Tuesday 6th March 2012

Geneva 2012: Audi RS4, new A3 and TT Plus

New A3 ticks 'Golf for badge snobs' box but we're more interested in the new RS4 and TT RS Plus

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It’s a busy show for Audi and the new A3 is the mainstream focus for both the PRs and hacks.

Yes, that really is the all-new A3

But we’re not the mainstream and we’re more naturally inclined to the return of the RS4and the hope it’s got even a taste of its predecessor’s fire. And why did we love the old one so much? The relative simplicity over its tech-laden successors, best demonstrated by the technologically impressive but dynamically disappointing RS5.

Debuting in Avant form is a good start, ditto the fact Audi has uncharacteristically backed away from horsepower willy waggling and stuck with the high-revving, normally aspirated 4.2-litre V8. 450hp is, by any stretch, adequate but, as discussed by Mr Harris, perhaps signals a retreat from ever more pointless horsepower Top Trumps.

Ur Quattro/RS6 style wheelarch flares add a bit of aggression to what could otherwise be lost in a line-up of S line A4 TDI Avants and under the skin the RS4 shares much with the aforementioned RS5. We’ll have to wait and see if Quattro GmbH has managed to eke a bit more character and poise out of the same raw ingredients, a chat with Quattro boss Stephan Reil later on hopefully shedding some light on how they’ve done that.

TT RS Plus adds more power and bling

The blink-and-you’d-miss-it new A3 is incredible for quite how little it’s changed visually from the existing car. Which underplays the significance of the fact it’s the first car on VW’s new MQB platform. The first of many, VW boasting that 40 cars will use it over the next few years. So we’d best hope it’s good. Encouragingly it’s lighter – 80kg lighter in the A3’s case – and can be turned into anything from hatches to crossovers and saloons.

Indeed, as a 1.4 TFSI the A3 weighs just 1,175kg. This is the same 122hp turbo engine that we sampled recently in the A1 Competition Line and it’s a cracker, with a lovely revvy nature that belies its forced induction. Should make for a great combination with the new A3’s svelte kerbweight. At launch there’ll also be a 1.8 180hp petrol and a 150hp 2.0-litre TDI. The 1.8 gets seven-speed S tronic as standard, the others six-speed manuals. Two stages of suspension tweakage are available, Sport lowering the car by 15mm and S line by 25mm. Inside it’s all very Audi, with a renewed focus on connectivity through the MMI system.

Other PH-worthy debuts on the Audi stand include a hopped-up TT RS Plus, a 20hp upgrade to the regular TT RS that addresses the one issue the car didn’t have, that being a lack of power. Red-rimmed alloys a la RS3 and black-capped door mirrors are among the visual upgrades – expect a £50K dent in your wallet if having one up on your TT RS-owning mates is the kind of thing that matters.  

[Cupradan]

Are there any more shots of the A3?

[Mermaid]

I hope Audi have done enough to make the RS4 more interesting/exciting than the lardy RS5. Or else the Audi RS moniker will have devalued itself a little.

[stuckmojo]

Don't mind the RS4.

The A3 doesn't do anything for me. Too generic and bland.

And the TT, I find it horrible

[Dr G]

Why has the dimwitted Audi bashing extended to the PH editorial team now?

By your logic any medium sized hatchback that isn't a Hyundai is snobbish.

[alock]

Article said:

a 1.4 TFSI the A3 weighs just 1,175kg

Wow. Things are finally heading in the right direction.

After being underwhelmed by almost all new cars in the last 5 years, I'm actually looking forward to the next 5 years.

[anonymous-user]

alock said:

Article said:

a 1.4 TFSI the A3 weighs just 1,175kg

Wow. Things are finally heading in the right direction.

After being underwhelmed by almost all new cars in the last 5 years, I'm actually looking forward to the next 5 years.

Thats pretty good! The new MQB platform must make this one of, if not the, lightest car in the class. Its lighter than some superminis.

[anonymous-user]

Dr G said:

Why has the dimwitted Audi bashing extended to the PH editorial team now?

By your logic any medium sized hatchback that isn't a Hyundai is snobbish.

Because its become quite fashionable to bash Audis! didn't you get the memo?

[ZesPak]

MonkeyMatt said:

Because its become quite fashionable to bash Audis! didn't you get the memo?

