Upcoming Audi RS3 to Receive 5-Cylinder Turbo from TT-RS

Audi RS3 artist rendering of A3 TDI Clubsport concept

Featuring 340 hp and 450 Nm of torque

By Michael Gauthier
March 17, 2009 2:34 AM
Filed Under: Audi, German, Rumours

According to a recent report, Michael Dick, a member of Audi's board of management for technical development has stated that the company is considering building a new RS3.

Power would come from Audi's 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine, with 340 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque, which has launched on the recently unveiled TT-RS . Considering that the proposed RS3 would probably weigh about as much as the TT-RS, a 0-62 mph time of around 4.6 seconds sounds reasonable as does the suggested 179 mph (288 km/h) top speed.

With the next generation A3 not scheduled to be unveiled until 2011, the possible launch of the RS3 is still several years away should the model be given the green light in the first place.

Source: 4wheelsnews.com

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Tags: Audi, Audi RS3, Audi A3

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Comments

catchmyshadow

March 17, 2009 3:15 AM

the front air intakes are exaggerrated tho.

Joe_Limon

March 17, 2009 3:58 AM

ohhh, I finally understand the Subaru commercials now, the car the Germans wish they built :P Until now I thought the only car it was copying was the Mazda 3

Decypha

March 17, 2009 8:22 AM

Do you reckon this is a problem for the Subaru STI?

Joe_Limon

March 17, 2009 4:53 PM

It will be if Audi can manage to build it 3000lbs or under... seeing as the rs4 weighs 4000lbs, and that there is a special edition wrx with 380 hp... I don't think Audi is bringing enough to the table.

scratchy996

March 17, 2009 6:34 PM

the RS4 is 3,703.8lbs and they are not trying to against with Subaru Impreza or Mitsubishi Evo, those are niche cars, the RS4 is a luxury sport sedan.

Joe_Limon

March 17, 2009 9:12 PM

Meh, I found several sources that all had different numbers. Some greater some less.

Starscream123

March 17, 2009 8:48 AM

NO!

Kalos

March 17, 2009 9:11 AM

How can it be a problem for Subaru when their current car kills the S3 on performance. In 3 to 4 years time the RS3 figures reported will not be enough to get it top dog coz by then the Subaru will have alot more power as other competitors in the same class. Isn't the Ford Focus (Rally) RS already having such power? achievable by most car makers even

Geefiasco

March 17, 2009 10:57 AM

RS3 ?

YES PLEASE!, DO IT AUDI! DO IT!

KaiserM715

March 17, 2009 5:15 PM

I agree. It would one small car I would actually consider buying.

Bristol411S3

March 17, 2009 11:35 AM

Has anyone seen Mike Dick?

MTC

March 17, 2009 12:13 PM

anyone thinks the air intakes looks like those on the Alfa Mito GTA? or is that just me?

James2911

March 17, 2009 12:19 PM

"How can it be a problem for Subaru when their current car kills the S3 on performance." Uh, quite easily seeing as the RS3 will have higher performance. More than the Impreza WRX STi in fact. And it'll probably be on sale next year, provided Quattro GmbH abandon their philosphy of producing only one RS model at a time (RS5 is being produced soon as well). Also the new A3 model will be released in the near future anyway as mentioned in the article.

Edited by user on March 17, 2009 at 12:26 PM

kingofthehill

March 17, 2009 6:15 PM

Hi James, right now you have the RS6 and the TT RS on the market. Both of them being produced by the Quattro GmbH. The policy of producing only one RS model at a time is old news ;)

Kalos

March 17, 2009 12:36 PM

Wake up James2911, The article clearly states that the next A3 is due in 2011 and most likely only thereafter will the group release an Audi RS3. Based on current form the Subaru will be a much better car than the suggested. Just take a look at what Nissan has done to Porsche and you'll get an exact picture of what Subaru will do to the sugested RS3. Who ever thinks that the other competitors will be twiddling there thumbs as Audi makes an RS3 is smoking socks. This is one segment of the motor industry that will see extremely aggressive fights - i.e. 1 series M car, Mercs B class AMG, Fords RS, Honda, Mazda and Subaru being the current top dogs on pure pace and race breed (rally) in this - let's not forget Renault and Citroen.

It's clear that Audi are starting a battle - and the others will gladly accept the challenge. Watch out for the rice rockets and French 'fries' - they'll give the German cars a real fight.

tumbo

March 17, 2009 2:01 PM

Haha...Subaru? You kiddin' me. Who cares about Subaru.

Bring this on Audi!

Kalos

March 17, 2009 2:13 PM

Yeah, i used to laugh at them too like you untill the day i heard the turbo whine coming from behind. Mind you i was driving the old S3, it stood no chance at all as this guy made a monkey of my old car. On performance the Scooby is hot but i won't buy it.

