Audi to unveil RS3 in Frankfurt?
by Noah Joseph on Aug 24th 2009 at 4:29PM 
Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Frankfurt Motor Show is fast approaching with a slew of exciting debuts. And you can bet Audi will use the semi-annual home-turf show to debut some savory pieces of machinery, but just what those will be is still a matter of speculation. Earlier reports suggested the new A8 could bow in Frankfurt, along with ruminations of drop-top or even electric variants of the R8 supercar. But the latest reports indicate that Ingolstadt is secretly preparing the RS3 hot hatch for its close up.
Based on the A3 premium hatch, the RS3 would firmly upstage the existing S3 with the TT RS powerplant, only reportedly tuned up to as much as 400 horsepower. That's a lot of horses, but you can bet Audi's signature Quattro all-wheel-drive system would be up to the task. Frankfurt debut or not, this is one four-ringed circus we're looking forward to, whenever it's ready.
[Source: Auto Motor & Sport (Swedish edition) via World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
alfaBAT9 4:36PM (8/24/2009)
Looks cartoony. So much emphasis on the front – the rest of the car gets no love?
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gefinley 4:49PM (8/24/2009)
As the caption says, the picture is the Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Concept, not the RS3.
bgsterling 5:31PM (8/24/2009)
Your right... cartoony. With the wide but short headlights, the big waterfall grill, and the underlining air intake, it looks like a close-up of someone smiling into a convex lens.
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/6409030/2/istockphoto_6409030-ugly-man-smiling.jpg
or
http://www.modernpooch.com/archives/DistortedDog.png
Auari 4:36PM (8/24/2009)
Audi never ceases to amaze me. Lovely gearbox.
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John Johnson 4:38PM (8/24/2009)
The end-all of hot hatches. This would be like a baby version of the RS6 Avant, a car that is highly desired in the US. We'd never see this one either, as hatchbacks alone don't sell well, let alone one that would easily be in the 50k-60k price range.
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gefinley 4:50PM (8/24/2009)
So sad and so true.
zamafir 5:02PM (8/24/2009)
agreed. but that won't stop me from taking a trip to ingolstadt to enjoy one :D
timwang2006 4:52PM (8/24/2009)
"the RS3 would firmly upstage the existing S3 with the TT RS powerplant, only reportedly tuned up to as much as 400 horsepower. "
I'm sorry but I really hate it when automakers do this. They make different tunes of the same engine for different vehicles and price them according to the configuration they have them in. Its almost as if they are crippling one vehicle so it doesn't compete with something else from their line up. If they can get the engine to make 400hp, why the hell not put it in the TT RS which is suppose to be the no compromise trim of the TT. Sure they might argue packaging issues but in reality its more a marketing issue.
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zamafir 5:04PM (8/24/2009)
get used to it, it's not that big of an issue, the point is to build something better than the S3, if it is with 300 or 325hp, revised everything, than it's fine. I spent the last week in a delibratly detuned audi, it was pleanty quick vs it's sibling and didn't need an ounce more power.
John Johnson 5:40PM (8/24/2009)
Just like the GTI vs the R32. The 2.0T with a chip makes more power and way more torque than the R, the engine was deliberately de-tuned as to not rob sales from the 3.2, Audi included. That's part of the reason they're doing away with the 3.2 and helping to un-cap the 2.0T, giving it 260ftlb in the next generation.
zamafir 6:42PM (8/24/2009)
Yup, plus it allows them to make a lot more money, sell the car initially with 200/200 as audi and vw powerplants, then switch the audi to a revised ecu and a bit of low cost internal work for 210/250, keep vw at 200/200. then release audis with 260ish, tt and s3, finally when a new uber rs3 is out, give the R32 the same powerplant as the TT/S3, just as they've done for the last two generations. VAG's easy to predict that way.
timwang2006 8:21PM (8/24/2009)
But the TT RS is the top of the line in VW's small two seater segment. I guess the TT RS is already beating the Boxster S and Z4 so it doesn't have competitors but its certainly not stealing sales from within VW. I would agree that it is a good car as is but limiting a cars potential without a valid safety or reliability issue is never good. I definitely see the advantages to doing what they do, clear separation of tiers and easier mid-cycle refreshes, but that doesn't make it any better for the consumer.
tankd0g 11:07PM (8/24/2009)
Probably because you don't get that much horsepower out of an engine that size without it being fairly harsh, something TT buyers are not interested in.
zamafir 5:38AM (8/25/2009)
it looks like 400/400 won't be hard if it's a detuned version of the same components as the TT-RS with a simple chip. awesome!
MikeW 3:52PM (8/25/2009)
http://www.worldcarfans.com/109072220601/mcchip-audi-tt-rs-makes-380hp-video
adam1drift 5:08PM (8/24/2009)
I'll take on!
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tuna 5:29PM (8/24/2009)
Audi: Unpimp zee auto.
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Kaveh 5:46PM (8/24/2009)
Should be interesting, the chassis for the A3 and TT are the same, so should be a screamer. If they keep it low key it should be a reall sleeper.
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Fooman 6:46PM (8/24/2009)
Please give us this in the US! I do not want an R32...
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P.V. 7:37PM (8/24/2009)
[drool]
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