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Spy-shots reveal Audi RS3 is set for production

Spies scoop steering wheel, dashboard and details of high-performance Audi RS3.

Audi RS3 spy-shots

By Paul Bond

29th October 2010

It’s official – Audi’s firebreathing RS3 hot hatch is on its way. We brought you spy shots of the most extreme A3 yet testing at the Nürburgring back in Issue 1,121. And while the company has yet to confirm production, these new pictures – which have surfaced on the Internet – settle the argument once and for all.

 

The RS3-branded components in our shots show details of the new car, including a speedo that reads to 310km/h (192mph) – although production models are likely to be limited to 155mph. The steering wheel-mounted aluminium paddleshifters prove Audi’s seven-speed S tronic gearbox will be standard.

Under the bonnet will sit the potent 2.5-litre turbo five-cylinder engine from the TT RS. This is tuned to give an extra 10bhp, and delivers a massive 345bhp and 450Nm of torque – that will put the car on a par with the Ford Focus RS 500. 

To ensure the chassis can cope, it will feature the same hi-tech adaptable magnetic dampers and torque-vectoring rear differential as recent RS models. This is capable of sending up to 85 per cent of power to the rear wheels. 

Insiders say Audi is planning to build only 2,700 RS3s – the same figure as BMW’s upcoming 1-Series M Coupé, and is is due to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

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1 Comment

How much................with options?

Great news and a car I've been waiting for, if it really turns up and not be another Auto Express fantasy. Sounds great if it comes in at under 40K, but as always with Audi, everything will be on the options list, smashing the price to a level that is frankly obscene. Go on Audi, make an RS (reasonably) affordable for once!

By taffwilliams1 on 1 November, 2010, 1:02pm

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