Audi RS3 is a Hot Hatch for Europe

Revealed late last year, the Audi RS3 has made its public debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

Powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine, the RS3 boasts 367 hp and 343 lb-ft of torque, numbers that best offerings from Audi’s German competitors. The RS3 is capable of blasting from 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds while its top speed is limited to 174 mph.

No surprise to find the company’s Quattro all-wheel drive present while the five-cylinder engine is paired to a seven-speed, S-tronic dual-clutch transmission. The Quattro all-wheel drive system is also equipped with torque vectoring, capable of sending between 50 and 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels as needed.

2015 Geneva Motor Show Coverage

Compared to the standard A3, the RS3 is lowered about an inch with sportier suspension and magnetic dampers available as an option. Brake upgrades that are available to buyers include carbon fiber ceramic brake rotors for the front. The newest RS3 also benefits from a diet, tipping the scales at 3,351 lbs – 121 lbs less than its predecessor. Coming standard are 19-inch wheels with 235/35 tires that are stopped by eight-piston fixed calipers in the front.

There’s plenty of luxury inside the cabin with the interior of the new RS3 finished in sporty black and accentuated with RS badges. The sport seats are covered in Fine Nappa leather with contrast stitching in rock gray, while the RS multifunction flat-bottom steering wheel is wrapped in leather and Alcantara. The driver information system includes a boost pressure indicator, an oil temperature gauge and a lap timer.

Deliveries of the Audi RS3 will begin summer 2015 but unfortunately there’s no plans to bring it to the U.S. There are rumors that the company is considering a sedan variant for North America, which would give it a true competitor in a growing segment.

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