Caught testing close to the manufacturer’s headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany, with virtually no camouflage, the prototype follows recent Audi form by being disguised as a racer.
However, the distinctive single windscreen wiper, quick-release bonnet pins and adjustable front spoiler won’t make it on to the production version. These racy additions are simply Audi’s attempt to give spy photographers the slip.
As our exclusive picture shows, the much anticipated newcomer will feature a wider track than the standard A3 and has enlarged wheelarches to accommodate the beefier alloys.
The car is being developed by Audi’s Sport division - the team responsible for the barnstorming S4 and RS4 - and is scheduled to make its debut in show-rooms late next year.
[Source: Auto Express]
Current Audi S3
Audi only recently unveiled its stunning new TT-RS model, but as the company stated earlier this week it has no plans of cutting down on development of new models. This is good news for the legions of Audi fans who have long been waiting for the company to stick its ‘RS’ performance badge to the back of an A3 hatch.
Speaking with Dutch website Autovisie, Audi development boss Michael Dick said a new RS3 fitted with the five-cylinder turbocharged engine from the TT-RS was under serious consideration. When Dick speaks about development, however, there isn’t really much for Audi to do but tune up the handling and aerodynamics of the hatch and shoehorn the new engine under its hood.
Output would likely be the same 340hp (250kW) and 332lb-ft (450Nm) found in the TT-RS, which should be enough to propel a RS3 hatch from 0-100km/h in around five seconds. However, there’s a chance that Audi may water down the potency of the engine in the RS3 so it doesn’t step on the toes of the TT-RS.
With the premium hot hatch segment remaining fairly sparse these days, an RS3 model from Audi would give the company bragging rights against rivals like the BMW 135i. But whether or not the Audi RS3 ever comes to fruition is still uncertain, with Dick giving no indication of when the car may - or may not be - produced.
