RS3 in the USA?
 

I remember hearing rumors that Audi was considering bringing the RS3
to the USA in the (late 2004?) time frame.
Anyone heard anything additional on this?
Specs for the car?

Thanks,
Scott

Re: RS3 in the USA?
 

"Scott" <spam784@spam.spam> wrote in message
news:jg6huv4fvhovnddksashtscslr7nk8ei7o@4ax.com...
> I remember hearing rumors that Audi was considering bringing the RS3
> to the USA in the (late 2004?) time frame.
> Anyone heard anything additional on this?
> Specs for the car?
>
> Thanks,
> Scott

RS3? New one on me..any pics/specs available?

Re: RS3 in the USA?
 

"Scott" <spam784@spam.spam> wrote in message
news:jg6huv4fvhovnddksashtscslr7nk8ei7o@4ax.com...
> I remember hearing rumors that Audi was considering bringing the RS3
> to the USA in the (late 2004?) time frame.
> Anyone heard anything additional on this?
> Specs for the car?

Heh.. at this point I don't think they even made up their mind whether to
bring the A3 to the US, not to mention S3 or RS3. I think the Golf R32 is
coming though, sometime next year.

Cheers,

Pete

Re: RS3 in the USA?
 

The MKV A3 *will* be sold in North America, it's just on delay at the moment.
It's also being said that they will sell the 3.2 VR6 powered, 280Hp S3 in the
U.S. as well, although I'm not sure if that's been confirmed yet. Wether or not
an RS3 will be sold here is totally up in the air, as I'm still hearing that
Audi isn't even sure if they're going to build it yet. Expect it to have
another more powerful version of the 3.2, with a minimum of 300Hp and possibly
turbochargers. The 3.2 is going to become the staple of the VW/Audi lineup,
with versions of it being sold in the Golf, Passat, A3/S3, TT, and maybe even
in the Jetta. Expect the 3.2TT currently being sold to make a jump in power
sometime in the next 12 to 14 months, as a 260 to 280Hp version is in the works
for the MKV based R32.

Re: RS3 in the USA?
 

Steve Grauman wrote:
> The 3.2 is going to become the staple of the VW/Audi lineup,
> with versions of it being sold in the Golf, Passat, A3/S3, TT, and maybe even
> in the Jetta.

Also the Touareg, though it is sorely underpowered in that application.
(The January C&D has a brief review, with a published 0-60 time of
over 9 seconds - a bit slow for a $40K vehicle IMO, particularly
considering the relatively small price differential vs. the V8 model.)

--
Mike Smith

Re: RS3 in the USA?
 

<< Also the Touareg, though it is sorely underpowered in that application. >>

I agree. But I heard a whisp that VW may upgrade the Touraeg 3.2s power output
up to 250Hp and 240 Ft. Lbs. next year when the MKV Golf comes out.

Re: RS3 in the USA?
 

On 23 Dec 2003 21:13:40 GMT, oneactor1@aol.com (Steve Grauman) wrote:

>The MKV A3 *will* be sold in North America, it's just on delay at the moment.
>It's also being said that they will sell the 3.2 VR6 powered, 280Hp S3 in the
>U.S. as well, although I'm not sure if that's been confirmed yet. Wether or not
>an RS3 will be sold here is totally up in the air, as I'm still hearing that
>Audi isn't even sure if they're going to build it yet. Expect it to have
>another more powerful version of the 3.2, with a minimum of 300Hp and possibly
>turbochargers. The 3.2 is going to become the staple of the VW/Audi lineup,
>with versions of it being sold in the Golf, Passat, A3/S3, TT, and maybe even
>in the Jetta. Expect the 3.2TT currently being sold to make a jump in power
>sometime in the next 12 to 14 months, as a 260 to 280Hp version is in the works
>for the MKV based R32.

Dunno about USA, but in the UK.....

I heard via a dealer source in the UK that the new S3 will feature a
turbo'ed version of the current 3.2, quattro wil be as standard.
However, the RS3 will take a detuned V8 from the forthcoming RS4, that
being a twin turbo'ed version of the V8 from the S4. Power unknown,
Quattro for sure, Avant version ? Probably :¬)

Watch this space.....

Re: RS3 in the USA?
 

<< I heard via a dealer source in the UK that the new S3 will feature a
turbo'ed version of the current 3.2, >>

It's possible, although unlikely. The top spec Passat is due to get a
Turbocharged version of the 3.2 making about 300Hp, while the trim below it it
set to get a naturally aspirated version making around 260Hp. The S3 was/is
slated to get a 280Hp naturally aspirated version of the 3.2, and while this
remains unconfirmed, sources from in and around Audi seem to indicate this is
the most likely powertrain. If a turbocharged version of the 3.2 shows up at
all in an A3 (and one probably will), it will probably be the same version
slated for the top spec Passat, making around 300Hp to be sold in a car badged
as RS3.

<< quattro wil be as standard. >>

Anything sold with an S/RS badge will always come standard with Quattro.

<< However, the RS3 will take a detuned V8 from the forthcoming RS4 >>

I seriously doubt it for a number of reasons including:

1. If a V8 found it's way into an RS3, it would probably be a detuned version
of the S4 engine, not the RS4 engine. They can't very well have their entry
level "S" model making more power than the next model up (the S4 in this case).
There's also some amount of interest in protecting TT sales.

2. I'm fairly sure the 4.2 litre V8 and any possible variant thereof is to big
and much to heavy for an A3 based car. It barely fits into the B6 A4.

Re: RS3 in the USA?
 

Haydn Vernals wrote:

> However, the RS3 will take a detuned V8 from the forthcoming RS4, that
> being a twin turbo'ed version of the V8 from the S4. Power unknown,
> Quattro for sure, Avant version ? Probably :¬)

They're gonna fit the 4.2 V8 into the RS3? It barely fits in the S4.
Plus, isn't the A/S/RS3 body designed for transverse engines?

--
Mike Smith

Re: RS3 in the USA?
 

<< They're gonna fit the 4.2 V8 into the RS3? It barely fits in the S4. >>

Yea, I double checked, and according to everyone I asked, there's simply no way
that engine will fit into the MKV Golf platform that the new A3/S3 is built on.
The B6 based A4, as you and I both said, is only *barely* big enough for this
engine. There seems to be some thought that because the MKV platform is larger
than the "old" MKIV platform, it may be possible to fit a "standard" 90 degree,
3.2 litre V6 into the engine bay, perhaps with a 5 valve head design. Seeing as
Audi is planning a 3.2 litre 30 valve V6 for the new A6 due next year, this is
*somewhat* reasonable, although highly unlikely. I've heard talk that that
several engines have been talked about for the upcoming S3 including:
3.2 litre VR6
3.2 litre, 30 valve V6
3.5 litre VR6 (this is about as likely as a V8)
and even talk that a tuned-up (turbocharged?) version of the A4's 30 valve 3.0
may find it's way into the car. Although every source I can find indicates that
the 280Hp 3.2 VR6 I heard about over a year ago is still Audi's "official"
choice for the new S3.