Audi already had a hit on its hands with the 2015 A3 Sedan and its derivatives, so it's no surprise they're pursuing more versions. What is surprising is how good these versions could be.

In a recent interview with Audi enthusiast forum Fortitude, Audi of America head Scott Keogh dropped a number of hints regarding the possibility for future Audi S3 and even higher performance versions of the smallest car the brand sells here.

A six-speed manual for the S3 isn't out of the question, according to Keogh, which is a pretty big deal given the A3 line is strictly self-shifting at the moment. Keogh says Audi is looking very closely at adding the manual.

Further up the performance ladder, the Audi RS3 sedan is looking increasingly likely, according to Fortitude, and Keogh is reportedly "looking very closely" at adding it to the U.S. lineup. That would most definitely line up with the forthcoming BMW M2 compact premium rocketship.

Oh, and Keogh is reportedly in love with the RS6 Avant. And no, it's still not coming here.

But do plead with your local Audi dealer to demand the stick-shift S3 and an RS3 sedan. Please.

55 kg lighter than predecessor

British media has managed to obtain some juicy details about next year's Audi RS3 Sportback.

Our colleagues from Auto Express had the possibility to take a ride in the new RS3 which will retain the five-cylinder 2.5-liter TFSI engine. While its predecessor packs 335 bhp (250 kW) from the same engine, the new version will be further tweaked to unleash around 360 bhp (268 kW). Riding on the MQB platform will allow the hardcore hatchback lose 55 kg (121 lbs) which means we should expect a curb weight of 1,520 kg (3,351 lbs).

Compared to the latest S3, the RS3 derivative will be lowered by 25mm and is going to feature wider tracks. Customers will have the possibility of getting optional wider front tires while a newly developed six-speed S tronic gearbox will be offered as standard to work with the quattro all-wheel drive system. The old model needs 4.6 seconds for the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) run so expect the all-new RS3 do it in the low 4-second, with AE saying the car is already 20s quicker around the Nürburgring than its predecessor.

There's no word about a launch but chances are the Audi RS3 Sportback will be unveiled in March 2015 at the Geneva Motor Show.

An A3-based MPV

The Audi A3 Vario represents a digital render of a potential adversary for the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer.

The attached render is relevant to some extent taking into consideration a report from August 2013 mentioned Audi is preparing a compact MPV based on the A3. A concept has apparently already been finalized but Audi is keeping it a secret probably until a major auto show while the production version is expected to come out as early as 2015 or 2016.

If it will eventually materialize, expect the model to receive the V4 ("V" for "Vario" meaning diversity) moniker and ride on the MQB platform with the engines sourced from the A3 lineup. There were also some rumors about a plug-in hybrid version mixing up a 148 bhp 1.4-liter TFSI with a 107 bhp electric motor.

If the project has been green-lighted, the preview concept could be introduced in March 2015 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Goes on sale Q1 2015

A WCF reader has informed us Audi accidentally announced the RS3 Sportback carries a starting price of €56,600.

Almost a week ago Audi unveiled the highly anticipated RS3 Sportback and now thanks to a glitch on their official German website the hot hatchback is listed with a starting price of €56,600, thus making it significantly more expensive than the S3 Sportback which kicks off at €40,400. For this serious chunk of money you will be getting a "world-beating car" with a "class-conquering engine" as described by Audi.

Its heart and soul is the iconic five-cylinder, 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine rated at 367 HP (270 kW) and 342 lb-ft (465 Nm). All that power is channeled to a quattro all-wheel drive system via a 7-speed S tronic gearbox which helps the RS3 Sportback hit 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in 4.3 seconds before hitting a limited 155 mph (250 km/h) top speed or 174 mph (280 km/h) for those willing to pay extra.

The Audi RS3 Sportback is scheduled to go on sale in the first quarter of 2015 while deliveries are programmed to begin in the summer.

