It has been confirmed that the updated Audi RS 3 will once again be available as a hot hatch. The RS 3 Sportback will join its new saloon counterpart and will make its full public debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.
Audi previously sold the RS 3 in exclusively it’s five-door Sportback bodystyle to deliver on of the most powerful hot hatches on the market. However, the RS 3 was pulled from markets during early 2016. In the latter half of last year, the return of the RS 3 was announced along with a new bodystyle based on the A3 Saloon.
Until very recently, only a saloon bodystyle was confirmed for the updated RS 3. But now we know the Sportback will be available too when the performance car launches later this year, giving buyers more variety than in the past.
Audi are expected to open UK order books for its latest RS 3 Sportback this April, with deliveries following in August. Pricing is unconfirmed but likely to start from between £40,000 to £45,000.
Nearly 400bhp under the bonnet
The 2017 Audi RS 3 Sportback gets the same updates as the RS 3 Saloon. It is based on the facelifted A3 Sportback and boasts more power and torque than its predecessor, plus some styling tweaks which are similar to those found on the upcoming RS 3 Saloon.
Under the bonnet of the new RS 3 Sportback is a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 395bhp and 480Nm of torque. The new engine is 26kg lighter and has 33bhp extra compared to the unit found in Audi’s previous hot hatch. It also means the Audi now boasts more power than the rivalling Mercedes AMG A45 by 19bhp.
A Quattro all-wheel drive powertrain is used once again and power is sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox with variable torque distribution.
The 0-62mph sprint for the RS 3 Sportback is now just 4.1 seconds, which is two tenths of a second less than before. The top speed is still electronically limited to 155mph but an option will allow the limiter’s threshold to move up to 174mph. Official average fuel economy is 34mpg and CO2 emissions are recorded at 189g/km.
Standard kit for the 2017 RS 3 Sportback includes sport seats finished in black nappa leather and a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel.