Spy Shots: Audi RS3
British peeps over at AutoExpress have caught a virtually naked Audi RS3 out testing near the company's HQ in Ingolstadt, Germany. The RS3 will have a wider track, larger wheels and significantly sport-tuned suspension as the spy shot shows, though what's under the hood has yet to be revealed. It could be powered by a pumped up version of the R32's V6 making somewhere around 350 bhp, or the RS4's 420-bhp V8 could find its way beneath the bonnet. Either way, the A3's small size and big engine will make for one awesome Audi.
[Source: AutoExpress]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
substitute 4:17AM (5/12/2006)
Not sure why your link goes to a translation of an italian site. The autoexpress story is at http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/67427/audis_wild_rs3_is_go_go_go.html
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Ed 4:23AM (5/12/2006)
They have been conned. That is some bloke who has modded a standard A3. When was the last time you saw a test mule with bonet pins and a carbon front splitter. the car has no disguise and the wheel arches are the standard size. They just look bigger because of the offset of the wheels.
The head of Audi said that there would be no RS3, so why did he change his mind.
Dont get me wrong, i would love there to be one, but that is not it.
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SoloTwo 4:45AM (5/12/2006)
Lots of gullible people out there, not the first time where a modified car was labeled as a super secret production car.
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faultier 4:54AM (5/12/2006)
agree with #2
- there are no fog lights
- no 'rs' nor a 'quattro' badge on the grill
- audi doesn't use single wipers
- bonnet pins!
- the front spoiler is clearly aftermarket style and it doesn't match the sillboards
- and the most obvious: no chrome on the sidemirrors
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Philip Dunlop 6:01AM (5/12/2006)
Yeah the first thing that came to my mind was that it was a load of guff too.
However, according to the German Car Blog, Audi *did* green-light the RS3 for production.
It's worth reading the article in it's entirety. According to it, they put the bonnet clips and single wiper on the car to fool the spy photographers - this isn't the only mule that was spotted. If that's the case, then they sure as hell wouldn't have put an RS badge on the front grille!
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orler 6:44AM (5/12/2006)
real beautiful....I also agree with #2
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Dana 7:14AM (5/12/2006)
We all know how credible AutoExpress is.
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luke 7:36AM (5/12/2006)
So many doubters. to answer the points above.
1. No chrome mirrors. Neither did the S3 spy pics seen at the beginning of the year, no one questioned those
2. No RS badge. Neither did the S3 spy pics seen at the beginning of the year.
3. The bumper/spoiler seems to it exactly in the with the style of the new S3 bumper, only it's a bit wilder. It looks to fit seemlessly with the body to me, like an S-Line bumber.
4. The wheel arches on my 2005 A3 are not as flared as those on the picture above.
And also, why on earth would some bloke wanna stick bonnet pins on his car? remove his foglights, spend LOTS of money on custom body panels and fit 19" RS4 wheels?
Don't you think a person who is likely to do all that is also likely to fit chrome mirrors and badges?
The 'pimped A3' story just doesn't hold up to me at all.
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Mattias 8:17AM (5/12/2006)
The V8 won't fit. The A3 uses an east-west engine layout while the A4 is north-south. The V8 is short but wide. So the A3 will probably either get the 3.2l narrow angle V6 or maybe the larger 3.6l narrow angle.
Since VW just started to build I5s again I personally would prefer a turbocharged 2.5l I5 with 280+ hp and an I5 Diesel based on the 170hp I4. A 220hp Diesel would be adequate...
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bhtooefr 8:42AM (5/12/2006)
#8 Mattias: Just because it's in transverse layout doesn't mean a V8 won't fit in there.
Google "Coupe DeGolf". A Mk2 Golf with a Cadillac Northstar V8 engine.
That said, I think it's EXTREMELY unlikely that a V8 will go in there. Possibly the 3.6 FSI VR6, though, maybe?
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Mattias 8:59AM (5/12/2006)
#9 bhtooefr: I know this engine and I know the Audi gearboxes and stuff. The V8 is too wide to be mounted transversally. Using the north-south layout would mean using the A4s gearbox. With this gearbox the engine sits in front of the drive shafts. The A3s front is not long enough to support this layout. With a "conventional" layout or even transaxle the engine could be moved further backwards -- but why should Audi change its layout that drastically and convert the A3 to a rear wheel drive vehicle? Audi never had a rear wheel drive vehicle, the R8 will be the first.
The VR6 is very likely, and possibly the new 3.6l from the Passat...
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Bryan 9:09AM (5/12/2006)
Is it just me or is that wiper sticking out/up, not laying against the windshield? Otherwise why would there be a reflection of it on the hood? Or am I just missing something as I look at this pic...?
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steve s 9:10AM (5/12/2006)
I?d love to see a RS3 but one wonders if many in the U.S. would buy a smallish $50,000 hatchback. The V-6 S-line goes for mid-upper 30?s I believe. 300-320hp with a manual or DSG would be great on a car that size with Quattro of course.
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luke 9:51AM (5/12/2006)
#11 you're right Bryan, well spotted. It may well not be a wiper. It seems to be sticking up from the bonnet too, not the bottom of the wind shield
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bhtooefr 9:53AM (5/12/2006)
I know that no current Audi V8 will fit in there... just sayin' that there is a V8 that fits in an older smaller car in the same family... and in transverse mount... ;)
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CoffeeJedi 10:30AM (5/12/2006)
the lines of lower front air dam spoiler don't seem to flow into the side skirts very well
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Redwood 11:12AM (5/12/2006)
Awesome Audi? The 3.2L Quattro S-line weighs 3718lbs!! (as reviewed by Car & Driver). So much for being a "baby" Audi. I can't imagine what this tiny heavyweight would weigh.
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luke 4:58PM (5/12/2006)
Guys, just found out this is a car from H&R, it is not an RS3. http://nordschleifenfotos.de/_pic.php?date=20060422&nr=0075&m=0645&server=server02
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Julian 12:15PM (5/17/2006)
Well done Luke - looks like Auto Express have jumped to conclusions again.
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