Anything that popular will get some bashing. Don't forget that Audi are about to outsell just about anything. I don't think they care for the bashing.

[Captain Muppet]

Dr G said:

Why has the dimwitted Audi bashing extended to the PH editorial team now?

By your logic any medium sized hatchback that isn't a Hyundai is snobbish.

Given the VW are going to produce 40 varients on the same platform, and that this one is likely to be one of the most expensive, I think that it's fair to say sales of the Audi verson will be relying on badge snobbery.

[SleeperCell]

So does anyone actually like this new coloured wheel rim trend?

I think it looks st and is the sort of styling trend that can really make a car look dated very quickly. Granted wheels aren't too difficult to replace but still, it's annoying to know they exist.

[Dave Hedgehog]

SleeperCell said:

So does anyone actually like this new coloured wheel rim trend?

I think it looks st and is the sort of styling trend that can really make a car look dated very quickly. Granted wheels aren't too difficult to replace but still, it's annoying to know they exist.

i do, i love them, especially the black and red rims

but then I am odd, I have always loved all the special edition Porsche's in odd colours even with red or green rims

and i had 2 scoobys with gold rims

silver is just so bloody obvious for a rim and so bloody boring ....

don't follow the heard

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Tuesday 6th March 10:58

[MrGRT]

Article said:

a 1.4 TFSI the A3 weighs just 1,175kg

Any more info on the weight savings?. Is it new materials,lighter chassis, drivetrain?

[Kong]

Does anyone know why Audi have kept selling the current (old) A3 for so long? It's exactly 9 years old and you can still buy one, it will be nearer 10 by the time stocks dry up. For the record I really like the current A3, I think it's aged very well and is a handsome car, particularly in facelift S3 guise. But it's still ancient!

New one sounds good too, as others have said sub 1200kg for a medium sized hatchback is good news. Hate to say it but i'll probably have the SKODA version when it comes out instead.

[anonymous-user]

MrGRT said:

Any more info on the weight savings?. Is it new materials,lighter chassis, drivetrain?

All new MQB chassis which uses hot formed steel which means the structure can be thinner/lighter. Should also allow for the engine to sit further back than in the current car, so will be less nose heavy.

[Deerfoot]

Kong said:

Does anyone know why Audi have kept selling the current (old) A3 for so long? It's exactly 9 years old and you can still buy one, it will be nearer 10 by the time stocks dry up.

Sales have been strong so Audi haven`t needed to replace it. If sales had dived a couple of years ago, I`m sure the new one would`ve arrived earlier.

I had one in 2005, a 2.0 TDI Sportback. It was poor.

[anonymous-user]

Deerfoot said:

Sales have been strong so Audi haven`t needed to replace it. If sales had dived a couple of years ago, I`m sure the new one would`ve arrived earlier.

I had one in 2005, a 2.0 TDI Sportback. It was poor.

I quite like my wifes 2006 2.0Tfsi Quattro

[Kong]

Deerfoot said:

Kong said:

Does anyone know why Audi have kept selling the current (old) A3 for so long? It's exactly 9 years old and you can still buy one, it will be nearer 10 by the time stocks dry up.

Sales have been strong so Audi haven`t needed to replace it. If sales had dived a couple of years ago, I`m sure the new one would`ve arrived earlier.

I had one in 2005, a 2.0 TDI Sportback. It was poor.

Good point well made. My mother has an 03 TDI DSG. Great engine and gearbox but I find it cramped and a bit boring.

[Deerfoot]

MonkeyMatt said:

I quite like my wifes 2006 2.0Tfsi Quattro

It just had too many issues. It needed two new steering racks (replaced under warranty) and a rebuilt rear suspension prior to it being 12 months old and covering less than 30,000 miles.

The car was well built inside but mechanically it was poor.

[anonymous-user]

Deerfoot said:

It just had too many issues. It needed two new steering racks (replaced under warranty) and a rebuilt rear suspension prior to it being 12 months old and covering less than 30,000 miles.

The car was well built inside but mechanically it was poor.

Sounds like you had a bad un'

[TonyHetherington]

Interseting that Audi have used the "plus" again. That was last used on the RS6, wasn't it?! (the older version)