I’d never buy an Audi S3 because I can buy a VW Golf R for thousands less. But the RS3 is another story.
Motivated by a 362 horsepower turbocharged 5-cylinder engine, the RS3 will hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds on its way to a 174 mph top speed. The only gearbox is a 7-speed DSG, which allows the RS3 to hit 35 mpg on the European cycle and emit 189 grams of CO2 per mile. Yes, a manual would be preferred, but the DSG helps the car achieve semi-respectable figures on the all important European fuel economy and carbon emissions tests.
Will the RS3 make it to America? Nobody knows. Audi has the S3 already, but a limited production RS3 would be a shot across the bow of the Mercedes GLA45 AMG – and likely cost a fortune, just like the M-B pocket rocket.
Both the RS5 and TT-RS have insufficient rear headroom. This could be what the doctor ordered.
At the auto show I was shocked at the lack of space in the backseat for Audi’s squarish (but handsome) front wheel drive coupes and sedans.
One sweeeet ride!
Make my 5-door blue with a gray or tan leather interior. Who do I make the check out to? Oh wait, you live in the US? GFY, these kind of cars don’t matter there.
Sam hill is that big pedal on the left? Wah/Volume?
A place to put your useless left foot
Shyeah… with Authoritay!
‘Dead pedal.’
…do dead pedals matter without a clutch for which to keep one’s left foot ready?..i guess if you’re going to left-brake, yes, they might, and with this kind of performance on-tap, left-braking might be warranted…
…was going to poke fun at the passenger needing dead pedals, too, but then i remembred that the passenger footbrace in my elise may as well be a dead pedal…
If you’re cornering hard, anything that helps you brace your body is useful. Granted, it’s mostly a racetrack thing.
Yup. The placement and angle of the dead pedal are just about perfect for wedging myself back in the seat during “emergency maneuvers”. I’m not hardcore enough to have a 5-point racing harness on my daily driver.
OK, so where *is* the wah/volume pedal?
I mean, now that they’re putting fake engine sounds in, wouldn’t you want some control over its volume and tonal envelope. I would.
Oh, and a cowbell pedal, too. Or is there a paddle for that?
Wah-wah
I don’t need no wah-wah
And I know how sweet life can be
If I keep myself free, wah-wah
I don’t need no wah-wah
What a hatchback should look like. No lime green colors either.
…its C/D pillars make my brain say wagon, rather than hatchback…
I like it, but it will never come to the US. The RS models get up there in price. An RS3 is .4 sec faster 0-60 than the S3. Similar issue with the RS5 v S5. Incremental improvements and a substantial price increase which is why you don’t see many RS5’s on the road.
Also, the RS5 is kinda porky.
they will send a cheesy jr executive wannabe sedan, gross
I’m no fan of the shape or the fact that it’s a 5-cylinder.
But I like the non-linear speedometer; all cars should have that.
One of my favorite features on my G8 (and it’s also there on the SS) is the non-linear speedometer. The scale gets cut in half above 120 mph, and it makes the part of the speedo under 100 mph so much more usable.
My 2010 GTI has a nonlinear speedo. I bet most Audi S and RS models have it too.
That engine makes me drool, but the chassis does not.
For the same money, I’d much rather have an S4. It’s heavier, more than a bit slower, and has no five-cylinder magic. But you get a longitudinal engine, RWD-biased full-time AWD system, and the trick sport rear differential. Also, a nicer interior.
Such a shame that one of the coolest engines Audi’s ever made is limited to vehicles where when you stomp on the gas only the front wheels are pulling until the computer figures out what’s going on.
Other outlets are reporting that the RS3 will have AWD and the same sport diff. (It’s hard to see in these photos, but you can make out the “quattro” script below the front grille, and if you squint, the “quattro” badge on the passenger’s side of the dash.) Odd that was left out here.
This is a nice start, but Audi, make with the RS6 Avant over here already!
It’s AWD, but Haldex. If they’re planning the sport diff, though, that makes me wonder if it will be a modified Haldex setup sort of like Acura SH-AWD where some torque is transferred to the rears full-time. If so, then sign me up.
To update my own post… yes, it will be 50/50 full time. That’s a milestone for VAG and hopefully it will transition down to moore pedestrian products with Haldex like the regular A3 and the Golf R. It will make them much more desirable for enthusiastic drivers.
S4 won’t be too much slower, in all honesty. They’re rated at ~4.5 seconds from all the mags.
The S4’s V6 is also violently underrated; my personal 2012 s4 6MT ynoed at 315/325whp/whtq, and the damn thing is only rated at 333hp. I plan to chip it/smaller pulley sometime soon, curious to see how much more it gets.
All of the Audi/VWs motors seem violently underrated though, so its no big shock.
AWD I’m guessing?
…with over three hundred horsepower it has to be…
Focus RS wasn’t.
I’m guessing, for this to be successful in the States, they’ll have to try and keep the base price pegged just under $50k (egads).
MSRP for the A3 is $29.9k and the S3 is $41.1k. – http://goo.gl/bvkuRJ
Good luck, VAG.
The RS5 and RS7 start about $18-20K higher than the S5/S7, so I’m guessing a better target is more like $60K? Seems reasonable.
For 60K I’d rather:
A. Get an M3 for a few grand more.
B. Buy a Golf R, giving up a bit of performance but saving more than a bit of money.
C. Buy a GTI and a Aprilia Tuono. Get the best of both worlds, save some money, and as a bonus the Tuono will excite you in ways no car can match.
B. Buy Golf R, then add an APR tune (level III) so you don’t lose any performance over this Audi. Add some grippy tires and still save money. Plus you can get a 6 speed manual in the Golf.
The graduations on that speedometer mess with my head… Are the US versions all jacked up like that? Also the center air vent area looks horribad. The outside looks cool though…
Audi seems to love introducing sedans to the USA. But given the hot CUV market here, a QS3 might make more sense.
hot rod SUV is the most illogial car of all time.
@Fred, I hate to drop this one on you in the “HOT ROD SUV” category but TrailBlazer SS
Even that Lamborgini SUV, Porsche SUV, Jeer SRT, Typoon, you name it they are all stupid.
NUH-UH!
Saab 9-7x. (AHEM!) Aero.
Take foot. Insert in mouth.
Enjoy!
It looks great but let’s hope its a dynamic improvement over the last generation which had chronic understeer issues that sucked most of the fun from the driving experience.
5 cyl. 3 cyl……… more of the obviously unbearable “boredom” of simply doing things right to begin with, and sticking with it…