[Year's_End]

Audi RS3 Mule First Spy Photos

Audi RS3 prototype at Nurburgring

Where others are trying to climb up the premium ladder, Audi is moving downscale and presenting potential customers with performance options at the foot of the hill. Globally more and more people are buying down as a reaction to the recession. Therefore smaller cars with good performance are now quite desirable. A case in point will be this Audi RS3 mule which has been spied testing at the Nurburgring for the first time. The quick Sportback has different air intakes and a new engine.

First unveiled in the upcoming TT-RS, the RS3's 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine utilises a turbo to force out 250kW (340hp) and 450Nm of torque through the quattro AWD system. Anticipating that the RS3's weight will be almost the same as the TT-RS, we think it's safe to use the TT-RS's performance specs as the standard of comparisson here. The 0 - 100km/h dash should be achieved in about 4.6 seconds and an optional unlimited top speed will be 280 km/h (173.98 mph). This kind of performance is approaching RS4 territory but at a considerably lower price.

Though the all-new A3 is only scheduled to appear in October 2010, an RS3 should follow at least 24 months later - just as the TT-S and TT-RS followed the TT debut. This would give the RS3 a launch date of at least 2012.

Source: http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090331....-at-nrburgring

[spacedogg]

Hmmm...interesting!

Might be something to look at in a few years...

[Garduna]

makes me think tho, what target market is it up against??? Evos and STIs??

[amgthis]

Looks like a normal guy with a normal S3 enjoying the ring, might not be a mule

[Year's_End]

Except for some random reason the brake ducts are taped off.^

[Deda]

sweet ride!

[Los Angeles]

Originally Posted by Garduna

makes me think tho, what target market is it up against??? Evos and STIs??

Nope.

It's a Porsche-Killer!

[rubber_ducky]

Originally Posted by Los Angeles

Nope.

It's a Porsche-Killer!

That's wishful thinking.

But the car does look good though. I wonder how it'll compare, performance & price-wise, to the GTI R20 or whatever they're calling it.

[ragingclue]

That's the fastest Golf I've ever heard of....

Damned impressive nonetheless.... What's the pricing on this thing?

[BoostedBMW]

I like it... pricing?

[ptack]

2012??? Either that's pathetically slow or it doesn't have and may never get a green light. Do the A3 and TT actually weigh about the same or is that more bs?

[cougfan335]

I've been pretty down on Audis lately (wtf is with all the S line trim crap and the models not even coming close to lining up with the competition in price and performance) but this is pretty awesome. If it comes in at the low to mid $40s or so this will be a real winner. It really should come out a lot sooner though.

[ptack]

Low to mid $40s? Maybe mid $50s and up. If it ever gets produced, and if it ever gets to the US, I would expect it to be priced just somewhat lower than the RS4.

[audiprotein]

Originally Posted by amgthis

Looks like a normal guy with a normal S3 enjoying the ring, might not be a mule

thinking the same...
look at how low this s3 is!!! I dont think of any stock cars that are lowered that much from the factory.
Also, it clearly says S3 in the back...
also, they would not be testing it on a track right now if the car is due in 2012

[ragingclue]

I would think they'd go more aggressive on the exhaust outlets with an RS3 as well. At least have separate exiting points from the rear bumper... That would be something to test early on, too, as it might require some creativity to design and engineer properly.

[ska///235i]

car is Slammed

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by Garduna

makes me think tho, what target market is it up against??? Evos and STIs??

I think they don't want to be caught with their pants down when the 1 Series M comes along with a turbocharged six cylinder in a few years time.