New Audi RS3 set for approval

Audi is set to make a formal decision on its RS3 performance sedan within the next two weeks.

The managing director of Audi quattro GmbH, Heinz Hollerweger, says an upcoming Audi board meeting will likely decide the fate of the long-rumoured project, though he believes it will more likely happen than not.

"Ask me in two weeks [after the Audi board meeting]," Heinz told Australian media this week. "From my point of view, it's higher than a 50 per cent chance to happen."

The RS3 looks increasingly likely to become a slightly watered down version of the A3 Clubsport concept unveiled by Audi earlier in May. Fitted with a five-cylinder petrol engine producing 386kW and 600Nm of torque, the A3 Clubsport appeared almost production ready when Drive was afforded some laps of the concept at Audi's Neuburg test facility in Germany this week.

However, Hollerweger insisted the A3 Clubsport's stratospheric outputs – capable of powering the 1527kg sedan from nought to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds – would need to be pared back on a regular production vehicle.

"It would not be feasible with that much power … we would still look at a figure over 350 horsepower (260kW) in series production."

At the heart of the A3 Clubsport is a heavily reworked version of Audi's standard turbocharged 2.5-ltire direct injection petrol engine – as fitted to the RS3 and TT RS in recent years. The five-cylinder unit has been extensively redeveloped to achieve previously unattained levels of power and torque. Included among the modifications is a larger turbocharger running 1.5 bar of nominal boost pressure, a more efficient air-to-air intercooler and larger intake and exhaust manifolds.

Hollerweger said emulating similar levels of performance in a production four-cylinder engine would not be feasible, meaning the RS3 would likely be a five-cylinder if given the nod.

"The problem is that during daily use that you need torque more than power and if you [modify] a 2.0-litre engine you also get the problem that you get a reduction of torque at low revs," he said, adding that a five-cylinder would be compatible with tightening Euro 6 emissions.

"We think that the five-cylinder engine is the best option… The main goal is to continue development of the five-cylinder."

While timing and overall confirmation of the RS3 remains up in the air, Hollerweger said it would be possible to build a production version within two or three years.

"It's hard to say but what is the usual time of development when you have this state of maturity – it's usually two or three years," he said, linking the A3 ClubSport and RS3.

"We wouldn't limit production, we would try to present in the markets that we are not so present now and we would not limit."