Audi will be bringing the new generation A3 hatchback to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March, leading the way to the unveiling of the S3 and RS3 versions shortly thereafter. The RS3 will be the last to arrive, but will undoubtedly be the most impressive.
The new RS3, like the entire A3 family, will be built on a new MQB platform that will make the car about 10% lighter when compared to its predecessor. Audi will also adopt an updated exterior language as seen in the A3 Concept unveiled last year at the Geneva Motor Show. There will also be an improved interior and an upgraded infotainment system.
Under the hood, the next RS3 will retain its usual turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine, but its output will be increased from the current 340 HP to 350 HP. Audi will also be working to improve fuel economy.
More details about the next RS3 will follow shortly, so stay tuned! Until then, check out our rendering and let us know what you think!
When the heat of summer comes, you can expect a lot of things to happen. People will be coming out of their houses adhering to the time-tested adage "less is more". That’s right, goodbye to those long winter coats, those almost-knee-high boots, and most of all: layers!
And as is the case with summer, tank tops and shorts aren’t the only things people bring out when the sun is bright and shiny. At this time of the year, you can also expect cars to roll around with their tops down. After all, isn’t that the best way to enjoy a nice little ride out to town during the summer?
That being said, ABT Sportsline is gearing up for the season with a new line-up of convertibles that will surely pique the curiosities of those in the market for a new car to flaunt during the summer. And if you’re one of them, you can check out these Audi Abt convertibles - there’s an ABT S3 Cabrio, an ABT S5 Cabrio, and of course, the R8 V10 Spyder - to satiate your convertible appetite because nothing spells out summer more than riding in a top-down convertible with the wind blowing in your face.
MR Car Design feels that they can do the the Audi S3 one better with a few well thought out changes that takes the all wheel drive turbocharged sport compact from a hot hatch to a tasteful tuner car. By putting in the extra effort both inside and out, MR Car Design makes the 2.0 TFSI four banger even more powerful before wrapping the entire car in a matte black suit and then fitting it with a proper set of running shoes. The MR Stage III performance package starts off with a full exhaust beginning with a wider diameter downpipe to get the spent gasses out of the turbo as easily as possible and ends in a hand crafted sport tuned silencer with high flowing components in between. A larger intercooler is then installed to handle the added boost that comes with the reprogrammed ECU. The kit is good for a total of 337 HP and 332 lb-ft of torque, not bad considering that you don’t have to crack open the engine at any point, and easily get almost 80 HP with only a handful of bolt ons.
Instead of going with a full re spray, MR Car Design decided to wrap the Quattro hatchback with a complete matt foliation from Cover EFX. The darker look adds to the S3’s aggressive appearance, and by going with a vinyl style wrap MR has saved themselves hours upon hours of prep work and then time in a costly spray booth. All you need to do for a complete color change is a clean car, a few square yards of vinyl and some patience. But still, there is no paint clean up, and not to mention that it looks outstanding next to the 19 inch hyper black Emotion Wheels. Ensuring that the Audi sport compact has the legs to keep up with its new heart, MR Car Design installed a KW V3 coil over suspension, Stoptech big brake kit and then shod the S3 with a set of 235 series Dunlop Sportmaxx rubber.
Press release after the jump.
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Ok, for the record, they aren’t officially-sanctioned police cruisers making a routine check at the Nurburgring.
But they sure look believable, don’t they?
A pair of vehicles – a BMW M3 Coupe and an Audi S3, to be exact – was recently spotted at the ‘Ring sporting some pretty intimidating police wraps. From what we’ve heard, these two cars are owned by civilians that are part of a group called the ‘Ring-Police’.
We don’t know a good deal about these guys, but judging from the website stickered on the two cars’ rear bumpers, it looks the Ring-Police is a group of custom tuners that have been getting quite the following in Germany.
Photo courtesy of Martijn Mezger.
The Sweeds over at O.CT Tuning have just come up with the Boehler Concept BS3. Based on an Audi S3 quattro every aspect of this vehicle has been modified enhancing its looks, speed and handling.
Starting in the engine bay the Boehler Concept was given an O.CT Stage 3 kit. The kit consists of a reprogrammed ECU, a larger intercooler to handle the added boost; a new intake system and a sport exhaust system to expel the spent gasses. All this is good for 328 HP and one full second off the 0-60 MPH time. A stock S3 has 261 HP and goes from 0-60 MPH in 5.5 seconds. All this performance is dressed up by a host of carbon fiber add-ons for the engine, battery and air intake.
The Boehler Concept sits on a fully adjustable O.CT coil-over suspension, with KW springs, that help it negotiate curves. Stopping power is provided by 8 piston calipers clamping onto 372 mm rotors up for fade free braking.
The aero kit was designed by Swiss stylists Color Concept Boehler. The wider fenders allow for massive forged 20 inch MÖZ-Wheels, they are 9 inches wide in the front and 10 inches in the back, wrapped with Yokohama Advan Sport tires.
The rear bumper includes functional down force enhancing fins and frames the giant quad tips that exit out the back of the O.CT stainless steel sports exhaust.
The Boehler Concept BS3 will have a limited production run of only 100 vehicles costing around $87,500 USD (67,000 Euros). At the moment there is no word about any of these tuned Audi’s reaching U.S. soil. Then again, we don’t even have any standard S3s sold here.
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