RE: Audi RS3 to debut at LA?

[dom9]

That 5-cyl engine and a 4wd system that can give 100% (or close to) drive to the rear when needed... Could be very interested in this!

[goron59]

Nors said:

thespannerman said:

we all know some tasteless young lad in his trakkies will be driving one.

Jeez, I'm in the wrong business!!!! A young lad in his 'trakkies' can afford a £40k+ superhatch!!

From what I gather, all those "young lads in their trakkies" are actually driving older A3/S3 models with an aftermarket RS3 grille, occasionally fitted competently.

[burwoodman]

EricE said:

It looks like a mini-RS4 in the pictures. If they can actually produce this car with the handling characteristics of the Golf R and a 400-420 hp 5-cylinder then it’ll be a serious bit of kit for everyday driving. Maybe not the most beautiful, maybe not the quickest, maybe not the most engaging but a very compelling combination of those attributes and very practical too.

The Quattro gmbh boss already hinted at 400hp+ more than once and if Mercedes and VW can get that out of a 2.0l 4-cylinder then I would hope that Audi can get it out of a 2.5l 5-cylinder.

Audi had already extracted 525hp from this engine

[LA167]

I was at an Audi Product Show in Germany recently. We were shown the new RS3, new R8 and the new TTS. RS3 will have just under 370bhp. New R8 is stunning, getting 590bhp and has similar lines at the rear to a Noble M600.

[DoubleSix]

panholio said:

These hot hatch comparison made by journos always confuse me. Is this really a competitor for the M135i?

Surely there are two tiers of German hot hatches:

M135i vs S3 vs A250

M1? vs RS3 vs A45

It's just a reflection of how much better to drive BMWs offerings are. Price wise you would be right though.

[WokkaWokka]

andrewparker said:

Nors said:

thespannerman said:

we all know some tasteless young lad in his trakkies will be driving one.

Jeez, I'm in the wrong business!!!! A young lad in his 'trakkies' can afford a £40k+ superhatch!!

You've obviously never had the pleasure of a visit to Bradford.

Get yourself out to Keighley and have a look around Motorhub and tell me something isn't dodgy about that.

I drive the new S3 and I do wonder (I know exactly) where the money comes from for the 'trakkies' army to get one.

Edited by WokkaWokka on Monday 22 September 14:37

[EricE]

LA167 said:

I was at an Audi Product Show in Germany recently. We were shown the new RS3, new R8 and the new TTS. RS3 will have just under 370bhp.

Huh, interesting and a very low number in my eyes. The S3 / Golf R (EA888) engine can be remapped to 360 hp and there were rumours about an Audi S3 Plus with that 4-cylinder and a 360 bhp tune.

If the RS3 will have "just under 370bhp" with an engine that is apparently capable of 525 bhp in the Clubsport concept then that S3 Plus is off the table. And arguably the Golf R400 too.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/114081479635/possible-...
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/01/23/audi-planning-s...

... and you are sure weren’t shown the S3 Plus instead of the RS3?

[rs4al]

Autocar are saying the RS3 will debut at the Paris motor show, so what does P heads know ?

[Defconluke]

We already know from Geneva that Audi has taken the 2.0 to 420hp in the TT quattro sport concept.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

[mdianuk]

Keeping an eye on this with interest. Can only hope they stick with the 2.5 engine, at least 370bhp and ideally, reduce the rear seat space in favour of a slightly bigger boot, as that is the current limitation on this car (as with the Golf) that makes it not idea as a young family car!

[Escort Si-130]

The young person in the trackie as you put it (you are using a chav term) which I guess you are one then. Tends to go for "that BMW"

thespannerman said:

Last version was just too 'chavvy' for me, would much prefer 'that BMW'... Much as we can cross our fingers we all know some tasteless young lad in his trakkies will be driving one. Spoils a nice car for me really!

But at least with the reduced weight this one might handle *slightly* better!

[J4CKO]

EricE said:

LA167 said:

I was at an Audi Product Show in Germany recently. We were shown the new RS3, new R8 and the new TTS. RS3 will have just under 370bhp.

