting the young crowd in? More to tempt them away from 1M?

Interesting to see what BMW do with the 1 series M as far as standard kit considering what has been removed to get the costs down.

[mtechnik3]

Thanks footie!

I've been waiting for the realease of the RS3. I think it looks/sounds good. I would order mine black, black front bumper/mirror caps, aftermarket wheels, and aftermarket exhaust (maybe quad). I hope BMW brings a 1er hot hatch to the States.

[footie]

Originally Posted by mtechnik3

Thanks footie!

I've been waiting for the realease of the RS3. I think it looks/sounds good. I would order mine black, black front bumper/mirror caps, aftermarket wheels, and aftermarket exhaust (maybe quad). I hope BMW brings a 1er hot hatch to the States.

Black optics pack is what you want. And sorry no quad pipes, there isn't the room to accommodate them. But there's a lot that can be done to the engine.

[SCOTT26]

BMW doesn't have a American Tourist Delivery program. Not yet! I really think they should offer something like that for the cars built in Spartenburg, SC. Like for the X3's and X5's and X6's - for EU or German customers.

And it will continue to be so. There is no interest in such an idea because of what is on offer at Spartanburg is also on offer to German customers via optional programmes such as driving on the Ring and of course BMW's special events in Austria and driver training course beside Munich Airport.

BMW are looking at expanding their Welt experience to other EU customers who miss out on the advantage.

[as7920]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

And it will continue to be so. There is no interest in such an idea because of what is on offer at Spartanburg is also on offer to German customers via optional programmes such as driving on the Ring and of course BMW's special events in Austria and driver training course beside Munich Airport.

BMW are looking at expanding their Welt experience to other EU customers who miss out on the advantage.

Good news, if only it could come in time for the 1M in May/June that would be just dandy!

Thanks Scott.

[Evice]

SCOTT26, what does BMW think about the RS3? Rival to 1Mcoupe?

[///M1]

As an RS 4 owner (and a 135i owner entertaining the thought of jumping to a ///1 M), let me tell you that while I am happy to see the RS 3 come out, I think it is another fail for Audi from a timing perspective.

Typical Audi/quattro GmbH offering that comes at the very tail end of a platform's life cycle (and happens to coincide with much stiffer competition had they released it earlier). The current A3 is defunct what, a year from now? Despite all the RS fairy dust, you still can't beat the inherent design flaw of the old platform (nose heaviness, cabin that looks more 1990 than 2010, etc.) You would think the folks at Audi/quattro GmbH would have learned by now.

Funny how the RS3 is auto only, yet TT-RS is manual only (for US at least).

I don't see Audi bringing it here, partly because of the cross-cannibalization with the TT-RS, but also with comparable competition (though not exact) looming such as the 1 ///M, Golf-R, etc. Starting price of EUR 50K is steep too, but then again, Europeans always pay more than us spoiled US comsumers.

PS: I hope those tire stats are wrong: 235 front while 225 rear? And this with presumably 40/60 tq bias. And it doesn't seem to be getting the active diff, right?

[///M1]

Originally Posted by formula M

The 1M has 245/35/19's on the front... & 265/35/19's in the back. The numbers u mention were of someone comparing their 135i tire arrangement on 19's.

The 1M has a the same LSD as the M3.

That I know. I was talking about the RS3 article, in which is said:

"The new range-topping model in the A3 series boasts 19-inch cast aluminum wheels fitted with 235/35 series tires at the front and 225/35 at the rear. "