New Audi RS3 saloon: prices and specs revealed
Newly facelifted Audi A3 range is joined by a new RS3 flagship, and for the first time it comes as a four-door saloon
Alongside the new RS3 Sportback, Audi has issued prices and specifications for the new RS3 Saloon, which is on sale in the UK now.
Prices will start at £45,250, meaning that the saloon bodied RS3 is almost £1,000 more than the Sportback five-door hatch. First deliveries will take place this September, but we've already driven the hot new compact saloon, and you can read our impressions here.
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The new car uses the same 395bhp five-cylinder engine as the recently launched Audi TT RS, so not only is it 33bhp more than the outgoing RS3 Sportback, it’ll outgun its closest rival, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, which has 355bhp. It means the RS3 saloon accelerates from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, while top speed is a limited 155mph, although this can be raised to 174mph on request.
The RS3's four-door body is nearly identical to the Audi S3 saloon, aside from the addition of the RS3 Sportback’s front bumper, flared wheelarches and the large oval twin exhaust tailpipes and rear diffuser.
Inside, the RS3 saloon will boast leather trim, an Alcantara-rimmed steering wheel and a range of connectivity features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other kit available will include Audi’s digital Virtual Cockpit instrument display, while safety kit includes Traffic Jam Assist, which can take control of the steering in slow-moving heavy traffic at speeds of up to 40mph.
Under the skin, the Audi RS3 Sportback’s 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI turbocharged engine gets more power, but it's mated to the same seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. Despite the small increase in weight, the RS3 Sportback’s blend of searing performance and family-friendly practicality should remain.
RS3 Saloon or RS3 Sportback? Tell us your choice in the comments below!
