It is a fabled trick by manufacturers to drum up some last minute business for a model that is close to being replaced. Stick a massive engine under the bonnet, give it a new lick of paint and produce a car that enthusiasts just simply have to have. Audi followed the script to a tee with the ballistic RS3 Sportback, which our Ed. drove on Killarney Raceway, along with all the other current Audi RS models. Here is an (admittedly) low rent, hand held video from that particular Audi RS day.
The move looked like it would bookend the current Audi A3 model run nicely, but if you were lamenting not putting your name down for one of the 55 that arrived last year, as we were, there is now some good news. Audi has decided to bring over 35 more examples of the all-wheel drive beast to quench South Africa’s RS3 thirst. This comes in light of Ingolstadts choice to produce 250 more units despite production having officially ended in 2011. We thought Audi might jack up the price in this instance, but the manufacturer seems to be taking the opportunity to keep it as close to the original 2011 pricing as possible, at R525 000. Good on ya, Audi.
With 250 kW and 450 Nm of torque sent through a seven speed, S-Tronic transmission to Quattro all-wheel-drive, it sprints to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The Audi RS3 Sportback really is a bargain performance car compared to the Audi TT RS which is nearly R200 000 more expensive, just as fast and far less practical with its coupe layout. Go, go… put your name down before it is too late.
