The Audi RS3 Saloon Is A Four-Door 395bhp Weapon

A saloon version of Audi's RS3 has made its debut at the Paris Motor Show, and it's packing the brand new 2.5-litre five-pot from the TT RS
The Audi RS3 Saloon Is A Four-Door 395bhp Weapon

I’ve always said saloons are cooler than hatchbacks, so right now I am salivating rather furiously. Yep, Audi has created a four-door cousin to its RS3 Sportback, and hot damn - does it look promising.

Thanks to the fitting of the newer version of Audi’s 2.5-litre turbocharged inline-five - first seen in the TT RS - power is up from 362 to 395bhp. And of course, it’ll have a cracking soundtrack people like us will describe as warbly.

The Audi RS3 Saloon Is A Four-Door 395bhp Weapon

Under the skin, the track has been widened by 20mm at the front and 14mm at the rear compared to the boggo A3 saloon, with the wheel arches ever so slightly flared to compensate. It also sits 25mm lower on adaptive dampers.

The 2.5-litre five-banger sends its furious, warbly (sorry) power to all four wheels via a seven-speed DCT gearbox (no manual option, I’m afraid) and an electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch. According to Audi, the harder you drive, the more power goes to the rear wheels. Good.

The Audi RS3 Saloon Is A Four-Door 395bhp Weapon

Mash your foot into the carpet hard enough from a standstill, and you’ll see 0-62mph happen in 4.1 seconds - 0.2sec quicker than the Sportback, and 0.4sec slower than the TT RS. Top speed is the predictable 155mph electronically limited deal, although there is the option to up that to 174mph should you be an autobahn fiend. And on the subject of options, carbon ceramic brakes are on the menu also.

The Audi RS3 Saloon Is A Four-Door 395bhp Weapon

It’s expected to go on sale in the UK soon, and will be launched in the US and China in summer 2017. Price-wise, expect it to sit somewhere in the region of £43,000 - £45,000.

So it’s this, a Mercedes-AMG CLA45 or a BMW M2. Which would you pick?

Comments

Jack McGorry

Glad to see the five cylinder live on, even if it’s not in a volvo

09/29/2016 - 13:30 |
63 | 0

Sad thing is, this is the only and maybe last petrol 5 cylinder in production.

09/29/2016 - 20:21 |
6 | 0
Sam Holland

400hp in an audi A3 … it wasnt long ago you found this power in ferraris … what are the germas smocking… what ever its keep on puffing it..

09/29/2016 - 13:37 |
31 | 0
Anonymous

I’m selling 1 kidney, 1/2 liver and 1 lung. Anybody interested ?

09/29/2016 - 13:38 |
5 | 0
Anonymous

“No Manual option”
A 400HP CAR WITH NO MANUAL OPTION???

09/29/2016 - 13:39 |
5 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

As soon as I saw that my interest decreased substantially. Although I’m sure Audi doesn’t care as I can’t afford one anyway

09/29/2016 - 14:02 |
1 | 0
Joostk26

And now also the new RS3 LMS.

09/29/2016 - 13:48 |
39 | 0
09/29/2016 - 13:49 |
12 | 0
09/29/2016 - 13:49 |
10 | 0
09/29/2016 - 13:49 |
10 | 0
Audi Sport R8 LMS RWS quattro Sport Plus Ultra Evolution

In reply to by Joostk26

Oh my god, that’s beautiful
I have no words

09/29/2016 - 14:46 |
6 | 0
Hästen Staffan

In reply to by Joostk26

The sad thing is that the LMS has the 2 litre four cylinder TFSI engine…

09/30/2016 - 04:19 |
1 | 0
J Bennett

Personally, I think they nailed it with the S3 for people who dont mind doing a but of upgrading (a remap etc)

09/29/2016 - 14:19 |
1 | 0
Nissan 420sx

I told you in february :D

09/29/2016 - 14:22 |
18 | 0

Whats this weeks lottery numbers? ;P

09/29/2016 - 15:32 |
6 | 0

I was even more accurate in high school…i was drawing cars out of boredom and audi shape from new a6 on is exactly the same as i drew 8 years ago. I’ll try to find old workbooks and post some pics. Btw tnx for the lottery numbers :)

09/29/2016 - 16:08 |
2 | 0

Bringing up the past? What does that remind me of? cough Donald Trump cough

09/29/2016 - 16:08 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Was about time they put the alcantara at the right place on the steering wheel…

09/29/2016 - 14:25 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I’m definitely buying this

09/29/2016 - 14:57 |
1 | 0
MikeTheMiata (MiataSquad) (MarinerSquad)

WOW i can’t believe that they could have just added 5 horsepower to make it 400 HP just why?

09/29/2016 - 15:09 |
2 | 0

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