Audi recently facelifted models like the S3 and the A3, but perhaps the biggest news may come in the form of the 2018 Audi RS3 sedan to the line-up.
It is heavily rumored that the RS3 sedan will be coming to the United States in 2017. Audi plans to launch this vehicle as a 2018 model.
The RS3 is one of the popular models in Europe, but as a hatchback. Given the popularity of hot hatches in European car markets, this did not seem a bad idea. However, Audi has been skeptical about bringing a hatch into the US markets. The company has now decided to bring the RS3 as a sedan instead. This places it in direct competition with the CLA AMG 45.
The RS3 is one of the few cars in the world to have an odd cylinder set up. A 2.5-liter motor does its job with only five cylinders and it will be backed by turbos. The biggest difference, though, maybe that this new RS3 sedan may not share the engine with the RS3 hatch or the TT RS of the last generation. Instead, the 2.5-liter motor will be completely new and may help the vehicle produce more than 400 bhp at its disposal.
This insane amount of power is necessary if it is going to go head-on with the CLA AMG 45. The Mercedes produces a whopping 375 bhp and is one of the powerful four-cylinder motors around. Despite boasting more than 350 bhp, the RS3 hatch was one of the impressive cars to drive. Much of it was down to the famed Quattro technology, which is set to feature in the RS3 sedan as well.
Audi has kept the engine under the wraps as of now, but it is expected to be unveiled at the Beijing auto show. The new TT RS will be the first model to get this brand-new engine with the RS3 sedan shortly following suit.
The RS3 sedan will come with a seven speed dual clutch gearbox. The top speed is going to be limited to 155 mph as usual. However, this brand-new engine coupled with the DSG gearbox may help the RS3 sedan reach 0 to 60 in around four seconds.
Interestingly, the faster performance versions of the A3 have taken six years to be a reality whereas Mercedes and BMW are much faster in this end of the segment.