Thursday, February 18, 2016

Audi RS3 Sedan Image Leaked—Yes, It’s the RS3 and Yes, It’s Coming

Audi RS3

Last year, we reported that the sweet Audi RS3 is more or less guaranteed for the U.S., likely in sedan form, as Audi’s U.S. CEO Scott Keogh considers it a “great halo car” for the line. And now, this picture, leaked via Instagram and posted on Quattroworld.com, depicts the RS3 sedan model during a video shown at an Audi U.S. employee summit.

Before we go on, though, there has been some debate among Internet commenters about it possibly being the RS4, a car equally shrouded in mystery at this point. Here’s how we know it’s an RS3: The lower swage line, a.k.a. “light catcher,” in the lower doors is strictly a positive surface on today’s A3/S3 models and on this car, while the same element on the A4/S4 is a negative surface above a positive surface. Granted, the headlamps on this car look like those on the new A4, but the A3 is due for a facelift next year, and the same reports allege that the RS3 will don the A3’s new face, which will adopt the A4-style headlamp design. The RS4 is also likely to feature prominent fender flares, which this car does not.

Oh yeah, and when we reached out to Audi spokeswoman Amelia Fine-Morrison, she confirmed it is indeed the upcoming RS3. So there.





While Fine-Morrison wouldn’t say anything else about the RS3, based on our earlier reporting, we expect it will be powered by Audi’s hand-built, turbocharged five-cylinder engine, which currently produces 367 horsepower and 343 lb-ft of torque in the hatchback RS3, upon which we have slobbered from afar for the last year or so. That car also comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and offers carbon-ceramic front brake discs, eight-piston front brake calipers, and ultra-wide front tires. Time will tell if Audi specs the U.S.-bound sedan the same way, or if Audi extracts even more power from the five-pot engine (as it did in the 525-hp A3 Clubsport concept from 2014). In any case, the appearance of this grainy picture has brought anticipation to a boil. We can’t wait.


from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com/audi-rs3-sedan-image-leaked-yes-its-the-rs3-yes-its-coming/


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