Audi has released the first official preview images of its upcoming RS3 sedan and hot sedan, suggesting a reveal is imminent.
Shown in camouflage as part of the larger Audi Sport lineup, the RS3 hatchback and RS3 Sportback are shown in production-ready form, wearing promotional packaging featuring the sequence 1-2-4-5-3, presumably a reference to the firing order of its five-cylinder engine.
The RS3 is expected to use the same turbocharged five-cylinder as its big brother RS Q3 and the TT RS Coupé. It will send 394 hp to both axles and should take the car from zero to 62 mph in about 4.0 seconds.
This release will place the RS3 among the most powerful models in its segment, just behind the Mercedes-AMG A45 S, which uses the most powerful four-cylinder engine in production, with 416 hp.
As expected, the visual changes to the heated S3 – revealed last year – are subtle, extending to more aggressive air intakes, bespoke alloy rims, and a unique rear diffuser and spoiler. However, bespoke interior cues referring to its higher horsepower, along with bigger brakes and wider tires, are likely.
The footage accompanied an official interview with new Audi Sport chief executive Sebastian Grams, who reflected on his first three months in the post and hinted at what’s to come: “Our mission is to push the boundaries of this that’s possible – that’s what Audi Sport is. And I’m sure that will continue to be the case in the future. “
He later confirmed that the plug-in hybrid Audi Sport models were entering as part of the division’s electrification process, along with new all-electric models to accompany the RS E-tron GT.
Audi Sport Sales and Marketing Director Rolf Michl added: “We plan to offer more than half of our high-performance models in partially or fully electrified form as early as 2024. And by 2026 that figure will be probably as high as 80%. We want to offer our customers the right products and services for their specific markets and segments. “
Audi Sport is particularly interested in high-performance electrified SUVs, according to Michl, and by 2030 all Audi Sport models will either be plug-in hybrids or fully electric.
The RS3 will therefore be one of the last non-electrified performance Audi models and may be the latest release of the brand’s inline five-cylinder engine, used in various forms since the Audi 100 was launched in 1976.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-06-10 08:43:19
