An Audi RS3 Saloon has been spotted testing at the Nürburgring, confirming that Audi will offer the RS3’s five-cylinder engine and running gear in a four-door body.
Audi RS3 saloon and RS3 LMS racer revealed in Paris
The spotted test car's exterior is nearly identical to that of the S3 Saloon, aside from RS3 bumpers, wider front wheel arches and a large-bore twin-pipe exhaust system.
The saloon will use the same turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine of the Sportback, producing 362bhp and 343lb ft of torque. Due to the larger body shape’s extra 15kg in weight, the RS3 saloon's 0-62mph time should be about a tenth of a second slower than the RS3 Sportback’s time of 4.3sec.
The Sportback's dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox and four-wheel drive system will be carried over, meaning the handling and character of the saloon should be near identical to the Sportback.
Audi's other hot compact saloon model, the S3 Saloon, is sold in the UK, but in far smaller numbers than the Audi S3 hatch. A similar story is expected for the RS3 Saloon, which our sources believe will be offered in Britain but will be most successful in continental Europe.
Despite the test car sighting, Audi still hasn't confirmed that the RS3 Saloon is coming. Nevertheless, insiders point to an arrival time of early next year.
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