Rumormill: Mid-engine Audi R3 to replace TT
Over the past week, CAR has donned its prognostication cap and tapped it's "internal sources" in an attempt to foretell Audi's future product plans. A few of stories have ranged from inane to insane, but one post seems entirely plausible and has blinded us with excitement.Audi's mid-engine R4 was pronounced stillborn this past year, but with Volkswagen bringing its own midship concept to the Los Angeles Auto Show this November, Audi might revive plans its own version to market in the next five years. The new R3 would effectively replace the TT, providing a better business case for VAG to produce a mid-engine platform and silencing critics that have constantly complained that the TT is merely a tarted up Golf.
If the Volkswagen version is well received and given the green light, expect it to debut in 2013, with Audi's variant following shortly thereafter. In an attempt to keep from directly competing with the Porsche Boxster, Audi will exclusively offer the R3 with four-cylinder engines, including a 180 hp, 1.8-liter TFSI, 220 hp, 2.0-liter and a 280 hp, 2.0-liter on the S-line model. Diesels are also being considered, ranging from a 125 hp, 1.6.-liter to a 204 hp, 2.0-liter.
[Source: CAR]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
FSM 5:05PM (8/29/2008)
Its about time. I have always thought of the TT as a chicks car, and have gotten very bored with its design. This R3 rocks in the design department. Much more aggressive. Now give it something a little beefier than the anemic 3.2L engine (maybe with a turbo) and this should sell very well.
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celica92 5:30PM (8/29/2008)
Has anybody else noticed this is just a heavily photo shopped saturn sky? I doubt a production r3 would be near this edgy or have a hood this long. Google audi r3 and you'll see what i mean.
LeRobert 6:29PM (8/29/2008)
Dank Gott you aren't a car designer, because that R3 doesn't even look a tenth as nice as the current TT. The bigwigs at Inglostadt should give the R4's design a new lease on life, but just change its numeral by one.
BoneHeadOtto 11:31PM (8/29/2008)
THIS is what the Audi should look like. I fell in love when i saw this rendering. please please please make exactly this car
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/1049/audi-r4-with-a-little-help-from-porsche/
rsfourever 5:07PM (8/29/2008)
or they could just sell both the TT and the R3...
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Michael 7:46PM (8/29/2008)
I was think the same thing rsfour, because the TT has back seats.
ron 5:08PM (8/29/2008)
JUST DO IT!!!!!
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jte 5:10PM (8/29/2008)
If it's only a four-cylinder engine in order not to compete with the Boxster then how will it not compete with the VW version?
Standard Quattro on the R3?
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zamafir 6:21PM (8/29/2008)
The same way the S3 compares to the GTI and the R32, and the same way the new B8 A4 compares to the jetta... also the same way the Q7 compares to the t-reg....
Ian 6:33PM (8/29/2008)
A4 competes with the Passat, not the Jetta. TT and Golf/Jetta/Beetle/Tiguan/A3 are all on the A chassis. A4 and Passat are B chassis.
Chase 1:33PM (8/30/2008)
The previous passat was on the B chassis, but the current one is on a stretched A chassis.
carsteve 5:16PM (8/29/2008)
Keep the TT, ttoo.
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steve 5:16PM (8/29/2008)
excellent--send that hairdresser mobile out to pasture where it belongs. An angrier and more angular r3 could be a sick ride
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P B 5:35PM (8/29/2008)
Fiero with a body kit.
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celica92 5:39PM (8/29/2008)
This is just a photoshopped saturn sky. I doubt a new audi will be this edgy, it just doesnt fit in the line up. Google image search audi r3 and it's obvious. Still can't wait for a mid engined audi!
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omar 5:46PM (8/29/2008)
Noooo!! The tt its great as it is, you just dont appreciate it for what it is. Its all about the design and image of the car. Performance-wise it gets the job done with the 2.0 turbo engine, it doesnt eat the track but as a coupe its pretty good. If you want performance get an rs model or an r8.
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why not the LS2LS7? 5:57PM (8/29/2008)
Not gonna happen.
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B Montgomery 7:38PM (8/29/2008)
"A4 competes with the Jetta"
The Audi A4 has no relation to a Jetta. The Jetta and Passat are on the same chassis. Audi's B6, B7, and new B8 are on the MLP platform = no relation, Audi only.
B Montgomery 7:35PM (8/29/2008)
Actually Audi hasn't built the A4 on the same chassis as the Passat since the B5 chassis which was way back in 1995 (over 10 years ago). The A4 is on the B8 platform now which is entirely different than the Passat. The current Passat is now based on the same platform as VW's Jetta.
meh 6:45PM (8/29/2008)
Hey Autoblog, you forgot the disclaimer that always follows juicy Audi related updates:
*There are absolutely NO plans to bring this car to the US in any way, shape or form, sorry to get your hopes up.
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