Pentium

March 17, 2009 2:33 PM

Nice, RS3 idea is very cool!

Lateknight

March 17, 2009 3:09 PM

Be surprised if Subaru are still about in 2011/2012.

Iconic

March 18, 2009 12:59 AM

With their current line up of minga's... I wouldn't doubt it (except Legacy). They need to fire the designer.

Imasa

March 17, 2009 3:37 PM

This car kicks ass. However, the price will likely be too high and close to the S4's price.

Blake_10

March 17, 2009 4:49 PM

Put that engine on Audi A3 Clubsport and put it into production !!

Audi_lover

March 17, 2009 5:11 PM

n i c e ! ! !

Subaru?? lol, u joking right? I'm sorry but I'd never buy a Japanese car over a German car. I don't care if they are cheaper or what. I just find them all POS

scratchy996

March 17, 2009 6:40 PM

let 16 year old boys get their Subaru, let the serious people get their Audi and everyone will be happy.

justbored

March 17, 2009 7:26 PM

Serious people don't buy Audi. Only those who don't even tried a real "RS"-car. You know, RS stands somehow for racing and i don't remember a really fast Audi A3. The Impreza would rape a crappy-haldex-AWD-system A3 any day.

Joe_Limon

March 17, 2009 9:16 PM

I concur, go out to any local autocross race and the top times for stock cars will be Subaru's (and while you are at it, take a ride with one, they grip like no other car I have been in). The only car that I have seen that can give them competition is an older/lighter M3 with a very competent driver.

Edited by user on March 17, 2009 at 9:16 PM

scratchy996

March 17, 2009 9:35 PM

i bet Jet Li can kick Jackie Chan's ass if they both are allowed to fight with only one hand, what do you kids think ?

tootall

March 18, 2009 5:17 AM

This is what the "GTI-R" needs to be like.

wills2007

March 18, 2009 11:26 AM

An A3 in RS form? I think it's making the brand too attainable, how many more niches and , i'm only 21 and drive a new A3 Sportback TFSI but I accept its standing at the bottom of the Audi family, just buy an RS4 or RS5 if you want lightning performance, an RS3 is just too wannabe, it just screams "I wish I could afford an RS4", the S3 is ample enough.

ESEKO55

March 18, 2009 2:37 PM

who cares about Subaru, its a crap compared to Audi

brears2

March 18, 2009 4:00 PM

Jesus, people take this too personal! You cannot compare Subaru to Audi let alone Impreza to an A3...is it just me that thinks this??! Both products are aimed at a completely different audience. The Impreza is not a luxury saloon/estate, granted it is fast and apparently handles well but is more or less built as per the rally version which suits its audience. However the RS4 is a luxury saloon / estate and therefore appeals to a completely different audience. An Impreza is not exactly a business mans car...more of a chav mobile. If Audi were to manufacture a car to compete with the Impreza...i.e. strip it of all luxuries and stick a big fat exhaust on it I am 100% certain it would wipe the floor with the Impreza (Audis is the original champion of rally with the quattro) - but Audi as a brand is not big into making cars for chavs. As for Subaru having a better 4WD system than Audi...REALLY??! Madness...

RS3 would be a great car, saying it would be too close to the S4 is daft - the RS3 will be built in very small numbers as the demand will not be massive but the S4 is more of a family orientated car so it shouldn't affect the sales of the S4 as, again, different audiences

Would be interesting to see a luxury Impreza and the performance figures then...

HolySteel

March 18, 2009 5:02 PM

Lol, reading the comments reminds me of the latest TopGear series, where Jeremy Clarkson said something like "It's ok to buy a BMW now, because all the dicks are buying Audis instead". Sry but a car that goes into emergency mode in the Karussell on Nordschleife circuit, and where you cannot switch ESP off, is no sportscar for me. Audi still have to prove they can build a sporty hatchback, let's see if it can come close to the performance of an Impreza, but I seriously doubt it. I'm also interested how it performs compared to the Focus RS.

The front end of this Audi RS3 rendering looks like a cheap aftermarket part imo, hope it's not the real thing.

Edited by user on March 18, 2009 at 5:08 PM

AF1R

March 23, 2009 4:15 PM

I dont really care for Subaru, the RS3 is beautiful. The STi maybe faster in all aspects but i bet it doesnt have half the luxury features teh RS3 will have. I would choose luxury sport over sport any day. The current Audi S3 was going to be my next car, until i read about the new Golf GTi-R which i think is deffinately going to be my next car. I love hatchbacks :)

uzzie

March 31, 2009 3:39 PM

i love the RS's that audi comes out with, if this is built, it would be great

jedi

June 1, 2009 2:28 AM

Subaru can suck a lug nut!! My 2007 A4 3.2l quattro will kill 90% of Subaru's on the road or Ice. Its stock. Subaru's are for mom's to get there kids around town.

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