Tuesday 22nd February 2011

Four-Door Audi A3 Could Preview Hot Small Saloon

Sketches for 400bhp four-door A3 Geneva concept hint at future RS3

---

These drawings are the first images of an A3-based saloon concept that Audi is planning to unveil at next week’s Geneva motor show. Sounds rather dull, but for the fact that under the bonnet will be a 402bhp turbocharged five-cylinder motor.

Although the actual bodywork of the car is said to preview a saloon version of the A3, which will become the fourth bodystyle in the A3 range when an all-new third-generation version of the car next year, Audi has dropped in the same engine and four-wheel drivetrain first revealed in the Quattro concept from last year’s Paris show.

So while the prospective introduction of a saloon will be a bonus for those markets (North America, China and Russia, for instance) where saloons are favoured over hatches, there is a little more to this concept than Audi just slinging in a big engine to make a humdrum concept more appealing.

That's because said engine is basically a development of the 2.5-litre five-cylinder motor that serves in both the Audi TT RS and the current RS3, so what we will see in Geneva could well be a teaser for a 400bhp-plus second-gen RS3 that, in small saloon form, could become part of Audi’s hot range in the next few years. Which would be nice…

 

[anonymous-user]

Not ANOTHER Audi model variation...

[edo]

Why dont they just make the A4 saloon look like that??

[GTEYE]

Newsflash: 2nd gen RS3 expected 6 months before this new A3 is replaced...circa 2020...

Come on Audi, a bit sooner this time please!

[sinizter]

Is this Audi's answer to BMW's 1 series M-Coupe ?

[Dibblington]

Good to see back doors on a performance model.

Either build a proper 2-seater if you're that worried about saving weight or give us some back doors to save people clambering over a half-folded front seat.

... and I hope it comes in something other than Audi's stunning range of grey

Edited by Dibblington on Monday 21st February 13:41

[Negative Creep]

Good idea, I always thought Audi's model range was a bit limited

[Luca Brasi]

Another model? I'd like to be in a meeting of Audi's top brass.

[va1o]

I really think a 4dr A3 Saloon would be totally pointless, there is very little in size between the A3 and A4 as it is.

[Pixel Pusher]

It's probably me, but the side view looks like it has different proportions to the F & R 3/4.

I like the 3/4 shots, they make the car sit lower and appear more muscular, but the side view looks like an old A4 with chav rims.

[thinfourth2]

Luca Brasi said:

Another model? I'd like to be in a meeting of Audi's top brass.

I wouldn't

The first 12 hours of the meeting would be going over sales figures one model at a time

[S3K04]

Audi needs a change in leadership, can't even make a fking M3 "beater"

[Henry Fiddleton]

Excellent, another gap filler in the Audi range.

Who do they think they are...BMW,Porsche?

[infradig]

As I'm going a bit senile and get confused by the myriad Audi's available,I thought at first glance this was a 400bhp saloon A1-now that would be niche worth filling.

[tyrrell]

Will be another understeerer with lifeless steering feel, but beautifully built.

Edited by tyrrell on Monday 21st February 16:30

[Speed_Demon]

Oh Jesus can they please just move on to a new style?! I'm so bored of this fat, massive mouthed gig they've got going on.

Someone needs to point the RS division at the RS2 and Quattro too. BACK TO THE ROOTS!

[Beefmeister]

S3K04 said:

Audi needs a change in leadership, can't even make a fking M3 "beater"

You watched Top Gear last night, didn't you?

[collateral]

tyrrell said:

Will be another understeerer with lifeless steering feel, but beautifully built car

And weigh about 2 tonnes

[Hellbound]

Beefmeister said:

S3K04 said:

Audi needs a change in leadership, can't even make a fking M3 "beater"

You watched Top Gear last night, didn't you?

Mmmm Amber Heard <3

[jake15919]

There is a market out there for a performance saloon about the size of a E30 BMW. BMW realised this with the ! series coupe which was the first non-M new BMW to tempt me in 18 years.

[Luca Brasi]

Hellbound said:

Mmmm Amber Heard <3

²