Last year, we brought you spyshots of the
next-generation Audi RS3 on the Nürburgring, but the car was then wearing
makeshift fender flares over standard A3 bodywork. Fast forward nearly half a
year and the spies have managed to catch the über hatch again, this time
wearing its own clothes.
Despite still being covered in camouflage,
the production bodywork clearly betrays the car’s far sportier demeanour with a
more aggressive look. The “singleframe” is slimmer and shorn of its chrome
surround (as is typical for RS models nowadays), while the air intakes
surrounding them are even taller. There are two slits that surround each of
them, which presumably have actual aerodynamic and cooling functions.
The already blistered fenders have been
made even wider at the front to hide the broader track, and there also appear
to be vents to draw out turbulent air from the wheel wells. At the rear, the
mule finally sports a proper rear diffuser that fits the trademark RS oval
exhausts.
Expect the RS3 to be powered by the same
2.5 litre turbo five-cylinder engine as before, but tweaked above and beyond
the 400 PS and 480 Nm of torque it currently makes – it needs to at least match
the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S’ 421 PS and 500 Nm, after all. A seven-speed
dual-clutch transmission and quattro all-wheel drive will likely feature, and
possibly a mild hybrid system as well to improve fuel economy and emissions.