Now that the 362hp Audi RS3 Sportback is out, it’s open season for Photoshop manipulators to imagine other RS3 variants.

The first to jump at the opportunity was X-Tomi, who used styling cues from the RS3 Sportback to draw the RS3 three-door, RS3 Sedan and RS3 Cabriolet.

We don’t know whether Audi will launch any of these variants, but if they do, the RS3 Sedan will likely be the chosen variant, given that the S3 Sedan is a popular model in major markets like the United States and China and rumor has it that Audi is seriously considering a more powerful RS3 variant.

The RS3 three-door would be nice to have as well, but since the previous generation RS3 only came as a five-door Sportback, chances for such a three-door version aren’t great.

Of the three proposed versions, the Audi RS3 Cabriolet probably has the smallest chances of becoming reality, as the Audi S3 Cabriolet delivers just enough performance for drop-top enthusiasts. For those who want more, Audi’s Quattro department will launch the TT-RS Roadster within the following months.

Deliveries start this summer

Audi has disclosed pricing details for the UK-spec RS3 Sportback which kicks off at £39,950 OTR.

About two months ago Audi unveiled the highly anticipated RS3 in Sportback form and shortly after that we managed to find out it will cost €56,600 at home in Germany. Now, the company's UK division has announced the high-powered five-door hatchback will be available on order starting next month from £39,950 OTR.

For this money you will be getting a "world-beating car" as described by Audi which features a "class-conquering engine" in the form a 5-cylinder 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine unleashing 367 HP (270 kW) and 465 Nm (324 lb-ft) of torque. All that power is channeled to a quattro AWD setup through a 7-speed S tronic gearbox enabling the RS3 Sportback hit 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in 4.3 seconds and an electronically-capped top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). Upon request, clients can ask Audi to raise the limiter to 174 mph (280 km/h).

It comes as standard with 19-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights (+ daytime running lights) while inside the cabin it gets sport seats wrapped around in Fine Nappa leather upholstery with rock grey stitching. There’s also a flat-bottomed RS steering wheel, stainless steel pedals, Alcantara door inserts as well as gloss anthracite black accents.

At an additional cost, customers can order RS bucket seats which will shave off 7 kg (15.4 lbs) from the car's weight. Other optional goodies include RS3 interior design package with red accents on the seats, air vents, knee pads, seatbelts and floor mats while MMI navigation plus with MMI touch is also available.

Audi UK says they will kick off deliveries this summer.

The new RS3, which can be had with a loud factory sports exhaust for the very first time, was tested by EVO at a manufacturer organized venue in Finland.

Audi also had touring car legend Mattias Ekström on hand to show the invited journos what the new car is all about and just how sideways you can get it.

The test itself is obviously only relevant if you live in a place like where it was reviewed – as a road test of the new RS3, this fails to reveal anything about what the car is like on tarmac.

Even so, the fact that it seems so eager to get its tail out is definitely unusual for an Audi, although that could just be down to the loose, slippery surface. There’s every chance that on tarmac it’s just as planted and slightly understeer-y as its predecessor.

For the low sum of €85,577, which comes to about $96,300, MTM will sell you its new S3 Cabriolet. That includes the cost of acquiring a new S3 Cabrio that leaves Audi's factory with a 2.0-liter turbo delivering 300PS (296hp) and 380Nm for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.4 sec and a limited top speed of 250km/h (155mph).

Once MTM's engineers get a hold of the inline-four and mess around with the turbo and the electronic systems (a €14,890 job), it jumps to 426PS (420hp) at 6,350 rpm and 530Nm at 3,100 rpm. This allows the convertible model to hit 100km/h (62mph) in just 4.4 sec and 200km/h (124mph) in 14.4 sec, while topping out at 270km/h (168mph).

The rest of the money goes for a new front brake system with 380mm discs, a KW V1 suspension kit, 20-inch wheels on 235/20 tires, decorative racing stripes, and carbon fiber rear diffuser, front lip spoiler, mirror caps and engine cover. The price also includes a carbon fiber trimmed steering wheel, dashboard and seat backs, plus LED door lights.