Huh, interesting and a very low number in my eyes. The S3 / Golf R (EA888) engine can be remapped to 360 hp and there were rumours about an Audi S3 Plus with that 4-cylinder and a 360 bhp tune.

If the RS3 will have "just under 370bhp" with an engine that is apparently capable of 525 bhp in the Clubsport concept then that S3 Plus is off the table. And arguably the Golf R400 too.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/114081479635/possible-...
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/01/23/audi-planning-s...

... and you are sure weren’t shown the S3 Plus instead of the RS3?

I suspect Audi wont want something markedly quicker than the V8 R8 at half of the price.

[J4CKO]

Not sure how wearing a tracksuit means you cant afford an Audi ? Audis are now very aspirational, they used to be just for the middle classes in the eighties or nineties, a kind of cooler alternative to a Volvo or Saab, but the are now on the radar of those that would have perhaps gravitated to a hot Ford or Vauxhall in the past. Not passing judgement on anyone, that's just how I see it.

You can lease the new S3 for £350 or so a month, older ones can be had from 2 grand up for a very early one, with loads of the later model available for 10 - 15 grand. Same with all the hot hatches, I see three 135i's in our car park, all youngish chaps

I think we end up with a Gulf between younger lads, still living with parents or in cheaper accomodation having nice cars and those with wife/house/kids etc. If you earn 25 grand you take home £1600 - £1700 a month, few quid to mum and dad or rent, £300 - £400 on a car loan/lease, then a rest on beer and tracksuits.

Also, plenty of people in bluecollar/manual jobs earn very decent salaries, I was talking to a JLR lineworker and he said that the money they get is unbelievable. Then you get folk who work in the cash only economy, freed of income tax, vat, NI etc it is fairly easy to amass decent wedges of cash to buy nice stuff whilst us PAYE monkeys give 40 percent or more to the government.

Edited by J4CKO on Monday 22 September 16:44

[wab172uk]

Was hoping the RS3 was going to be a Saloon version with a manual gearbox, with 400+BHP.

How disappointing!

[likesachange]

J4CKO said:

looks and sounds great but not sure I could ever spend 40 odd grand on a hatchback of any description.

I certainly would. People pay almost that for a specc'd up golf GTD?

Depreciation is pretty good too judging by earlier RS3

So as long as residuals are strong there not that expensive after all..

[simo1863]

wab172uk said:

Was hoping the RS3 was going to be a Saloon version with a manual gearbox, with 400+BHP.

How disappointing!

I think some of your wishes will be granted. Certainly I think they'll do it in a saloon and it'll probably be circa 400bhp but I really doubt they'll do it in manual.

[Grandfondo]

thespannerman said:

Last version was just too 'chavvy' for me, would much prefer 'that BMW'... Much as we can cross our fingers we all know some tasteless young lad in his trakkies will be driving one. Spoils a nice car for me really!

But at least with the reduced weight this one might handle *slightly* better!

I don't know what you do or earn but in my neck of the woods these young trackkie guys are on the rigs and are making the monthly lease/PCP on these cars in one 12 hour shift!

[J4CKO]

likesachange said:

J4CKO said:

looks and sounds great but not sure I could ever spend 40 odd grand on a hatchback of any description.

I certainly would. People pay almost that for a specc'd up golf GTD?

Depreciation is pretty good too judging by earlier RS3

So as long as residuals are strong there not that expensive after all..

Yeah, the residual thing is a good point, the existing model seems to be doing quite well judging by prices, I think if you have the money to put into good/desirable stuff that is available on small volumes then it may end up similar, or even cheaper in the long run than something less interesting.

That said, I would be scoring the classifieds for Nissan GTR's if I had 40k to spend

[gonesailing]

A3 Sportback has the most terrible wind noise from the near side rear window area from 50 mph, and Audi say that's fine, so be warned before you part with your cash, it needs to be a loud exhaust to dampen the noise!!!!

[articulatedj]

So the RS3 can have dual exhausts with a ~370 hp 5 cylinder. Perhaps the Golf R could take a lesson.

Anyway, I just hope they bring the hatch to the States. Assuming reviews are good, I would buy a hatch, but am not interested in a sedan.