The MTM S3 Cabrio will join the firm's new 802PS Talladega S Audi S8 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Revealed late last year, the Audi RS3 has made its public debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

Powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine, the RS3 boasts 367 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque, numbers that best offerings from Audi’s German competitors. The RS3 is capable of blasting from 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds while its top speed is limited to 174 mph.

No surprise to find the company’s Quattro all-wheel drive present while the five-cylinder engine is paired to a seven-speed, S-tronic dual-clutch transmission. The Quattro all-wheel drive system is also equipped with torque vectoring, capable of sending between 50 and 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels as needed.

Compared to the standard A3, the RS3 is lowered about an inch with sportier suspension and magnetic dampers available as an option. Brake upgrades that are available to buyers include carbon fiber ceramic brake rotors for the front. The newest RS3 also benefits from a diet, tipping the scales at 3,351 lbs – 121 lbs less than its predecessor. Coming standard are 19-inch wheels with 235/35 tires that are stopped by eight-piston fixed calipers in the front.

There’s plenty of luxury inside the cabin with the interior of the new RS3 finished in sporty black and accentuated with RS badges. The sport seats are covered in Fine Nappa leather with contrast stitching in rock gray, while the RS multifunction flat-bottom steering wheel is wrapped in leather and Alcantara. The driver information system includes a boost pressure indicator, an oil temperature gauge and a lap timer.

Deliveries of the Audi RS3 will begin summer 2015 but unfortunately there’s no plans to bring it to the U.S. There are rumors that the company is considering a sedan variant for North America, which would give it a true competitor in a growing segment.

The most powerful model of the A3 series has been launched at this year’s Mondial de L'automobile, and it’s now ready to take a swing at the updated CLA 45 AMG.


As if the Sportback’s 367 PS (362 hp) and 343 lb-ft (465Nm) of torque weren't enough to satisfy the average buyer, the sedan version comes with an even more powerful (and improved) variant of the 2.5-litre TFSI engine under the hood.

The mill in question is now 26 kilograms (57.3 lb) lighter than its predecessor, and it employs a dual injection system, as well as Audi’s valvelift (variable valve control system) for a bit of extra oomph. Like previous reports suggested, it now develops no less than 400 PS (394 hp) and 480 Nm (354.0 lb-ft) between 1,700 rpm and 5850 rpm, making it the most powerful five-cylinder on the market.

Powerful enough to launch the RS3 Sedan from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in just 4.1 seconds, and let it accelerate all the way to 250 km/h (155.3 mph). But if that’s not enough, Audi will be more than happy to increase the electronic speed governor to 280 km/h (174.0 mph).

Granted, the S-tronic seven-speed dual clutch transmission has a saying in the vehicle’s performance as well, transmiting the power of the 2.5 TFSI to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system – which distributes the drive torque variably between the axles.

Thanks to a multitude of electronic gizmos, the RS3 Sedan becomes a performer through the bends. For example, the wheel-selective torque control slightly brakes the inside wheels in fast cornering, transmitting greater lateral power and making the car more fluid and stable.

Visual-wise, the new model doesn’t hide the fact it’s a pure-bred performance automobile, sporting an aggressive, aerodynamically studied body-kit that cuts through air like a knife. The side air inlets form narrow funnels for better air flow through the wheel arches, while a fixed spoiler lip on the luggage compartment lid improves the separation of air flow.

At the interior, the car comes standard with an electrically extending MMI screen with a 7-inch diagonal, and two circular instrument dials. Since the car is dedicated to the enthusiastic driver, it also comes equipped with a boost pressure indicator, an oil thermometer and a lap timer. However, if this “back-to-basics” scheme doesn’t appeal to the customer, the RS3 Sedan can also be commissioned with the fully digital Audi virtual cockpit.